Niveus PC Remote Configuration Questions

[abasu2003]

I just got mine and am trying to figure out the best way to program it. It comes with a program where you can program in keystrokes. Right now, I've programmed in all of the corresponding Sage keystrokes that I had mapped to Sage when I was using the Hauppauge remote.

I am running into at least one problem. I can't decide what to do with the power key. I want it to toggle between starting up sage and sleeping sage, but I can't figure otu if there is a way to do this. The program it comes with does not distinguish between being in windows and being in teh Sage program (as far as I can tell). So I can't figure out a way to get two different behaviors based on what program I'm in.

If anybody else can think of a way to get this done (maybe through shortcut keys or a commandline argument to Sage let me know. I'm also open to a completely different way of programming the remote, extraneous of Niveus's program. Its an RF remote....

[Opus4]

There are 3 power commands Power (#19), Power ON (#43), & Power OFF (#44). #19 is a toggle command, so you can use it while SageTV is awake or sleeping. If you just want to switch between those 2 modes, there is your single command.

- Andy

[abasu2003]

Originally Posted by Opus4

There are 3 power commands Power (#19), Power ON (#43), & Power OFF (#44). #19 is a toggle command, so you can use it while SageTV is awake or sleeping. If you just want to switch between those 2 modes, there is your single command.

- Andy

the niveus program only lets me program keystrokes or lets me run a command line. Is there a command-line argument for Sage that executes teh command?

[Opus4]

See Appenix D (p. 189) or Appendix J (p. 201) in the manual for two ways to send event messages to SageTV.

- Andy

[abasu2003]

Sorry, I actually went to this right after I sent my post. I know, I know RTFM.

I still have a problem though (I think) after consulting the manual. It seems as though I can't use those command line parameters unless I have Sage running. Is there a way to make sure SageTV.exe is running by using the SendMessage utility maybe?

[Blue]

You may want to take a look at Total Home Remote:
http://totalhomeremote.tv/

Here is a review:
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=thr_remote_1

The Niveus software is very limited, although there should be a new version available before the end of the year. The THR developer is working with Niveus on the next version.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by abasu2003

I still have a problem though (I think) after consulting the manual. It seems as though I can't use those command line parameters unless I have Sage running. Is there a way to make sure SageTV.exe is running by using the SendMessage utility maybe?

I don't believe so -- both methods of sending event numbers rely on SageTV to already be running. I would either have it start when Windows does, or manually start it immediately after Windows finishes booting.

If your remote can't send different commands depending on its current status (or which app has focus), then I'm not sure how you would run the exe w/o dedicating a button for that purpose. If it could know its state, then you woudn't have the problem in your first post & you coudl just always have the power on button run the exe when the state is not SageTV.

- Andy

[Grasshopper]

Can't you just map a keystroke to the Power command in Sage (via the keyboard) and then map your remote to that keystroke?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Can't you just map a keystroke to the Power command in Sage (via the keyboard) and then map your remote to that keystroke?

Yes, that will work fine to put SageTV to sleep and to wake it from the screen saver if it has focus. If it doesn't have focus or is sleeping in the system tray, it won't do much for you. So, it depends on abasu2003's situation.

- Andy

[abasu2003]

yeah, what andy said. I guess what possibility is for me to leave the screensaver on when sleeping. I only need to get to a web browser and I can do that through sage now.

thanks for the input