Question The Microsoft "Green Button" Media Center Remote and its Receiver

[BonzaiDuck]

The whole point of setting up a Media Center HTPC -- a few HTPCs for that matter -- was to get a better TV interface, record shows and movies, and all the other advantages WMC offered. [For instance, my Playboy Playmate Centerfold collection from 1955 through 2004, and my prodigious music collection of MP3 files.] It was working just fine all over the house with HDHomeRun triple-tuners on our network, until MS announced they were dropping support for it as well as Win 7. I didn't upgrade those machines to Win 8, but I probably shouldn't regret it. Once something proves to be working, one doesn't want to change too often.

Now I'm finally reconfiguring our entertainment for streaming. Recording? I"ll see what my options are and worry about it later. Some of the streaming services offer "DVR" recording, but not on my terms. I want recordings uncontrolled by the media source and the Jack Valenti Media-Nazis. They must be "mine". Bad enough that WMC recordings only play on the PC which recorded them.

I'm going to reconfigure my HTPC -- already updated to Win 10 (belatedly). I'll want a WMC replacement like Kodi, Plex, etc.

Since I"m sorting through cyber-junk for recycling, discard and bequests, I'm looking at my green-button remotes and receivers.

CAn't these be re-programmed to work with software like Kodi or Plex? I want to know. Maybe there's a guide to doing it -- somewhere.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

I am not 100% if you're asking whether the remote and IR USB receiver can be used under Windows 10, but see this discussion here - there seem to be all kinds of solutions:

No nonsense WMC remote for Windows 10?

As the title states I'm looking to purchase a remote control for my PC. I use Windows 10 Pro with a Terratec Cinergy 2400i and have the unofficial "WMC-…

www.thegreenbutton.tv

Also this: https://www.howtogeek.com/247332/how-to-control-any-software-in-windows-with-your-mce-remote/

I would also point out that OBS beats any DVR software out there, while creating files that can be read by any machine.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I am not 100% if you're asking whether the remote and IR USB receiver can be used under Windows 10, but see this discussion here - there seem to be all kinds of solutions:

No nonsense WMC remote for Windows 10?

As the title states I'm looking to purchase a remote control for my PC. I use Windows 10 Pro with a Terratec Cinergy 2400i and have the unofficial "WMC-…

www.thegreenbutton.tv

Also this: https://www.howtogeek.com/247332/how-to-control-any-software-in-windows-with-your-mce-remote/

I would also point out that OBS beats any DVR software out there, while creating files that can be read by any machine.

Thank you for the leads and links. The topic and my question is an important item in my "to do" list. I've been busy with all the other things, and am glad I came back to look at this thread.

This is all part of a grander scheme in "room-cleanup" and "housekeeping". The media PC will be moved to the other side of the room, out from under my desk and close to my "HT" electronics. If I can make the green button or some other similar remote work with an alternative like Media Portal, it would be great. If not, I've got a wireless keyboard with mousepad which should still work in an acceptable manner.

What other options are there in addition to Media Portal -- excluding Kodi? I may try Kodi again, but I'm looking at the other alternatives now.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Sadly, my experience with Media Center-like interfaces like Kodi or Plex is extremely limited.

I have a USB IR receiver and WMC remote, but they're in storage. I'm one of those weird people who actively prefer having the "regular" Windows GUI on HTPCs... I find the mouse and keyboard combo preferable to a remote control, and much more versatile.

Every TV in my house is connected to a HTPC, and I use MPC-BE (with LAV filters) for anything video, and Winamp for audio, with VLC as an alternative for rare or exotic file formats. And if I want to record anything, OBS is my go-to program, using NVEnc for hardware encoding.