Control Media Center With Programmable IR Receiver

This IR receiver based on ATtiny13 microcontroller is used to control a Media Center box via a remote. The circuit is powered by 20 pin ATX connector pin 9 “+5VSB” because it is the only pin that is powered when the computer is off, or in standby. The receiver is programmed to accept the codes from the remote by holding down the switch while pressing the remote button. The circuit can use “Girder” or “PC remote control” as controlling software on the Media Center.

9 thoughts on “Control Media Center With Programmable IR Receiver

  1. “The circuit is powered by 20 pin ATX connector pin 9 “+5VSB” because it is the only pin that is powered when the computer is off”
    Must be a 80’s computer since all computers made the last decades have a jumper to get standby power on the USB ports.

  2. A Micrisift remote with IR reciever is only $35.00 on newegg. why not buy one of those and call it done? you get something that is better and does not require a half arsed “girder” program installed to make it all work. (P.S. girder is not free, so you gotta bu y that as well.

    Finally there are far easier setups online that dont need a custom programmed pic either…

  3. yea but that is on no way in the spirit of hacking you just have to do stuff some times you know it just has to be done because it can be done dosent nessacarily have to be cost effective i mean for most ppl this is just a hobby any way not to many of us are actualy useing this stuff like daily some times you just have to make something you know

  4. This design seems to have the extra feature that it can receive a “power on” signal and activate the power switch to turn on the machine. I think for the other design above, you’d have to manually power on the machine before it can receive any signals.

    Do those MS remotes have this remote power on feature?

  5. You don’t need all that, especially if you’re only using a serial connection.

    I’ve got a homemade IR receiver which was made with Radio Shack parts for under $10, which is read by WinLIRC (free), which is in turn interpreted as keystrokes by AutoHotKey (also free). I just followed some instructions on Engadget, except instead of stepping the voltage on the serial port down I just stole +5v from a free USB port.

    It’s configured so I can control the Windows port of XBMC with my PS2 DVD remote. The only limitation is that WinLIRC doesn’t work with USB serial adapters.

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