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<blockquote data-quote="dcwp" data-source="post: 392107" data-attributes="member: 25562">If you check the Hardware selection forum, you'll find a lot of this information.&nbsp; I'll take a stab at a couple of your questions though.If you are planning to operate all media functions within MediaPortal, the MCE remote is your best bet.&nbsp; It integrates seamlessly and is very inexpensive.&nbsp; But if you are planning to operate other equipment as well (AV receiver, VHS player, STB, etc) then you'll want a universal remote.&nbsp; The Harmony remotes are generally the favorites here, you can program all the functions for MP and your other equipment into one device with a sharp LCD screen.An IR blaster is a piece of hardware that links your remote receiver (MCE for example) to a set top box (STB) so you can use&nbsp; that remote within MP to operate the STB.&nbsp; This means that if you want to run just MediaPortal, but you have to use a STB for digital cable or satelite, you can set it up to look like it's all happening in MP and only use the one remote.&nbsp; I have never used a blaster, but they are very popular.&nbsp; If you look around the forums, you'll find tons of threads with people talking about how to get them working properly.&nbsp; If you buy a new MCE remote (and probably some other types) you'll get a blaster in the package.&nbsp; MCE remotes are widely available.&nbsp; Take a look at the major web retailers or e-bay.&nbsp; They are very affordable.The MCE remote includes a receiver that is (I believe) universal.&nbsp; It can receive signals from other remotes if properly configured.In terms of range, you will need line of sight with IR.&nbsp; The range will be similar to what you get with a standard TV/Stereo remote.&nbsp; RF does not require line of sight as I understand it.Search around the forum or the web a little and you'll find most of these answers plus much more.BTW you will likely also want a keyboard and mouse that works at a distance.&nbsp; There are some very nice and expensive options, but I found that the logitech keyboard/mouse combo designed for Playstation 3 works very well at a much lower price than most.&nbsp; It isn't anything fancy (no special media keys or anything), but it's small (integrated touchpad mouse) and gets the job done.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="dcwp, post: 392107, member: 25562"] If you check the Hardware selection forum, you'll find a lot of this information. I'll take a stab at a couple of your questions though. If you are planning to operate all media functions within MediaPortal, the MCE remote is your best bet. It integrates seamlessly and is very inexpensive. But if you are planning to operate other equipment as well (AV receiver, VHS player, STB, etc) then you'll want a universal remote. The Harmony remotes are generally the favorites here, you can program all the functions for MP and your other equipment into one device with a sharp LCD screen. An IR blaster is a piece of hardware that links your remote receiver (MCE for example) to a set top box (STB) so you can use that remote within MP to operate the STB. This means that if you want to run just MediaPortal, but you have to use a STB for digital cable or satelite, you can set it up to look like it's all happening in MP and only use the one remote. I have never used a blaster, but they are very popular. If you look around the forums, you'll find tons of threads with people talking about how to get them working properly. If you buy a new MCE remote (and probably some other types) you'll get a blaster in the package. MCE remotes are widely available. Take a look at the major web retailers or e-bay. They are very affordable. The MCE remote includes a receiver that is (I believe) universal. It can receive signals from other remotes if properly configured. In terms of range, you will need line of sight with IR. The range will be similar to what you get with a standard TV/Stereo remote. RF does not require line of sight as I understand it. Search around the forum or the web a little and you'll find most of these answers plus much more. BTW you will likely also want a keyboard and mouse that works at a distance. There are some very nice and expensive options, but I found that the logitech keyboard/mouse combo designed for Playstation 3 works very well at a much lower price than most. It isn't anything fancy (no special media keys or anything), but it's small (integrated touchpad mouse) and gets the job done. [/QUOTE]

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