[kktk]

Until a week a go I had no idea what XBMC was and for the last 6 days, I've been reading like crazy!
I figured my first post would be about scrapers and fanart and folder arrangements etc...but I guess that will have to be my 2nd post!

Here's my basic setup.
I am running the latest Dharma build on my Windows Box.
I also have a harmony one that I finally caved in and bought.

So here's what I have learned so far:
I understand that certain remotes work differently(keystrokes, shortcuts etc etc). Most common variety are the ones that support or come with RC6 support. With this type of receiver, I can add an MCE Keyboard under the Harmony setup like mentioned here:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=77519

There are other remotes that work somewhat ok(which I have now learned) but are not RC6 compatible. Maybe like this one that I just bought...
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Control-In...pg__header

Its an Ortek VRC-1100. I was able to get basic things working and learn some other commands in which kinda gets me going with the basic navigation, start/stop etc.

I've also read about the keymap.xml mentioned here.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Keymap.xml
And also read about other options like EventGhost, Trapping your keys with a program like ShowKey and then edit with KeyMapEdit etc. Lot of info to parse for my brain..so....


Certain questions I am still a bit hazy on...

1. Guessing that my IR receiver is probably not RC6, will programs like Showkey, KeyMapEdit etc help me any with the current setup? The end goal is to use the Harmony.

2. Will installing the MCERemote add on XBMC help in some way with my current remote from Amazon or will I still need an RC6 capable receiver to make it click(what does it do anyway?)

3. If I just swap or buy an RC6 receiver---how does that impact the setup with the programs in question #1 and #2? Will I still need to use these programs for anything? Do they add value or not really needed once you follow this ?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=77519

4. Does anyone know if this an RC6 remote/receiver?
http://www.dealextreme.com/feedbacks/Bro.../sku.14380

5. A bit off topic but my PC is being used as a monitor and sending the feed to the TV only when I use XBMC. I have a shortcut that launches an ATI profile that disables my monitor and sets the TV for the 1080P resolution. With my current setup, its a bit flaky-- as getting to launch that shortcut before I launch XBMC doesn't always happen. I've learned commands in RAW mode, adjusted Harmony delay settings...but not quite 100% reliable.
Any ideas to solve that? I suspect its just ATI's control panel that's flaky...so maybe I need to rethink this somehow?

BTW--I did remap the Green Button that defaults to launch Media Center to launch XBMC instead as suggested here...
http://inchoatethoughts.com/launching-xb...ter-remote
And then manually learned that in RAW mode on Harmony. So launching XBMC is ok at this point.

So as you can see I am going about in corky ways to get stuff done. I can see how getting the MCE Keyboard setup in Harmony would open up keyboard commands to the Harmony setup...just don't know what else I am not aware of. Trying to minimize the number of working parts here(eventghost or other 3rd party programs running in the background) to get this to run smoothly.

Any suggestions(and answers to questions above) would be a great help!

Once I sort this in my head, I'll move to cleaning up the data issues.

[jhsrennie]

The VRC-1100 emulates a keyboard i.e. Windows sees it as a keyboard that sends keypresses whenever you press a button. See http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Remote_Control_Reviews for more info. You should find most of the buttons work, though some buttons, like the "i" button can't be made to do anything useful.

1. Guessing that my IR receiver is probably not RC6, will programs like Showkey, KeyMapEdit etc help me any with the current setup? The end goal is to use the Harmony.

What buttons don't work? The last time I tested a VRC-1100 almost every button worked. You can certainly use KeyMapEdit to modify the button actions if you want to.

2. Will installing the MCERemote add on XBMC help in some way with my current remote from Amazon or will I still need an RC6 capable receiver to make it click(what does it do anyway?)

No. MCERemote will only configure eHome/RC6 remotes.

3. If I just swap or buy an RC6 receiver---how does that impact the setup with the programs in question #1 and #2? Will I still need to use these programs for anything? Do they add value or not really needed once you follow this ?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=77519

If you use an eHome/RC6 receiver you should use MCERemote (or EliteGamer360s scripts) to configure the remote. You need only do this once and you can then uninstall MCERemote if you want. You need only use KeyMapEdit if you want to change the actions of some of the buttons.

