Remote question

[scbundy]

I got a Firefly remote and hoped it would work well with Sage, but I've had nothing but problems. It has terrible reception, which I've heard can possibly be fixed by using a powered USB hub, or popping it open and changing out some of it's hardware. Also, it occasionally just doesn't work at all, and when I go into the setup it tells me to plug in the USB reciever, which is already plugged in. Regardless of how many times I unplug and replug, and reboot and try again, it won't work. The only solution is to uninstall and reinstall the latest Firefly drivers.

As you can guess, these problems immediately give my cool Sage PVR an immediate failing grade from my wife, and she simply changes TV modes back to regular cable and doesn't bother using Sage. She just leaves it for me to tinker with when I get home. She's beginning to think it will never work right and my insistance that by spending a bit more money to "fix" the problem is futile.

The short of it is. I'm done with Firefly. And I got one more chance to sell her on the Sage PVR idea. I need a new remote.

I've heard Sage has native MCE 2005 remote support. Will I need any extra hardware if I pick up this remote tonight? Does it come with a reciever?

What about other remotes, like just having a USB-UIRT and a standard programmable remote. Or perhaps the insanely expensive Logitech Harmony 680?

I need help guys, or my PVR days will be as dead as the dodo. It's incredibly annoying to think that after I got all of this configured and working it might be all undone by a stupid remote issue.

[Naylia]

Mmmm....Harmony. I just got the 688 and my girlfriend loves the remote. Of course ontop of the remote you need a receiver, I'm using a usb-uirt. So remote reciever combo = $150 after $40 mail-in rebate last month on the harmony. She still avoids the htpc, but thats ok I still need to tinker with it to get it perfect.

[markthenewf]

Yeah, I've heard all kinds of people having problems with the firefly.

Are you comfy with 'programmable' remotes? If so, don't bother with the Harmony. Find (perhaps on EBay) an older model Pronto or Marantz. You can poke in 'dummy' IR codes and then assign them to your heart's content in SAGE. Plus if any components change (ex: reciever, TV), you'll just have to reinsert the IR codes for those components. And you set the screens and macros yourself in software and then download it to the remote. You can make it as simple (for the missus) or complex (to tweak with) as you see fit. A couple of examples of what I've done with my Pronto last weekend are attached.

You can probably get a used one pretty cheap. I sold my 3 year old Marantz RC5000 for $90 on Ebay a few months ago (including the charging stand and batteries). I don't doubt you can still find them and similar versions around. I upgraded to the next-generation Pronto (NOT the color one.... I'm not that much of a gizmo-wanna-have) for about $300 five months ago. Again, you can probably get one much cheaper on EBay.

Go to remotecentral.com and peruse the available ones within your price range and requirements.

[silkshadow]

If you're looking for girlfriend acceptance factor, try the harmony. The biggest problem with all the touch screen based remotes is there is a learning curve and a familiarity problem for the girlfriend/wife/husband/boyfriend/whatever. That is 1) that they have to get used to the interface and 2) that you can't toss around or use the LCD remotes like a normal remote. No question the cool factor overides that for most but, if you have a non-gadget inclined girlfriend, it doesn't. The Harmony 680 is a remote. You can toss it around, and its hard button based. It intimadates no one under 50 years old and its super easy to use. After a 5 minute instruction, I have not had a girlfriend yet who wasn't immediatly happy with it.

[aperry]

And exactly how many girlfriends have you had?

[silkshadow]

A gentleman doesn't reveal such things . But I have introduced the Harmony to 17 people (girlfriends, relatives, friends) who use my HTPC client regularly and not one has had a problem with getting used to it quick. Before, I had a Phillips touch screen and all my non-technically inclined girlfriends treated it like a live snake. Its a shame because I really liked the cool factor but am very happy with the Harmony.