Tsaiberspace

Without a remote control, you don't have a real "HTPC". There are two strategies for getting a remote control to work with a computer:

• Buy a wireless keyboard + receiver, and program the remote to emulate a keyboard. This is the more expensive option (my wireless keyboard was $40.40). However, there is no software configuration involved; to the computer, the remote control looks like a keyboard.
• Buy an IR receiver, program a remote to send signals recognized by the receiver, and run LIRC on the computer to process these events and send them to programs. This is generally cheaper (a USB receiver + remote can be found for $30 from Streamzap, and serial-port receivers + remotes can be found for $10 on eBay). However, LIRC can be difficult to configure.

I chose the first option. Getting a remote control fully working was the hardest part to get "right"; the process is woefully under-documented, and the website holding the necessary files is hard to navigate. The MythTV Wiki has a good article for the same keyboard as mine:

• Download RemoteMaster.
• Download the "RDF" files and the "IR" application: go to JP1 Remotes Forums File Section (in small text near the top of the page), navigate to Tools → Main, and download IR.exe and the "RDF Files". You might have to use Internet Explorer to browse this web site; for me, many of the graphics (including the "download" button) don't show up in Firefox.
• Install the software; simply unzip them all into some directory.
• Find a supported remote control. Start up RemoteMaster; the list of supported remote controls is in the "Remote" drop-down box. I have the Radio Shack RS 15-2116.
• Find a supported wireless keyboard. Go back to JP1 Remotes Forums File Section, navigate to Device Upgrades → Keyboards, and download the files that will support your keyboard. I have a Lite-On "Airboard" SK-7551, which uses the Airboard - Make_AND_Break_keys upgrade.
• Go shopping for your remote control, wireless keyboard, and JP1 cable. The right side of the JP1 Home Page has links to where you can buy pre-built JP1 cables; I bought mine from Hovis Direct.
• Start up RemoteMaster again:
  1. File → Open...
  2. Change "File of type" to read "All device upgrade files".
  3. Select your downloaded keyboard support file.
  4. In the "Remote" drop-down box, select your remote control
  5. Click the "Setup" tab and pick a setup code. Anything that doesn't conflict with a device your already own should be fine. I picked 2000.
  6. Click the "Layout" tab. Click a button on the image of the remote control (on the left), then click the keystroke it should generate (on the right). Do this until all desired remote control keys have been mapped to the desired keystrokes.
  7. Save your work: File → Save as...
  8. Click the "Output" tab; there should be a bunch of hexadecimal characters everywhere.
• Without closing RemoteMaster, start up the ir.exe program:
  1. Click the "General" tab. Select a device button to put the remote control into "keyboard" mode (e.g., "AUX"). Enter the setup code you used in RemoteMaster (step 5, above).
  2. In RemoteMaster, click the "Output" tab and push the "Copy" button next to "Device Upgrade Code".
  3. In ir.exe, click the "Devices" tab, push the "Add" button, and paste (Ctrl-V) what you just copied into the top empty text box, then click "OK". The left panel will show the device and setup code.
  4. In RemoteMaster, click the "Output" tab, and push the "Copy" button next to "Upgrade Protocol Code ***REQUIRED***".
  5. In ir.exe, click the "Protocols" tab, push the "Add" button, and paste (Ctrl-V) what you just copied into the top empty text box, then click "OK". This tab will now be populated with lots of hexadecimal digits.
  6. Save your ir.exe work: File → Save as...
  7. Use your JP1 cable to connect your remote control to your computer running ir.exe.
  8. Upgrade the remote: File → Upload to Remote.
• Close RemoteMaster and ir.exe, and back up your remote control mapping and IR configuration files to a safe place.
• Disconnect your JP1 cable from the computer and remote control.

If your remote control can support multiple devices, you may be able to find upgrade codes to control the rest of your home entertainment system for a truly "universal" remote control. You can then use ir.exe to download your remote control configuration and back it up to disk.