I'm trying to avoid descending into remote hell (already have a mini keyboard, but it's lacking a few media play buttons...have my normal tv remote....assuming that the surround system that I'm eventually going to get will have it's own remote), so it'd be nice if I could control some of the basic playback feature of my HTPC with my Samsung TV remote (the one that came with the TV).
I'm using Media Portal as my playback platform.
Now I assume the primary issue is having the PC pick up the IR signal. I know there are some guides on how to build one, but I don't really have the tools (i.e. a soldering iron). Is there anything commercially made? I came across IRTrans, but they want something like $100 which seems kind of nuts considering I can buy an MCE remote for like $25 that comes with an IR receiver (but I don't think that it'll recognize my Samsung remote).
Suggestions?
I'm using Media Portal as my playback platform.
Now I assume the primary issue is having the PC pick up the IR signal. I know there are some guides on how to build one, but I don't really have the tools (i.e. a soldering iron). Is there anything commercially made? I came across IRTrans, but they want something like $100 which seems kind of nuts considering I can buy an MCE remote for like $25 that comes with an IR receiver (but I don't think that it'll recognize my Samsung remote).
Suggestions?