[slinkelist] RF remote mouse
Taylor Gautier
tgautier@corp.home.net
Wed, 15 Dec 1999 15:00:28 -0800
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Yes, I have had the MouseRemote for over a year. I also just recently =
purchased the X10 DVD Anywhere product (meaning I now have 2 =
MouseRemotes).
I am only marginally happy with both of these products. X10 equipment =
is always, in my opinion, a little on the rough side, not too attractive =
designs and the functionality usually performs as advertised, but not =
spectacularly so.
In the case of the MouseRemote, it overrides your existing mouse. You =
plug your mouse into it, and then you plug the MR into your computer. =
To make this work correctly, you must install X10's mouse driver. This =
I believe is the inherent weakness of the system (the whole mouse =
doohicky).
On my old P133 (where the MR was installed for the year, I just upgraded =
to a new system) I installed everything and it worked ok, except for =
occasional mouse "glitches". These would exhibit themselves as the =
mouse moving around, clicking at random intervals and other strangeness =
(very hard to use the computer while the product is in use for typing a =
paper for instance)
They say it's due to "PS/2" losing sync signals, but I think it's just =
their crappy product. I will say that my old system did not support =
PS/2 style connectors, and thus I was taking my PS/2 mouse, plugging it =
into the MR, and then the MR into a converter and into the Serial Port. =
Recently I removed the MR component (while leaving the driver intact) =
and all of the problems went away (of course I couldn't use the MR =
anymore).
This behavior was/is very problematic for controlling programs, because =
essentially the program just emulates keyboard and mouse behaviors, with =
a few extras thrown in. The major problem comes when you launch an =
application (say an MP3 player) and the cursor is pointing somewhere =
over the desktop. After some interval of time your are (I was at least) =
guaranteed to get a random click, taking the focus away from the MP3 =
player, and thus losing all control over it. The solution is that =
before any attempt to control the computer, I would always push the =
appropriate control button.
I might add that a friend of mine purchased the MR immediately after I =
did, and experienced similar problems. Though not exactly the same, his =
experience matches mine in that the overall satisfaction with the =
product has diminished with time as it's flaws become more and more =
aggravating.
As for the DVD/MP3 Anywhere, I am not terribly impressed by it's =
quality. The unit itself seems to cause a low amount of signal noise to =
be generated in the output, regardless of the input signal. I am only =
transmitting the signal about 100 ft, so I expected pretty good =
operation. My assessment is that it is suitable for a party where you =
might want music going in two or more different rooms, but don't listen =
to classical over it. It is also susceptible to fuzz/noise when walking =
around (something I had hoped would not be a problem because it's "2.4 =
GHz"). In addition it is VERY unhappy when I turn on my 2.4 GHz phone, =
as you can imagine. I tried changing channels on both devices, to no =
avail.=20
The video quality was reasonable, about what you'd expect for an =
over-the-air broadcast kind of signal with good reception. Not as good =
as cable, but acceptable. Certainly not something you'd watch DVD =
movies on, in my opinion (s-video is not transmitted, only composite)
I have not tried the transmission of IR codes. I assume it works, but =
probably as with all X10 equipment, fails every once in a while just =
enough to annoy you, but not enough to really say that the product is =
broken.
To be honest with you, I am on this list precisely because I am fed up =
with controlling my computer through the MouseRemote. I have been =
considering the SLink device because in theory I should be able to =
control my computer any existing remote, and I should also be able to =
control my existing X10 appliance and lamp modules as well (I was =
disappointed to read the other day that FireCracker support does not =
exist yet, I have both the CM11A and FireCracker, I figured the FC would =
be the more convenient way to go).
My only concern is that there is not a program that is analogous to the =
X10 MouseRemote software that emulates mouse and keyboard events along =
with a host of others. Though I have complained about the actual =
operation the entire package, this piece of software, though clunky, =
does tend to work pretty well and provides a fair amount of flexibility =
for controlling any 3rd party application.
Hope I haven't confused you too much,
-t=20
----- Original Message ----- =20
From: skurzet=20
To: slinkelist@nirvis.com=20
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 3:15 PM
Subject: [slinkelist] RF remote mouse
Troops:
Possible answer to the out-of-sight hardware control predicament.
Stumbled over an X-10 blurb http://www.x10.com/products/offer60.htm =
for an RF remote mouse and 2.4 GHz A/V sender/receiver intended to =
control a PC DVD player and send the pix/sound to a tv via RF. Price is =
$70.
