View Single Post
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 08-19-2006, 10:27 AM
wejones's Avatar
wejones wejones is offline
Cranky Crumudgeon
Expert
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MAINE
Posts: 2,755
Rep Power: 480
wejones is a splendid one to beholdwejones is a splendid one to beholdwejones is a splendid one to beholdwejones is a splendid one to beholdwejones is a splendid one to beholdwejones is a splendid one to beholdwejones is a splendid one to behold
? PC driven universal remote?

Hi, I wasn't sure which forum category this would best fit in, but here goes.
Well yesterday, I tried to set up my my new 90cm dish/SG2100 motorized system. I say "tried", because while it is working, I have a problem with the pole, in that I mounted the pole using 10 yr old concrete, which had been exposed to some moisture, and it didn't work, so it's not much different from being mounted in sand, Ie the pole moves back and forth WAY too much. I was so determined to test the thing though, that I leaned a couple rocks up against the pole to stabilize it, and it works fairly well, although I'm afraid to run the motor too far.
However, I ran into another problem, in that I have this new dish hooked up to my Fortec Lifetime, and my BUD is connected to my Lifetime ULTRA. Both these receivers are in another room, driven by one of those little RS Pyramid IR extenders. The problem is, that although the Lifetime doesn't respond to the Ultra remote, the ULTRA responds to the Lifetime remote. So for me to use these things, I have to go downstairs and cover up the front of the ULTRA while I'm using the Lifetime. Kind of destroys the concept of a "remote".

Well, what I'm curious about, is several years ago, I remember seeing a device which was basically a universal remote that could be triggered from a computer. Ie a module you plug into a computer, that allows you to send remote commands out through one of those little IR sender units connected to the computer. I seem to remember that these units were pretty expensive, so maybe they didn't get enough people buying them, and they stopped making them, but I was wondering if anyone here knows of any such device available now??

The only other option I can think of, is for me to use a different brand IR extender for the Ultra, ie one that works via UHF instead of IR perhaps (I actually may have one of these in my junk pile). But I'd really rather have one receiver controlled by a computer if possible.

Anyone know of any PC controlled IR remote modules?

Thanks.
__________________
Bill in Maine wejones@megalink.net

Sadoun has censored my signature for no good reason, which is annoying.
Reply With Quote