Microsoft remote control dies

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Microsoft remote control dies

gnfb

2609 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#168500 16-Mar-2015 13:30

Yes my trusted microsoft remote control has died. I tried new batteries, smacking it into my hand, new batteries, pressing all the buttons etc etc

So at present I am using my $600 ipad mini to change channels! and to use xbmc

Yes XBMC is its main use

So suggestions to replace it or should i just buy a cheap android tablet and use that?

Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

I have two shops online allshop.nz patchpinflag.nz
Email Me

1 | 2

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#1260251 16-Mar-2015 13:38

You can buy windows IR remotes really cheaply off dx.com and ebay, that may work for you. I use one and it is fine. Otherwise buy a logitech remote, and you can download a remote profile for it.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1260255 16-Mar-2015 13:41

Logitech Harmony 650. Will work great as a replacement MCE remote and will also control everything else you have.

http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=399626

timmmay

20581 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1260258 16-Mar-2015 13:45

Ebay - $10 inc shipping. I control XBMC with one.

gnfb

2609 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1260260 16-Mar-2015 13:52

geekiegeek: Logitech Harmony 650. Will work great as a replacement MCE remote and will also control everything else you have.

http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=399626

SNAP!! just bought one on Trademe/PBtech $63 delivered

Problem solved

Thanks to all for suggestions

Cheers

Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

I have two shops online allshop.nz patchpinflag.nz
Email Me

timmmay

20581 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1260280 16-Mar-2015 13:57

I have a Harmony One, the fancy touch screen model. I find the cheap MCE remote works better to control XBMC, though I haven't played with it much recently so it may have gotten better as the XBMC distro I use got better.

Stu

Hammered
8341 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1260546 16-Mar-2015 19:25

timmmay: Ebay - $10 inc shipping. I control XBMC with one.

Just what I need, thanks! Just need to match it with a receiver and I'll be sorted!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

mdf

3516 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1260565 16-Mar-2015 19:53

I use FLIRC and it's *awesome*. It just emulates a keyboard you can control anything you like with it, and you can use whatever remote you have handy. Takes 10 minutes to set it up. I've got it set up so the basic commands (WAF) can be driven with the TV remote (one of the samsung ones with a TV/STB/DVD etc. selector), and a MCE one for all the commands. No mucking around with drivers and compatibility with program X.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Regs

4066 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Snowflake

#1260704 17-Mar-2015 02:39

the Harmony 650 is an awesome remote, feels great in the hand, and a great price at ~$65

Sales Engineer
Snowflake
www.snowflake.com

about.me/nzregs
Twitter: @nzregs

gnfb

2609 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1260779 17-Mar-2015 09:26

Regs: the Harmony 650 is an awesome remote, feels great in the hand, and a great price at ~$65

I was very happy with my trusted Microsoft remote! At first I thought maybe it can be repaired? Then I laughed!

Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

I have two shops online allshop.nz patchpinflag.nz
Email Me

SumnerBoy

2074 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1260788 17-Mar-2015 09:41

Anyone using that Harmony 650 with the RPi running XBMC (either OpenElec, Raspbmc or OSMC)?

Presumably you need some sort of IR receiver plugged into the RPi? The Harmony is purely IR in other words?

I have one of those old Motorolo NYXBoard remotes and whilst it is great for Raspbmc on my RPi, it is getting a bit long in the tooth and I am sure will pack it in one day. Since you can't buy them anymore I need to think about a backup...

gnfb

2609 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1261323 17-Mar-2015 21:39

SumnerBoy: Anyone using that Harmony 650 with the RPi running XBMC (either OpenElec, Raspbmc or OSMC)?

Presumably you need some sort of IR receiver plugged into the RPi? The Harmony is purely IR in other words?

I have one of those old Motorolo NYXBoard remotes and whilst it is great for Raspbmc on my RPi, it is getting a bit long in the tooth and I am sure will pack it in one day. Since you can't buy them anymore I need to think about a backup...

I actually had a raspberry running my xbmc but found it way to slow but I am pretty sure at that time I was using my microsft remote

I suppose i could put it back together to see if it works withe the rasberry

Hopefully somone will answer your question before i get around to doing that

Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

I have two shops online allshop.nz patchpinflag.nz
Email Me

gnfb

2609 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1261568 18-Mar-2015 12:17

mdf: I use FLIRC and it's *awesome*. It just emulates a keyboard you can control anything you like with it, and you can use whatever remote you have handy. Takes 10 minutes to set it up. I've got it set up so the basic commands (WAF) can be driven with the TV remote (one of the samsung ones with a TV/STB/DVD etc. selector), and a MCE one for all the commands. No mucking around with drivers and compatibility with program X.

You mention this Flirc thing

I didnt relise ontop of the price for the 650 remote I would need to get a IR device Stupid me I thought it worked through the network

anyway

I was playing with the 650 this morning and the whole setup scares me off compared to the plug and play that was microsoft remote or a android tablet with free remote software that is also plug and play

Question
does the Flirc make it plug and play?

You say a setup time of 10minutes Is that 2 computer degrees and an IQ north of 180 setup time?

Or a normal person setup time?
If I choose to add another $49 to the price of the solution

Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

I have two shops online allshop.nz patchpinflag.nz
Email Me

SumnerBoy

2074 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1261580 18-Mar-2015 12:29

I think that answers my question as well - the 650 is IR only. So I will need some sort of IR dongle on the RPi.

Stu

Hammered
8341 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1261582 18-Mar-2015 12:31

gnfb: You mention this Flirc thing

I didnt relise ontop of the price for the 650 remote I would need to get a IR device Stupid me I thought it worked through the network

FLIRC is just an IR receiver. Don't you already have an IR receiver from your old remote?

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Stu

Hammered
8341 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1261588 18-Mar-2015 12:37

SumnerBoy: I think that answers my question as well - the 650 is IR only. So I will need some sort of IR dongle on the RPi.

FLIRC is the smallest I've seen, but unless you have your RPi visible you'll still need a USB lead to make the FLIRC visible.

I'm trying to track down an RC6 compatible IR Receiver that's heaps cheaper than a FLIRC and won't take weeks to arrive!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

1 | 2