I am a newby and wondered if someone could advise me what is required to control a Win 7 Media Centre with a TSU9300. I have a home theatre that I am using the TSU9300 remote to control and I now want to add the media centre. The bits I have are: TSU9300, RFX9400 (running in stand alone mode) and a Media PC running Win 7 Ultimate with a WiFi internet connection.
Do I need any more hardware and how do I connect the remote to also control the media centre?
If this is covered elsewhere in the forum could you point me to the thread? Thanks in advance for your help. Ronnie.

You add a built-in Media Center Activity and purchase/configure the PadOne software. There is a link on Philips site for purchase of PadOne and there are also several threads here that discuss PadOne.

You can also control MCE with one-way IR using solutions such as Girder.

Welcome to the addiction.

Thanks Lyndel. I appreciate the quick reply. I will take a look at your suggestion. Regards .... Ronnie.

I have had a look at PadOne but the site says: "The Pad-One software for Pronto is specially tuned for optimal performance with the Pronto TSU9600/TSU9400 control
panels. The software cannot be used with other Prontos." Is there a work about or is it risky to try this? Regards ..... Ronnie.

Hi,

I'm fairly new to this too, but have managed to configure PadOne for Windows7 Media Center / Media Player using a TSU9300.

It took me quite a while to get it working following a few teething issues with Wireless Security and Windows Firewall, but it does now work.

Having said that, I'm not very impressed to be honest. The scroll wheel does now work which is not available via IR, but the on-screen interface provided with ProntoEdit Pro2 is poor. Clunky at best and doesn't seem to have many of the features you would expect from a music Media Center - such as building playlists on the go etc. The are also delays in response when selecting tracks - though that may be my setup in fairness. You can build the panel in ProntoEdit Pro 2 and you'll quickly get a sense of it. (Right click Project Overview and Insert WMC).

I find it as easy using an IR6 based interface to control WMC for music functions through WMC though you lose the music listings on the pronto screen and use of wheel that way so you still need your TV on.

All in all not great and I can see myself replacing Pronto with Sonos for Music browsing as the Sonos System takes some beating - I already have it in another room.

A real shame though because Pronto for Video/Cable TV control is great and the whole point is to have a single device!

Good luck!

Thanks Jonesie.

This is useful feedback. Could you give me bit more on IR6 based interfaces? What is it and what do I need to try it?

Regards ... Ronnie.

Hi Ronnie

I just mean recreating the Microsoft WMC Remote Control on your 9300. There are a number of downloadable templates - one of which I got from this sites File Download area.

You'll find more there for the 9400, but the codes and touch screen designs work fine for 9300.

And you will need a USB RC input for your PC. You can get them online - just google for Windows Media Center Remote Control.

Cheers

Thanks again Jonesie.

About the USB RC; do you suggest buying one and then just using the USB dongle and cloning the RC?
Do you have experience with or views on the Pronto PCX9200? There appears to be software that goes with it too. Does it work and is it any good? The official Pronto site is a bit sketchy...

Regards ... Ronnie.

TSU9200, although called a Pro remote is only dubbed that because of the complexity of install/configuration. It does not have the ability to communicate with the Pro Extenders as does the 9300 and above. Therefore, you can never do 2 way except via the built-in devices such as MCE.

Thanks Lyndel. But I was referring to the PCX9200. The USB dongle from Pronto for PC to control the media centre.

Regards ... Ronnie.

PCX9200 Dongle only works with the TSU9200. I nearly ordered one by mistake! Luckily the supplier rang Phillips to check for me first.

I think your only option is - as you say - to clone the WMC Remote and use the Microsoft (or equiv) USB IR Receiver.

Thanks Jonesie, Really appreciate your feedback and advice.
Best regards .... Ronnie.

Jonesie1971 beat me to the answer. Only works with the TSU9200.