Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Remote

Knob Snob

nomad — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:40:59 -0800

I just bought these speakers to use with my TV and I need a creative way to control them via a standard IR remote control. Why is this even an issue? Because the speakers are designed to work with a computer so they don't have their own IR receiver. The volume is controlled with this adorably impractical little knob. I'd just use the volume controls on the TV, but it's too smart for its own good and disables the volume controls when speakers are plugged in. The two options I have come up with so far are:

1. Get some sort of amplifier/middleman device that can control the volume from the TV via IR and output the signal to the speakers.

2. Use my very limited electronics skills to design a device that turns the little knob based on IR input. (this sounds like a crapload of fun, but I don't really know where to start)

Does anyone have any ideas that will get me on the right track to implementing either of the above 2 ideas? Also, can anyone think of a simpler or more badass solution?

"bye guys lol"

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:41:20 -0800

How to leave a job gracefully when you can't tell your coworkers in person? I work from home for a company that's mostly in-person (all my coworkers work on the same floor, and I work in another time zone). I am giving notice as of today. I have no plans to go visit my job site between now and my exit date. I know ordinarily I'd tell my coworkers in person and that would be really tough...but since that's not an option I'm not sure how to break it to people.

Phone calls would be weird since everyone can hear everyone else's conversations from surrounding cubes, so I feel like if I called one person everyone else would know something was afoot. Emails seem cowardly. I don't want to bring it up in a meeting since that's impersonal. I know I'm overthinking this...I just really have come to care about some of these people and don't want to leave the job in a hurtful way. If you work with someone who isn't local to you, what would help you feel like that person really did feel sad not to work with you anymore? How can I convey this without some kind of near-tears monologue in a conference room?

Any advice would be great. I've never quit a job before and hadn't predicted it would be so wrenching.

Softwarefilter: Free Citrix Windows based style solution for running a legacy program?

unvivid — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:00:41 -0800

Help me find a temporary stopgap for legacy software? Long version: I've been tasked with upgrading our base computer image at my new job (XP Pro 32bit SP3). The new image works fine for 99% of my user base however, one department has an "old" (circa 1999) vb6 application with:

Custom DLL's
An installer that does not work inside of XP SP2+3

The application was built in the 95/98 era and was hacked into place on the former image (XP Pro SP2) by the tech I replaced (OT: He left under good circumstances, helluva tech but unfortunately he is not available as a resource to me).

I was able to get the software running initially with use of process mon and alot of blurry eye work. Unfortunately a good portion of the functions inside are not working due to the installer failing to register files properly and XP saying "eff" to various registry writes. I finally hit a brick wall today and am unable to progress any further.

The application itself is SQL based. I've already sent a request to our dev team for a new interface. This however is going to take time on a project that is already behind (new guy rescue?). And for the curious, I was dropped into this as a stopgap with minimal information. No bashing me for lack of preparation please. I've been at this company for less than 2 months and am still discovering legacy apps that no one in IT seems to remember/know about on a daily basis.

Short version:
I am looking for some free Windows based software I can load on a couple of the old boxes that would let people launch the program ala Citrix style. My Google-Fu is failing me and I haven't been able to find anything that fit the bill. I am unable to install the legacy app so I
need something that can be installed in place preferably.

Barring this, I am crazily thinking about setting up a couple of the old working boxes and using AutoHotkey + RDP + Concurrent terminal services patch to fill the gap until the new interface can be coded.

As always, any input from the collective mind is very much appreciated.

Programming a Universal Remote for Secret Cable?

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:22:00 -0800

Help with programming a universal remote for cable with no cable box? Comcast has installed our internet and the man who installed it was kind enough to give us free cable (for which I did not ask nor did I decline). We don't have a cable box so I'm wondering if there is a way to program our universal remote to access the cable menu and guide.

Anonymous because it is secret cable and I feel less sketchy as it was provided to us by someone actually from Comcast but none-the-less we are not paying for it.

Recommendations for wireless locator kit? (i.e. 'RFID-beepers I can stick on things)

jcruelty — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:34:54 -0800

Can you recommend a good wireless locator kit that will let me tag various remotes, keys, etc. so I can find them by activating the locator and listening for a beep? Key features I'm looking for would be: good range, ability to deal w/ wireless interference, small tags (one of the remotes I want to stick a tag onto is 3 inches by 1 inch), reasonable price range.

