HTPC - Switching between monitors by media-centre remote

[MrJim]

I'm planning to build a HTMC PC, which I'd like to hook up to my projector for films, and a small monitor for browsing through my music library. I need to be able to switch between the two video outputs using a media-centre remote control only. Does anyone happen to know if this can be done?

[shaithis]

Wondering if you can do this with the projector functionality in windows........

[Biscuit]

If you are using a keybaord, i know there are some useful shortcuts such as
"Windows key + Shift + Left/Right Key" it will switch the current application between monitors
"Windows key + P" is projector options

but i dont think there is anything specifically that you can do with the media remote.

One tool that I use to control my media centre via my phone is called, 'unified remote'. Its a very cool app that integrates with loads of different software and you can certainly achieve it using that. Check out the video that this guy made.

http://br0sk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/...emote-for.html

[MrJim]

If you are using a keybaord, i know there are some useful shortcuts such as
"Windows key + Shift + Left/Right Key" it will switch the current application between monitors
"Windows key + P" is projector options

but i dont think there is anything specifically that you can do with the media remote.

One tool that I use to control my media centre via my phone is called, 'unified remote'. Its a very cool app that integrates with loads of different software and you can certainly achieve it using that. Check out the video that this guy made.

http://br0sk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/...emote-for.html

Thanks for the link to the phone app, that might be a possibility I would ideally prefer a media centre remote solution, as I already have a learning remote that can use the same remote codes...it'd be that bit neater. Many thanks though.

[Biscuit]

I think I found a solution for you!

Check out the FLIRC USB dongle

[MrJim]

I think I found a solution for you!

Check out the FLIRC USB dongle

That looks really quite cool, thanks for letting me know about it! I've found a video about it on Youtube, so I'll take a look tomorrow. Looks promising though

[Biscuit]

I have ordered one anyway, as I feel it will simplify life for my much-better-looking-but-not-so-technical other half so I can let you know how it is and if it will achieve what you need

[peterb]

One tool that I use to control my media centre via my phone is called, 'unified remote'. Its a very cool app that integrates with loads of different software and you can certainly achieve it using that. Check out the video that this guy made.

http://br0sk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/...emote-for.html

Thank you, good find!

[Biscuit]

Thank you, good find!

Same goes to you Peter, let me know if there is anything you would like to test before you buy it... not that its a hugely significant purchase anyway!


Edit - Just noticed you were talking about unified remote... nevermind ^_^

[MaddAussie]

I found the flirc thingy independently as I was looking for a solution for the Pi. I will let you know how I get on, hopefully it turns up tomorrow

[peterb]

Same goes to you Peter, let me know if there is anything you would like to test before you buy it... not that its a hugely significant purchase anyway!


Edit - Just noticed you were talking about unified remote... nevermind ^_^

Yes, unified remote!

A friend of mine came up with a solution emulating a USB keyboard using an Arduino board with a wifi add on. He the wrote an iPhone app for the functions he wanted to emulate. The commands wee then sent by wifi to the arduino which then sent them as keyboard commands to the device.

It worked very well, but took a while to get going!

[MrJim]

I have ordered one anyway, as I feel it will simplify life for my much-better-looking-but-not-so-technical other half so I can let you know how it is and if it will achieve what you need

That's great, thanks! Are there keyboard short-cuts for switching between displays in Windows? I'm just wondering if the whole keyboard profile is able to cope with Ctrl or Alt key combinations?

Edit!

I should really learn to read posts more carefully - you answered my first question above!

[Biscuit]

I found the flirc thingy independently as I was looking for a solution for the Pi. I will let you know how I get on, hopefully it turns up tomorrow

Have you put OpenELEC on yours?

I did it yesterday and im utterly shocked at how awesome it is.

[MaddAussie]

The Flirc is awesome, easy to set up. Just pop it in your PC, select your poison media centre wise and click a few times while pointing the remote at the dongle. Transfer dongle to Pi and your good to go! Although I ended up buying an All for One 7962 remote as well as the plethora of remotes was getting on my nerves. It took longer to get that set up than it did the flirc!

I use Xbian, found it a little faster than OpenElec. On the Pi 2 I can run most of the skins as well.

[MrJim]

The Flirc is awesome, easy to set up. Just pop it in your PC, select your poison media centre wise and click a few times while pointing the remote at the dongle. Transfer dongle to Pi and your good to go! Although I ended up buying an All for One 7962 remote as well as the plethora of remotes was getting on my nerves. It took longer to get that set up than it did the flirc!

I use Xbian, found it a little faster than OpenElec. On the Pi 2 I can run most of the skins as well.

Would it be a pain for you to try out the full keyboard profile, & see if the Flirc can trigger the Windows key + P combination to switch displays? If so, I'll buy one

[MaddAussie]

Well I thought I'd replied to this thread.....


But yes it works fine, here is a little video I made

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=R3Jfxc1IxyY