IR Help *please* Which IR transceiver to get? Supported IR Hardware?

[Jive]

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. )

[tschak909]

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

[Jive]

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.

[royw]

You will probably find the stick on dual ir emitter cable useful.  Something like the xantech 286M.
This lets you control two devices from one usb-uirt.

HTH,
Roy

[ghope5]

I have purchased a UsbUirt from their home site. It does take control of the Mce remote but the mce uirt would do the same. It came with no instructions for linuxmce does not even support linux on the web site.
I have spent $112.00 on the CommandIR and it will do about the same as the usbuirt allow me to control the GUI of linuxmce with a MCE remote something I could do out of the box with the Mce uirt. now I have spent $55.00 on the UsbUirt and I have the same problem the seller of the usbuirt tells me they know nothing about setting up the uirt in linux but they would help me with windows. I am sure from what I have read in the forums that this can be programed to work if I new how, every one says that it works out of the box this would mean plug  & play. Plug& play to do what? to control the cursor on the screen.
I want to be able to take controll of a StarChoice Satellite box change channels in programs record programed recordings . I don't know how to find the code learning program for the usbuirt can anyone shed some light on this Please.
Gord

[tschak909]

Since the USB-UIRT can be controlled by LinuxMCE directly, it can also learn codes directly from the Web Admin site.

To do this, create a new device template by going to Advanced > Configuration > Device Templates

Be sure to pick a manufacturer, or create one if one does not exist.
Then be sure to pick the correct category for your IR device.

After this, you can select [Add Device Template], after which, follow the prompts...be sure to select Infra-red as the communication method. You will then be asked about the capabilities of your device, and systematically have the USB UIRT learn the IR pulses by placing the remote next to the front of its IR window and pressing buttons when prompted to learn.

-Thom

[totallymaxed]

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. )

You can also use a standard Microsoft MCE USB Tranceiver with LinuxMCE - very low cost option. They are plug n play and will receive and blast. But they do not support the IR learning capability of the usbUIRT though.

Andrew

[Techstyle]

Andrew,

I have a MCE remote with blaster add on bits and have been trying to get it working to control my reciever.  It will not automatically control my reciever.  if I go to 'resend AV codes' and 'advanced' then select the 'vol up' for instance it will control my vol (blaster light fashes).  however, if I use the onscreen orbiter and in ambiance mode turn up the vol nothing happens.

Rodercot tells me this is normal, see http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6074.msg36819#msg36819 do you have experiences to the contrary? if so, what am I doing wrong because I am about to go buy a $60 USB UIRT.  It would be great if a £13.00 MCE remote could do it.

Jason