I saw along these lines with minimal response. Amazon lists a few kits like this: EZ-FIND-25-Item-Wireless-Electronic-Locator but I would really like to hear if anyone's used it and if so how's the quality.

Weird keyless remote programming situation

wsg — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:17:41 -0800

Follow me here: I just bought a used 95 Honda Odyssey van that is almost identical to the 95 Honda van I already have, but nicer. I'm trying to get the keyless remote for the old Honda to work with the new old Honda. The guy I bought the new 95 Honda from said the he recently had a used replacement starter installed, because a new one was about $500. For that reason, it takes two keys: one to unlock it and one to start it.

I just got this new keyless remote for my old van and am now trying to program it to work with the new, almost identical van, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Could it be because the newly installed used replacement starter in the new Honda is not allowing the keyless remote to be programmed for some reason? Two keys to unlock and start seem to be a clue.

Also, I'm not positive that I am using the correct procedure to program it, but I think it's what worked last time. Here are the instructions I'm following. Thanks for any advice.

1. Open the driver's door.
2. Push the driver's power door lock switch to the unlock position and hold it. (Continue to hold the switch during this procedure.)
3. Insert the key into the ignition switch, then remove it. Repeat this four more times (five times total) within 10 seconds. (You must complete steps 3 and 4 within 10 seconds or the system will exit the programming mode.)
4. Insert the key into the ignition switch. After you insert the key, make sure the power door locks cycle to confirm that the system is in the programming mode.
5. Press the "LOCK" or "UNLOCK" button on the transmitter. All the power door locks (except the driver's door) should cycle to confirm that the system accepted the transmitter's code.
6. To program a second transmitter, press its "LOCK" or "UNLOCK" button within 10 seconds of programming the first transmitter.
7. Release the master power door lock switch to exit the programming mode.

"On Demand"? Well, I'm DEMANDING already!

EmpressCallipygos — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:27:20 -0800

Shouldn't I be able to get "on-demand" wireless networks to WORK on my computer? Why can't I? After another frustrating train trip during which I was unable to get online, I need an explanation.

When I'm looking for a computer network to log onto on my laptop, I usually see three different kinds of signals -- "secured" and "unsecured" I understand. But then there is a third type, called "On Demand". My wireless manager is often able to connect TO whatever "on Demand" signal I select, but then when I try to open Outlook or a web browser, it doesn't work, and the troubleshooting for my web browser tells me it cannot see the very "on Demand" signal that my wireless manager tells me I am connected to. (Fortunately, at least this time, I know that I'm not the only one with the problem -- I asked a couple guys on the train who were also trying to log on, and they were having the same problem.)

What in the name of hell is behind all this? Why is one program telling me I'm connected when another one is not? Doesn't "On Demand" imply that it is a functioning signal which works when people need it? What's really going on here?

Can I get my PC to use this Mac-based USB device?

kjackelen05 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:58:43 -0800

Help me set up this USB infrared receiver for my PC. The machine doesn't recognize it when I plug it in. I bought the device after reading in a forum that it can work with Windows to receive remote control commands. I figured this would be perfect for my Harmony One remote, since this computer sits in the living room and uses my HDTV as a display. I realize the device is targeted toward the Mac, but I was hopeful that configuring it for the PC would be a simple task.

I was wrong. The first time I connected the device to my computer, it said that it was installed and ready for use. It did not respond to the commands from my remote, and it was not listed in the device manager anywhere. As a result, I have no idea how to try to configure it. Every time I've connected the device since the first time, the machine has not responded to it in any way. No sound indicating a device has been connected, no system tray icon saying it's being installed, no entry in the device manager, nothing.

If anyone has an idea of how to get this working with my machine, your help is greatly appreciated. If I can't get it working, I'll order something designed for Windows, which isn't the end of the world, but I'd obviously like to use what I've already got if possible. Thanks!

Relevant information: My PC is a Dell Inspiron 531s desktop machine running Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit.

Relevant links:
Aforementioned forum thread where I learned about this device
Article on the subject that might be more helpful to you than it was to me

How do I get a server to start the connection?

