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OT: cheap clicker with serial IR receiver

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rkoblish at gmail

Feb 8, 2010, 10:53 PM

Post #1 of 5 (536 views)
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OT: cheap clicker with serial IR receiver

I just stumbled across this: <tekgems.com/Products/tg-pbr.htm>. It's a
Packard-Bell-labeled 34-button remote control, with 9-pin serial IR
receiver, for $1.49 (plus $5 S&H per order). It is not a universal
remote control; it won't control your TV, VCR, or DVD player. All 34
buttons are usable with LIRC; there aren't any dedicated device
buttons. Each button sends its own keycode.

I already have one of these, and am using it as a dedicated remote
control for my frontend. Mine works well. It receives the IR signal
from my RS 15-2116 clicker also.

I had to edit the lirc config files I got with Mythbuntu; for one
thing, no key was programmed to send the Escape code. The 34 keys are
sufficient for basic use. You'll want to make an overlay to label the
keys to agree with your LIRC configuration. It's a cheap clicker that
you don't have to worry about the kids breaking. And even if you don't
use the clicker, it's a cheap IR receiver if your frontend has a 9-pin
serial port.

Disclaimer: I have no connection or experience with this supplier. I
acquired mine from another source, and am pleased with its feature set
and performance.

One more thing: it uses AA batteries, which should last longer than
the AAA cells used in some other remotes.

Bob Koblish
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nick.rout at gmail

Feb 8, 2010, 11:05 PM

Post #2 of 5 (507 views)
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Re: OT: cheap clicker with serial IR receiver [In reply to]

On Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 7:53 PM, Robert Koblish <rkoblish [at] gmail> wrote:
> I just stumbled across this: <tekgems.com/Products/tg-pbr.htm>. It's a
> Packard-Bell-labeled 34-button remote control, with 9-pin serial IR
> receiver, for $1.49 (plus $5 S&H per order). It is not a universal
> remote control; it won't control your TV, VCR, or DVD player. All 34
> buttons are usable with LIRC; there aren't any dedicated device
> buttons. Each button sends its own keycode.
>
> I already have one of these, and am using it as a dedicated remote
> control for my frontend. Mine works well. It receives the IR signal
> from my RS 15-2116 clicker also.
>
> I had to edit the lirc config files I got with Mythbuntu; for one
> thing, no key was programmed to send the Escape code. The 34 keys are
> sufficient for basic use. You'll want to make an overlay to label the
> keys to agree with your LIRC configuration. It's a cheap clicker that
> you don't have to worry about the kids breaking. And even if you don't
> use the clicker, it's a cheap IR receiver if your frontend has a 9-pin
> serial port.
>
> Disclaimer: I have no connection or experience with this supplier. I
> acquired mine from another source, and am pleased with its feature set
> and performance.
>
> One more thing: it uses AA batteries, which should last longer than
> the AAA cells used in some other remotes.

I have one. I disagree. Its horrid. Functional-ish but without the
buttons you really want, and I can never remember where I mapped the
useful ones.

Damn cheap though. If anyone wants one they can have it for the
shipping (as I'm in New Zealand, that may make it more expensive than
you'd ever want to pay for one!)
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ylee at pobox

Feb 8, 2010, 11:47 PM

Post #3 of 5 (507 views)
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Re: OT: cheap clicker with serial IR receiver [In reply to]

Nick Rout <nick.rout [at] gmail> says:
> I have one. I disagree. Its horrid. Functional-ish but without the
> buttons you really want, and I can never remember where I mapped the
> useful ones.

I can't make out the layout of the remote--the Website's photos are
far too small--and am quite happy with my MX-600 RF remote. That said,
the IR receiver alone would be worth $1.49; think of the remote, no
matter how good/bad it is, as a free gift.

--
Frontend/backend: P4 3.0GHz, 1.5TB software RAID 5 array
Backend: Quad-core Xeon 1.6GHz, 6.6TB sw RAID 6
Video inputs: Four high-definition over FireWire/OTA
Accessories: 47" 1080p LCD, 5.1 digital, and MX-600
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nick.rout at gmail

Feb 8, 2010, 11:55 PM

Post #4 of 5 (504 views)
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Re: OT: cheap clicker with serial IR receiver [In reply to]

On Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 8:47 PM, Yeechang Lee <ylee [at] pobox> wrote:
> Nick Rout <nick.rout [at] gmail> says:
>> I have one. I disagree. Its horrid. Functional-ish but without the
>> buttons you really want, and I can never remember where I mapped the
>> useful ones.
>
> I can't make out the layout of the remote--the Website's photos are
> far too small--and am quite happy with my MX-600 RF remote. That said,
> the IR receiver alone would be worth $1.49; think of the remote, no
> matter how good/bad it is, as a free gift.

yeah except as machines like the revo become more prevalent the serial
lirc receiver becomes less useful.

picture is here: http://www.wiresncode.com/projects/packardbell/packardbell.jpg

It was originally designed so the centre pad did mouse movement and
the wings off the side did left/right mouse buttons. It doesn't work
that way in lirc of course.

Should anyone find it useful I can supply my lircd.conf which works
for minimyth's mappings.
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philledwards at gmail

Feb 9, 2010, 2:55 AM

Post #5 of 5 (491 views)
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Re: OT: cheap clicker with serial IR receiver [In reply to]

> I just stumbled across this: <tekgems.com/Products/tg-pbr.htm>. It's a
> Packard-Bell-labeled 34-button remote control, with 9-pin serial IR
> receiver, for $1.49 (plus $5 S&H per order). It is not a universal
> remote control; it won't control your TV, VCR, or DVD player. All 34
> buttons are usable with LIRC; there aren't any dedicated device
> buttons. Each button sends its own keycode.
>
> I already have one of these, and am using it as a dedicated remote
> control for my frontend. Mine works well. It receives the IR signal
> from my RS 15-2116 clicker also.

I've used these in the past and I found it great. Doesn't look sexy
but it gets the job done. Nowadays I have a Harmony remote - but I
still use the serial receiver that came with the Packard Bell.
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