I'm with ya. I have a Phillips Pronto but would like the capability of adding timer based macros and control while I am away from home. I'm about to upgrade my laptop and plan to turn my current one into a home control center. As an aside, there are some HP calculators
that can be used as universal remotes and, although, not a very powerful irda apparently, the Palm Pilot has similiar abilites. They say one must be within 3 feet of the receiving device to consistently transmit. But there is a company dedicated to turning Palm's into these universal remote controls and they won an award from 3Com, who obviously sees an opportunity to add value to their product so I am certain that future models will have stronger transmitting power as well as software support for programming. As far as using your laptop, Xantech would be your best bet. Only problem is you must use their hardware to teach your pc your remote's codes, as well as, their IR transmitter (at a cost of well over $1,000), as opposed to using your irda output.
I'd like to know how powerful the irda on laptops is. Seems like someone would develope it for their own use or see the money making potential of such a program and develope it.
Try the following links:
[Link: xantech.com]Here is a quote from an e-mail that I received from Barry Gordon, "If you want to control a PC through the Pronto, that is easy. You need a
IR2PC device made by CustomRemotes (they are on the web). You then have to use NEC based codes on the Pronto and you can have the PC know every time
you touched a button or the Pronto screen, and exactly what you touched. That is the way my system works. The PC then controls all devices
in the house (X10 for lights, IR for Theater)."
[Link: customremote.com]Although none of these places answers your immediate question, if people like you and I keep asking questions and getting closer and closer we may eventually get what we are looking for. Even if you do not have a Pronto I would, also, suggest
posting questions on the Pronto Forum on this site and at prontoedit.com (bulletin board). You will come across technical minds that will amaze you in their ability to problem solve and their inability to see a challenge, like our wish, and not figure out a way to make it work if it is indeed possible.
Here is something specifically more in line with what your looking for try:
[Link: dodgies.demon.co.uk]Apparently the irda is a weak signal but one could work around that by putting a remote control extender next to a stationary laptop (which will work for me as my laptop will be retired from portabilty).
Here is the location of a good remote extender:
Or you could attach this tiny transmitter to your irda and still maintain portability iwithin your home and then use a receiver(s) to face and control your equipment.
[Link: x10.com]Here are 2 great pages with lots of killer links:
[Link: usuarios.com][Link: usuarios.com]Here is the site for the Palm Pilot Remote Control product.
[Link: pacificneotek.com] You will love this one (NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR ANNOUNCES 4 Mbps FAST INFRARED CONTROLLER WITH TV REMOTE CAPABILITIES):
[Link: national.com]ps95003.html
Hope at least some of this helped.
Adron