4. Does anyone know if this an RC6 remote/receiver?
http://www.dealextreme.com/feedbacks/Bro.../sku.14380

No, that is a rebadged AUR-001 (http://www.acowin.com.hk/product456.html) and it's the nastiest remote I've used. The Remote Control Reviews Wiki article lists known MS compatible remotes.

JR

[kktk]

The VRC-1100 emulates a keyboard i.e. Windows sees it as a keyboard that sends keypresses whenever you press a button. See http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Remote_Control_Reviews for more info. You should find most of the buttons work, though some buttons, like the "i" button can't be made to do anything useful.



What buttons don't work? The last time I tested a VRC-1100 almost every button worked. You can certainly use KeyMapEdit to modify the button actions if you want to.



No. MCERemote will only configure eHome/RC6 remotes.



If you use an eHome/RC6 receiver you should use MCERemote (or EliteGamer360s scripts) to configure the remote. You need only do this once and you can then uninstall MCERemote if you want. You need only use KeyMapEdit if you want to change the actions of some of the buttons.



No, that is a rebadged AUR-001 (http://www.acowin.com.hk/product456.html) and it's the nastiest remote I've used. The Remote Control Reviews Wiki article lists known MS compatible remotes.

JR

Well, I was able to get the ORtek to work and the buttons were working(except the i one ofcourse)....but since I'm adding this in as a ORtek device instead of an MCE Keyboard in the Logitech Setup, the options are different. From reading the posts about the MCE Keyboard, it seems like I get a lot of commands that I can send instead of the buttons that I have with this remote? Correct?

It opens up options such as WIN+1, CTRL+SHIFT combinations etc etc.
Wouldnt that add more functionality than using this remote?

My understanding was also that all context specific menus, and other shortcut commands within XBMC would work that I dont have access to right now. Lets take subtitles as an example...I cant see how this ORtek remote can do that. Even If I remap stuff, I only have 10-12 buttons to choose from instead of many more commands that the RC6 receiver in combination with the Harmony one would give me? Correct?

I'm still hazy on what the MCERemote plugin would do above and beyond the initial setup for the harmony?

I'll stay away from the remote on the dealextreme site.

[kktk]

Just as an addition I'm trying to avoid running multiple programs in the background...mainly because I like to minimize the number of moving parts if at all possible.

It always simplifies things.

[jhsrennie]

Yes, an eHome/RC6 receiver gives you a lot more flexibility. The VRC-1100 has the advantage that it's cheap, but the Microsoft remote (specifically the MS receiver) is far better and not that much more expensive.

The MCERemote add-on is only needed for the initial set up and it can be uninstalled once the remote is working.

JR

[kktk]

ok..I will go read up on what the MCERemote.zip does.

I see that I can run this from the sourceforge website or add it on under programs>>add ons in XBMC itself.

Are these the same thing?

Also, If I do get a RC6 compatible receiver, and use the MCERemote.zip, then that accomplishes something similar to this thread?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=78179


I am also reading that many are not even needing to run MCERemote at all?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=61571&page=7

Right under your reply jhsrennie
BTW--many of your other posts have been helpful.
Thanks.

[jhsrennie]

I see that I can run this from the sourceforge website or add it on under programs>>add ons in XBMC itself.

Are these the same thing?

Yes. Preferably use the XBMC add-on manager to download MCERemote as that's guaranteed to be up to date.

Also, If I do get a RC6 compatible receiver, and use the MCERemote.zip, then that accomplishes something similar to this thread?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=78179

Yes, the add-on makes registry changes just like EliteGamer360's scripts. I and EliteGamer360 have slightly different philosophies. MCERemote sets the remote to send just the standard Microsoft Media center shortcuts, whereas EliteGamer360's scripts do quite a lot more. MCERemote also makes it easier to modify individual buttons without having to edit a .reg file. Use whichever you prefer, or indeed use both as whichever you use last will override the other.

I am also reading that many are not even needing to run MCERemote at all?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=61571&page=7

The gory (and they are gory :-) details are at http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Usi...in_Windows. Most of the buttons on an eHome/RC6 remote will work without any tinkering, but some won't. My and EliteGamer360's mods will make every button work, and they do extra things like allowing you to stop the green button launching Media Center.

JR