It occurs to me that this would be a super way to control Slink-e =
when the PC is in a remote location. The X-10 RF mouse should control =
the PC. A 1024X768 or better composite NTSC output video adapter or =
scan converter should send a good PC screen to the local TV or video =
monitor along with the PC's sounds using the DVD A/V sending facility. =20
Has anyone tried this? =20
Stan
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Yes, I have had the MouseRemote for over a =
year. I also=20
just recently purchased the X10 DVD Anywhere product (meaning I now have =
2=20
MouseRemotes).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I am only marginally happy with both of these =
products. =20
X10 equipment is always, in my opinion, a little on the rough side, not =
too=20
attractive designs and the functionality usually performs as advertised, =
but not=20
spectacularly so.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>In the case of the MouseRemote, it overrides your =
existing=20
mouse. You plug your mouse into it, and then you plug the MR into =
your=20
computer. To make this work correctly, you must install X10's =
mouse=20
driver. This I believe is the inherent weakness of the system (the =
whole=20
mouse doohicky).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>On my old P133 (where the MR was installed for the =
year, I=20
just upgraded to a new system) I installed everything and it worked ok, =
except=20
for occasional mouse "glitches". These would exhibit themselves as =
the=20
mouse moving around, clicking at random intervals and other strangeness =
(very=20
hard to use the computer while the product is in use for typing a paper =
for=20
instance)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>They say it's due to "PS/2" losing sync signals, but =
I think=20
it's just their crappy product. I will say that my old system did =
not=20
support PS/2 style connectors, and thus I was taking my PS/2 mouse, =
plugging it=20
into the MR, and then the MR into a converter and into the Serial =
Port. =20
Recently I removed the MR component (while leaving the driver intact) =
and all of=20
the problems went away (of course I couldn't use the MR =
anymore).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>This behavior was/is very problematic for =
controlling=20
programs, because essentially the program just emulates keyboard and =
mouse=20
behaviors, with a few extras thrown in. The major problem comes =
when you=20
launch an application (say an MP3 player) and the cursor is pointing =
somewhere=20
over the desktop. After some interval of time your =
are (I was at=20
least) guaranteed to get a random click, taking the focus away from =
the MP3=20
player, and thus losing all control over it. The solution is that =
before=20
any attempt to control the computer, I would always push the appropriate =
control=20
button.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I might add that a friend of mine purchased the MR =
immediately=20
after I did, and experienced similar problems. Though not exactly =
the=20
same, his experience matches mine in that the overall satisfaction with =
the=20
product has diminished with time as it's flaws become more and more=20
aggravating.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>As for the DVD/MP3 Anywhere, I am not terribly =
impressed by=20
it's quality. The unit itself seems to cause a low amount of =
signal noise=20
to be generated in the output, regardless of the input signal. I =
am only=20
transmitting the signal about 100 ft, so I expected pretty good =
operation. =20
My assessment is that it is suitable for a party where you might want =
music=20
going in two or more different rooms, but don't listen to classical over =
it. It is also susceptible to fuzz/noise when walking around =
(something I=20
had hoped would not be a problem because it's "2.4 GHz"). In =
addition it=20
is VERY unhappy when I turn on my 2.4 GHz phone, as you can =
imagine. I=20
tried changing channels on both devices, to no avail. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>The video quality was reasonable, about what you'd =
expect for=20
an over-the-air broadcast kind of signal with good reception. Not =
as good=20
as cable, but acceptable. Certainly not something you'd watch DVD =
movies=20
on, in my opinion (s-video is not transmitted, only =
composite)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT size=3D2>I have not tried the transmission of IR =
codes. I=20
assume it works, but probably as with all X10 equipment, fails every =
once in a=20
while just enough to annoy you, but not enough to really say that the =
product is=20
broken.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>To be honest with you, I am on this list precisely =
because I=20
am fed up with controlling my computer through the MouseRemote. I =
have=20
been considering the SLink device because in theory I should be able to =
control=20
my computer any existing remote, and I should also be able to control my =
existing X10 appliance and lamp modules as well (I was disappointed to =
read the=20
other day that FireCracker support does not exist yet, I have both the =
CM11A and=20
FireCracker, I figured the FC would be the more convenient way =
to=20
go).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>My only concern is that there is not a program that =
is=20
analogous to the X10 MouseRemote software that emulates mouse and =
keyboard=20
events along with a host of others. Though I have complained about =
the=20
actual operation the entire package, this piece of software, though =
clunky, does=20
tend to work pretty well and provides a fair amount of flexibility for=20
controlling any 3rd party application.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hope I haven't confused you too much,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>-t </FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- =
</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A href=3D"mailto:skurzet@uswest.net" =
title=3Dskurzet@uswest.net>skurzet</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
href=3D"mailto:slinkelist@nirvis.com"=20
title=3Dslinkelist@nirvis.com>slinkelist@nirvis.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 15, =
1999 3:15=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [slinkelist] RF remote =
mouse</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Troops:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Possible answer to the =
out-of-sight hardware=20
control predicament.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Stumbled over an X-10 blurb <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.x10.com/products/offer60.htm">http://www.x10.com/produ=
cts/offer60.htm</A> =20
for an RF remote mouse and 2.4 GHz A/V sender/receiver intended to =
control a=20
PC DVD player and send the pix/sound to a tv via RF. Price is=20
$70.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It occurs to me that this would be a =
super way to=20
control Slink-e when the PC is in a remote location. The =
X-10 RF=20
mouse should control the PC. A 1024X768 or better=20
composite NTSC output video adapter or scan converter should =
send a=20
good PC screen to the local TV or video monitor along =
with the PC's=20
sounds using the DVD A/V sending facility. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Has anyone tried this? =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>Stan</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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