Recommended IR keyboard/mouse

[zAndy1]

Hi,
Can anyone recommend a suitable IR keyboard and mouse for use with my HTPC. I don't want to spend the earth and I'm not sure how much I'll need one if I get IRMan and use my Pronto remote? I had an airboard before but can't seem to find a supplier..

Cheers,
Andy.

[Gary Lightfoot]

Hi Andy,

Got any computer fairs down your way? I got an all in one Airkey for £15 which is black, and can work up to about 30ft.

The mouse is a disk on the top r/h corner, and the mouse buttons are on the top left. It's a lot smaller than a normal keyboard too - about the size of a normal KB without the F keys or r/h keypad stuff.

My pc is behind the seating area, so all I did was to get some ps2 extension leads, and put the ir receiver at the front of the room - about 25 odd feet in total IIRC, and it still works ok.

Much better than having a table with mouse and keyboard in front of me, and it's easy to put out of the way when not needed.

HTH

Gary.

[JohnS]

That sounds like the one that I use, I paid about £20 for it from ARD electronics about a year and a half ago so not sure of the brand, seem to think its a rebadged Phillips though. My brother got one from CPC for under £30 recently and that works alright as well but uses a little joystick for the mouse instead, bit more difficult to control but a stronger IR signal if thats required.

[zAndy1]

Thanks for the recommendation, looks like just what I'm after and a very reasonable price too! Don't think there are any computer fairs locally so I'll try and find one on the web somewhere...

Cheers,
Andy.

[Kramer]

I have an RF keyboard & RF optical mouse. The mouse gets used relatively often (works on my knee, couch etc...) & is recommended, but something like a Pronto & an IRman/Girder is ultra cool & thoroughly recommended.

You should be able to pick an RF optical mouse (USB) for < £15 (mine cost £15 :eek: ).

[Mr. Wilby]

Andy, if you find an online supplier for that keyboard/mouse, please post back :)

I've been thinking of getting the wireless jobby from Kustom PC's (RF, rather than IR I think).. you can use the mouse in the air (rather than have to use it on a table etc).

Its a bit expensive though (99 quid!). (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=3026)

If it weren't quite so expensive, I think I'd have bought it already... but 99 quid... for a keyboard&mouse!??! :eek:

[Gary Lightfoot]

here's the cpc one John mentioned:

http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=cpc+catalogue&category%5Fname=&product%5Fid=80776

very similar to the one I use, but not the same.

Gary.

[zAndy1]

Well, www.ardelectronics.com have a wireless IR keyboard for £22.43, looks like it might be the airkey but doesn't say it is.
John, is that the one you've got?

Cheers,
Andy.

[JohnS]

Mine looks like this one http://www.ardelectronics.com/order/display.asp?prod=180-03331 but hard to be positive from the picture.

Gary was right that the one from cpc is the one my btother bought, its probably got a slightly better ir range if thats important to you.

[mephistopheles]

I find an RF X10 Mouse Remote quite handy (not intended). It's probably not as sophisticated as the mouse component of the Gyration Suite, but it does work very effectively, seated, in mid-air and on-the-move, so to speak, with one hand. It's a fairly large hand-held remote control handset with a omni-directional thumb pad for cursor control and right and left click buttons underneath. It doubles as a programmable IR universal remote and also works with all the X10 home automation stuff (which I don't have).

I use the mouse with programmable Max10 software instead of the standard supplied package, which again, is nowhere near the levels of sophistication available in IRMan/Girder (which I also have and with which you can use it), but it's very convenient and extremely easy to set up. I got it about 18 months ago for around £60 but I'm not sure what they cost today.

I find I seldom need a keyboard for HCPC but I'll be taking a look at those recommended here since they seem cheap enough to get one anyway.

[buns]

I got one of dabs value packages....... if i recall it was mouse and keyboard for about £15........ and before anyone says 'it's rubbish dabs', anyone who knows me will confirm im really very picky about this sort of thing..... and the dabs affair does me absolutely wonderful! :grin: i cant find a link just now..... but i'll get back....

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[dnrc]

That gyration suite may be expensive but trust me that mouse is fantastic, the keyboard is....well its a keyboard surprisingly enough. the range is very good though.

[gab2001uk]

I have just ordered the one from farnell (gary's post above)
They are currently offering free delivery. I looked at the gyroRemote but will consider that later, as it is a bit expensive.
(Cheaper at Dabs than KustomPC by about £50 )

[Gary Lightfoot]

Let us know what you think of it won't you Graham - could be helpful to other members. :)

Gary.