Can any Pronto users tell me if I can hook up a Pronto Pro to my PC via serial cable, and then use the editing software to emulate the pronto touchscreen on my pc? My goal is to use my 15" LCD PC touchscreen as the graphical interface, rather than the pronto itself.

Well, I know absolutely nothing about any of this . . . but I'm game . . . . I'll give it a shot!

(Hasn't ever stopped me before)!

First a few questions, then an assumption and THEN I'll proceed to make a complete ass out of myself! (isn't that what happens when one assumes)?

1) Are you going to use a completely self-made GUI, or the Emulator?

2) Where is your PC/connected ProntoPro in relation to your HT?

3) is any RF involved?

4) Does your LCD Touchscreen accept taps in place of/along with mouse clicks?
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A) As with learning codes into PE, I would guess the timing issues are the same with sending codes out through PE. ie; you would probably lose any timing functions in macros.


So, taking into account all of the above blather, I predict that it maybe, might be possibly doable . . . but it probably won't be very functional.

All of this after consulting with Miss Cleo (charging it to my boss's company card) and a session with my Ouija board.    


    MIKE

If the Pronto is connected to the PC then using the emulator and pressing a button will make the Pronto send the commands. But

1) that will mean using the emulator (i.e. not using your full screen)

2) sending the codes eats up delay's so you will need a CCF with longer delays then if you were using the CCF on the Pronto

3) I don't know how RF is affected on Pronto Pro (I assume it will work since IR worked on non Pros) but will the Pro send RF or will it still send IR.

4) I can understand using emulator and PC for other stuff like voice or web (net) but why just to use your PC monitor? (just curious)

My goal is to control my home theater, and perhaps view security cameras, and control lighting via my living room PC touchscreen. I was hoping that the pronto edit would allow a large version of the pronto touchscreen as a window, but even a life sized emulation would be fine. I simply want to minimize the number of remotes and other gadgets needed to control my equipment, and to automate the operation of equipment with macros. Currently the living room pc touchscreen is used for web surfing via networking to a cable connection. Equipment I want to control includes equipment in the living room (VCR, DVD, Receiver , Projector, HDTV receiver) as well as remote equipment located in a home run room (whole house amp, Tivo unit). Future plans include installing security cameras. Cat5 runs exist throughout the majority of the house.

Well, nobody whacked me down yet! Maybe I didn't do so bad after all, especially since Sir Anthony echoed some of my "observations"!
    
So, let me add this - The Emulator definitely gets bigger than Life Size, depending on your Monitor Size.
I have a 19" (Flat Screen . . . not Flat Panel  ), and my "real"  Pronto will almost   fit in the screen area of the Emulated Pronto.    

If you're interested in acquiring knowledge in the face of possible futility . . . and can be content in simply acquiring that knowledge (positive or negative) . . . go for it!


    MIKE

Cool I have been knighted. What planet Mike :-)


To add to what Mike said, the Emulator is fixed in pixel dimension, not physical dimension, so resolution and monitor size will make a big difference. But as a user, you cannot decide you want a screen that takes up the whole monitor or a window of certain size (except by messing with screen resolution)

posted in wrong thread

This message was edited by Anthony on 03/11/02 10:39.22.

Suggestion..

Don't bother using the 'pronto software' at all..

if you're running from a PC, then buy a serial ir transmitter (the irman group are about to release one that sends as well as recieves), then use girder to either control existing apps, or write a vb interface for your equipment (emulating your pronto interface if you like!) and use girder to control that - wouild be alot easier, and would enable you to control all your apps too (web cams, mp3 jukebox etc)..

Just a suggestion tho :)

Thanks Steve:
Unfortunately, what you said to do is greek to me. I need something with detailed instructions for laypeople.

I'll second Steve's suggestion. irman & girder is the way to use your pc as a remote.

irman that sends and recieves...hmmm I'm salivating.
thanks for the info Steve