Will ANY receiver work w/Harmony 520? (1 Viewer)

[lordkenyon]

I've searched a good bit and not found a clear answer to this. I really do not want to use a MCE remote, HP, Microsoft, etc remote. I'd like to just use my Harmony 520.

Also, I don't need a IR transmitter. The harmony does a good job controlling the volume on the receiver and everything else I use can be controlled inside mediaportal.

My question is will any IR receiver work? I was going to make a serial one, but by the time I buy all the parts (in minimum quantities) and pay for shipping I could've bought a USB one, which I'd prefer.


It seems the UIRT works well, but it's $50 min. So can I just buy any USB IR receiver/remote combination from ebay for about half that or less and just use the receiver? I'm running XP Pro if that makes any difference.


This is really the last step to make mediaportal really household friendly and I really appreciate the help!

 

[and-81]

Yeah, you should be able to get the MCE remote bundle and just use the receiver.

If it doesn't work out of the box then you might need to use MCE Replacement Plugin or IR Server Suite to get it working. It would also work with EventGhost, HIP and Girder.

I recommend you buy the MCE bundle, you can't go wrong and any setup you might need to do would be no worse than getting any other solution that wasn't specifically designed for your remote.

Hope that helps,

 

[lordkenyon]

Thanks, that's what I was kind of hoping to hear. I don't mind tweaking (obviously or I wouldn't have a htpc) a little bit on this, but really wanted the simplest option since I already have and like my harmony. Figured an IR receiver is an IR receiver and I can get the harmony to replicate about any remote.

 

[and-81]

Well sometimes an IR Receiver is not an IR Receiver, if you know what I mean.

They're not all created equal.

Get the MCE bundle and you can make your Harmony replicate the MCE remote. That would work very well. Then if you ever decide you want to control a Set Top Box, TV, Amplifier or other device with the blasters, you're set to go.

Good luck.

 

[ThaClown]

Yup I have a Harmony too, and it works great!
Just takes alittel time to setup nicely (I had to change the IR times to almost 0 for a fast responce)

 

[frank75]

I just got the 525, and like it very much. I have the small Amitech keyboard with USB IR receiver. Is it possible that this will work mith my 525?
Do I just have to mark "use MCE" in MP setup, or do I need some drivers to test this?
What is the best way to set up my remote in the Harmony Remote software? As a microsoft multimediacenter?

Thanx

 

[joystick]

As a microsoft multimediacenter?

Thats what I did, with this setting MP will recognize the Harmony as MCE Remote. I have the Irtrans Receiver built in in my case , though. But this should work with any other Remote receiver.

 

[frank75]

As a microsoft multimediacenter?

Thats what I did, with this setting MP will recognize the Harmony as MCE Remote. I have the Irtrans Receiver built in in my case , though. But this should work with any other Remote receiver.

I have set MP to use the MCE remote, but still no contact. Is there a driver for this?
In the hamony-set up I make a multimediapc and choose microsoft.

Is there a way to test my ir receiver, some kind of software?

Took a look in my system. There my keyboard and mouse uses HID. Went to setup in MP, activated General HID but stll no contact, strange or not?

 

[joystick]

well, you need a receiver for remotes...that's for sure.
I guess your IR receiver just works for the special Keyboard and its codes...

 

[frank75]

I lerned the remote som functions rom my keyboard today and got contact .
Very much to learn, but I think its the only way