Rookie needs advice

[glpugliese]

I have a Home Theater PC controlled from an IPAQ 2215 with WiFi. I'm using the Pebbles Project Remote Commander software on the IPAQ to control all functions on the PC and to have visual feedback of the remote PCs screen. I would also like to use the IPAQ as my remote for all of my audio/video equipment. One of the reasons I chose the 2215 was for the built-in Nevo remote control software. However, the IR transceiver in the 2215 is not strong enough to control the equipment from my seating location. The only IR booster I've been able to find for the IPAQ plugs into the headphone jack but it won't fit with the WiFi adapter plugged in. It sounds like HouseBot has the ability to take commands I send it from the IPAQ via WiFi and convert them into the necessary IR codes for the A/V equipment. First of all, am I correct in this assumption? If so, I would still need some IR hardware to pass the codes from the PC to the A/V gear. Any suggestions on what I should use to do this? My preference would still be to control the equipment directly from the IPAQ so I wouldn't have to have the PC turned on every time I want to use the stereo but HouseBot seems like a good alternative.

[ScottBot]

Gabriel,



Using HouseBot, you can build a 'Theme' which is a collection of windows with controls (buttons, gauges, etc) that control things on the HouseBot server. The server can then control external hardware through various hardware interfaces supported by HouseBot. So 'yes' you can use HouseBot to control your IR equipment using an IPAQ/Wifi. For this to work, however, the HouseBot software must be running on the server.



HouseBot supports several IR transceivers. If you are JUST wanting to control using IR, the least expensive option would probably be the USB-UIRT. You can find the plugins and a link to the USB-UIRT web site in the additional downloads area of the HouseBot site.

[glpugliese]

Scott,



Thanks for your speedy reply. That usually doesn't happen on these forums.



I have one more question. Can HouseBot completely replace the Pebbles Remote Commander software I'm currently running on the IPAQ? The Pebbles stuff works okay but has a couple of annoying bugs that I wouldn't mind eliminating.

[ScottBot]

I've never used or even seen the Pebbles Remote Commander, so I really can't say.



HouseBot's free, so there's not much to lose in checking it out.

[glpugliese]

Okay, I have HouseBot loaded on the server but I'm a little unsure which software remote file needs to be loaded on the IPAQ. I think it's the one in the Clients/PPC/ARM folder but I'm not sure. Can you confirm this?



Thank you for your help.

[ScottBot]

You are correct