I have a home theater PC amoung other devices I want to control. Can the Pronto learn PC wireless keyboard strokes ? Besides the Play, FF, RV, etc. buttons for my PC DVD software player I can have the PC power up with the space-bar stroke and also Windows XP lets you shutdown with Windows+other keystrokes.

Has anyone tried this ? Any threads ?

Haven't bought a Pronto yet so wanting to see if it can do this first.

Thanks !

The first solution that comes to mind would be using a USB-UIRT in conjunction with Girder. If I think of any other options I'll be sure to chime back in.

-Lowpro

If the wireless keyboard uses IR, you can probably learn the codes - it all depends on the carrier and protocol. Do a search on "wireless keyboard" - it has been discussed.

If the wireless KB uses RF, it's unlikely to use the frequency that the NG transmits. Is there an FCC ID number on the keyboard or receiver?

As soon as I get a chance, I will test whether an ATI Remote Wonder receiver can be retuned from 433.92MHz to 418MHz. If it can, it can be controlled by the NG (it can already be controlled by the European NG).

You may also want to see this thread.

[Link: remotecentral.com]

It's an Acer wireless keyboard. This Acer group sold out to BenQ awhile back. The model # is WIL-172U. It has a FCC sticker. It's a standard PC keyboard, just wireless. I know all remotes (example StreamZap) don't use ture IRDA but doesn't all keyboards ? The wireless connectionion plugs into the keyboard and mouse PS2 connections, not USB. I'd be willing to buy a new wireless keyboard if that's what it took but prefer to keep this one if it will work. I have an old Sony RM-AV2000 remote (I hated) and could try to see if this will "learn" the keyboard strokes.......say "space bar" that my PC +5VSB sees and boots my machine. Will this correlate to the TSU7000 if it works ?

Thanks !

Since the keyboard has a FCC ID it is RF not IR. What is the FCC ID Number

That's not necessarily the same as an FCC ID number. RF devices are required to have an FCC ID number.


If the RM-AV2000 can learn the codes, them it uses IR and the Pronto will likely be able to learn them also.

I think this uses IR but I could not be sure from a web search.

Dave Houston
CodeGenPro™

The Sony learned the spacebar and powered-up the PC. I tried to get it to learn the Windows key that pulls up the Start Menu....I figure a "U"..."U" after this shuts down the PC. The Sony would not learn the Window key. However, I stumbled across that the spacebar in your desktop also opens the Start Menu but not inside programs. This will still be a problem because I need Windows to shutdown the programs and shutdown...basically Meedio or other items running. The Windows key would be a easy way to get there. I did find out that the Sony could learn the StreamZap key for shutdown. So, if I bought the Pronto I could program a icon to use the space-bar to power up the HTPC and a icon programmed to the StreamZap power down key to shutdown. However, I'd really like to uninstall the StreamZap and just teach Pronto all the keyboard strokes.....thus would love to figure out the Windows key. FYI, the FCC ID shown is JVPWIL...don't see a FCC #.....just these letters. I think it is IR because the receiver is just a red-face-plate plastic block with one wire going to PS2 mouse, the other to PS2 keyboard inputs on PC.
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Update: Got It To Work ! I had been reading some posts on "dirty" IR commands and it got me thinking about what the Sony was seeing. Bottom line, I was holding down the Windows key too long instead of hitting it once. I saw this when I progammed the "U" and tried in Word and saw a zillion Us run across the screen.

Anyway, I think I'm going to go forward with the Pronto TSU7000. For those HTPCers out there most new PC motherboards have a feature in the BIOS to set a key or key strokes to boot off the power that resides in you +5VSB line. Mine is an Asus board. I set mine to space bar.....As said I'll program one Pronto button to this. Another Pronto will be the Windows key followed by two U's (Win+U+U). This works in any program environment and shutsdown XP clean. As noted in this thread make sure you have an IR keyboard, not wireless...these mean two different things......I unfortunately used them interchangably in the thread. Good news, IR keyboards are sub $20, Wireless are $100+.

Last question........I have a projector overhead in my home theater and my electronics rack is in the front behind glass door where my DVD, PC IR, SAT, Amp, etc. are located. How well does the Pronto TSU7000 IR broadcast in a 22'x15' room ? I mean if I make a macro in Pronto to turn on alot of units and I'm pointing at the electronic rack will the overhead (8' ceiling) projector pick it up ? Just curious if someone has had this experience with IR & location. I know there is an optional RF-to-IR unit but I think this is for behind-the-wall type stuff and not quite sure how this broadcasts the IR.

Thanks !

This message was edited by thekochs on 09/27/04 23:59 ET.

JVP is the grantee ID for BenQ in Taiwan. They have more than 100 devices listed with the FCC but none have WIL in the number. Many of the items that are listed do not appear to be RF so it may be that they misunderstood FCC rules.

In any event, since you can learn the codes with the Sony remote, they are IR and you should be able to learn them with the Pronto. You could even use the Sony to teach the Pronto.

thekochs,

I have an overhead projector in a space about the same size as yours, although one side of my theater is open to the rest of the basement. My Pronto TSU7000 has no problem controlling the projector. I should mention the my projector (Epson PowerLite 7700) has an IR receiver on the front (near the lens) and is built to see IR bouncing off the screen. I would guess that most projectors are like that, but this is the only one I've ever had.