HTPC Remote

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RichieMcB

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#169701 23-Mar-2015 14:22

Hi there,

I am looking for some advice on remote controls for my HTPC.

I have recently built a HTPC running WMC through my Samsung smart TV. I use WMC to watch and record live Freeview TV watch movies from my collection, view photos and have a third party launcher that lets me launch a web site so I can stream Lightbox, Coliseum Sport (Golf websites), TV on demand services and possibly Netflix in the future.

WMC seems to do all of this fine, and I am currently using a Logitech Keyboard with a inbuilt track pad to control everything, however I am trying to make this more - user friendly for the wife etc.

So my question is; is there a remote out there that I can easily control all of the above?

Ideally I would like to be able to:

- Turn on and off the TV
- Adjust the TV volume up and down (Might get a sound bar later on so if it can control that would be a plus)
- Open and close WMC (preferably with the click of a button) Have to alt + Tab on keyboard to do this
- Control the web sites once they are open (From my research this seems like it might be the hard part?)

So an example of usage would be: I come home turn the TV onto live TV in WMC, see there is nothing on, navigate to the website launcher and launch Lightbox website, navigate around the website and select and watch a programme and then navigate back to WMC for live TV again.

I am not sure if all this is even possible - it looks like the Logitech Harmony One remotes will do most of this, however I am not sure about the controlling a website side of things, however my $30 keyboard does so would assume a $200 remote could?? Even if there is a remote that I can bind a macro to a button to Alt tab or something.

I just want to double check it will do what I want before shelling out that kind of money (well actually I can get it for wholesale so more like $150 but still a lot of money for a remote)

I am prepared to spend a lot to get one that will work well, would rather pay more for one that is more user friendly.

Anyone have experience with the Harmony One or another remote that will do what I want?

Any advice is appreciated

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Biddle Corp

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#1265852 23-Mar-2015 14:26

The best ever remote control was the Microsoft MCE remote. This is however no longer available.

There are a huge number of MCE compatible remote controls out there, I'd pick the HP one now if I needed one. They're readily available and a quick look on Amazon shows about US$28 incl shipping.

RichieMcB

15 posts

Geek

#1265863 23-Mar-2015 14:32

Thanks for the quick reply - yeah I read about that Microsoft remote but realised that it isn't available unfortunately.

Just to double check - will those be able to control a website once launched? Also will there be some way of navigating from the web page back to WMC?

kiwijunglist

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#1266090 23-Mar-2015 19:06

ebay.com get something from HK. should come to under $25NZD posted.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

RichieMcB

15 posts

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#1266138 23-Mar-2015 19:42

Thanks, yeah happy to pay pretty much whatever.

I like the looks of the hp one looks like it has a button to open wmc which is great. I just want to make sure that I will be able to control a web page when possible, do any of you have knowledge of it can do this or if there is another that can?

I would prefer not to have to switch back and forward between remote and keyboard

gcorgnet

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#1266149 23-Mar-2015 19:51

Hey,

If you manage to get an IR receiver for your computer, then you should get a Logitech Harmony.
This is what I have for my WMC HTPC and could not be happier with it.
WMC is supported by the Harmony Software (you have to dig around a bit as it is called Windows Computer or similar) but everything works great. Plus on most models you can add your own soft button to perform custom actions.

Cheers

Guillaume

kiwijunglist

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#1266332 23-Mar-2015 23:26

If you want to control webpages just get a wireless keyboard with a track pad, eg. logitech k400r ~$40-50 on special.

Using a remote control to navigate a webpage is quite slow an awkward.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Dratsab

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#1266336 24-Mar-2015 00:01

If she has an android phone perhaps consider something along the lines of My Remote. It won't turn your TV on/off but will do everything else you want. It requires a small java applet to be installed on the HTPC though - so if you don't/won't have java this idea's a non starter.

Lenovo

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kiwijunglist

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#1266337 24-Mar-2015 00:03

I'm a big fan of unified remote for android.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

geekiegeek

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#1266372 24-Mar-2015 05:39

You cant go wrong with the Logitech remote, they just work and control pretty much everything that is controllable.

reven

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#1266375 24-Mar-2015 07:14

logitech 350 + usb IR reciever can be had for about $45 (maybe cheaper if you shop around). the logitech remote is nice and will be just as good as the offical microsoft one (better as it can do more).

RichieMcB

15 posts

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#1266419 24-Mar-2015 08:58

Thanks for all the responses - I have one of those Logitech keyboards with track pads and it's fine but really looking for a remote.
Think I will get a harmony something and if I need to pull out the keyboard on a web page so be it.
Not a fan of the phone apps they control everything well but it's a pain to unlock your phone load the app just to change the Chanel.

Thanks again for the advice. Going to look at the harmony one universal remote and the harmony smart control. I like the look smart control however not sure it's quite as programmable

SepticSceptic

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#1273571 30-Mar-2015 17:36

RichieMcB: Hi there,

have a third party launcher that lets me launch a web site so I can stream Lightbox, Coliseum Sport (Golf websites), TV on demand services and possibly Netflix in the future.

Where did you dig up your app launcher ?

Also, I think you maybe able to customise a few buttons on the harmony remote to open specific web pages. But maybe a bit of a pain to actually navigate around in the now-opened web page

I haven't tried this yet - just mulling over an idea.

I use a Logitec wireless keyboard, + a WMC specific remote. Have yet to program my Harmony 525 to do any WMC stuff.

RichieMcB

15 posts

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#1273772 30-Mar-2015 21:06

Hi - yeah I have ordered a Harmony smart control got it at cost plus shipping from my wife's work $130, should arrive in a couple of days.

I found a way that when you launch a web page you can use the directions as mouse control and assign the clicks to buttons and bind alt F4 to switch back to wmc. This should allow me to only have to use that for everything in WMC without having to change to my keyboard unless really necessary. Once I have tried it I will let you know if it works.

For the app launcher I use relaunch203 and it works sweet I think it cost like $5 or something. Here is a SS of how my Apps look (The golf ones are under the sport menu and will add in the rugby if I get that working)

And this is what the launched app looks like from relaunch:

RichieMcB

15 posts

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#1273774 30-Mar-2015 21:09

Sorry forgot to mention when you launch a programme it is full screen.

I have also found that Google Chrome works best for all these apps.

RichieMcB

15 posts

Geek

#1273792 30-Mar-2015 21:28

Oh one more thing, I have customised the menus so if you just get relaunch it will put your apps in the "extras" menu

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