Is EventGhost right for me and which hardware do I need?

[sparhawk]

I'm running Windows XP with the latest SP installed.

I was browsing through the forum and the documentation but I didn't find any information answering my question. So if this is answered before I appreciate it if I can be pointed to it.

I had an IR remote control which stopped working. Since this device is a bit outdated and can not be replaced, and also because the software is a bit inflexible I wanted to buy something new. I found that program EventGhost and thought it looks as if were exactly what I wanted.
I have written some special frontend which is keyboardcontrolled, so I can run my movies with the RC. My old RC had some software where you could configure up to three applications simulating keypresses on it. From what I learned from the documentation it seems that EventGhost can do exactly this, right? However, what I don't understand is, how EventGhost knows which application it should handle if more than one is running at any one time. So if I run my frontend it should send keystrokes to it, and when this frontend starts mplayer, it should send the keystrokes to it instead (because it's the current active task). Does EG work like this?

The other problem I faced is to work out which hardware I need. I found out that X10 seems to be a standard and is supported by EG so I wanted to buy such a device. From the documentation I saw that Marmitek is supported so I ordered the 8in1 RC. However unfortunately it doesn't have any USB connector or other hardware to connect it to the PC. In fact it looks more like a standard RC which can be used for different devices that support X10. So after googling I think that I need also a device like the CM15 in order to be able to use the PC with my RC. But this is where I'm not sure about it and need some advice.
If I buy this CM15 can I run EventGhost on it and remotely control my applications with it? Or is this CM15 only for remotely controling other devices like light, sunblinds etc..
Is this CM15 a good choice, or should I get some other device instead and if so which one? The controlling of other living room furniture is a future aspect that sounds interesting but is not that important to me at the moment. Depends on the price. The CM15 I can get for about 80Euro which is as much as I want to spend on such a device. I don't want to shell out several hundred, because I use it only for that limited task.
I was searching the forum for information if that CM15 is supported, but it's still not clear to me.

[jinxdone]

So if I run my frontend it should send keystrokes to it, and when this frontend starts mplayer, it should send the keystrokes to it instead (because it's the current active task). Does EG work like this?

Yes, you can do this with EventGhost. The thing is that EventGhost has lots of useful things built in and if you have some programming experience it should be no problem for you to piece together any configuration you want. (using the find window, enable exclusive, conditional jump etc. actions). And what you can't do with the existing actions you can do with python scripts, so there is almost no limit to the possibilities.

For what you described you will probably use the 'find window' action to determine if a program is running, then you want to use the 'enable exclusive' to enable a folder in the configuration tree that has macros specific to the program running and it will disable folders for other programs at the same time.


I can't really help with the usb remotes as I don't have one of those myself. I'm mostly using my serial ir receiver and the xbox remote kit.

[sparhawk]

Thanks! I suspected as much from what I read, but I can't test it before I have the appropriate hardware and I didn't want to buy it without getting confirmation first. Programming is no problem. I have experience with python among other languages, so that's certainly a good thing to hear that I can extend it.

So the only riddle left is which device I should buy to make sure that it works.

[sparhawk]

I just found a Medion USB stick on Ebay. Since Medion is also supported, does this mean that this stick work? Unfortunately it doesn't give any model identification it just says that it's from a Medion notebook. Will this work with the Marmitek RC? I suppose the point of X10 is to make it work with that protocol right? So my assumption is that it should work.
On the auction there are also screenshots, but there is also no identification on it.

[jinxdone]

Actually now that you reminded me, I'll probably get some sort of external IR device with an ethernet port next.

Somebody recently made a plugin for a keene ir over ip device recently, which seems to be one of the more affordable models. Here's the thread about it.
http://www.keene.co.uk/electronics/mult ... code=KIRAM

It's just my plans for the future of my set-up anyway, but maybe something you want to consider too before you go and buy something else.

[sparhawk]

Too late. I just ordered that medion device and hope that it will work. It's rather cheap, so that's not a big problem. The other one I had in mind was much more expensive so I would hate to buy it without knowing if it works, but this stick I can probably sell for the same amount that I bought it if doesn't work for me.

Yeah, I'm a bit impatient when it comes to my computersetup.

[sparhawk]

I bought that Medion Laptop USB Receiver and the Marmitek 8in1 RC. Today I finally got the receiver and just tested it. I downloaded the generic drivers from the main page here. It works!

So I can start programming the macros at the weekend.

Just in case somebody might look for such a solution.