Sorry for a probably very redundant newbie question; but I tried to read many threads to find an answer but I am not familiar with the mumbo jumbo used here (pronto, QR, IR, itach, GC, irule) so I would appreciate if someone could point me to a ?Remote control for dummies? Topic or website.
I have a very common setup for my home-entertainment; (LG TV with Sony Blu-ray and Cable-box) which of course they all come with their own Remote-control (I don?t have the manuals anymore, so I assume the remotes are all infrared… but I?m not sure… and I?m not certain what else they could be other than IR, and I am not certain if it?s important; and I?m not sure how to find out what they are)
I read about ?infrared transmitter? is this the same as what I call my ?remote-controls? for TV etc… Then I think I also read somewhere that one of the product (blaster?) is no longer supported so I guess I want to stay away from this? (but honestly I’m not even sure if it’s the same thing I’m looking for)
So anyway my simple question is probably obvious, is there some kind of universal remote-control (transmitter?) that I can buy that can Learn all in one to control my home-entertainment system… Plus of course, obviously this ?universal remote? must can control a few scenes or zwave devices thru my veralite network (UI5).
Thanks for any help/dispatching in the right direction
Thx
Claude
So anyway my simple question is probably obvious, is there some kind of universal remote-control (transmitter?) that I can buy that can Learn all in one to control my home-entertainment system...
There certainly is. There are many different options of price and functionality. Take a look at [url=http://www.remotecentral.com/]http://www.remotecentral.com/[/url] for lots of information on the subject.
I use a Logitech Harmony 1100 because I like a large screen. These are easy to set up through a web-based utility which already has codes for most AV devices. There are also newer models with Wifi capability (see this) and also some apps for smartphones and tablets. Lots of choices…
Plus of course, obviously this ?universal remote? must can control a few scenes or zwave devices thru my veralite network (UI5).
I do this using a KIRA IR Receiver. See [url=http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,14618.0.html]here.[/url]
Hi RexBeckett
Thanks for your reply. A lots of information to read 
.
I had a look at Logitech Harmony but couldn’t find anything to confirm that this will work my LG TV (model 47LM6400 if I recall? I?m not at home now so I don?t know for sure) … on the contrary I did find on their forum, people discussing that Harmony was not the best with LG??? that?s my luck >:(
And then I started looking for any other type of universal remote (other than Harmony) that will work for sure with my LG (and hopefully with the rest of my equipment) but didn’t find anything with certainty so far? anyway I will keep on searching for now.
But is it possible that some manufacturers (like LG) make it difficult thru some kind of proprietary codes, so that I?m STUCK with using only their standard IR remote-control??? Or do I see problems were there aren?t, and most remote controls (like Harmony) will work with 90% of TV out there? (including my LG)
As for the KEEN IR Receiver, I just want to make sure I understand what I read on their website; This “box” will “intercept” any IR signal (from Harmony or from my regular LG remote-control or whatever other IR remote I may point at it) and then this “box” will transmit the code (different codes associated to different button pressed on the remote) will transmit the code to an IP address?!?!? so What IP address would that be in my example?? Would I set it up to transmit the code to the IP of my veralite??? and then do I assume correctly that I will have installed a veralite plug-in that will interpret that code??? And if I?m correct still, perhaps this plug-in could trigger a scene pre-programed on my veralite???
I?m just trying to understand if this is roughly what I can expect as to the whole process (which would be great), or am I totally off track (and if so, can you elaborate what will happen with this “magic” box please, what happens from the remote-control button being pressed, all the way thru controlling a scene on my vera)
Thanks in advance
Claude
I had no problem getting Harmony 1100 to control my LG 42LD690. All the codes were in the library. I have also added obscure devices that were not in the library. You can create a custom device and learn the codes from your existing remote.
To use KIRA as an IR receiver for Vera, you set it up on your network with its own IP address. The KiraRx plugin reads the IR codes from the KIRA via this IP address. KiraRx will learn codes from KIRA and you can give each code a name - Eg. LightsLow. You can trigger scenes or PLEG conditions using this named code. The KiraRx download includes documentation explaining how to do this.
This KIRA IR Receiver, I don’t know if I find the right thing when searching on Google because it only seems to find references of it in Amazon UK (for example http://www.extravegetables.com/products/kira)
Is there a specific model you can suggest?
Thx
Is there a specific model you can suggest?
I use [url=http://www.keene.co.uk/electronic/keene-electronics/keene-ir-anywhere-(single-worldwide)-/KIRAMW.html]this one.[/url]
Ok Thanks.
So this model works for you? But are you in the UK or in America?
I just to make sure that before I spend over almost $150, I hope this also works in USA/Canada?
I want to avoid having a bad surprise with something like “frequency” being different in UK vs America? or cable/connectors for UK don’t fit in America? or anything else that could go wrong
Thx
This device should be fine in the USA or Canada. The power-supply is suitable for 115V 60Hz and includes the right connector for your wall sockets. The LAN connection is the universal RJ45 and works with 10BaseT or 100BaseT worldwide standard Ethernet. IR standards are international.
Thank you
I will give it a try
I received my little IRanywhere box yesterday. I didn’t know if I’m doing something wrong (the instructions are a bit minimalist) but I couldn’t even access the box’s webpage.
I had plugged the network cable (from my router that has been tested with other devices and it works, so to rule out the problem being my router or my network-cable or my firewall which I temporary completely disabled just to be certain) … so, plugged the network cable into the network jack in the IRanywhere box.
At this point, if I understand the simplicity of the instructions, I should have been able to access the IRanywhere webpage (to configure the IRanywhere box) but when I type the IP address 192.168.1.32 as mentioned in the instructions, I get the “This page can?t be displayed” message in internet-explorer or the “Oops! could not connect to 192.168.1.32” in Google Chrome.
I tried the reset button. I also tried the factory-reset (not sure if it worked). I also downloaded a Java utility but it too could not find my device.
I sent KEENE an email, waiting for their response. I assumed the sent me a defective device and I hated the idea of having to ship this back to the UK and pray for good customer-service.
As I was about to post this here, I decided to go into my router first, to look at the DHCP Client List and… bingo. the IP address that I see connected to my router is not 192.168.1.32 but rather 192.168.1.33. That simple (and a thumbs-down for their documentation)
So finally I will now be able to start playing with this box (not tonight… gotta go to bed at some point) and hopefully I can learn all about this new world of IR.
Thx
Claude
Everything works great, thank you RexBeckett… actually it’s after I downloaded your KiraRx plugin and read your instructions that things started to make more sense, so thanks for that. I’m sure I don’t grasp yet all the possibilities that are now available with this.
One question though, In the package there was a wire (the wand? I think they call it) that I’m supposed to plug in the little box, and I did… but I’m not too sure what it does… I don’t see a difference whether this “wand” is plugged in or not
Thx
Claude
The wand is an IR Emitter - for use if you wanted to send IR commands to your AV gear. If you want to do this, see my KiraTX plugin for instructions.