Harmony Remotes

[bevhoward]

Just discovered that a device definition for the Media Center IR Keyboard exists in the Harmony database.

However, you have to know it's there and type...

MCE Keyboard

...to select the specific entry from Computer/MediaCenter/Microsoft

The GREAT news is that the MCE keyboard definitions add the commands for;

<START> (the "windows start" as different from the "media start")

<ESCAPE>

<TAB> 

<PageUp>

<PageDn>

<Home>

<End>

<BackSpace>

<Delete> 

<Alt> 

...which don't exist in the MCE Remote devices database. 

These few commands add a huge amount of power to the MCE remote commands, and, allow things such as starting programs on the start menu and using any programs menu options by getting to the menu bar using <Alt> and navigating to menus and commands using the cursor pad.

While the entire windows keyboard is available, it's not practical to use all the keys with a small remote, but, again, the above adds a great deal of power to the Harmony. 

In addition, the current definitions do not allow combining keystrokes such as <Ctrl-C> or <Alt-Tab>

Tip, use the MCE Keyboard in place of any of the MCE Remote devices. 

Hope this info is of value... will add it to my faqs page Media section when I have a moment.

 Beverly Howard

[Georgi]

Dear bevhoward, Thank you very much for the information you have provided, just wanted to add to your post that these commands will only work if you have a genuine Microsoft IR receiver.  Other than that it works great as bevhoward mentioned in his post.

[bevhoward]

>> will only work if you have a genuine Microsoft IR receiver <<

can you provide some examples on this?

I have a fair amount of experience with a number of different ehome compliant receivers including built in receivers and have never had a problem using either the harmony or the MCE keyboard assuming the drivers are in place.

I can understand that there would be problems without the MS ir "rollup" being installed or attempting to issue commands to an IRDA ir receiver, but not anything related to a "non microsoft" device.

Beverly Howard

Message Edited by bevhoward on 06-10-2009 07:14 PM

[Georgi]

Sorry for the confusion bevhoward,

When I said work if you have a genuine Microsoft IR receiver, I meant if the IR receiver or the ehome compliant receivers are not compatible with Microsoft IR codes, it will not work. For example I had one of those $5 Media Center Remote and IR receiver bought from e-bay a while ago.  It works fine If I learned all the commands from the original remote;  It has a full control of the Media Center Remote; however, the receiver does not accept the original Microsoft IR codes. It has its own IR code.

I just wanted to pass this info to all the users to explain the different.

[bevhoward]

Georgi,

This topic is very important to me so, if there are aspects of the hardware I don't understand, I want to learn more. 

The ability to control a media computer is a very valuable asset which is why I would like to get your experience into the mix, and hopefully resolved so the dongel you have will work.

Another factor is that the "Microsoft" branded IR dongles have disappeared from the current market. Others here have posted non microsoft alternatives which work with the MCE remote commands, so, if there is something special about the MS dongles, would like to get specifics on what that is.

All ir "dongles" are pretty dumb, so, it does not make sense that the cheap one you purchased (all of them are really cheap) works with a specific mce remote but does not work with the mce remote and keyboard.

fwiw, the dongles simply provide raw consumer ir to usb  so it's the driver that does the job of translating that to HID commands, so a couple of questions specific to your case to clarify;

What "brand" was the dongle?

Did it work with the Harmony MCE remote commands? 

What OS was running on your computer?

Did you install drivers that came with the dongle?

Have you installed the MCE IR Rollup or are you running an MCE version of Vista? 

Thanks in advance,

Beverly Howard

[Georgi]

Hi bevhoward,

The Remote and the IR receiver are called PC Remote Controller; I bought them from an online web store.  You must use the IR remote came with the unit or learn all the remote buttons from the original remote if you are using the Harmony remote.  Once you plug in the USB IR dongle windows will detect it as USB input receiver, no extra drivers required.  It Works with Windows Vista (Only standard MCE commands such as play, pause,...etc); however, not all the commands works correctly with Windows 7 (Chapter Next and Chapter previous did not work); Also the original remote does not have the green button.  I used it in Windows Vista Ultimate and also my Windows 7 is an RC1 copy of Ultimate. I hope that I have answered all of your questions.

[bevhoward]

>> I hope that I have answered all of your questions. <<

yes you did... thanks.

And, I would encourage you to load the MCE Keyboard device and see if any of those commands don't work, especially if you have the opportunity to compare your ebay ir dongle attached to both Vista MCE and Win7.

Since there are no "Chapter" commands on the MCE remote nor the MCE keyboard, have to guess that those were specific to the ebay remote which, for anyone owning a harmony, is destined to being forgotten in a junk drawer with all of the other oem remotes.

Thanks again,

Beverly Howard

[Georgi]

---

And, I would encourage you to load the MCE Keyboard device and see if any of those commands don't work, especially if you have the opportunity to compare your ebay ir dongle attached to both Vista MCE and Win7.

Since there are no "Chapter" commands on the MCE remote nor the MCE keyboard, have to guess that those were specific to the ebay remote which, for anyone owning a harmony, is destined to being forgotten in a junk drawer with all of the other oem remotes.

---

I tried the MCE keyboard device with the IR dongle, but that did not work for both operating systems.

[bevhoward]

sorry to hear that

Beverly Howard

[justin100]

I am using 670 with both MCE Keyboard and Media Center SE devices.

Today I found a update to the MCE Keyboard device through Device->Troubleshoot. But after the update, I couldn't find the ESCAPE key. 

Can someone confirm this?

Thanks.