Solomon — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:43:40 -0800

How can I make UltraVNC server create a remote connection to a listening viewer on the same LAN, automatically at startup? I've tried using UltraVNC SC to initiate the connection from the server to the viewer, which works fine if I'm at the server PC. This would be an ideal method.

However, I don't always have keyboard/mouse access to the server PC, and I don't always know when it will be turned on, so I can't just start it up and wait a few seconds then use the viewer to make the connection.

I'm open to other, similar software if it will allow me to do the job.

I need the server PC to create the connection every time it starts up. How can I do this?

PC Remote?

rossination — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:39:17 -0800

What is the cheapest remote control option for our pcs? We've been watching a lot of downloaded TV lately on a VLC on a Dell laptop, connected to our TV via HDMI cable. It's a great low-cost option for watching torrented episodes of The Wire, but it's a pain to get up to pause, rewind, etc.

What is the cheapest, easiest remote control option? I'm thinking something like the Apple remote, but for a PC. It looks like my options are:

>> wireless (USB or bluetooth) presenter remote. These look good but are about $50 (a little more than I'd like to spend) and I want to be sure that I can map the powerpoint-specific buttons to VLC functions (or just map them to space bar, alt-left/right, etc).

>> iPhone or Windows Mobile app to control VLC from a fancy phone or iPod touch. I don't have one of these, so it isn't an option.

>> PS3 bluetooth remote? This looks the most promising, but I don't see anything about whether or not it can be used on a PC, and I don't know how the keymapping would go.

>> expensive Logitech universal remote like the Harmony -- way too expensive.

At the very least, I want to be able to pause, rewind, and fast-forward. I know we could get better results by switching to a media center application, but at this point it's not worth setting up, so I'm only interested in a means to play files through VLC.

It seems like this would have come up before, but I'm Googling around and can't find anything.

Can you save remote desktop connections to log in to different user accounts?

Mokusatsu — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:36:27 -0800

Is it possible (in Windows Vista Ultimate) to save remote desktop connections to the same computer but for different users? i.e. have icons in my quick launch menu which log me in with a click to user1 or user2? I have a computer which is used for several specific purposes, accessed only by remote desktop (i.e. it sits in a back room and is rarely used in person).

I want to be able to quickly access each of the individual accounts by saving an RDP file and then shortcutting to that from my quick launch bar.

So I enter the credentials for user1 and "save as" the RDP file as username1.rdp and drag it onto the quick launch bar.

Clicking on this RDP logs me in to user1's account.

Then I open remote desktop again, enter the credentials for user2 and save username2.rdp.

When I click on username2.rdp, I get instantly logged in to user2's account.

So far so good.

But if I close that and click on username1.rdp, I get logged into user2. If I manually change the credentials by opening remote desktop and enter the credentials to user 1, username1.rdp will on the next attempt log me into user1's account, as does username2.rdp.

So saving a connection doesn't save the credentials, it possibly saves the computer I'm logging into, but not the user.

Am I doing it wrong or does an RDP file just not contain credentials? Is there some way I can set it up so I can one-click log in via several icons to any one of several accounts?

Anything better than VNC for OSX?

jimjam — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:55:59 -0800

UltraVNC on Vista connecting to OSX is very very slow - is there anything faster? I'm connecting a fast Vista box (i7) to a Mac Mini (intel something) via 100mbit ethernet using UltraVNC.

However many things are very slow - dragging windows around, minimizing windows, etc - around 1-2 FPS.

Is there anything faster? I'm used to RDP on windows, which is a different protocol I know, which is blazing fast.

Forwarding X sucks - I need the full desktop. NX doesn't appear to exist for OSX.

Are there any options, or am I stuck with VNC?

Where No Man Has Gone Before...

Avenger — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:22:07 -0800

Give me some ideas on some exotic and "remote" places to vacation. Remote as in, obscure, sparsely populated areas. I've already considered Greenland. Anything similar?

RF remote control

jjcurtis — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:58:07 -0800

Have AT&T U-verse installed and need help selecting the best RF remote control? What is the best RF remote for this type of setup? My main unit is in a closet and cannot see infra-red from the TV viewing room. A second receiver is in the bedroom. I have used a Niles remote control in the past but some say this doesn't work well with U-verse. I would like to have a unit I could program myself without depending on a dealer, but if those that can only be programed by dealer are the best I would go that way.

