How to get Microsoft Remote Keyboard to work?

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euanandrews

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#26835 5-Oct-2008 13:36

Microsoft Remote Keyboard (for Windows XP Media Center Edition)
Microsoft Remote Keyboard (for Windows XP Media Center Edition)

I really liked this keyboard, so brought it even though its now a deleted line...
It also uses infrared instead of bluetooth or wireless which I wanted. But I can't seem to get it to work? I have been able to confirm that it does work, as I have achieved the following:

It has 3 programable keys
- Volume up
- Volume down
- TV power

I have programmed these keys successfully, and they work as intended, confirming to me the keyboard is working, sending Ir signals...

And the volume keys, instead of using the volume control from the TV remote, I used the volume control from my iMon remote, and that works, so I can confirm that the built-in Ir reciever is picking up the signal and working as intended

I have read on the Microsoft support pages and product pages that it works with Vista MC as well, so that should not be the issue.

The update: 'Update Rollup 2 for eHome Infrared Receiver for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005' appears to be an update for XP only, as I have tried this and does not work with Vista, I am guessing as its already uo-to-date.

My guess has always been that I need some software or drivers of some kind to get this keyboard to work, but I can't find any, that my Vista system will let me install?

Can anybody help, tell me where I am going wrong?
How do I get this keyboard to work?

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#169121 5-Oct-2008 15:01

This is what is stated on the Microsoft hardware support pages, for downloading software for mouse and keyboards:

Remote Keyboard for Windows® XP Media Center Edition requires Microsoft Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 or Windows® Vista® Home Premium or Ultimate. Earlier Media Center Edition versions are not supported.

If you are using Microsoft Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005, you must also install all the available Media Center updates from:http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com for full functionality.

Sp from that statement, I read that this keyboard is supported by Vista 32bit, and sounds like requires no additional software/drivers as already up-to-date (as opposed to XP whicj requires the update)...so should not this keyboard work straight away then?

Bahrni

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#169123 5-Oct-2008 15:11

I have one of the XP Media Center keyboards (I'm using it to type this in fact) and it's been simply plug and play from the beginning. I've never loaded any drivers or updates, it just worked from the get-go with Vista (I can't comment on XP Media Center as I've not used it).

One thing, and this may seem like a silly question... but you do have the corresponding USB IR receiver plugged in to your Media Center? My keyboard didn't come with one, but I already had the receiver from the XP Media Center remote control and both the remote and the keyboard use it to control my Media Center.

sbiddle

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#169128 5-Oct-2008 15:36

I'm assuming you have an iMon receiver?

If so it won't work (unless somebody has recently found a hack). You need to have the MCE receiver for this to work.

euanandrews

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#169129 5-Oct-2008 15:36

Bahrni: do have the corresponding USB IR receiver plugged in to your Media Center?

No

But I have a built-in receiver in my Silverstone LC16M HTPC case, and I can confirm that works fine.
It also states on the Silverstone LC16M product Q&A page:

The VFD/IR and remote control in the LC16M will work automatically with Windows MCE after the included software & driver (on a CD) is installed. Microsoft's Media Center remote control and keyboard are also compatible with CL16M's built-in VFD/IR module after software is installed.

So from that information, it should work...
But it does state, software is required?....that was the case in XP, but what about Vista?
The website does state it also works with Vista

euanandrews

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#169130 5-Oct-2008 15:39

sbiddle: I'm assuming you have an iMon receiver?

If so it won't work (unless somebody has recently found a hack). You need to have the MCE receiver for this to work.

Really!

If thats the case, that contradicts all the information I have found, and the questions I have asked every retailer regarding this very issue.

That would annoy.

Worse case scenirio...the keyboard is a writeoss and I will get a wireless one instead...not a biggie but oh well.

sbiddle

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#169135 5-Oct-2008 16:07

A quick Google search indicates it still doesn't work but iMon do seem to have been promising support for a few years now.

The MS remote and keyboard use the RC6 IR protocol which the iMon driver can't handle. Some people do appear to have this working under Linux but not very well.

Nety

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#169152 5-Oct-2008 18:34

TheBartender:
sbiddle: I'm assuming you have an iMon receiver?

If so it won't work (unless somebody has recently found a hack). You need to have the MCE receiver for this to work.

Really!

If thats the case, that contradicts all the information I have found, and the questions I have asked every retailer regarding this very issue.

That would annoy.

Worse case scenirio...the keyboard is a writeoss and I will get a wireless one instead...not a biggie but oh well.

I will buy it off you if no good.. well for the right price

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

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1gkar

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#169184 5-Oct-2008 21:01

One other thing you may or may not be aware of is this keyboard will not work until Windows OS drivers have loaded. So it cannot be used for BIOS or any other type of pre-Windows work eg. using older version of Ghost that operate in a DOS environment.

I use this board for operating my client HTPC but still have PS2 one attached for the above work.

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

euanandrews

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#169192 5-Oct-2008 21:46

1gkar: One other thing you may or may not be aware of is this keyboard will not work until Windows OS drivers have loaded. So it cannot be used for BIOS or any other type of pre-Windows work eg. using older version of Ghost that operate in a DOS environment.

I use this board for operating my client HTPC but still have PS2 one attached for the above work.

That part is fine...

This is intended to be a keyboard for convieniance....as long as it works within Windows thats all that matters.
Anything else, such as BIOS I have other traditional keyboards lying around.

datahawk

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#169791 8-Oct-2008 09:37

I also have this keyboard operating fine with the Antec Version VFD (IMON) receiver using Vista 32. No windows drivers were required for the keyboard, however I have previously plugged the MS IR Receiver into a USB port which likely caused a plug and play driver install.

The latest IMON software seems fine with this keyboard also. Previous versions had issues but my system is working great with the IMON (Antec) VFD and MS IR remote commands including the keyboard.

Nety

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#169803 8-Oct-2008 10:05

That sounds like a goer.. just need to find someone local to you that has a MS receiver. Where are you located Bartender?

euanandrews

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#169948 8-Oct-2008 18:30

datahawk: I also have this keyboard operating fine with the Antec Version VFD (IMON) receiver using Vista 32. No windows drivers were required for the keyboard, however I have previously plugged the MS IR Receiver into a USB port which likely caused a plug and play driver install.

The latest IMON software seems fine with this keyboard also. Previous versions had issues but my system is working great with the IMON (Antec) VFD and MS IR remote commands including the keyboard.

Really?

I live in Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt...if anyone is Welly or closer has one of these, I would love to try.

Anyone local got a MS IR Receiver I can borrow?

Nety

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#169952 8-Oct-2008 18:52

TheBartender:
Really?

I live in Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt...if anyone is Welly or closer has one of these, I would love to try.

Anyone local got a MS IR Receiver I can borrow?

Have sent you a PM.

datahawk

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#169956 8-Oct-2008 19:17

FYI - there is a specific MS System Device listed in Vista called 'Consumer IR Devices' which is probably the driver required for the keyboard.

euanandrews

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#170325 10-Oct-2008 03:30

Cheers datahawk for the headsup, I got it working using Nety's receiver.

Cheers Nety for the help, appreciate it.

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