universal remote

jake · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 09:26 PM

Ive heard about people doing this with PDAs. Is it possible to turn the i760 into a universal remote to control a TV, home theater, etc.

Bizarre179 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 09:41 PM

From what i have heard... the software does you no good because the range on the ir is very low. So it does exist, but it is not useful at all.

jake · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 09:51 PM

what about bluetooth?

_JaCE · #4 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 12:31 AM

blue tooth is 2.4Ghz not infrared "IR" like remote controls. there are some very high end home automation that can do it. not to mention I760's don't have a IR eye, or at least mine doesn't.

acarnut · #5 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake

Ive heard about people doing this with PDAs. Is it possible to turn the i760 into a universal remote to control a TV, home theater, etc.

I can think of several ways to do it, but it will never be as good as say, going to universalremote.com and buying a MX-850. Those are sooo nice.

One way to do it is with a slingbox. I use a pro to control two bell expressvu satellite PVRs and a XBOX running XBMC. I have a spare input and that bank of buttons could be programmed to control the receiver.

Or remote desktop into your home computer and run something like the software from www.wdpsoftware.com (among many others) that makes your home computer the universal remote.

Or (and I'm gonna try this one) the big daddy of solutions, using a Crestron processor with the PDA support to turn your WM device into a programmable wireless touch panel. Crestron makes products designed to integrate and control everything from signage to theatres; unfortunately the cheapest processor combined with the PDA license is just over US$1000 list. Oh, and you’ll need a Crestron programmer to make the thing work. But, with creative programming, you could control anything by IR or RS-232, with feedback. Query the plasma/projector to see if you left it on? control the house lights? Maybe even my Digitrax-controlled HO model train set....

I have a larger processor (on loan to a client at this moment) and as a AV consultant (and Crestron programmer) I may get the PDA license for free. Hmmmm...

itsall_cooool · #6 (**permalink**) 01-13-2008, 07:01 AM

I've used the Vito remote and PDAwin (which I have currently). Its a pain to find new CCF files and then go through the hassle of setting it all up to control multiple devices when you can buy a good programmable Harmony remote for 150-200 bucks.
And yes the range is limited to about 8 feet because the IR transmitters in PDA's are not as powerful as on a remote-device-specific transmitter.