Firefly or Remote Wonder 2

[wetdagger]

Which remote would you go for right now?

[cmasters]

If the ATI one gets the same plugin support the first one did that would be the one I wanted.

[wetdagger]

It does get the same plug-in support. Not only that, they have 4 Aux buttons that you can see on the upper-left of the remote. You program these buttons to programs on your machine. For example, AUX 1 = Winamp. What this does is this. If you are in a different program and winamp is not in focus, all you would do is click the AUX 1 button. It would not bring Winamp in focus, but it would change the controls for your remote to Winamp even though you are in a different application. Pretty slick!

wd

[MonsterHTPC]

Personally I use a pronto pro with my home system just don't tell the girl how much it cost.

I do like the fact that the ATI remote has a mouse control.

I asked a few people here in the office their opinion on looks its pretty much split.

It looks like the VCR style buttons (stop, play, rewind etc...) might be a bit easier and larger on the Firefly.

I would love to see the actual dimensions for the ATI remote wonder II's reciever as when I build systems I alwas prefer to mount that internally and if it has a hard time fitting in a 3 1/2 bay that would be a drawback for me personally.

Then there is the price comparison? anyone have an idea of the prices?

durability and feel? Would love to have my hands on one of each see how they feel, durability, and believe it or not, how the buttons feel. you wouldn't believe how many people put that nearly first on the list. "The buttons feel too squishy" "They don't press down smoothly" etc...

[cmasters]

What kind of plugin support will the FireFly have? It is nice with the ATI remote to be able to just download a plugin and have it instantly working with an application.

[wetdagger]

I heard that the feel of the RW2 is better than the RW1. The range on it has been doubled and there are some backlit buttons.

As for the receiver fitting in your drive bay, it looks like you wouldn't have a problem.

wd

[ctebo]

I'm a very happy user of a Harmony IR remote that intelligently controls all my audio video equipment, as well as my PC. (http://www.harmonyremote.com) Of course this does require a IR receiver for the PC. One remote that controls everything to do with my HTPC environment. The Prontos can do the same thing... I had one, where I spent 3 months working on programming the darn thing. With the Harmony software it took 15 minutes to configure all my devices and activities.

The Remote Wonder (I and II) and the Firefly can't compete with the setup I have, because I'd then be forced back to having 2 remotes in my living room, instead of the 1 that does it all now. I might add, that I do have a Remote Wonder buried in a drawer somewhere. The button layout on the thing is pretty awful. It does look like they've fixed that with the RW II.

Chris

[wetdagger]

Man, those are some expensive remotes! How much did you pay for yours?

I also agree that the button layout is getting better on the remotes. I think that adding backlit buttons should be a feature on remotes too, and a scrolling dial especially for pc remotes.

wd

[MonsterHTPC]

I am still waiting for a remote with a built in laptop style touch pad but i will keep dreaming.

ancient proverb - man who can't see buttons, can't see backlit button either.

[wetdagger]

Like your proverb! I was thinking that the backlit button would always be backlit or at least be glow in the dark.

wd

[Brett]

They both are nice remotes! It all depends on which one I can get my hands on first I guess

Either look fine, but RW2 has been "announced" for several months as though a release was just around the corner, and never happened.

-Brett

[Rita]

I just bought this one to replace my Remote Wonder and TV, DVD/sound, Satellite remote clutter with a single remote that also has x10 so i could control the lights with it too (eventually)

http://www.hometheatercomputer.net/remote_purchase.html

The good: It is only $35 and it comes with an awesome program that lets you specify what remote key controls what in any application! So I will no longer have the confusion created by BTV using escape and myHTPC using backspace to back out of screens - I can program it to use the same remote key regardless of what the keyboard command is. No plug ins are necessary for any program, and no girder. Up to a 3 key combination and script can be programmed per remote key. It's very simple to use, easily worth $20 by itself. The remote also can contol 4 additional IR devices and it has more codes already built in than any other remote I have had so far. When it's missing something you can use the learn function to learn it from the original remote. It can even control lights and appliances with X10 devices...

The bad: The range is similar to the Remote Wonder, I had to add the usb extension, and I think it's going to need the antenna extension as well. It is UGLY! Uglier than the picture above! (But it's still better than multiple remotes.) It has a similar button feel as the ATI remote wonder - which I don't really like, too hard and small. And I've been having problems with the learning function but its probably due to messing with it at 1am...

My perfect remote would be an dual RF device / IR learning remote that is smaller, prettier, with more rubbery buttons. I'm pretty sure there is no such thing yet...


edit: I should have mentioned that the software this remote comes with also works for the Remote Wonder - possibly would work with the new FireFly?

edit #2: I think I spoke too soon - having lots of trouble with the IR functions of this remote...

[donsev]

Rita,

I was settling on the X10 RF PC Remote as well (IR & RF, Universal Learning etc.) when I saw your comments. Could you provide some additional feedback.

The web site review supports the claim of 25' range, what has been your experience. Are you going through any walls? Do you have any other RF devices that may be creating interference? What problems have you run into with the IR functions?

Thanks.

[Rita]

Donsev,

The range is pretty much the same as with the ATI Remote Wonder (1) which I need to use a USB extension (plus an antenna extension). With just the USB extension I am going through several walls and a floor, but the reception is not quite as good as with the ATI Remote with the extra antenna - so it probably will need a little copper wire at the end - but it is certainly usable a floor below at the other end of my house. (I have not tested it one more floor below which the ATI can reach). I think you can get a 40' range out of it as long as you do the same modifications as I did. I had this with the ATI RF remote and an RF keyboard/mouse next to it - no interference. We have a ton of big metal ducts snaking through the walls/floors of the house, I think that may be adding to the interference, I seemed to have had better RF control at my last house better WIFI, etc than here, so your results may be even better.

On the IR issue, the first remote I got apparently had the IR (receiving) sensor broken in it. I sent it back and got a new one, this one was personally tested by the site owner and claims it will work, so I am pretty confident it will - I have not gotten around to try it yet.

Basically if you have the ATI Remote Wonder you might as well switch to this X10 remote, so you can cut down on the remote clutter. Plus the X10 function can help you shut the lights off without getting up... useful if you tend to always forget... (I haven't tested any X10 functionality yet) Neither this nor the ATI remote is a beauty, but one ugly remote is better than having the mess of five (or even two) pretty remotes on the coffee table... in my opinion anyway...

[donsev]

Rita,

Thanks for the feedback. I immersed myself in research on this little puppy after discovering about it yesterday morning (I have been searching for a do-it-all remote like this for years, so I was keen on finding out as much as possible). I am also hoping that we can consolidate some of the more helpful suggestions into one forum and http://www.hometheatercomputer.net/forum/ seems like the most logical place. I discovered a suggested mod to attach an external antenna on another thread here and I cross posted it HERE. Perhaps you could elaborate on your antenna extension improvement there as well.

Originally posted by Rita
...plus an antenna extension...but the reception is not quite as good as with the ATI Remote with the extra antenna - so it probably will need a little copper wire at the end

I had simply been coiling an FM antenna thread around the pig-tail on a CM19A transceiver that I use for another purpose to increase the antenna length - couldn't prove that it worked but it seemed to help.