Best (cheap) IR blaster?

[someperson]

I've been using EventGhost for a long time now on our HTPC with the Hauppauge remote. For reference, we have a Hauppauge HVR-1600 and a PCTV 800i. As far as I can tell though, the IR blaster on the Hauppauge card is unsupported, so it's pretty much useless to me.

My problem is that I'd like to be able to switch on/off our TV (an old CRT) from the Hauppauge remote. What is the cheapest thing I can buy to accomplish this? The USB-UIRT looks very nice, but I find it hard to justify the cost. Are there any other options out there?

[Owel]

USB IR TOY

[kkl]

For my money, it's the HP MCE IR transceiver. Although made for the Microsoft MCE remote control, it can receive and transmit any standard IR code. ~$14 on Ebay (search "HP MCE IR"). Use with the "Microsoft MCE Remote - Vista/Win7" plug-in in EG.

[gechu]

I┬┤ve used Twisted Melon┬┤s Manta TR1 in Windows7 x64. Works very well.

http://twistedmelon.com/mira/hardware.html/

[radengr]

I posted this mostly to agree with @kkl and @gechu, but point out that for either case you need to make sure you have a IR blaster cable.

I have a Twisted Melon Manta that also works very well. I've had mine since about 2006. Twisted Melon is a great company (actually I think it is just one guy). You will need to get an IR blaster cable separately as the Manta doesn't come with one. The Manta is a repackaged MCE receiver.

I also have a MCE IR receiver that I bought off ebay. Any of the MCE IR receivers from ebay (HP, Gateway, Lenovo, Dell) should be fine as well. You can probably find one for about $18 /w remote, IR receiver, and IR blaster cable. I think this is a better deal that $14 without ir cable or remote, especially if you want to do blasting. Just make sure you are actually ordering a MCE ir reciever/blaster and not something else.

[kkl]

for either case you need to make sure you have a IR blaster cable

At least for my HP-branded unit, a blaster cable isn't required if there is line of site (including IR bounce) between the front of the unit and the device to be controlled. The unit itself has a blaster. The EG plug-in will use this as the default or allow you to select a specific blaster port that has a IR blaster cable attached.