Best hardware for this homebrew universal remote?

unSane — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:07:06 -0800

What hardware should I use to build this networked universal remote? I want to build a universal remote which will work as follows. An IR transmitter is connected to a headless CPU, which is running a webserver. By connecting to the webserver (via an iPhone, for example) one can issue IR signals to control a plethora of AV components.

The simplest way to achieve this would be an Asus eeePC or a Mac Mini running apache, with something like this as an IR transmitter/receiver. However this seems like overkill. What's the neatest off-the-shelf hardware solution you can think of?

tunnel port 80

diode — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:31:20 -0800

I'm accessing the Internet via a public wireless system with most or all ports blocked except port 80, and perhaps port 443. Mainly I want to do some ftp to my website, or perhaps a remote admin session on my home computer. How can I tunnel traffic through port 80? I am working mainly out of a public library for the moment. I've read the terms of use for the free wireless system and it doesn't seem to forbid using port 80 for other types of traffic. I'm not planning on downloading warez or doing bittorrent. I'm thinking there must be a way to tunnel traffic through port 80 for a couple of services I want to use like ftp and vnc. I have logmein setup on both sides but no connection attempt gets through.
I'm running Vista and Ubuntu dual booting on a laptop. I prefer using Ubuntu, but can use Vista if forced to with a hot pitchfork or necessity.
Thanks for any tips.

Seeking A Good Remote Computing Software Package

Mckoan1 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:23:13 -0800

I am looking for a commercial software package that allows me to perform REMOTE COMPUTING while on business trips. About every six months, I travel extensively and then there is a lull to my travels. I do not want to pay a monthly fee; yet I want a REMOTE SOFTWARE package that will perform seamlessly. I want, and I am willing to purchase, a good program that will allow me to connect to my home computer to perform various tasks. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Keeping things aggregated

Aanidaani — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:00:26 -0800

Is there a website that will allow me to aggregate all my different email accounts and access them from one place? I know that Gmail can import mail from other accounts, but I'd like to have all my accounts separate and use some kind of web service that will interface with all of them. So far I've been using Thunderbird on my desktop at home to do this, but I travel frequently and instead I want to remotely access one site that links all my accounts.

I tried Zenbe but they've since started charging for it and it doesn't even support IMAP. What other options are there?

Griffin Air Click - any way to make it work or remote control another waY?

lockedroomguy — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:05:12 -0800

I want to remotely control (from 20-30 feet away) a Powerbook G4. The Griffin Air Click USB isn't working. I want to give a presentation on my Powerbook G4, preferably using iPhoto, but I also have Powerpoint and could use Keynote in a stretch.

I bought a Griffin Air Click USB, a paired remote device and USB dongle, because the PB does not have an infrared port to use with a remote device. The Air Click says it works with OS 10.4, says it works with iPhoto, Keynote, iTunes, and Powerpoint, but nothing happens when I click the remote.

You plug the dongle into your USB, install some software, and then the remote is supposed to be able to control forward, back, mute/on, and so on in some Mac applications.

I've tried both USB ports, and I can confirm that the Air Click is switched on, and that the signal is successfully sent from the remote to the Air Click dongle in the USB port, because when I click the remote the dongle success light comes on. But nothing happens on the powerbook.

I've checked the Griffin help pages and FAQ. Any options to make this work, or to make this work another way?

Thanks!

Days, I dive by the wreck. Nights, I swim in the blue lagoon.

mykescipark — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:18:03 -0800

Socotra. Djerba. Ascension. Recommend other remote, Africa-proximate getaways, please. So, I'm going on a DXpedition for a week with my shortwave radio sometime this year in order to collect field recordings of Middle Eastern and African signals. Hence, I want to find a remote, electrically quiet, sparsely populated place to raise my antenna.

I have absolutely no interest in touristy places like Ibiza, Sicily, or Malta. Any place that has a remotely metropolitan feel is completely off the list. I want a shoreline view with the bare minimum amenities, no power grids or endless streams of tourists, and - most importantly - the ability to do my radio for days on end with a minimal likelihood of being suspected of espionage.

