It was a sad day when my official Microsoft MCE remote (1039 model - picture below) packed it in.
I'd gotten very used to this remote with its nicely functioning and highly responsive buttons and the way it "just worked".
As this remote is no longer in production (and there is no updated version) I was left with the option of getting the closest thing to an official MS remote which was the Happuage MCE Remote Kit which runs for about $50 in Australia or a cheap ebay generic kit which ran for about $20.
I ended up going with the ebay generic version which worked but was quite frustrating in that buttons didn't register properly and was very unresponsive (as in lots of delay) when buttons did actually register.
So - if you're new to the Media Centre game and want a good quality remote setup, what's your best option?
If I was doing it all again (or had to start from scratch right now), my recommendation would be to buy the cheap ebay MCE kit and throw away the remote but keep the USB IR receiver.
Next, go out (or stay in I guess these days...) and get yourself a Logitech
Harmony remote.
There are various models ranging from $20 - $200 depending on the level of fanciness you feel you need :)
I purchased a bargain clearance model Harmony 200 for $15 from JB HiFi and am super impressed with it.
I simply signed up via myharmony.com to access the configuration service and fired up the browser based plugin which then let me start configuring up my remote.
I used the software to configure the primary profile (as you can see there are three profiles - tv, cable and DVD which can be mapped to any device you desire) as a Microsoft 1039 Media Centre remote and waited for the config to sync to the remote.
I then thought - it can't be that easy.
I walked into the lounge and pressed the power button and the HTPC woke up straight away.
Am very impressed at this point.
I then proceeded to give all the other buttons a whirl and everything worked perfectly.
All commands were mapped as I expected and the buttons register first time every time.
As a bonus the interface is nice and responsive.
This is all using the original USB IR receiver from my Microsoft MCE remote kit (which is the same what's included in the ebay kit mind you).
I then took it a step further and loaded the profiles for my TV and Stereo Mini System on and was further impressed with the setup.
The only thing I had to do in addition to this was manually configure a button for use with the stereo mini system profile so that I could scroll through my input selects.
This was as simple as using the Logitech configuration software and pointing the original remote at the new remote, pressing the desired button and then dragging and dropping the newly learnt command to the relevant button in the configuration software.
The ultimate party piece is when you've setup the special "Watch TV" button at the very top left of the remote correctly.
By default this will turn on and off your media centre and TV simultaneously.
Spending 5 minutes more with the software will allow you to also make it include your stereo / amp in that process which is just awesome.
Very impressive stuff :)
 |
| Official MCE Remote = Awesome. Sadly no longer in production. |
I'd gotten very used to this remote with its nicely functioning and highly responsive buttons and the way it "just worked".
As this remote is no longer in production (and there is no updated version) I was left with the option of getting the closest thing to an official MS remote which was the Happuage MCE Remote Kit which runs for about $50 in Australia or a cheap ebay generic kit which ran for about $20.
I ended up going with the ebay generic version which worked but was quite frustrating in that buttons didn't register properly and was very unresponsive (as in lots of delay) when buttons did actually register.
So - if you're new to the Media Centre game and want a good quality remote setup, what's your best option?
If I was doing it all again (or had to start from scratch right now), my recommendation would be to buy the cheap ebay MCE kit and throw away the remote but keep the USB IR receiver.
Next, go out (or stay in I guess these days...) and get yourself a Logitech
Harmony remote.
There are various models ranging from $20 - $200 depending on the level of fanciness you feel you need :)
 |
| Cheap ebay Generic Kit = bad remote performance but a good way to obtain a USB IR receiver. |
I simply signed up via myharmony.com to access the configuration service and fired up the browser based plugin which then let me start configuring up my remote.
I used the software to configure the primary profile (as you can see there are three profiles - tv, cable and DVD which can be mapped to any device you desire) as a Microsoft 1039 Media Centre remote and waited for the config to sync to the remote.
I then thought - it can't be that easy.
I walked into the lounge and pressed the power button and the HTPC woke up straight away.
 |
| Logitech Harmony. Get one. Now. |
Am very impressed at this point.
I then proceeded to give all the other buttons a whirl and everything worked perfectly.
All commands were mapped as I expected and the buttons register first time every time.
As a bonus the interface is nice and responsive.
This is all using the original USB IR receiver from my Microsoft MCE remote kit (which is the same what's included in the ebay kit mind you).
I then took it a step further and loaded the profiles for my TV and Stereo Mini System on and was further impressed with the setup.
The only thing I had to do in addition to this was manually configure a button for use with the stereo mini system profile so that I could scroll through my input selects.
This was as simple as using the Logitech configuration software and pointing the original remote at the new remote, pressing the desired button and then dragging and dropping the newly learnt command to the relevant button in the configuration software.
The ultimate party piece is when you've setup the special "Watch TV" button at the very top left of the remote correctly.
By default this will turn on and off your media centre and TV simultaneously.
Spending 5 minutes more with the software will allow you to also make it include your stereo / amp in that process which is just awesome.
Very impressive stuff :)
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