Has anyone been able to get Omniremote on the Palm to work with ReplayTV? According to Pronto files I've seen the ReplayTV freq is about 36.3 kHz. The Palm trains OK but it won't control the ReplayTV. I've tried using the trial ORDesktop to paste in Pronto codes and that doesn't work either. I haven't tried the offical version of ORDesktop yet.

Hello all--
Boy, you guys really know how to heat up a room, eh? Ok, I'm a bit of a gadget geek. An impatient one, though, which is why I've had my Radio Shack 15-1994 remote for 7 months or so now and still have not programmed any macros...(I hear you calling me lazy...)
Daniel, I am writing a product review of the Pacific Neo-Tek OmniRemote Springboard module for an upcoming issue of PalmPower (http://www.palmpower.com -- an online e-zine for PalmOS enthusiasts which boasts a readership of some 500,000 individuals each month). I'd love to be able to direct these gadgeteers to your site and give them an "oasis" to find when they arrive... Please, consider following up with the creation of the "PDA as URC" forum section. I'll give your site a nice fat "plug" as a thank-you!

All you other folks out there -- send me your "quotes" on using the OmniRemote-- I'd like to know weaknesses you've found, foibles, etc. I won't yank stuff from this site to use without two things --1) you telling me what you'd like me to reference (not that I'll use it all, mind you) and 2) your explicit permission to use your input and reference your name.

Michael Compeau
Contributing Editor, PalmPower

I just recently purchased a Palm IIIe (which I'm waiting impatiently for) and the OmniRemote 1.17 software w/ IR module. I plan on purchasing the ORDesktop software as well.

In comparison to the Pronto (which I was originally going to shell out $279 for), the Palm can function just as well as a URC, and has additional capabilities.

For those out there who are looking for a Palm at a low cost, you can go to the following link to get a brand new Palm IIIe for $99.

[Link: service.bfast.com]

Once you sign up for Red Gorilla, take the special number they send you and follow the link to Handango.Com, where you'll be able to purchase the Palm IIIe for $125 minus the $125 credit you get from Red Gorilla. No shipping or tax.

So for those that are money-minded, the breakdown is as follows:

Palm IIIe = $99
OmniRemote w/ IR module = $40
ORDesktop = $20
=======
$159 vs $279 (cheapest I've found the Pronto)

BTW, great software Peter. ORDesktop definitely deserves more praise!

- D -

I was able to get the Palm to control replayTV by changing 000011c10 to 000010f87 in the first long word of the OmniRemote data after it translates the pasted in Pronto data. (This changes the carrier from about 36.36kHz to 34.75kHz, a ratio of about 0.95588) I'm not sure why this is needed. Perhaps the Pronto frequency equation isn't quite correct?

On a related topic, is the format of the OmniRemote data published anywhere? It appears that the first word is twice the "carrier" frequency in Hz, and that the rest of the data is "raw" data where a 1 bit is 5 cycles of "on", and a 0 is 5 cycles of "off". Is this correct?

This is why we need a "PDA as URC" area on this site. Because now that ORDesktop is released, there are going to be more questions like the above, and one long thread is just too arduous. Even more questions when version 2.0 of OmniRemote is released. IMHO. -greg

I guess I might be a bit biased;-) but I would also like to see separate support for PDAs as URC on Remote Central.

We have a forum on our site and we will shortly have a download area for codes for OmniRemote that can used with ORDesktop. (Thanks, Mike, for your contribution of your ReplayTV codes.) But we are not a general A/V site like Remote Central and there are other PDAs besides the Palm/Visor.

This thread is very interesting but it is a pain to have a single thread with multiple topics in it.

Peter Sharpe
[email protected]

Hmm, any idea what best to call it? I'd want it to apply to all PDA/HPCs...

Daniel: If you look on CNet or ZDNet, all PDA's and HPC's(Palm, PocketPC OS based, Psion, etc.)are under the category "Handhelds".

"Handhelds as Entertainment Controllers"

"Handhelds as URCs" (although this doesn't describe their broader base.........mind you that will be evident in the threads

"Handheld PC as URC"

"Handheld PC Remote Controls"

I like the last one best (out of my list anyway..... I'm looking forward to other participants)

Whatever it is called (I personally like Handheld PC's), could you move at least this thread to the new Forum? Thanks!

I just started following this thread and I am surprised to see that noone has mentioned the combination of a Handspring Visor plus a ORDesktop

Disclaimer: I have no interest in any of the products mentioned other than as a satisfied Visor and OmniRemote owner.

John

John: Not to mention all of the other things as mentioned in this thread:

[Link: remotecentral.com]

John: How is the springboard module for IR dispersion? My 2MB upgrade for the Palm Professional is great for distance, but not for dispersion. -greg

Yes, if we call it Handheld PC's, as PDD mentioned, and not something with URC or Remote Control in it, it will be a forum similar to Home Theatre which is broad based. The Handheld PC can be used, as mentioned in the thread in my message above, for more things in home entertainment, and that will only continue to grow. I like "Handheld PC's" -greg

I would like the new forum to be called
PDD'S PDA'S AS URC'S.
Say that three times fast.
All kidding aside I would like to thank PDD for starting this thread way back when.

When using my Palm III with the OmniRemote module I have to point it directly at my TiVo. If I move the Palm even a half of an inch the IR does not work.

Any suggestions? I'm sitting about 10 feet away from the Tivo.

Brian,

I know it's been mentioned several times on this thread, but you can get a module to convert your IR signal to an RF. The RF receiver will shoot it back at the source with all the IR you'll ever need! Look through the thread, the link is there as well as a 'do it yourself' IR to RF module.

Dan K.
"PDD'S PDA'S AS URC" is kinda catchy :-D