Here is a little how to guide on controlling a Windows Media Center PC.
I've linked to a couple files at the end of this post. One is a CCP file containing an MX980 and an MSC400. The other is a configuration file for Eventghost. Eventghost is a software that will be loaded on the PC that you want to control. It works similar to the MSC400, in that it listens for Events, which then trigger a macro. I have set up a bunch of events and macros for controlling Windows Media Center. This is just a small sample of the kind of things you can do using Eventghost via Serial control.

Required Equipment:
- MSC400
- Available DB9 serial port or USB to Serial Adapter for the PC you want to control
- Female Serial adapter cable for MSC400
- Computer running Windows Media Center

Required Software
- Eventghost (download here)
- Java (download here)

How to configure Eventghost:
After installing and running Eventghost, click on File, then Options.


Check the box next to Autostart Eventghost on system startup


Now open the attached WMC Control File (Click on File, then open)


The file is configured to use Serial Port 1 of the PC. You may need to change this depending on the com port you are using. To do this, you need to right click on the Serial Port Plugin in the Configuration Tree. Only change the Com Port number.


How to set up the MSC400:
The attached CCP file uses Port number 7 for the serial connection to the PC. Use a female serial cable to connect the PC to the MSC400.

Download files here: http://www.mediafire.com/?d12mwo4vdxrrc

thank you for sharing!

Thank you very much for the guide.

A quick question before I perhaps unnecessarily go down this route. Does EventGhost by chance of a mechanism to power on or off the PC with discrete commands?

I would guess no because if the PC is off, the machine will not have EG running. So, perhaps discrete sleep and wake commands?

My problem has always been that the WMC remote and related IR commands do not issue discrete wake or sleep commands, only a toad for me at this point.

Thank you,
T.Wells

EventGhost can put the PC to sleep. To wake it up you could change the BIOS settings such that a keyboard action wakes up the PC and use the MSC keyboard function. The MSC keyboard is flaky but it should be good enough to issue a few key presses to wake up a PC.

 to turn the pc on, i usually use the relay connection on the msc400 and wire into the power button.   i also wire a voltage sensor to one of the usb ports, so the msc400 knows when the pc is on.   Eventghost can turn other PCs on using Wake On Lan.

Is there any way to speed up multiple button presses using RS-232?

For example, if I press several times in a row it doesn't send the commands very quickly to the PC...

Duct Tape,

I have never used or seen a relay connection or voltage sensor on the MSC400. I know that I will have to purchase both. Is it easy to wire one to the power button (I guess you are connecting to the pins on the mobo) and USB port? Is there a guide to do this too?

Very interested!

Thanks,
T.Wells

It depends on the computer, but many of them can be set up in the bios so that the usb ports are only powered on when the pc is powered on.   All you do is cut the end off a usb cable, and connect a urc voltage sensor to the 2 wires that show 5 volts when the pc is on.  (usually the red and black wires on the usb cables i've cut open)  

As far as the power button connected to the relay is concerned, it is actually pretty simple, but will vary by PC.  you need to find the 2 pin connection on the mother board that leads to the momentary power button and tap into those 2 wires and connect them to the common and normally open connections of one of the relay outputs on the msc400.

you program an if/else statement to close the relay contact for about a half second if the voltage sensor doesnt detect voltage.  

you could also skip wiring the usb to a voltage sensor and configure the power button in the power settings inside windows to do nothing when pushed if the pc is on.  this way even if the pc is on, and you close the relay contact, the pc won't do anything.  but it will still turn the pc on if it was turned off.

Great stuff John. I want to try this.

First off, thank you for putting this eventghost config file together. It's exactly what I was planning to do. Secondly, I apologize for asking a Pronto question in a URC forum, but it seems to fit. I am transferring your RS232 codes from your CCP file into ProntoEdit and using a RFX9600 (basically Pronto's MSC400). I am unable to get anything sent from the RFX9600 to register in eventghost, I am guessing that it is because I need to use a null modem cable, but I am hoping you will be able to confirm that. The RFX9600 has a male DB9 connection, as does my PC's COM port. I am currently using a normal Serial Cable. Should this be Null Modem?

 most like yes, I've done this setup on Nevo.  they also use male serial cables.  a female to female null modem adapter is what I needed to make that work.  also be sure the baud rate in the programming is set to match the baud rate of the port in the eventghost file.

Thanks for the input, I'll pick up a null modem cable soon and give it a shot. Already checked the baud rate, but thanks for the suggestion. One other question... do you know of anyway to have event ghost recognize when iTunes starts playing? I'm hoping I can find a way to start iTunes playing from my iPhone, have event ghost see that, then send a serial command to turn on my house audio amp.

 that should be fairly simple.  you just need to add an additional plugin to the autostart section.   it is called Task Create/Switch Events.  right click inside the autostart section and choose add plugin.

once this plugin is enabled, whenever you open a program, or switch back and forth between a window, you will see a trigger on the left side of the screen.  drag that trigger over to any macro on the right side of the screen, and whenever that trigger shows up, your macro will run.  just look for a trigger that says:

Task.Created.iTunes

Duct Tape,
I really appriecate your help. Task Create/Switch Events somewhat works. The first time you press play from the Apple Remote App, iTunes does open on top of other windows, however, after that first time, iTunes remains in the background. That of course means Task Create/Switch Event does not register an event. I was wondering if there was a way for Eventghost to actually see the command that is being sent through the network to iTunes from the app?

 that is above my pay grade.  i would ask over on the eventghost forums.  someone nerdier than me could probably answer that.  :)