Archive:List of MCE remote controls: Difference between revisions
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== Other unbranded MCE remote == | == Other unbranded MCE remote == | ||
Revision as of 16:13, 15 September 2011
This is a (probably futile) attempt to keep up with the vast range of MCE remotes out there, and give some indication of how well they work with XBMC.
If you are adding a review please try to be as detailed as possible about the remote. For example:
- What operating systems and versions of XBMC have you tested on
- Does the remote send keystrokes or is it MS compatible?
- If it's MS compatible have you tested reconfiguring it using the registry and did this work?
The article groups the Microsoft compatible (also known as eHome or RC6) remotes together first, as these are most configurable when you're using them with XBMC. Other than this there's no significance to the order of the reviews.
eHome/RC remotes
The remotes in this section all use the Microsoft eHome driver on Windows. See http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Using_a_Microsoft_remote_control_in_Windows for more details. This type of remote is supported out of the box by XBMC Live.
eHome remotes are generally more expensive than the non-eHome remotes, but they are highly configurable and work very well with XBMC. Many universal handsets, for example the Harmony remotes, have emulation for eHome/RC6 handsets built in so they will work with an eHome IR receiver.
Microsoft Media Center Remote Control
AIM RC6 Media Center Remote Control
Hauppauge Media Center Remote Control Kit
Microsoft XBox 360 Universal Remote Control
Philips 5100 4in1 Vista MCE Remote
Non eHome/RC remotes
These remotes usually work by emulating a keyboard, that is when you press a button on the remote XBMC receives a key press just as if a key had been pressed on the keyboard. Most of the remotes emulate multimedia keyboards or send Windows Media Center keyboard shortcuts like ctrl-shift-P for Play.
XBMC has all the required keyboard mappings for these remotes so they should work out of the box. However they usually cannot be configured so they have some limitations. For example, on Windows the green button will start Windows Media Center and this can't be changed without considerable messing around.
These remotes will work with XBMCLive as long as Ubuntu recognises them as a keyboard, which isn't always the case.
Other unbranded MCE remote
There is no manufacturer's name on this remote or the manual, but it works very well with XBMC Dharma PVR on Windows XP Sp3. No additional software required (p.e USB drivers ). Live TV channels are showned trought Media Portal Server 1.1.3.0 installed on same computer as XBMC.
The Remote is MS compatible and using it is possible move mouse pointer with arrows button.
No reconfiguration needed. It is possible buy this remote also online website (like ebay).
GoTView PC Remote
The GoTView PC Remote control looks exactly like the "unbranded remote" above. It is also detected as MCE remote by lircd, but has slightly different keycodes, which are incompatible with xbmc defaults. To make things work correctly, add something like the following before the </keyboard> </global> lines in your /usr/local/share/xbmc/system/keymaps/keyboard.xml file
<one mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ContextMenu</one>
<two mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ActivateWindow(PlayerControls)</two>
<three mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ActivateWindow(music)</three>
<four mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ActivateWindow(pictures)</four>
<five mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ActivateWindow(video)</five>
<home mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ActivateWindow(MusicPlaylist)</home>
<r mod="ctrl">Queue</r>
<h mod="ctrl,alt,shift">Info</h>
<b mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ActivateWindow(MusicOSD)</b>
<f mod="ctrl,alt,shift">ActivateWindow(VisualisationPresetList)</f>
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows
The Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows, which is sold by Microsoft with a separate receiver, works with XBMC on Windows XP, Vista, 7 and with Standard Microsoft Drivers. For Linux there are Userspace drivers available here: Homepage and Binaries or Git-Source.
In order to use it properly, you should setup a Keymap.xml accordingly. This will work under Windows and Linux.
For Windows however there is the possibility to use an Eventclient. This Client will send the button-presses to your XBMC. There are disadvantages to this method however:
- You have to run the EventClient every time you want to use your XBMC
- It is a console-application with a window, that can disturb your experience
- The button-presses will be sent to XBMC even though it might not be in the focus (So - if you play a game for instance with your controller, the button-presses will still be sent to XBMC as well)
The EventClient can be compiled via the XBMC-Source (EventClient on Github) or the binary Xbox360EventClient.exe is available from this Forum-Post [Mirror] (MD5: 4B69791B1DC2DA4400B5912CFF9EFED0).
XBox DVD Remote
The original DVD remote for XBox 1. This is a simple well working remote, almost out of the box experience and it has a good support in xbmc.
See wiring and lirc config
This remote won't work "out of the box" with Windows as it doesn't send keystrokes and can't be configured to do so. It can be made to work with a helper app like Eventghost or IR Server Suite. See http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=45337 for the details.
Flirc
Flirc is a small usb device that plugs into your computer and pairs with your same television remote. No need for another remote to clutter your table, pair once, and use forever. The best part about flirc is that it mimics a keyboard so every media center application understands it without any drivers. Flirc runs across all platforms.
(I don't have permissions to upload the file as an embedded picture)
Original Boxee Box remote control
(I don't have permissions to upload the file as an embedded picture)
This remote comes with the Boxee Box from D-Link, but is also sold separately. It comes with at small USB receiver, and works out of the box as an external USB keyboard. On the front face it has navigation buttons, OK, Esc, and a Play/Pause button. On the back face, it has an almost complete QWERTY keyboard.