I'm building a HTPC/file server... it won't have any capture card for now, since we have a DISH HDDVR. We just want to be able to rip our DVD collection to the PC, then watch them via my home theater.

I own and love the Harmony 520, and am wondering if i'll be able to use it to control this HTPC. Can I buy an IR sensor since the cases i'm looking at don't have one? And can I get the nessesary drivers or software for it? I don't think I need it to function as a mouse. I'll be using Windows Media Center, just I haven't decided between XP or Vista.

Any ideas or recommendations? Obviously my main priority is to use only the 520, since it controls the rest of my theater [TV, receiver, DVR, xbox [sort of], xbox 360, DVD player [which will be replaced by the HTPC]. I'd like to just keep the one remote if possible.

Update to this thread. I just found out my wife accidently left the 520 on the floor, then moved her row machine right on top of it. Broke the LCD screen.

So, we'll be getting the 550 now. Can I make the 550 work with a HTPC with an IR port?

I highly recommend getting something like the USB-UIRT receiver.

[Link: usbuirt.com]

Then you can use it with software like Intelliremote http://www.intelliremote.com or Girder.

Depends what kind of IR port is it. Is it IRDA or CIR? The former being high-speed/short distance, and the lattar being low speed/high distance. Most desktop or laptop computers would have IRDA; something sold as a media center may have CIR.

If you don't have CIR you'll need to buy a dedicated CIR receiver, such as the USB-UIRT or a Microsoft MCE receiver.

The distance is about 15 feet. Would IRDA or CIR be best? I guess the question is, what's long range, and what's short range?

Thanks.