Good Remote Control for HTPC?

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MovaNova

4 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#97889 21-Feb-2012 19:43

Hello there! Do you guys have any recommendation on a great remote control for a HTPC? thanks!

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224 posts

Master Geek

#584794 21-Feb-2012 20:32

I got my mum one of these HP MCE remote it's quite nice.

I've got one of these Dell MCE remote some of the buttons light up but I prefer the shape of the HP one.

Wififreak

16 posts

Geek

#584853 21-Feb-2012 22:16

Hey

If you use xbmc, hdmi and a fairly modern tv. www.pulse-eight.com 's usb adapter works wonders. It allows you to use your tv remote to also control your pc.

I have one and love it.

Cheers

Mattv

242 posts

Master Geek

#584855 21-Feb-2012 22:19

That's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string.

What software are you using? Do you have a ir receiver already? Do you just want to control the HTPC or maybe the TV and stero as well? How much do you want to spend?

All that will obviously determine a lot of your options.

If just a HTPC, running windows mediacenter, then the microsoft media remote is really the best for a budget (around $40). It has the direct access buttons for a lot of MCE functions and usually comes with the usb ir receiver.

If you want something a bit more versatile I can recommend the Logitech Harmony One. It can control your whole home theatre very nicely (once set up right) but doesn't come with an ir receiver. Cost around $180-190. A lot of the other cheaper logitech remotes can do a very similar job but I really like the extra touch screen options on the "One"

blackjack17

1705 posts

Uber Geek

#584887 21-Feb-2012 23:04

If you are using xbmc, then an android phone

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password1

64 posts

Master Geek

#585144 22-Feb-2012 13:10

Best remote? Depnds on your needs. I didn't realise how simple and cheap my old set up was; running mediaportal with the remote that came with my Hauppague tuner.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#585168 22-Feb-2012 14:08

Wififreak: Hey

If you use xbmc, hdmi and a fairly modern tv. www.pulse-eight.com 's usb adapter works wonders. It allows you to use your tv remote to also control your pc.

I have one and love it.

Cheers

i have the pulse eight hdmi cec adapter and a 2010 LG tv, and its pretty useless on that tv. theres none issues with LG not using a CEC standard, but the only buttons received by my HTPC from my LG remote are
- up
- down
- left
- right
- ok
- back / exit (these send the same command)
- play
- pause
- stop
- fast foward
- rewind

very similar to a ATV remote, basic functionality but annoying to use. can't use channel up/down for paging through lists, cant use shortcuts like "guide" to go to the tv guide in xbmc pvr, cant use the color buttons.

what buttons do you have working and what model tv do you have? (i want to get a raspberrypi and take that to a JB and try it out on different tvs the next time i buy a tv)

martyyn

1971 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#585563 23-Feb-2012 10:07

IMO you cant go wrong with the MCE remote its a great size, weight and all the buttons are in the right place. With two blasters from the IR receiver you can control an amp and a STB but it cant be a pain to set up with Mediaportal the first time you do it.

Ive also used a Harmony 525 and now have a Harmony 880. The Harmony remotes are great if you can spare the time to set them up properly and have line of sight to your equipment.

The only issue Ive had is the Harmony's have both had problems in a bright room where the volume (which controls my amp) gets stuck and I have to block the receiver to get it to stop.

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garvani

1873 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#585573 23-Feb-2012 10:15

Ive had a few different MCE remote controls & 2 logitech harmonys. Ive since moved to android apps for xbmc and Media player: Home cinema. It all depends on what your htcp software is. You can't beat an android remote for functionality.

Wififreak

16 posts

Geek

#585987 23-Feb-2012 22:12

Hi Reven

I have all those plus color buttons which gives me quite a bit more functionallity

Have you tried checking logs to see if any of the other buttons come through at all?

I have a kdl40ex400 (sony 40inch)

Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions, dont want to topic steal.

Cheers

ruffies

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#586512 24-Feb-2012 23:39

If you have an iTouch, iPad or iPhone Mediamote or NControl are pretty cool ways of controlling stuff if you're using WMC.

Ben.

jjnz1

1363 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#586515 24-Feb-2012 23:50

ruffies: If you have an iTouch, iPad or iPhone Mediamote or NControl are pretty cool ways of controlling stuff if you're using WMC.

Ben.?

I would recommend a Logitech Harmony One touch remote with a cheap MCE usb remote adapter.

Thats what I use to control my TV,Stereo,MySky and XBMCLive Atom box. Works flawlessly.

NZ255

47 posts

Geek

#586707 25-Feb-2012 16:44

jjnz1:
ruffies: If you have an iTouch, iPad or iPhone Mediamote or NControl are pretty cool ways of controlling stuff if you're using WMC.

Ben.?

I would recommend a Logitech Harmony One touch remote with a cheap MCE usb remote adapter.

Thats what I use to control my TV,Stereo,MySky and XBMCLive Atom box. Works flawlessly.

I bought a HP MCE USB IR recevier off Amazon, but I think I got a fake one.
Using the Harmony One, is there any lag when pressing a button to the command happening on the pc?
Also I have to point the remote direcly at the HP USB receiver or else it doesn't work as expected.
But I can use my Sony TV remote point it at the wall behind me (facing away from the TV) and change the TV channel no problems - do I have a bad USB receiver

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#587172 27-Feb-2012 07:02

Here's another option in addition to a specific remote - try a wireless RF keyboard.

I have a Logitech K400 (http://www.logitech.com/en-nz/keyboards/keyboard/devices/wireless-touch-keyboard-k400). It's got a touch pad built in (can do multi-touch gestures). Works flawlessly with Windows, Linux and Mac with my HTPC in the next room. Range is 10m, and it makes web browsing, typing etc. easy as pie. MythTV works well with it.

As a keyboard/mouse it's just like using a computer. The downside? It's obviously much larger than a regular remote control.

As it happens I also use a Logitech Harmony (525) to turn on and off the TV, blu-ray and amplifier and change equipment to the appropriate channels and inputs. But when I actually use the HTPC as a PC, the K400 is great.

justinbyoung

55 posts

Master Geek

#594135 12-Mar-2012 13:56

Hi,

My favorite remote was the Microsoft MCE remote. The reason, it had a second power button that could be programmed to power the TV on and off. Sadly it broke, so I am back to using a Hauppauge MCE remote and also the TV remote just for turning off the TV. It appears that MS no longer make that remote. All I want is that one extra button.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#594146 12-Mar-2012 14:04

justinbyoung: Hi,

My favorite remote was the Microsoft MCE remote. The reason, it had a second power button that could be programmed to power the TV on and off. Sadly it broke, so I am back to using a Hauppauge MCE remote and also the TV remote just for turning off the TV. It appears that MS no longer make that remote. All I want is that one extra button.

yes that is by fair my favourite HTPC remote as well, i have one, tried many times to buy a couple more for other htpcs throughout the house but never found them. lots of ones without the extra power button, lots with no colour buttons, but couldnt manage to find any of that exact model.

its a shame microsoft stop marking it.

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