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Thread ID: 21710 2002-07-02 02:02:00 Calling all Hardware Geeks: Remote Control of a PC Craig Bellhouse (493) Press F1
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59178 2002-07-02 02:02:00 I am intending to create an IR remote control for my PC. I am trying to work out the best method of interfacing the reciever with my PC, as I want to be able to use it with my current PC as well as any future one I have.

I am intending to replace the special function keys of my keyboard with this remote control as as such I am currently looking at these interfacing possibilities:

Keyboard (PS2) connection

Serial Connection

Custom made PCI card.

If it go with the Keyboard interface, I don't have to build any listening software, as I would copy the commands sent by my keyboard, but then I am severely limited in the number of functions.

With a serial connection, I need to build my own listener app and I have no idea how to do this.

I cannot find any resources at all about building a PCI card, pehaps someone can assist me with this. This would be my preferred option, as I am very familiar with assembly language programming, but I have almost no experience with higher level languages.

If someone could assist me in finding resources on either the serial listener app or PCI card building resources, I would be most grateful...

Cheers,
Craig.
Craig Bellhouse (493)
59179 2002-07-02 02:10:00 how about USB??

get a $20 USB keyboard and hack it in to want you want.
robsonde (120)
59180 2002-07-02 02:16:00 This project is for a hardware development paper I am taking at tech.

Plus the fact that I already have the remote and reciever built, i just need to interface it.

Cheers.
Craig Bellhouse (493)
59181 2002-07-02 02:25:00 Hiya,

I had a similar idea but in reverse - my laptop has a infrared port, we lost the remote for the telly... a-la laptop remote.

Unfortunately, the remotes for appliances work quite differently from computers, so I never got it to work.

However, I did find a lot of intersting stuff. You can easily get/build infrared interfaces that plug into the serial port. I would go this way as there is lots of stuff on the net for programming serial ports, as well as software written specifically for infrared receivers connected to the serial port. Be warned though - you may have to build your own transmitter as well, due to the differences in transmission modes.

Do a Google for 'remote control PC infrared'.
Elwin Way (229)
59182 2002-07-02 02:28:00 I have read an article in the electronics magazine Silicon Chip http://www.siliconchip.com.au about IR and desktop pcs (later PC motherboards have the pins to plug the receiver into). I think the project was building a receiver but don't quote me on that. I think there is a driver for an IR device so you shouldn't have to write a device driver for it (well there must be cos my laptp has one).

Hope this helps.
Dolby Digital (160)
59183 2002-07-02 04:39:00 Cheers for the link, but i couldn't find any actual articles on their site, just the ability to purchase issues, but I don't know what issue to get or wahtever.

If you could send me an url for the article, or even which issue it is in that would be a great help.

Cheers, Craig.
Craig Bellhouse (493)
59184 2002-07-02 05:31:00 Silicon Chip had a series (a couple of issues) on building an MP3 player, using a PC as the basis. The project is called "MP3 Jukebox". There is a programme called IR Remote which controls Winamp (without the Windows graphic interface). The letters they've been getting show that people don't read the instructions. Surprise, surprise. Graham L (2)
59185 2002-07-02 05:37:00 Sorry, can't remember what Silicon Chip it was in (great help aren't I!) . The link was for a quide only (I hoped they would have a search or something). Your library might have the magazines.

Cheers
Dolby Digital (160)
59186 2002-07-02 05:49:00 Most pentium class motherboards have a header plug on them for a standard IR port. The silicon chip article was to plug a transceiver module onto this, which gives the same effect as a standard IR port as fitted to laptops. It was not aimed at pc remote control, but is an obvious way to do it at low cost, via a suitable program. I am not aware of any programs, but thats probably what you will need to focus on.

You do not need to re-invent the wheel for hardware though. I think Jaycar have the IR interface kit, its very cheap. You can also buy a USB IR interface from DSE

The MP3 remote used a PIC specially programmed for the MP3 software and dont think it would easily adapt. Both of these were probably late last year from memory.
godfather (25)
59187 2002-07-02 06:27:00 Have a look at this thread here (www.radiativenz.com). Just don't bother replying to them there as those forums are preddy much dead now. -=JM=- (16)
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