Hi folks

I have a little trouble getting stated with a PDA as a remote :(

I just need a realy cheap PDA with IR, but wich one? I don't need any fancy features, but only IR and enough RAM 2 the software.

Wich software shall i choose? I shall use it 2 a HTPC, and the remote.

Hope u can help me.

AkilleuZ

First off find either a Palm powered PDA with an Enhanced IR port or one that is compatible with the 3rd party IR Blaster add-ons from Tech Center Labs (www.talestuff.com). I just got my IR Blaster this week and I really love it! My Clie SJ33/U's built in IR port has a measly 4.5 ft range while the IR Blaster is said to have up to 75ft range! I've tested it up to 20ft so far. Not bad for only $14.95US plus shipping!

I highly recommend the SJ33 if you can find one. It is the last of the great PalmOs 4.1 units and sadly Sony has abandoned it, but it is (IMHO) the best Clie without going to a higher priced (or Os 5+) unit. It's a full featured PDA with 16Mb internal mem, a hard shell cover, easy to use buttons, DTMF capability (telephone tones; with the right software) and MP3/ATRAC/MIDI/WAV playability (you will need 3rd party player software for some; you can't play mp3s from internal memory, only MemSticks). It's major flaw is that It isn't Memory Stick Pro Compatible so your Sticks are capped at 128Mb (256 if you get the 128x2s).

As for software...

I like OmniRemote because you can flip the screen (the image not the physical screen) so that it's right side up. This is because when the IR Blaster is plugged into the bottom of my Clie I have to turn it upside down to point the IR Blaster at the TV and other IR units. AFAIK OmniRemote can't accept pre-programmed codes and comes with none. However it is a learning remote. You program it by pointing your original remote into it and recording the signal. Works as most if not all remotes!

NoviiRemote (www.novii.tv) isn't bad. I like it for the ability to load in pre-configured codes. There are tons available for download. Sadly none for my old Fisher Receiver for which I don't have the remote.

Some newer Clies come with a Sony Remote program which apears to be limited to Sony products only (I didn't dig too deeply on this one).

Philips has something called the Pronto which is a PDA like Universal Remote which is fully customizable and has many downloads available for codes and styles. You can also use "Perfect" ([Link: geocities.com]) to emulate the Pronto on your PDA.

I hope this helps, I'm new at this but I thought I might be able to save you a little 'leg'work and give you a jumpstart. If you learn anything new I'd appreciate it if you shared it here for myself and others.

Good Luck!

I have no experience with Palm PDA's only PPC based machines. There are progs available, but none come close to using a real remote such as the Pronto mentioned in the above thread.

If you go for a PPC based PDA, some have a high power IR system (Consumer IR (CIR)) built in. If they have this they will also have a program called Nevo installed as part of the firmware, it can't be purchased seperately. If you look at a PPC based PDA without this CIR, then you will need a IR booster of some sort. Either a CF card type IR emmitter, or Total Remote do a system that uses the audio side of the PDA, and a audio/IR module plugs into the speaker socket of the PDA.

Variou software available, PDAWin TV Remote, Total Remote, Netremote, all either support ccf files or are inthe process of getting versions developed that will support ccf files.

ccf files are component config files that are used in the Philips Pronto type remote controls, and you can design your own remote layout using programs such as Pronto Edit or Tonto.

If you are going to only use it as remote, and not as a pda, then try ebay for a second hand pronto/pronto pro

Don't get your hopes up for Total Remote's audio solution, as just a few PDA's seem able to cope with the 40kHz required- audio output of a PDA isn't made to do that, unless there are versions now for dogs or bats...
Cheers
Barend

It doesn't require a 40 kHz audio output but only 18-19kHz for most IR receivers. (Think about a full-wave rectifier.) Still, the less expensive PDAs cannot manage even the lower frequency.