cheap USB receiver

[katamara]

I've been using EventGhost with a USB-UIRT so a few years and it works great. Now I'd like to set up a media PC on my other computer, but I dont want to spend the money to buy another USB-UIRT. I was wondering if anyone has tried any of these cheap remotes with a usb receiever:
I'm linking to DealExtreme, but I've seen these on ebay as well:
This one looks like the same one that's pictured in the PC Remote Controller plug-in
http://dx.com/p/driver-free-universal-u ... -aaa-27596

or this one:
http://dx.com/p/multimedia-ir-remote-co ... 2025-26368

I'm not crazy about the remotes themselves, but I was figuring on replacing the remote with one of the universal remotes that I like. I figure that as long as the IR reciever is recognized in EventGhost and sees the remote button presses I can use any remote I like.

So if anyone is using either of these cheap usb receivers-or has any other cheap options, I'd like to hear them.

[User]

I totally second the request!
Dx.com has tons of cheap remote+receiver kits.
btw most of these "Driver-free" receivers works by emulating HID devices (a real keyboard+mouse), so i dunno if it is doable...

EDIT: what about this Leonovo MCE kit?
If it is fully compatible with the Microsoft MCE Remote then it is already supported.

[kkl]

I don't know about the Lenovo brand specifically, but the HP MCE IR receivers make for a very good universal IR receiver and blaster at a pretty cheap price. As mentioned about the dx.com remote, it emulates a mouse/keyboard and doesn't work as a generic IR receiver.

[User]

you mean something like this?
Can it be reconfigured to work with other remotes too?
(i'd like to use the bigger one that comes with my LG TV)

[kkl]

Yes. It can receive the signal from almost any standard IR remote control. It can also learn and blast (transmit) the signal from almost any remote.

P.S. I can confirm that it works fine in Windows 8.

[bm92]

I know a standard USB IR receiver/blaster can receive and incoming IR signal and pass it to either the connected IR emitters (blaster) or a PC where events can be detected by EventGhost (receiver).

What I don't know is, Can EventGhost replay an IR command through the blaster out to the emitters? Is the USB connection to the PCI incoming only or can you send outgoing commands that you want blasted to peripherals?

Example:
Equipment: PC, USB IR receiver/blaster, IR emitter cord, Audio Receiver Equipment. All connected as you would expect. Can EventGhost be used to register KEY_PRESS and transmit IR_COMMAND to the Audio Receiver Equipment?

If this will not work with a standard off the shelf blaster is there an emitter solution that can do this with EventGhost?

[matejdro]

I hope if you don't mind me stealing your thread:

Can MCE receivers receive commands for any remote through EventGhost without custom drivers/services? I know custom MCE service can do that, but this as I read, this would disable waking up feature which I really like.

[bm92]

I did some testing and found out that YES. EventGhost works with any off the shelf IR receiver/blaster even if you only have a generic auto installed windows driver (windows 7 platform). You do not have to pay big bucks for USB-UIRT.

My generic receiver/blaster+IR emitters is working great for both receiving commands from any IR remote and sending IR commands to my other devices (TV, Receiver, STB).

And Yes, EventGhost can receive commands from any IR remote or emulate any IR remote without custom drivers. Just use the EventGhost plugin that for IR recievers/blasters (Microsoft MCE Remote). (The only exception might be IR remotes that use rotating codes or codes that change each time you press the button, but there are very few remotes that do this.) I however don't know what you mean by wake up feature though. So I hope things go well for you.

[matejdro]

By waking up I mean that I can wake up PC from standby using button on the remote.

[bm92]

I feel like I should know the answer to this, but if your PC is in stand-by won't all of the programs (including EventGhost) be turned off or in stand-by mode?

[matejdro]

I don't know how it works, but it does on MCE receivers.

[share2jason]

I heard DX before, really a good online website in Shenzhen China, also you can find different cheap usb remotes from the other online shopping mall such as Alibaba,Dhgate, handgiftbox, focalprice...