Troops:
After considering the options and some experimentation, here’s = how=20 I configured my remote control setup. Thanks to those who offered=20 suggestions a few weeks ago when the effort started. It helped a=20 lot. A little background first.
All hardware, PC, HiFi and video components are out of sight in = a=20 closet. Video is via a LCD projector which illuminates the screen = through a port=20 in the closet/living room wall. There is also a glass TV when the big = screen is=20 not used.
My A/V receiver has S Video inputs, so I tied my PC’s ATI = Rage Fury=20 adapter to an unused S Video input which can be selected via the A/V = receiver’s=20 remote. More on that later.
The ATI video output is also fed to a 2.4 Ghz relay (WaveCom RF Link) = which=20 sends the video to the glass tube via its line input. The object was to = fully=20 control the CDJ software without going into the closet. The WaveCom was = the most=20 expensive component ($89) and could be avoided if there is a way to get = cable=20 from the ATI to the TV and the cable type and length compatible with = signal=20 quality.
The PC gets its power from the switched output on the A/V receiver = and boots=20 up Win98 super fast as CDJ and sound card utilities are the only = installed=20 aps. The PC is a retired PII, 200 and it gets MP3 and WAV = files on=20 a Mb/s LAN from the big boy in my den that has a = ton of=20 Gigs in it, and on which I am slowly putting my 45 year collection = of disks=20 and tape in cleaned up WAV and MP3 form, depending on source=20 quality.
While I really like the Logitech RF keyboard, which I purchased based = on=20 Slinkelist recommendation, I found that the range was unusable = through the=20 closet wall from my couch potato location. The other problem with the = Logitech=20 is that it uses a mouse that really needs a pad to work on, so = it’s not all that=20 useful away from a flat surface. Using CDJ without a mouse is, in my = opinion=20 more difficult than is acceptable. The Logitech has been promoted to the = everyday desk-top machine where it works just fine.
The keyboard/mouse problem was solved with a $59 gizmo made by = Silitek, a=20 Chinese operation whose name was obviously chosen by non English = speaking=20 people. Anyhow, the thing is called an Airboard and is sold under the = brand name=20 of "Express Pro Remote". I got mine at CompUSA. This is an IR keyboard = with a=20 built in pointing stick which, with its buttons is superbly = ergonomically=20 arranged for flaked out on the couch operation. The thing works very = reliably up=20 to 25 feet away from its IR receiver and can be pointed anywhere up = to 45=20 degrees in any direction away from the receiver. Also, this keyboard is = smaller=20 than the Logitech, but has normal keyboard size QWERTY spacing. =
I use an RF/IR relay (X-10, $30) to get my HiFi control from = the living=20 room to the closet. This picks up the keyboard also and repeats the = keybord’s IR=20 to the closet same as the HiFi control. So, the keyboard’s IR = receiver picks up=20 it’s stuff just like the HiFi receiver, DVD, CD's, VCR etc.
For playing MP3's, the sound card’s output is tied to the = receiver’s audio=20 inputs associated with the video channel used for the ATI S Video = output. Some=20 negative comments re Soundblaster on Slinkelist notwithstanding, I use = the=20 Soundblaster Live card for my hard drive resident MP3 and WAV files and = find it=20 quite satisfactory. I intend to install PCAnywhere to use = via the=20 LAN so I can didle the system from the den instead of standing in = the=20 closet, switching keyboards and all that. I salivate at the = thought=20 of training CDJ and Slinke to run the HiFi hardware and TV's but it = looks like a=20 really steep learning curve that can chew up endless hours like mad.
The remote mouse control and keyboard operation is rock stable. = This=20 entire arrangement is totally satisfactory, and I am not one to be = easily=20 pleased. I have found Slinkelist to be very useful, therefore = If any=20 of this helps anyone considering remote control then I'm glad to = finally=20 contribute.
Cheers,
Stan