There are two choices that work exceptionally well:

(1) the USB UIRT http://www.usbuirt.com/ and
(2) the GC-100 http://www.globalcache.com/products/gc-index.html

the GC-100 is much more expensive, but you gain two remote RS-232 ports, and relay ports as well to control other home automation devices!

both of these devices work out of the box with LinuxMCE, and both support IR learning, which is much needed for doing full A/V control.

I do not recommend using anything else.

-Thom

Thank you for the reply. I will get the UIRT with the extra IR for $5.00 more. I hope I am not wasting money unnecessarily. I do appreciate your input.

I am somewhat new to the whole LinuxMCE project. I have been running ubuntu for a while now so am somewhat familiar with most of the packages. I am however still having a problem determining what IR controller I need.

My main goal is to have one control my entertainment center.  Can someone please explain in small detail what the difference between the ir adapters listed below are?

Any details would be greatly appreciated even if you can only comment on one or two of the ones listed below.

THANKS!!

IRda (cheap usb IRda sticks)

IR transceiver (like usb iguanaworks one http://iguanaworks.net/products.psp )

IR Receiver/Blaster
( like this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880125001 )

UIRT / 2

Serial transceivers (like the iguanaworks one. )