I have been into home theater and computer fro quite a number of years, and have recently purchased a used touch screen panel (for use with any PC with a VGA card, it simply acts as a monitor and responds to touch like a mouse). I want to run this panel as my theater control with a dedicated computer. I'm looking for windows based software that will perform this task. I know I have to purchase a PC/IR converter, but I really don't want to spend the money on that until I find the right software. Have been through all kinds of different programs, an I just don't like the interface. In a perfect world, I'd like it to look like the Crestron or AMX style interface. Anyone with ideas? Please let me know.

Hi Oliver,

There is one possibility to look your control like AMX.
You can use a PC to AMX converter. Simple plug the converter in a free Com Port and you can use the complete AMX products like an Axcent3. From the Axcent 3 you can control your home theatre. Also there a software for this this converter called PCDesign from AMX. It is includes, if you buy an Axcent3 or converter. So yout Tochscreen will look like any Touchscreen from AMX.

If you have any questions please E-Mail me. I am programming AMX since 5 years, so I hope I can help you.

Greetings from Germany!
Matheis Frank

E-Mail: [email protected]

I also purchased a touchscreen a few weeks ago, and I'm currently working on some software that will let you do this. It looks pretty slick, like Creston (I too found that most available programs have extremely tacky interfaces)... I think you will like it a lot. Right now it has an mp3 player, tv tuner, email/web, x10, x10 superRemote, caller id, and a few other features. The next step is to have it control my theater... I am looking for a good IR device, might get the RedHat2 ([Link: dodgies.demon.co.uk]). Any suggestions? If I can get a device by this weekend, I can have IR and macros, etc in the program within a week or two. Anyway, send me an email and I can give you more information (screenshots, etc).

By the way, I also have a pretty nice TiVo-style mp3 player. It uses the X10 superRemote and has a TiVO-like interface, playlists, crossfading, tv tuner, etc... I have it hooked up to my tv in the living room. I'll try to post some screenshots of everything soon.

AJ

Hi Paul Matheis I tried to send you an e-mail re the above topic but it got returned, can you please send me an e-mail at [email protected], as I am interested in the PC to AMX converter.

Regards

Check out Nirvis System's SLink-E (www.nirvis.com.) It is really good on managing Sony CD Jukeboxes, and had Xantech-compatible IR Ports. You can send remote commands out to any SLink, hardwire IR ports or IR Emitters using a Xantech block. I've had good success with this, and it's pretty easy to set up. You can also teach the Jukebox to respond to commands via IR, so that I can call up a playlist that I created using my remote control from anywhere. They have a good user message list on their site, it's pretty helpful.