I got the fireTV for Xmas. Awesome gift, but since it's controlled by RF my Sony RM-VL710 and VL610 IR remotes won't control it.

Can anyone suggest a moderately priced solution, something under about $150 US if that's possible. I wouldn't mind upgrading to a computer programmable remote. I very much prefer a hard button remote. Thanks.

You won't be able to control the FireTV from the vast majority of universal remotes without first purchasing an IR to USB adapter (like a MCE receiver or a FLIRC). After you've done that, your existing remotes should work. This should run you $15-30.

Otherwise, Harmony Hub or Home products can control the FireTV via Bluetooth directly.

So, something like this:

[Link: amazon.com]

This is great news! Almost too good to be true! Thanks.

So there's an IR receiver in that dongle, and you have to place it somewhere so that your IR remotes can "see" it?

Yup! Or, if you have an RF-to-IR basestation, you'd place an emitter on the FLIRC.

Happy to report that Flirc worked perfectly. Of course, you still need the original remote to do voice commands because the microphone is in the Fire TV stick! Or you can use a smart phone. But everything else works with the latest firmware and beta release of the Flirc software.

Thanks, Daniel.

Happy New Year!