Project help - turning old laptop into media centre. Can I use Vario II to control?

[Guest Dr Who]

Hello chaps.

I have a laptop that might be approaching the end of its life, in that I suspect the screen is on the way out. So I was thinking about what use I could put it to. It also occurred to me that I quite want to buy a Freeview PVR but then I had a revelation - I have a digital TV card for my laptop. So problem solved. Except I don't have any way to remote control the channel selection.

Which is when I thought of my phone. I know, I know remote control stuff comes up from time to time and I assume the answer is still that the range from the phone is nowhere near enough to use as a remote even if you could reprogram the IR.

So then I thought I could connect my laptop to my router and use the wifi on the Vario II to connect to the laptop. I know there are a number of virtual desktop clients out there so has anyone any experience of using them? Or has anyone any suggestion that I haven't thought of?

Then I thought if I do that I could use the laptop to connect to my USB hard drive and printer and have a NAS drive and print server. Which would be really cool!!!!

[Guest M1TNT]

Hello chaps.

I have a laptop that might be approaching the end of its life, in that I suspect the screen is on the way out. So I was thinking about what use I could put it to. It also occurred to me that I quite want to buy a Freeview PVR but then I had a revelation - I have a digital TV card for my laptop. So problem solved. Except I don't have any way to remote control the channel selection.

Which is when I thought of my phone. I know, I know remote control stuff comes up from time to time and I assume the answer is still that the range from the phone is nowhere near enough to use as a remote even if you could reprogram the IR.

So then I thought I could connect my laptop to my router and use the wifi on the Vario II to connect to the laptop. I know there are a number of virtual desktop clients out there so has anyone any experience of using them? Or has anyone any suggestion that I haven't thought of?

Then I thought if I do that I could use the laptop to connect to my USB hard drive and printer and have a NAS drive and print server. Which would be really cool!!!!

Here are a few idea's to point you in the right direction.

I have a modded XBOX ( the original old unit) Ok it does not have the PVR functionality that you are looking for but it does do every thing else you want.

One option is to do what the xbox does - it has a web server on it that can control every aspect of the media centre application via another PC or as I do via my PSP or M3100 - very cool as I Wi-Fi speakers and headphones so I can have music where ever I want in the house. So if your a dab hand at ASP and web pages then there is a big project for you.

The other way I could think of you controlling it is via remote desktop - or Win VNC - problem there is the M3100/Vario II has small screens so you cant get every thing on the screen :) unlike a custom webpage

Have a look at the XBox media center pages on the web - xbmc is the seach you want in google. see if that can give you some clues to how the web front end works.

Hope this gives you some idea's

Regards

Peter

[Guest mr_end]

Except I don't have any way to remote control the channel selection.

Whats wrong with one of these?

http://www.tpcsystems.co.uk/acatalog/TSLMS13XPMCE-RC.html>Media Center Remote

[Guest Dr Who]

Whats wrong with one of these?

http://www.tpcsystems.co.uk/acatalog/TSLMS13XPMCE-RC.html>Media Center Remote

I won't actually be running MCE and my TV card is not MCE compatible.

Actually I do have an Xbox that has no use at the moment. I have got all the stuff I need to mod it, other than the replay and one of the appropriate games since I thought I would mod it at some time in the past. I was thinking of seeing if one of the USB game controller ports could be modded to accept a TV card but IIRC this is impossible because they are only USB1.

Sadly I have no experience of programming other than BASIC on my Spectrum and some very, very basic HTML about 10 years ago. Thinking about it I wonder if I could use Orb to do something like that? I would need Orb to be able to output via the SVHS of the laptop though, and I not sure if that is possible.

[Guest M1TNT]

I won't actually be running MCE and my TV card is not MCE compatible.

Actually I do have an Xbox that has no use at the moment. I have got all the stuff I need to mod it, other than the replay and one of the appropriate games since I thought I would mod it at some time in the past. I was thinking of seeing if one of the USB game controller ports could be modded to accept a TV card but IIRC this is impossible because they are only USB1.

Sadly I have no experience of programming other than BASIC on my Spectrum and some very, very basic HTML about 10 years ago. Thinking about it I wonder if I could use Orb to do something like that? I would need Orb to be able to output via the SVHS of the laptop though, and I not sure if that is possible.

Been chatting to a few mates who are into this type of thing - they all run PC's with WMC on them with IR remote's or XBMC like I do - but they did tell me that there is a fair bit of software out there that is mainly open source that will allow you to do what the XBMC does and let you turn your laptop into a PVR and the likes and have web based remote control too. No spersific names sorry but I am sure a good google will turn stuff up for you. One idea was to run lynx on it.

Good luck on your hunt

[Guest Dr Who]

Cheers M1TNT, I will have a try and check that out.

[Guest abdelghafourf]

For PPC, just use Novii ;)

serial VITO Remote S.V.P

[Guest the_invisigoth]

I always sworn by Salling Clicker [http://www.salling.com] on the Mac, and they have a PC version. It's a fantastic piece of software, and allows you to control all sorts of programs through an incredibly intuitive UI on your WM5 device.

[Guest Dr Who]

I always sworn by Salling Clicker [http://www.salling.com] on the Mac, and they have a PC version. It's a fantastic piece of software, and allows you to control all sorts of programs through an incredibly intuitive UI on your WM5 device.

That looks pretty neat - I will give it a try. Might try the Vito remote to see if I can control my CD player and TV as well.

[Guest dazp]

Have a look at GBPVR, excellent bit of PVR software, and free.

I use it with a USB-UIRT, to use a standard remote. Works a treat.

http://www.gbpvr.com/

http://www.usbuirt.com/

[Guest Rob.P]

Have you thought about using Bluetooth instead to control your laptop. I used to have a Toshiba laptop that I cleaned up and sold to a mate, I configured it so that he could use it has a media server, installed Nero Media Home Server and I had a Toshiba Bluetooth SDCard in it. This came with the BT Remote profile, my mate has it placed so that his laptop is within a 10m footprint so can use his phone to play/pause etc. I said if he needs more range he can upgrade the BT dongle to a 100m range one.

Seems to be working well so far.

[Guest plainz]

You could try logmein to remotely control the pc - not quite a remote control but something you can control your pc with from anywhere. and it is free.

You can't stream media though, for that orb is supposed to be good.

[Guest Dr Who]

Thanks for all the suggestions chaps.

GBPVR looks interesting and I will also check for the BT remote profile on my laptop. It is actually still soldiering on and in daily use for work so I haven't got round to trying anything yet. Having used logmein quite a bit this year it should do what I want but considering the laptop and phone will be in the same room the control 'path' is a bit convoluted.