[rmears]

The HiPix Standard Remote Control - Enhanced with Girder


After much testing and tweaking, I'm sharing my own slightly quirky

solution for getting some real usefullness out of the standard

infrared remote control and sensor that comes with the HiPix card.


Out of the box, you can only control TV viewing with it, no "VCR"

record/playback functionality at all.


I have devised a method that gives you much more control by simply

pressing the same seven buttons of its small remote control 1, 2 or

3 times in row, similar to double-clicking a mouse. Thus, you can

record/playback with the remote, step through recorded shows, erase

whichever ones you don't want to keep, and more.


If this interests you, you can find illustrated step-by-step

instructions on my web site, under the section about the HiPix, at

http://members.telocity.com/rmears

or
http://members.directvinternet.com/~rmears/


I've found this to be very useful and fairly reliable, so I've

decided to share it.

• Pronto Owners: I'll be working soon on an improved version
  
  specifically for the Pronto that will work with the standard IR
  
  sensor that comes with the HiPix.

 

[thorr]

rmears,


Cool app! This is definitely a useful tool. I am curious about your plans with the Pronto. I don't have a remote solution yet, and would like to improve my 4-remote plus most-things-done-with-a-mouse situation. Are you saying that you are going to provide a way for people who own a Pronto to control their PC via the Hipix IR sensor in the same way as an IR-man solution including other applications besides the Hipix?


Another question - Are you the same Rick Mears as the race car driver?


Mike

 

[Vance45]

rmears,


It's not working for me. The Girder icon in the taskbar flashes when I hit a button but nothing happens. It will not launch the Hipix or do anyting else. With Hipix running, it still doesn't do anything, aside from making the Girder icon flash.


Everything was install in default directory.


Vance

 

[ChrisW6ATV]

Quote:

Originally posted by rmears Pronto Owners: I'll be working soon on an improved version specifically for the Pronto that will work with the standard IR sensor that comes with the HiPix.

Ric-


You mentioned this idea in another message, and it got me thinking as well. I am looking at the actual IR codes as captured by the Pronto, in the ProntoEdit 4 program. Is the list below the approach you are taking?


-Analyze the captured codes to find the pattern

-Synthesize new codes using the now-found pattern

-Create a Pronto configuration with these new codes on buttons of your choice

-Set up Girder to respond to the new buttons (and control the HiPix functions, but maybe also any other HTPC program desired)

 

[rmears]

Quote:

Originally posted by ChrisW6ATV Ric- You mentioned this idea in another message, and it got me thinking as well. I am looking at the actual IR codes as captured by the Pronto, in the ProntoEdit 4 program. Is the list below the approach you are taking? -Analyze the captured codes to find the pattern -Synthesize new codes using the now-found pattern -Create a Pronto configuration with these new codes on buttons of your choice -Set up Girder to respond to the new buttons (and control the HiPix functions, but maybe also any other HTPC program desired)

Exactly. You got it.

 

[rmears]

Quote:

Originally posted by Vance45 rmears, It's not working for me. The Girder icon in the taskbar flashes when I hit a button but nothing happens. It will not launch the Hipix or do anyting else. With Hipix running, it still doesn't do anything, aside from making the Girder icon flash. Everything was install in default directory. Vance

Sounds like Girder is receiving codes, but not the codes expected. Check that the serial port baud rate on your machine is at 9600 as well as the Girder driver. Maybe go through the configuration steps again in case you missed something.

 

[Vance45]

I got it working. Operator error... Sorry.


Nice work Ric.

 

[rmears]

Quote:

Originally posted by thorr rmears, Cool app! This is definitely a useful tool. I am curious about your plans with the Pronto. I don't have a remote solution yet, and would like to improve my 4-remote plus most-things-done-with-a-mouse situation. Are you saying that you are going to provide a way for people who own a Pronto to control their PC via the Hipix IR sensor in the same way as an IR-man solution including other applications besides the Hipix?

Umm, no, I don't think so. Just the HiPix application. But Girder is so flexible that you could add control for the other stuff you want. Still, be warned that learning to program Girder is much like learning a programming language such as visual basic.

Quote:

Another question - Are you the same Rick Mears as the race car driver? Mike

Wish I was... my life would probably be a LOT more fun. --But I get to go fast on my motorcycle!