Controlling A/V gear through OS X?

I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to do--which device you'd like to use as a remote--but start by looking up iRed, iRed Lite and IRTrans.

I would also like to help, but I don't understand what you are trying to do either. You say you want "to use Sailing Clicker to control everything." What do you mean by "everything"? Do you mean a program on your Mac or a lamp in your living room? Secondly, if you are trying to use Sailing Clicker for this, wouldn't you find more information for what you want at their site?

No, but I've used Salling Clicker with my BT phone, and personally, I'd recommend you get a Harmony remote instead.

I am not really sure how we can help you. We discuss Mac htpc use here and what you are asking about is highly specialised and really more home automation than home theater.

There are two other forums here on AVS that, I suspect, could help you more than we can. They are: Remote Control Area and Home Automation. Frankly, with the equipment you already have, I'm am not sure you will find a better solution without spending any more, however, perhaps there are people in those two forums who can tell you exactly how you can do that, so I would advise you to post your questions there.

I think he's looking for Mac software & hardware that can emit IR signals, so it is relevant in to this forum. I personally don't know of anything that will accomplish the task, but I've never looked.

I agree with chefklc, using a Mac to control AV gear sounds interesting but when push comes to shove, a universal remote is the right tool for the job. Of course, a universal remote doesn't allow you remote access to your gear.

Yes, that is what I assumed as well. However, he also said "I don't want to spend more". So, I assume he wants a solution that will work with his current equipment. That is why I recommend the other forums -- if they know of software for his phone other than sailing clicker. That would be his best (cheapest) solution.


I have seen universal remotes that work with X-10 modules, but then you must buy those for every device you want to control. Those are also not cheap (at least here in Europe).

Yeah, further, poody hasn't piped up with a lot of information, like which Mac he's using, whether he has an Apple remote, runs Front Row, which other remotes he already has, etc, but I doubt his real concern is home automation. Just controlling regular AV gear can be tough enough. He's already been pointed to one IR control solution for the Mac, a USB-based one, which at least in theory would allow him to control his other AV gear "with his Mac" via IR. Here's a decent article which may point you toward a less expensive IR alternative:

http://www.macworld.com/2006/05/feat...ini/index1.php

That you're stuck on Salling Clicker and your phone may be an issue for you--but I do think that's the best software of its type. Folks have been playing around with that and other solutions for a while--do you want the Mac to control everything or do you want a way to ALSO control the Mac--the closest I got was 1) using VNC and then Salling Clicker on a Tungsten C over wi-fi and then 2) a Harmony remote--and ultimately it was about a tie which was more functional for me, each had + and - and neither was perfect. My recommendation for "most" people would still be the Harmony, it's worth the $$$.

The problem with computers in home theater is you do usually have to spend some good money for an all-encompassing "less sucky" solution--something like the Harmony, because all universal remotes are NOT created equal--and even after you've spent the money for something that should work on paper, even after you've added all your Applescripts, when you get down to the nuts and bolts of using it, day in and day out, you find other little things that crop up. Good luck poody, really, many of us have been there--not wanting to spend much money--and I hope you eventually get where you want to go.

Check out XTension: http://www.shed.com/

Home automation app that runs on pretty much any Mac. Does just about anything if you can script it. There are even some old tutorials about IR blasting there... Also an amazing mailing list community that loves to help with these kind of questions...

Z

I too would love to be able to minimally control my other A/V equipment through OS X. My setup:

• Mac Mini Core Duo: 1.66 GHz CPU as my home theater box
• Samsung LN-S3251D LCD TV
• EyeTV 500
• Sony receiver

I have a Harmony 688 remote which could work just fine for turning everything on. But I've still not gotten it setup after buying my Mini. Logitech still doesn't have the Apple Remote, nor the Elgato EyeTV remotes in their database.

That stuff aside, I got to thinking that the inputs on both my TV and stereo receiver never change anymore. My Mini is now my central hub for everything (DVDs, TV, downloaded movies, music, radio, photos, everything).

Hence, it's making less sense to require a device like the Harmony when all these devices merely have to turn on. In fact, since I've yet to get the Harmony reprogrammed correctly, I'm doing just that: turning on my amp and TV, then using the Apple Remote the rest of the way.

I've bought a really great OS X software called Remote Buddy that is like a glorified launcher, akin to QuickSilver, but for the remote. It really expands Apple's remote functionality. I can launch downloaded movie files to any video program I have installed (QuickTime, VLC, MPlayer, etc.), fire up iTunes and browse its library, surf the web with minimal controls (forward, backward, tab control).

So... all that to say that my dream would be to stick with the simplicity of the Apple Remote (love it or hate it, it's very Apple). It has an elegance in its slim function. But with programs like Remote Buddy, there's great power restored under the hood.

But how to turn on those other two devices? Surely there's some "black box" out there that could be used to IR blast to them both (perhaps a modified TV-B-Gone?). And Remote Buddy will output custom Applescript. Couldn't it be possible to control a USB device which simply sends out two power commands upon power up and out of sleep?

Thoughts?

I don't know if this will help, but I just set up a system for a friend using Apple TV, an AV receiver, DVD player, XM radio, a flat screen display and I was able to control it with one remote -- the Universal Remote Control RF20. It was able to learn the Apple remote along with everything else.
Don't know your budget, but a URC RF20 is not that expensive for what it does -- very intuitive lay-out and you can make it even more intuitive with the way you program it. His wife and kids have no trouble using it and I only spent a few minutes explaining it.

Is this something that may help you? http://www.perceptiveautomation.com/indigo/