Please test Media Center control from Homegate

We had many requests to control Media library from any room in the house. Many people think, that Windows Media Center, included in Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate is a good way to do this.

There are solution in US to integrate it with smarthome: http://www.exceptionalinnovation.com , which had strong success on CES 2007. There are more solutions (including Digital Homeware, compatible with C-Bus). All of these are central intelligence and high cost.

We tried to do this, using standard Homegate v.3 functions (Run Programm and Remote Control via C-Bus). And I think we have success! We used .js files, which emulate button press, it is standard windows function.

Please test: http://ru.clipsal.ru/files/windows_media_control_package.zip, which allows to control Media Center via any C-Bus input unit.

This package is very stright forward way to control Windows Media Center from any Clipsal C-Bus input unit. It uses standard functions of HomeGate v3 and Windows. Very first version, but it works! Please enjoy.

Needed: Toolkit 1.6.1, Homegate 3.9.0

1. Import MSMEDIA_toolkit_project.cbz into C-Bus Toolkit (created in Toolkit 1.6.1)
2. Run server_homegate_project on Windows Media Server (it is included in Vista Ultimate and Vista Home Premium)
3. Run client_homegate_project on any remote PC (I prefer to use UMPC or Tablet), this project is created to show how to control mediacenter remotely
4. Use any C-Bus device to control LIGHTING/MSMEDIA group address, "bell press" 17 action selectors are created in MSMEDIA_toolkit_project.cbz project
5. Control your media library!

Tested on Vista Ultimate, Samsung x20 as server, Samsung Q1 as wireless client (800x480 resolution used).

All comments are very welcome at [email protected].
Nikolay Rusanov, With scripts help by Maxim Sorokin

 

Thanks for sharing this with us. We will try it out.

We had always hoped that the C-Bus Forums would become a place where people would share ideas, graphics, logic snippets and so on. Unfortunately it hasn't happened a lot, so lets hope this gets everyone motivated

 

Hey Darren,

I have had several requests for the PAC RS232 serial training program I wrote about a year ago. A couple of times in forum posts I have mentioned it. Other people read that I have offered it and PM me to ask for a copy. That exact thing happened today. I think you will find there is a bit more sharing etc going on behind the scenes - A good thing

 

Thanks,

I am just in the process of re-building my Media Centre PC, Hopefully will be finished this week.

I will test this as soon as I am back up and running.

 

thank you!