1st off I dont actually want to build the thing from scratch - circuit boards and soildering irons and all - I just figured that I could buy one of theose cheap 'universal remotes', find a cheap sensor and fire it into the comuter.

Of course I dont expect it to be that easy, or we'd all have done it years ago...so what problem,s are there with the above setup? I'm only after a simple remote to change volume & simple playback controls.

if you want to do it with a normal universal remote (control PC and other stuff like TVs ....)
you can look at [Link: promixis.com]

on the other hand if it is only PC there are a few simpler solutions like

[Link: remotecentral.com]
[Link: remotecentral.com]
[Link: remotecentral.com]

the ATI is RF, the others are IR so a learning remote could learn the codes

I'm not sure I understand your desire. Do you want to turn your PC into a remote or do you want to control your PC with a remote?

As Anthony suggests Girder is a good place to start if you want to control your PC with a universal remote (or any remote for that matter) but this is just the software that converts the IR signal to a command on your PC.
You will also need to get an IR reciever or tranciever so your PC can recieve the signal. Checkout www.home-electro.com , [Link: irtrans.de] or www.usbuirt.com for options. I imagine you can buy these in the US but you can also order from the websites.


Cheers,

USB-Uirt (about $50 at pcalchemy)
Girder (good luck,it's great when you get it work, but you'll be spending a lot of time at the user forum to get there)

Take a pass on Girder and go directly to MediaTexx's uICE. Girder is what you'd call "totally and utterly non-user friendly."

Bruno

I didn't post the original question, but I would very much appreciate information on turning my PC into a remote.

Windows XP Home
Intel D875PBZ MB
1G RAM
120G hard drive

I have a second system with an installed and working ATI HDTV Wonder. Although I have a Remote Wonder Plus, I would like to control the HDTV functions of the second system using my first system as a "remote"

Thanks very much in advance, for I really am a novice.