Using a Pocket PC as a HT Remote?

[Gartseff]

Delete

[AnthonyB]

Novii

[video321]

NetRemote

[galileo2000]

RemoteControl II.

Simply the best.

http://www.wincesoft.de/html/remotecontrol_ii.html

[ptysell]

The problem with using a PPC is that the IR on these devices is low powered. It is possible but your range is going to be minimal compared to 3rd party after market remotes.

That being said, I have used Novii on occasion and is a good product. Some features in the setup (in regard to pre-programed remotes) is somewhat confusing but it is easy to learn remote codes.

[jmorris644]

I have looked at a number of software applications for this purpose. I will be using Remote Control II as well. Also, on their main site they have information about IR boosters as well as specific information about different PDAs and some fo their IR range distances.

For example, my IPAQ rx3715 has a 30 foot IR distance capability.

Joe

[poormanq45]

This is very cool

I've been looking for a laptop, but I may get a PDA just so I can use it as a URC remote!

Problem is laptops are so damn cheap now, LOL

[jwatte]

Wouldn't it make more sense to have a remote control application that uses the WiFi to talk to a device in the A/V rack which in turn can do the remote controlling?

[poormanq45]

I don't think there is such a device. Except an actual computer

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by jwatte

Wouldn't it make more sense to have a remote control application that uses the WiFi to talk to a device in the A/V rack which in turn can do the remote controlling?

Absolutely, that is what I was looking for. I think the next best thing is what I am using. I have a htPC and have attached a USB-UIRT to it. The USB-UIRT software (Cinemar plugin) can contain macros that are initiated by a single IR signal. So I am using RemoteControl II to send single IR signals to the USB-UIRT and then it takes over and can do actions on the computer as well as sending additional IR signals to all of the equipment.

So I am getting all of the functionality that I want with the exception of the wireless signal.

I am talking to the folks at WinSoftCE, makers of RemoteControl II about a WiFi or bluetooth addon to their software.

Joe

[video321]

If you want wifi look into netremote.
It can use a builtin ir passthough app or integrate with girder.

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by video321

If you want wifi look into netremote.
It can use a builtin ir passthough app or integrate with girder.

Yeah, I was all excited about NetRemote and downloaded and tried it. First thing that happened is it was not compatable with my IR port on my rx3715. So I lost any IR capability.

Then I played with the Net part. It is really more geared toward music management rather than remote controlling stuff. I abandoned those efforts.

Joe

[IVB]

Can't you can custom build your own screens using Netremote to control whatever you want?

I use CQC for my PDA control, but it's the same basic concept. Plus, I can control my stuff over the cingular network, so I end up primarily using mine for HA contro.

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by IVB

Can't you can custom build your own screens using Netremote to control whatever you want?

I use CQC for my PDA control, but it's the same basic concept. Plus, I can control my stuff over the cingular network, so I end up primarily using mine for HA contro.

Those were my thoughts exactly. I thought it would do just as you describe. Maybe I didn't dive deep enough into the software but I got the impression it wasn't going to work the way I wanted.

Joe

[IVB]

Originally Posted by jmorris644

Those were my thoughts exactly. I thought it would do just as you describe. Maybe I didn't dive deep enough into the software but I got the impression it wasn't going to work the way I wanted.

Joe

Oh, I thought that too. If you ever got confirmation of this one way or the other, please post back here. Custom creating a UI of your choosing, with buttons, images, actions, and device control for your particular setup is a must-have for PDA control. Real-estate is at a premium, and i'd hate to have to go with the pre-canned look/feel/functionality of what someone else thinks is right for me.

[jmorris644]

So far RemoteControlII is doing everything that I need with the exception of the WiFi. It has the custom GUI, custom device and IR codes database, and macros.

I can develop in VB. Maybe I will look at building a small interface that looks like an IR port on one side and has an IP socket on the other. It should not be too hard.

Joe

[video321]

Originally Posted by IVB

Oh, I thought that too. If you ever got confirmation of this one way or the other, please post back here. Custom creating a UI of your choosing, with buttons, images, actions, and device control for your particular setup is a must-have for PDA control. Real-estate is at a premium, and i'd hate to have to go with the pre-canned look/feel/functionality of what someone else thinks is right for me.

IVB-
As you know, the combo can do really anything you desire. Duplicating your screens wouldn't be an issue at all. However, there isn't much builtin (backgrounds, buttons, etc.) so you'll need to do this on your own. Also, there is a bit of a learning curve, but what doesn't have that?

[galileo2000]

Joe,

Take a look here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=631689

If your PDA has access to the Internet, either thru Wi-Fi or on its own (like my PPC 6600 thru Sprint Vision), that's about all you need.

And you can control your stuff from anywhere in the universe as long as you have inet access.

It was nice until IVB kidnapped my thread with his shameless CQC promotion.

[IVB]

Originally Posted by galileo2000

It was nice until IVB kidnapped my thread with his shameless CQC promotion.

Well, I was ashamed, but fortunately I have no pride so it offset that very nicely

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by galileo2000

Joe,

Take a look here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=631689

If your PDA has access to the Internet, either thru Wi-Fi or on its own (like my PPC 6600 thru Sprint Vision), that's about all you need.

And you can control your stuff from anywhere in the universe as long as you have inet access.

It was nice until IVB kidnapped my thread with his shameless CQC promotion.

Ok, I downloaded and played a little with Xlobby. I am missing simething real simple. How do you get the server talking to the PDA?