My "wish list" is above the jump, but I'd like your thoughts and additions. Locations must be proximate to the Middle East and Africa - I have no interest in South American stations and the like, so (for example) the much-vaunted Easter Island is out of the running.

I'm flexible on dates - I know monsoon season starts on Socotra in May, for example. And I'm willing to jump through some administrative hoops, such as the Entry Permit process for Ascension. Ah, yes, and I'm traveling alone.

Bluetooth, PDA, serial connection, remote control...you get the drift.

ostranenie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:32:08 -0800

I want a Bluetooth-enabled PDA to control (send arbitrary data to) a generic serial device using a serial-Bluetooth adapter. Has this software been written already or is it up to me? I have a PDA with inbuilt Bluetooth and I want to control a serial device with something like this. Will I have to write the software for the PDA myself? All the software I've seen, which there's a lot of (both freeware and shareware) expects a host PC connection and some kind of handshake between the software running on the PC and the software running on the PDA. But I don't want the PC - I just want to send ordinary serial data based on keypresses from the PDA.

Remote Access via a G1?

amro — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:33:52 -0800

I have remote access to my work computer from any other computer via Citrix. Would I be able to access my work computer in the same manner from a T-Mobile G1 phone (or from any other similar cell phone)? I don't want to have to coordinate this with anyone at work, I just want to know if it's possible to do. I know I can't get remote access on a Blackberry, I have tried it already.

Help me sync contacts from one user to another over exchange?

vrdx — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:18:00 -0800

Help me figure out a CRM/Sync solution! I'm going crazy trying to figure out a good solution for a small firm; need to sync contacts, more inside... So, I've googled myself to pieces and need your guidance. I've got a small group of folks in a firm I am the go-to solutions consultant for their newer IT services. I've got a few users spread throughout the country, and we're using a hosted exchange solution. One of the exec's assistants is not local, but has a 'master' contact database - this is a master list, within outlook, and is several hundred MB's large, containing many pieces of information w/in each contact's entry (some sensitive). I can set up the 'shared contacts' functionality from w/in exchange+outlook, but I need to sync those contacts TO users databases (for some to use w/ BlackBerry's / iPhones) (They've been using Outlook as a CRM solution...)

So, what is one way (preferably free) to sync this 'master list' of contacts to multiple users? It can run over Exchange, if that helps.

Possible issues: It needs to be pretty simple and easy to use, I can only remote-assist so much, but, it can't require a ton of learning curve on the users part, so things like Act, FileMaker, etc. are out... They are also somewhat averse to paying for another service (getting hosted exchange going was a huge step but still took a ton of work) so things like salesforce are out too.

Additionally, assume the users have a basic level of comfort/knowledge with things like outlook, but still experience general pc issues that perplex them ("why won't my outlook open...?") so I'd like to be as easy as possible.

So, mefi masters, help me! I'm open to trying tons of stuff, and we have online storage available to use as an intermediary place to store a database (to get from one remote user to the next), but I'm out of ideas.

Can I reboot a Vista machine from another machine on the same network?

miniape — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:37:57 -0800

Can I restart a Vista machine from another Vista machine on the same network? I'm troubleshooting two Vista computers on a LAN using a 3rd party remote desktop tool. Occasionally the remote desktop freezes the system and I'm screwed. Is there a way I can reboot the frozen machine by logging into the other and issuing a command? I seem to remember windows having a restart command, and also an IT guy at a former job using it over the network.

Is this possible and what do I need to pull it off?

iTunes Xp and iPhone Remote won't play together

filmgeek — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:05:27 -0800

Can't seem to get this to work. iTunes sharing + iPhone remote - Mac Book Pro works, Xp doesn't; same network. Ideas? MBPro 10.5.6. iTunes 8.0.2 (20)
Xp Service Pack 3. iTunes 8.0.2.22

Generally, the Mac works, the PC doesn't.

iTunes music sharing is on.
The mac shares it's library and pc sees (and can play) fine.
The pc shares it's library and the mac can't see it.

Apple's "remote" app - 1.1.1 (on two iphones, both 2.2)
Both iphones can pair and control the mac (the library name shows up)
Both iphones can PAIR to the pc - but no control (The library name doesn't show up)

I've tried turning on and off XP's firewall. I'm stumped.