baijuxavior
Well-Known Member
Getting a quality remote control for PC is a big problem faced by HTPC users. My first PC remote was a generic one which mimics keyboard presses, but the keypresses are fixed and cannot be customized without third party applications like EventGhost. Since different players use different keyboard shortcuts, a remote that can be customized is desirable. So I bought an MCE remote which can be customized by editing the registry. But it has limited number of buttons only. For example CD Eject button, Subtitle button etc. are not present in MCE remotes which become handy while using the HTPC as a disk player. With the mce receiver and eventghost I was able to use the remote controls of my TV, DVD and STB to control XBMC. But eventghost sometimes won't respond to IR commands. Then I learned about FLIRC and decided to give it a try.
What is FLIRC?
FLIRC is a small USB IR receiver which can learn IR codes from any IR remote control and convert them to keyboard presses. This means you can use your existing TV, DVD, STB or universal remote controls to control your PC. This wonderful device is designed by a young engineer Jason Kotsin who works on this project in his spare time. Visit flirc.tv - Your TV - PC Remote Companion for more details.
How to buy one?
You can order FLIRC from the official website or from distributors like modmypi.com. I bought mine from the official site itself. They will ship to India directly. Price of one unit is $22.95. Shipping charge varies depending on shipping mode. I opted the basic 'USPS First Class International' which costs $6.55. Coupon code 'XBMC' can be applied to get $5 off, but unfortunately it is not deducted during checkout. Payment is through Paypal and forum member 'srinisundar' ordered it for me. Shipping is done on Saturdays. For some reasons, the first shipment never reached me. I waited for two months as per their request and Mr. Jason sent me another one through Express Mail (costs $48 which is more than twice the price of the dongle alone.)
Images (Taken using crappy mobile phone camera
. I will replace the images later with better one).
The build quality is excellent. This one is made in America and not Chinese. The white transparent body gives great IR reception. You can point the remote in any direction and the dongle will hardly miss the signal. You can even place the dongle at the back of the PC case if there is a reflecting surface.
Initial Setup
The device needs to setup using the FLIRC application only once to learn the IR codes. No software is needed for further use and it can be used in any PC on any OS just like a USB keyboard. The application gives a full keyboard view or views for XBMC, WMC etc for configuration. Pairing the remote is very simple - press the required key combination and then press the remote button. The IR code is saved instantly in the device itself. You can also erase a particular key or the entire keys. For test purpose I bought a DVD remote control for Rs.50/-. Initially continuous keypress (like for volume control and navigational keys) was not working. After updating the firmware, it worked like a charm. A total of 160 keys can be saved. After the initial pairing setup is completed, you can use it on any PC and even in Android devices (not tested) as this appears as a keyboard.
Pros
Easy to configure and use.
Good build quality.
Excellent IR response.
Use your existing remote. Supports almost all remote controls.
Cons
The only drawback I could find is that it is slightly expensive. It costs approximately Rs.1.8K using standard shipping option.
Verdict
A must have little tool for HTPC users and those who are looking for a PC remote control. The money you pay for this product is well worth the value. Above all, a portion of the profit goes to Cancer Care Research.
What is FLIRC?
FLIRC is a small USB IR receiver which can learn IR codes from any IR remote control and convert them to keyboard presses. This means you can use your existing TV, DVD, STB or universal remote controls to control your PC. This wonderful device is designed by a young engineer Jason Kotsin who works on this project in his spare time. Visit flirc.tv - Your TV - PC Remote Companion for more details.
How to buy one?
You can order FLIRC from the official website or from distributors like modmypi.com. I bought mine from the official site itself. They will ship to India directly. Price of one unit is $22.95. Shipping charge varies depending on shipping mode. I opted the basic 'USPS First Class International' which costs $6.55. Coupon code 'XBMC' can be applied to get $5 off, but unfortunately it is not deducted during checkout. Payment is through Paypal and forum member 'srinisundar' ordered it for me. Shipping is done on Saturdays. For some reasons, the first shipment never reached me. I waited for two months as per their request and Mr. Jason sent me another one through Express Mail (costs $48 which is more than twice the price of the dongle alone.)
Images (Taken using crappy mobile phone camera
. I will replace the images later with better one).
The build quality is excellent. This one is made in America and not Chinese. The white transparent body gives great IR reception. You can point the remote in any direction and the dongle will hardly miss the signal. You can even place the dongle at the back of the PC case if there is a reflecting surface.
Initial Setup
The device needs to setup using the FLIRC application only once to learn the IR codes. No software is needed for further use and it can be used in any PC on any OS just like a USB keyboard. The application gives a full keyboard view or views for XBMC, WMC etc for configuration. Pairing the remote is very simple - press the required key combination and then press the remote button. The IR code is saved instantly in the device itself. You can also erase a particular key or the entire keys. For test purpose I bought a DVD remote control for Rs.50/-. Initially continuous keypress (like for volume control and navigational keys) was not working. After updating the firmware, it worked like a charm. A total of 160 keys can be saved. After the initial pairing setup is completed, you can use it on any PC and even in Android devices (not tested) as this appears as a keyboard.
Pros
Easy to configure and use.
Good build quality.
Excellent IR response.
Use your existing remote. Supports almost all remote controls.
Cons
The only drawback I could find is that it is slightly expensive. It costs approximately Rs.1.8K using standard shipping option.
Verdict
A must have little tool for HTPC users and those who are looking for a PC remote control. The money you pay for this product is well worth the value. Above all, a portion of the profit goes to Cancer Care Research.