Joe

[galileo2000]

Originally Posted by jmorris644

Ok, I downloaded and played a little with Xlobby. I am missing simething real simple. How do you get the server talking to the PDA?

Joe

You start Web Server on xlobby setup page (f2), you assign a port w/router etc then you tell your PDA to go look for either internal (192.xxx.xxx.xxx) or external IP address and port.

For the full control you'll need to install xlobby PPC client as well.

I believe I posted a guide or something on xlobby forums somewhere.

Even better , you just can assign www.jmorris. com if you have a static IP or something like Dynamic DNS.

Hope it helps.

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by galileo2000

You start Web Server on xlobby setup page (f2), you assign a port w/router etc then you tell your PDA to go look for either internal (192.xxx.xxx.xxx) or external IP address and port.

For the full control you'll need to install xlobby PPC client as well.

I believe I posted a guide or something on xlobby forums somewhere.

Even better , you just can assign www.jmorris. com if you have a static IP or something like Dynamic DNS.

Hope it helps.

yeah, I use dyndns, thanks.
I will look for more xlobby postings here on AVS

I checked the download area on xlobby.com and can not find the ppc software. That is the key I am missing in making this all work.

Joe

[galileo2000]

Originally Posted by jmorris644

yeah, I use dyndns, thanks.
I will look for more xlobby postings here on AVS

I checked the download area on xlobby.com and can not find the ppc software. That is the key I am missing in making this all work.

Joe

Joe I can find it for you but you can do it youself I am sure.

check xloby forums as well.

xlobby web site is highly disorganized and has been this way for years. Expect even more now when they are in transition.

All this because it is pretty much One Man Project. Steve Hanna did everything, being a developer, QA, webmaster..you name it. For FREE.


However, it IS there somewhere and I am sure you can find it.

If you can't find it, send me PM with your email and I will try to send it to you, I have it sitting somewhere.

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by galileo2000

Joe I can find it for you but you can do it youself I am sure.

check xloby forums as well.

xlobby web site is highly disorganized and has been this way for years. Expect even more now when they are in transition.

All this because it is pretty much One Man Project. Steve Hanna did everything, being a developer, QA, webmaster..you name it. For FREE.


However, it IS there somewhere and I am sure you can find it.

If you can't find it, send me PM with your email and I will try to send it to you, I have it sitting somewhere.

Found it through a pcmag rticle. It is in the xlobby\client dir.

Joe

[jmorris644]

Ok,

I have temporarily given up on Xlobby and NetRemote.

I could not get NetRemote to work. It seemed to work fine with their media bridge but I could not get it to see Girder on the same machine. I even turned off the firewall. I am more interested in the htPC controlling all of my devices than I am in playing music. So mediabridge is not too exciting for me.

XLobby seems like a .... heck, I cannot even remember why I gave up on it and that was only yesterday! I think again, it was too media based for my taste. I wantsomething that focusses more on the automation of devices.

In the interim until I find something that I really like I am going to use Remote Control II. It disappoints me that I have to stay in the IR world from my handheld but nothing else seems robust enough yet.

Joe

[IVB]

Originally Posted by jmorris644

In the interim until I find something that I really like I am going to use Remote Control II. It disappoints me that I have to stay in the IR world from my handheld but nothing else seems robust enough yet.
Joe

There is always the upper end/commercial realm. Given that CQC just announced a "sale" from 4/1->4/14 for $625 for the full package, you might want to rethink not spending the bigger bucks on that. Sure, it's still expensive compared to Girder/NR, but it does work...

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by IVB

There is always the upper end/commercial realm. Given that CQC just announced a "sale" from 4/1->4/14 for $625 for the full package, you might want to rethink not spending the bigger bucks on that. Sure, it's still expensive compared to Girder/NR, but it does work...

I have been spending some time on the CQC site this morning. Can you point me in the direction that speaks to the handhelds?

Thanks

Joe

[IVB]

It's the dot-net-viewer. There's probably not a lot of content b/c there's not a lot really special about it - all you do is create a template using the same interface editor you use to build everything else, then pull it up on your PDA.

I'm actually working from home today. I have to pick up my daughter from school in 15mins, but i'll be back around 1:45 PST if you want a quick webex to show you the highlights.

[galileo2000]

Originally Posted by jmorris644

Ok,

I have temporarily given up on Xlobby and NetRemote.

I could not get NetRemote to work. It seemed to work fine with their media bridge but I could not get it to see Girder on the same machine. I even turned off the firewall. I am more interested in the htPC controlling all of my devices than I am in playing music. So mediabridge is not too exciting for me.

XLobby seems like a .... heck, I cannot even remember why I gave up on it and that was only yesterday! I think again, it was too media based for my taste. I wantsomething that focusses more on the automation of devices.

In the interim until I find something that I really like I am going to use Remote Control II. It disappoints me that I have to stay in the IR world from my handheld but nothing else seems robust enough yet.

Joe

You can do anything with xlobby. You could have it minimized if you wish. As long as it runs Webserver, you can do w-fi or inet.

Oh well if you got time and extra $625, go where IVB takes you.

[jmorris644]

Originally Posted by galileo2000

You can do anything with xlobby. You could have it minimized if you wish. As long as it runs Webserver, you can do w-fi or inet.

Oh well if you got time and extra $625, go where IVB takes you.

No, I don't plan on spending $625. But I am willing to look at everything available. I spent 9 months doing nothing but reading and researching before building my theater.

I want to spend a good amount of time on this topic too before making a final choice.

I am purchasing a RoomVue to see how that works as a tabletop remote.

Anyone have experience with it?

Joe