universal remote that controls STB through a media centre

mikelata

hi all,

I have built a media centre, which uses an internal IR receiver in order to be controlled by the remote control (imon VFD). I also have an STB that has to be controlled by windows MCE in order to change the channels. I know you can get a remote with an IR blaster that each time you change a channel in the media centre a signal is sent to the STB to change the channel.

As far as I understand the situation, an IR receiver with a blaster is the way to go. My question is the following; I also have remotes for an amplifier and the TV. Is it possible to get a universal remote that:

• controls the TV
• controls the amp
• controls the media centre with an IR blaster that controls the STB

?

I know logitech has a nice range of remotes. However, I dont know it they can do the IR blaster(media centre-STB) part...

thanks!!!!!!!

eddiem74

I first had the MCE Remote as this provided the IR receiver via USB connection and IR blasters.

I then got a Harmony remote which now controls the lot. Not sure you can get away without purchasing the MCE remote first, however perhaps others more knowledgeable than me will comment.

The Harmony remote is definitely flexible, and configurable. I suspect you could have it send a command to MCE to change to channel 123, and then also send a commend to STB to change to channel 123. The only downside with this approach is MCE is not controlling the channel changing which is probably what you really want for series recording via MCE.

Check on adverts.ie, sometimes people are selling off MCE remotes, and Harmony's which may help reduce some potential costs.

mikelata

hi eddiem74,

Yes, that was my suspiction. The only way I know how to do it is as you said; buying both remotes (the MCE with IR blaster and the logitech one)

It would be nice if there was a way to just buy one. As you said, without the IR blaster, MCE cannot schedule recordings in the STB.

Has anyone else gone through the same process as eddiem74 and me?

Cheers

mikelata

things are getting even more complicated...

The IR remote/ internal receiver I have (imon VFD) can power the media centre on with the remote control. Apparently, you can not do that with the VISTA MCE remote controll. Can the logitech universal remote do that?

cheers

eddiem74

Well you can teach the Harmony commands from other remotes, so yes it could do it.

I just checked the MCE remote, it does allow the PC to wake from sleep mode and return to sleep via the PC power button on it. I also use the MCE Keyboard which also a has a wake/sleep button on it.

silveroaks

I have a Media Center setup (with stb) and a logitech harmony remote and it works well.

Yes, you can turn on the PC with the harmony remote (once its taught)

mikelata

Thanks for your replies

Silveroaks, you mentioned you have a Media Center setup (with stb) and a logitech harmony remote. Do you mean "MCE remote + logitech remote" of just a logitech remote that controls the lot?

thanks