turning your PDA into a universal remote?
Mar 7, 2003 | 8:42 am
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Department of Homeland Sincerity
Programs: WN Platinum, UA 1k, AA EP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 12,319
turning your PDA into a universal remote?
http://www.pacificneotek.com/omniProfsw.htm
I'm considering converting my Palm V into one. Anyone with experience doing this?
I'm considering converting my Palm V into one. Anyone with experience doing this?
Mar 7, 2003 | 9:23 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 1,470
I tried one of these a while back with a Handspring. It worked pretty well. It was similar to programming one of the "universal remotes" you see in stores all the time. Good use of a Palm if your original remote(s) conk out.
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Michael Steinberg
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Michael Steinberg
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BizTrip
www.biztrip.com
Mar 7, 2003 | 9:42 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 324
I have the Handspring module version for my Platinum Visor. It's a great idea, and FAR more flexible than any of those expensive dedicated touch-screen remotes, although sometimes it'a a bit flaky with getting the right angle for it to work.
Overall, I'm happy with it.
Overall, I'm happy with it.
Mar 7, 2003 | 10:23 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 873
I tried OmniRemote, version 1.171, a couple of years ago on my Palm Vx and it essentially works very nice: it can be programmed to do anything I needed it to do. However the limited range the standard Palm IR offers was way too limited for me: I had to hold my Palm very close to the equipment I was trying to control.
The readme file that came with the software also noted this:
At that time I didn't want to spend the extra money and I also didn't like the idea of having to attach an ugly (IMO of course) piece of hardware to my Palm.
Another practical problem I had is that whenever I took my Palm to the office or on a business trip, my family members would still have to get out all the individual remotes to control the equipment in my home. Bottom line is that these would still be all over the place, which is exactly what I tried to avoid by using an universal remote
My final conclusion was that although the software works very nicely, it wasn't practical for me. I bought a Sony universal (and programmable) remote instead and have been using it happily for several years now. It took a while to get used to the Sony remote: it has a somewhat bulky size and there are some limitations to it, especially regarding the description of the keys on the touch screen that can not be changed on my model. It just takes some time to get used to it and is really not that big of a deal for me.
[This message has been edited by ql2112 (edited 03-07-2003).]
The readme file that came with the software also noted this:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">o If you are using the internal IR on a Palm III, IIIx, Palm V,
Palm VII or Visor you may experience range problems. This is
because the Palm's internal IR LED's are not very bright. This
may be more noticeable when controlling certain devices. If this
causes you problems, you may wish to purchase the OmniRemote
Module which fits in the bottom of your Palm and has its own
brighter LEDs. It is available from:www.pacificneotek.com</font>
Palm VII or Visor you may experience range problems. This is
because the Palm's internal IR LED's are not very bright. This
may be more noticeable when controlling certain devices. If this
causes you problems, you may wish to purchase the OmniRemote
Module which fits in the bottom of your Palm and has its own
brighter LEDs. It is available from:www.pacificneotek.com</font>
Another practical problem I had is that whenever I took my Palm to the office or on a business trip, my family members would still have to get out all the individual remotes to control the equipment in my home. Bottom line is that these would still be all over the place, which is exactly what I tried to avoid by using an universal remote
My final conclusion was that although the software works very nicely, it wasn't practical for me. I bought a Sony universal (and programmable) remote instead and have been using it happily for several years now. It took a while to get used to the Sony remote: it has a somewhat bulky size and there are some limitations to it, especially regarding the description of the keys on the touch screen that can not be changed on my model. It just takes some time to get used to it and is really not that big of a deal for me.
[This message has been edited by ql2112 (edited 03-07-2003).]