Having set up OpenELEC on a dedicated PC/NAS-based system, I have it running fairly sweetly, using either my iPhone and XBMC Remote or a Logitech k830 illuminated RF keyboard for remote control.

The problems I'm finding is that the iPhone doesn't wake the system from suspend (and requires unlocking my phone each time I use it too). The keyboard does but is too large for simple use, and I have to remember all the key combos which can distract from the in-the-moment of watching good movie.

So while I can live with it, these solutions are not ideal.

I've had a look for remote controls and wonder what others are doing here? I don't want to spend $$$ for a Harmony do-everything remote, and wonder if I can get an IR Blaster for cheap and then select other more budget remotes? Alternatively would an RF-based remote work as well?

Searching on PriceSpy doesn't reveal much in the way of IR Blasters or similar, so do I have to import something special from Amazon etc?

So if anyone has found a solution that doesn't cost the earth while working intuitively, I'd love to know.

Cheers
Jon