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using a CIR on Windows 7

post #1 of 28
3/14/12 at 6:50pm
Thread Starter 
I hope this is the right forum for this question. I just assembled a PC with an ASRock motherboard that included a CIR remote. I'm pretty sure I've installed it correctly (the BIOS indicates that it "sees" the device) but...now I don't know what to do with it.

I guess the first step is to verify that it actually does something. Currently, pushing buttons on the remote doesn't do anything. Can someone tell me what is supposed to happen? Do I need to download an application, or should there be some functionality right out of the box?

I'm sure these questions sound totally clueless, but I'd greatly appreciate it if someone could tell me what I can do with this thing. The ultimate goal will be to get TV to play on this device, but right now I'd just be happy to know that it installed OK.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 28
3/14/12 at 6:57pm
What you need are:

- ASRock CIR receiver (part of ASRock Smart Remote)
- Any MCE remote (you can use ASRock's own)
- CIR receiver driver (included in MB's CD)

Basically it works like other MCE remote/receiver. The only difference is that it can power on the system.
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post #3 of 28
3/14/12 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx View Post

What you need are:

- ASRock CIR receiver (part of ASRock Smart Remote)
- Any MCE remote (you can use ASRock's own)
- CIR receiver driver (included in MB's CD)

Got all of that.

Quote:


Basically it works like other MCE remote/receiver. The only difference is that it can power on the system.

OK, then, since it's not doing anything when I push buttons (including the power button), should I assume that I'm missing some needed software to work with the receiver?
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post #4 of 28
3/14/12 at 7:08pm
Install the driver and it should work with WMC immediately (press the green button to start WMC etc.).
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post #5 of 28
3/14/12 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 
The driver is installed. By "green button," I assume you mean the round one that looks like this (sorry about the big photo):



Pushing that button doesn't do anything. So...was I supposed to have set something up?

This may end up being a moot point, as I've been reading about problems with UVerse and PCs, but I'd like to pursue it a bit further.
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post #6 of 28
3/15/12 at 9:16am
No, the green button on the remote. Most MCE remotes have a green button on them, it will start media center when pushed.
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post #7 of 28
3/15/12 at 9:27am
Thread Starter 
My remote looks like this one:

http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer...3d_remote1_lrg

The only colored buttons are the thin ones along the bottom.
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post #8 of 28
3/15/12 at 10:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mzimmers View Post

My remote looks like this one:

http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer...3d_remote1_lrg

The only colored buttons are the thin ones along the bottom.

So you fail to see the big green rounded button (with Windows logo) in the top middle of your remote?
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post #9 of 28
3/15/12 at 10:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mzimmers View Post

My remote looks like this one:

http://www.phoronix.com/image-viewer...3d_remote1_lrg

The only colored buttons are the thin ones along the bottom.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxbat121 View Post

So you fail to see the big green rounded button (with Windows logo) in the top middle of your remote?

Had to chuckle just a bit..

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post #10 of 28
3/15/12 at 1:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxbat121 View Post

So you fail to see the big green rounded button (with Windows logo) in the top middle of your remote?

That's what I was asking about above, and jdcrox said "no" to. Hence, my confusion.

In any event, that button doesn't seem to do anything.
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post #11 of 28
3/15/12 at 2:57pm
You've been redeemed!

Now as to why the green button does nothing, IDK. Check with the manufacturer? Install a driver? Reboot?
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post #12 of 28
3/15/12 at 3:21pm
Did you change the remote batteries? Is there anything blocking line-of-sight to the receiver?
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post #13 of 28
3/15/12 at 4:26pm
Thread Starter 
In answer to the questions...

Yesterday I spoke with the manufacturer. With their laborious assistance, I was able to ensure that the receiver is properly connected to the system. This in turn enabled me to install their driver. I've rebooted a few times with no change in results.

The batteries came with the remote, so I imagine they're OK, but I'll pull out my multimeter and double-check them. There is indeed something blocking line-of-sight to the computer (I'll deal with this later) but I went around to the back, pointed the remote a few inches away from the receiver, and...same result.

I guess what I was hoping for from the forum is some way to tell whether I have the appropriate (non-driver) software installed. That is, do I need to download something from Microsoft or elsewhere that "listens" to this remote? I'm (obviously) new to a lot of this, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to expect to see happen.

Thanks.
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post #14 of 28
3/15/12 at 4:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mzimmers View Post

In answer to the questions...

Yesterday I spoke with the manufacturer. With their laborious assistance, I was able to ensure that the receiver is properly connected to the system. This in turn enabled me to install their driver. I've rebooted a few times with no change in results.

The batteries came with the remote, so I imagine they're OK, but I'll pull out my multimeter and double-check them. There is indeed something blocking line-of-sight to the computer (I'll deal with this later) but I went around to the back, pointed the remote a few inches away from the receiver, and...same result.

