Re: [PLUG] This Box Rocks, but on XP?

["Rich 'Forge' Mingin" <forge@dca.net>]

Paul wrote:

> Jeffrey J. Nonken wrote:
>
> > On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 14:10:19 -0400, Paul wrote:
> >  
> >
> > > Remote control is something that would be critical.  I've heard of
> > > some
> > > remote control things for PCs.  I think Creative Labs has an audio
> > > (and
> > > more?) remote.  Actually, I was about to do a microcontroller project
> > > with a TV remote. It would be interesting to have a generic remote
> > > control system for a PC.
> > >   
> >
> >
> > Might start at http://www.smarthome.com/. A bit pricey but might give 
> > you some ideas.
> >  
>
> Neat stuff.
>
> I actually thought of something right after sending my earlier 
> message.  The cheapest way to add a remote to something is to buy a 
> toy and pull the electronics out of it.  For example, a remote control 
> car.  Instead of controlling wheels and steering, it could be used to 
> provide possibly four different control signals.  The trick is to get 
> your computer to respond to those signals.
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________________
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While it might not be cheaper, ATI makes two very nice remote controls 
under their Remote Wonder line. I have the original, and though it's on 
a Wintel TiVo/DVD/etc box at the moment, it seems to be a fairly simple 
nearly-HID USB interface. I'd imagine a hacker with the time could 
request the relevant spec sheets from ATI and make a proper Linux HID 
module in no time flat.

As for a semi-hands-free TiVo-like machine, I have one in my living 
room. It runs XP most of the time (remote only works in Windows for the 
moment), but I have almost all of it's functionality working under a 
Gentoo Linux dual boot as well. It runs Gentoo+MythTV most of the time, 
booting into XP for the times when I want the remote working (extended 
couch camping). It uses a Hauppage PVR250 hardware encoder/tuner card at 
the moment, but I've had it working almost as well with a generic BT878 
tuner in the past.


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