Channel Sources STREAMZAP PC REMOTE CONTROL - USBIR2

I use their hardware and a third party software and it is a wonderful combination. This remote works great with anything on the pc that has keyboard commands IF you get the LM Remote Keymap software from the internet. You can get a free version or give a donation and get the version that allows you to download configurations for remotes that people have uploaded. I use it with powerdvd, vlc media player, myHD MDP HDTV card, etc via USB. I never use the software it comes with (but it must be loaded for LM remote to work) and LM remote keymap lets me choose whatever function I want to associate with the keys and there is support from LM remote. This makes it an inexpensive USB IR PC remote for almost any application that is easily customizable. The IR commands can be taught to a pronto universal remote and sent to the USB IR reciever for whole house control. Great hardware and I use a wonderful third party software.
 
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At the time of this review, I'm looking at five 5-star reviews. To the reader of my review, please note the 3 of those 5 are from Linux users who are NOT using the Streamzap drivers and software. I am a professional software developer. I purchased this product to control a media PC running Beyond TV (on a dedicated Windows XP system). Key selling points were that the product advertised specific support for Beyond TV and also Girder (promixis.com) advertises support of the remote. Initial impression was moderately favorable. The remote is packaged with a driver CD. A quick web-site check showed the CD to be current. The remote installed ok and immediately worked with Beyond TV. Then I started checking the supported functionality and found that several Beyond TV functions were not supported. No problem I thought... I'd assign these functions to one of the 4 colored buttons at the bottom. Unfortunately, you can't even assign a keystroke to one of these. The driver supports only a limited, fixed, set of actions - and doesn't include the most obvious one - typing a keystroke. Then came the driver problems. After everything looked OK, I left the PC and came back later. The remote no longer functioned. The red indicator on the receiver flashed (nice feature) but no action was taken on the PC. I tried to restart the supporting software with no success. Reboot of the PC clears the problem. It seems that after a period of inactivity, the driver will go into a processing loop. On my dual-core machine, it maintains a steady 27% while in this state. Others postings on the net have confirmed this problem. I've contacted their support - no phone number - only email. Other than an automated confirmation email, no response after 3 days. (Other users have reported the same.) Bottom line - the hardware seems OK, but the driver is unacceptable. Even if the driver didn't get stuck, the limited, hard-coded functionality provided is weak (at best). I strongly recommend AGAINST this remote.
 
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I use this on a MythTV HTPC, and the setup on Mythbuntu was easier than any other remote I've tried. I did have to tweak some setting to improve the response time and activate all of the buttons on the remote, but now it works flawlessly. My only complaint about the remote is the location of the number keys. Having them at the top of the remote seems awkward to me.
 
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What makes this remote great is that it is already compatible out of the box with nearly 150+ PC applications. Also for people who use the Logitech Harmony remote like me you can easily program your Harmony to act like this remote! :)
 
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I bought this to use with my KnopMyth R5D1 (mythtv) setup. It was 'plug and play'. Works great.
 
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Works completely as advertised, inexpensive. Using with Sage TV. I normally don't use the actual remote - programmed Logitech remote - but it works great, and I couldn't find a cheaper IR receiver even without the remote control.
 
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The control works great and it's the most affordable solution to control your PC that I have found.<P> The most valuable feature of this control is that you can purchase a software called Girder that will let you customize each of the buttons on the control (and in fact any control in your household as the IR receiver of the StreamZap will accept their signals) to control your PC and do anything that you want, turn on/off your computer, monitor, send messages, control your mouse with the remote control, control softwares, etc.<P> You just need a little bit of creativity and you can make your PC do anything that you want with this remote and the Girder software.
 
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