My question is are PC IR receivers only accessable using proprietary software or can any software built to interact with a signals from an IR receiver be controlled by any receiver? Maybe it's dependent on the way the receiver interfaces with the PC (usb, sound card, pc tuner card) but if that's the case is it still software propietary so software that looks to signals from a USB receiver can respond to any signals from any USB receiver?

Today I'm trying to set it up so I can have 3 activities programmed into my Harmony 880 that interface with my very simple HTPC from 2 seperate rooms (wire through a shared wall). The activities are PC DVD, PC Music, and Internet and will use VLC, iTunes, and IE all running on Windows XP Home (no MC).

I am trying to do with with what I have today so while I'm aware that it's a simple solution to get an RF remote, a Windows Media Center remote, or Blaster I'm not looking to add any of those things today if I don't have to. I currently have a Pinnacle HD USB IR Receiver and a Creative SB Pro IR receiver. If I can use one to control the three PC applications I want to run from my TV room and the other to control the three PC applications from my PC room then I'm sure I can figure out how by sitting down and having fun with it for a few hours - I just want to know if it's possible.

Mostly this is to provide me with a working, temporary solution to enjoy my HTPC prior to committing to a couple big-ticket items like multiple media extender/players, a better Harmony remote (don't tell my 880 I said that), and full home wireless control. I'd love to be able to use my Harmony to control my PC from both rooms.

Thanks in advance and I have spent most of the day poking through the forums and while I see tons of great advice I haven't been able to find any discussion on how IR receivers interact with PC software.

Not sure what software it is you want to use/write, but differernt receivers are compatible with different software packages. Simplest method would be to check out the packages you're interested in and see if your receiver is listed as supported.

Not sure what software it is you want to use/write, but differernt receivers are compatible with different software packages. Simplest method would be to check out the packages you're interested in and see if your receiver is listed as supported.

Ok. So it does sound like it's proprietary although most software will be able to receive commands from different types of receivers. That makes sense and is what I was assuming.

Mostly I want my 880 to be able to interact with VLC, iTunes, and the nVidia control panel to swap between video outputs. Maybe a better statement is that I want my Harmony to be able to interact with XP just like my Mouse and my Keyboard. I wasn't confident that I could do it with what I have but figured it would be worth querying before spending any more time/money to get something that does things for me that I could have done myself. Kinda hoping that Logitech provided something like this (build your own Windows macro!) but I imagine demand for that would be light.

Thanks for the reply.

FWIW after spending entirely too much time looking I may have found my answer in HIP:

http://www.byremote.com.au/downloads/default.asp?SCLASS=HIP

I'll have to look into the receivers I have to see if any of them are compatible. If not it sounds like most Harmony users have just shelled out the bucks for an MCE Remote which the 880 can emulate.

The more I research this and think about it the odder it seems that Logitech doesn't provide a USB IR receiver either with these remotes or as a seperate product. They're easy enough and cheap enough and I'm sure that popular (and open source) PC media applications would be willing to provide interfaces if Logitech provided drivers.