I guess what I was hoping for from the forum is some way to tell whether I have the appropriate (non-driver) software installed. That is, do I need to download something from Microsoft or elsewhere that "listens" to this remote? I'm (obviously) new to a lot of this, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to expect to see happen.

Thanks.

IR needs to be in the front as it is light and line of sight as opposed to RF which is radio frequency which can be hidden.
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post #15 of 28
3/15/12 at 4:57pm
I'm also thinking you have USB driver issues.
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post #16 of 28
3/15/12 at 8:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mzimmers View Post

That's what I was asking about above, and jdcrox said "no" to. Hence, my confusion.

In any event, that button doesn't seem to do anything.

You had a picture of the media center screen, so I assumed you were trying to click on the green circle using your mouse.
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post #17 of 28
12/5/12 at 9:34pm
So, I just happened to come across this and thought I would ask if you are using the ubs port that is plugged into the cir socket on the motherboard? It is the grey usb socket on the motherboard; you can't plug the reciever into any of the usb ports you want; it is a specified usb.
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post #18 of 28
12/5/12 at 11:00pm
The ASRock CIR is one of the most confusing inventions. The receiver looks completely identical to a USB device yet it is not a USB device.
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post #19 of 28
12/6/12 at 9:02am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I'm pretty sure I got the mobo connection right. I've given up on it for the time; it wasn't too important. Though I do want to someday build an HTPC, and my experiences with this might have me looking in a different direction for that.
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post #20 of 28
1/14/13 at 1:18pm
I installed one myself yesterday. I haven't gotten it to work yet. However, I did a little research and found the following:

1. It is not hot-plug. It must be plugged in before boot.
2. There may be a CIR BIOS setting for you MB that needs to be turned on.
3. A driver needs to be installed.
4. It needs to be plugged in to the currect USB port i.e. the one you wired to the CIR/USB header on the MB. If you have multiple USB ports on the wire try each of them. Remember you need to reboot if you move it.

I haven't had time to try any of these out yet but will report back.
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post #21 of 28
1/14/13 at 1:24pm
I actually had a really tough time getting this to work in Windows 7 as well. Oddly, it worked absolutely perfectly in OpenELEC with zero configuration.
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post #22 of 28
1/14/13 at 6:14pm
I just bought an asrock FM2A75 for my htpc, assembled by ncix, and it works, most of the time, thats the angering thing, occasionally it wont wake it or turn it on from S5 or sleep.

So i went to install the drivers here

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?cat=Download&Model=FM2A75%20Pro4-M

When I run it, it tells me no CIR device is installed?
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post #23 of 28
1/14/13 at 6:37pm
Maybe because I am using a non asrock model receiver? I purchased a rosewill on newegg people said had better IR.
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post #24 of 28
1/15/13 at 6:55pm
So, I plugged the receiver into the correct USB port with the power off, then powered the PC on and installed the driver. It asked for a reboot.

The remote will power on the PC from S5 sleep. All other remote keys are working.

However, turning the power off sends the PC to S3 sleep rather than S5. It seems it is sending a sleep command rather than a shutdown command. Is there something I am missing?
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post #25 of 28
1/16/13 at 7:06am
You can change that by going into the registry.

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=132960&pid=1153751#pid1153751

It works I have done it before. But then decided to instead disable it completely so the power button does not do anything for sleep or s5 shutdown, that way power button would be a discrete ON button for purposes of a macro/activity with a universal remote. Cant have a turn on htpc activity with the power button also putting it to sleep half the time.

To shut it down i simply use xbmc menu.
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post #26 of 28
1/16/13 at 8:28am
Good point. I'll have to think it through in terms of usage and my universal remote. On the one hand it would be nice if it behaved like my AVR and goes on/off on demand (it would make it cleare for my better half) but on the other hand I can see scenarios where I'd want to turn off the TV/AVR and not turn off the HTPC.

In either case, being able to use a remote to power on the thing is a huge win IMO.
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post #27 of 28
1/17/13 at 3:10pm
There has got to be something wrong with the drivers for this thing. So the only way to get the receiver to respond to the remote is to bring the remote very close to the receiver and then point the remote directly up at the ceiling. It has nothing to do with the remote either. The exact same behavior is seen with my harmony remote.

I know the receiver is suppose to have three sensors built-in so it responds from many directions. I'm guessing only one of those sensors is working.

Update: Well, it actually still turns the computer on regardless of whether a driver is installed. So my solution is to just completely uninstall the driver, and then reconnect my old non-CIR receiver. That way the CIR receiver is used only to turn the computer on, and the regular receiver is used for everything else. Pretty silly solution but it works.
Edited by lockdown571 - 1/17/13 at 3:23pm
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post #28 of 28
2/10/13 at 7:00am
Hello!
Question about ASRock smart remote - how to change batterys? What cover need to open?
Thanks!
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