MCE remote hardware / blaster - sizing it up

[sabre]

My head hurts from reading all the great information here on how to use different kinds of remotes to control SageTV. But, I guess I need to step back and hope someone makes it simple for me.

As noted in another post of mine, the blaster (non-learning) on my PVR-150 is now sending each digit 2x. So, I am looking for another blaster (that will learn the original remote for my sat STB). I guess the easy answer is USB-UIRT. But that seems a bit pricey. So I was reading about the MCE remote, more specifically the IR receiver and blaster that comes with it. Here is what i am trying to find out:

1) Can I use the MCE IR reciever and blaster with SageTV, when selecting 'MCE remote' in SageTV setup? Are plug-ins needed?

2) Can I use the MCE IR reciever and blaster with another remote - such as the 45 button remote (after teaching/linking the commands)? Are plug-ins needed?

3) If no to #2 (MCE remote has to be used), in SageTV command setup (for MCE remote) can we link additional functions to the MCE remote (I am using a JP-1 remote that learned the Hauppauge remote codes/I guess I could learn the MCE codes and try to add functions to extra keys) to essentially get me back to where i was? plug-ins??

3) If no to #2 (MCE remote has to be used), could i still use the 45 button remote on the MVP/client and if so i assume that would blast channel changes to the STB(s)?

I would prefer not to use additional software, but i guess once i get answers to these, I can go from there. Thanks

[FidgetyRat]

The MCE remote will function with sage using the built in windows drivers after service pack 1.1 I believe. Since sage 6 came out. I however like the customization of HIP and use their MCE driver (since I have been using it for a few years). (I'm juts now experimenting with the XP default)

The MCE receiver (ehome tranciever) MUST use the MCE remote. Hauppauge remotes or other remotes will not work. This operates on RC6 standard.

Not sure about the blaster compatability.

Any server/client/mvp that is set up with a remote uses that remote locally. So you can have an MVP remote on the server, 45 button remote on the MVP and some firefly thing on a client if you would like.

[jmiddleton]

The blaster that comes with the MCE remote can be used with Sage but it is not supported natively. See the sticky thread "Information Resources for Remotes, Receivers, and IR Blasters" at the top of the Hardware Support forum for more info on how to do this.

Personally I am using the MCE remote receiver to control the excellent Microsoft MCE remote keyboard and I have pluged the IR blasters that came with the MCE remote into my USBUIRT to control 2 Motorola DCT2000 cable boxes. Between my Gyration mouse and the media keys on the keyboard I don't use a remote any more. The nice thing is that Sage supports this natively with no plugins. The only trick is that you need to fiddle the .ir files as documented in this thread: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...buirt+multiple
This is a pain in Vista because UAC won't let you save to the Program Files folder!