Can I do this? Winamp Network Remote control

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

My main computer is hooked up via SPDIF out to my home theater reciever. I use this to play my mp3 connection using Windows Media center. Note that the computer and the home theater are in different rooms.

What I'm wondering is if there is a way for me to control the song being played by my media center computer using my laptop. That way I can sit in my chair in the living room with my laptop and control the song without having to go into the other room. It'd be nice if I could do the same sort of thing with videos too(My TV is hooked up to the same computer)

Thanks in advance!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

The first thing that comes to mind that if they are both on your network, you could use some sort of remote desktop utility to actually control the other computer?

I don't even know if that's what you would call it. I have never done anything like that before, but I've seen it in action and it seems like that's something that could work in this case.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

Yeah, I've tried doing remote desktop, but there are two problems with it:

1) My wife uses the main computer too, and doesn't like getting kicked off just because I need to change the song
2) When I did that, the sound came out of my laptop's speakers instead of out of the SPDIF connection

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

How far away are they? This wouldn't really solve your wife using the computer problem, but you might be able to get a wireless set to connect to the other computer if it's not too far away. My mouse is fairly limited, but my keyboard has a range that could go a couple of rooms away.

Maybe even some kind of USB extension cable so you could have the wireless receiver in the TV room?

I'm just sort of throwing ideas out for you since I haven't done this

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

Yeah, my main computer does have a wireless mouse, but again, if I have the mouse in the living room, then my wife can't use it. And then I need to have the TV on so that I can see what I'm doing with the mouse.

Yeah, good ideas though! I was hoping I could somehow have a plugin for windows media player on my laptop that could somehow interface with the media center computer in the other room so that I could just change the song/pause it/etc.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

It is possible to have two sets of mouse/keyboard attached to one computer. I've done it before.

As an added bonus, you'll get to make your wife go crazy in the other room by using the set while she's on the computer in the other room :laugh:

With two sets hooked up, they sort of "fight" for control if they are both in use at once, but if you use them one set at a time, it should work.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

I guess I was looking for a free software solution. Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

[GimpyFuzznut]

You can try a Real VNC remote desktop client. It doesn't boot you when you logon and the person at the screen just sees you moving the mouse - like someone took you over with a trojan or whatever.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: CigarSmokedByClinton
Yeah, I've tried doing remote desktop, but there are two problems with it:

1) My wife uses the main computer too, and doesn't like getting kicked off just because I need to change the song
2) When I did that, the sound came out of my laptop's speakers instead of out of the SPDIF connection

1. Tell her to change the song
2. Remote Desktop Connection > Local Resources > Remote Computer Sound > Leave at Remote Computer

 

[oynaz]

Winamp has just released a new edition which includes some remote functinons. I have not tried it yet, but it might be just what you need.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

OK I'll take a look at winamp

 

[oynaz]

Be sure to post your experiences here. I am kinda curious what it can do.

 

[bob4432]

i use winVNC and have for years. works very well and will do exactly what you want. the server portion of winvnc - the part that you install on the computer to be controlled has a built in webserver so you can just type in http://192.168.1.x:x (or whatever you networks in configured as) and control it via ie, ff or just about any browser as long as you have java installed.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

Winamp remote appears to be some sort of online repository for your mp3s. You can upload your mp3's to a server, and login and enjoy them anywhere. Kinda cool, but not what I'm looking for. I found a link to what I'm looking for, but it looks to be 6 years old. Have a look at these plugins:

http://www.winamp.com/plugins/browse.ph...query=remote&filter=C&ctype=P&filter=C

I'm going thru them to see what one I like best

 

[skadoo323]

under the remote desktop options, there is a option to leave the sound at the remote pc. by setting this option the sound played from you main pc will not be played on the pc you are remoting from. i have a similar setup, but no one else uses the pc i have setup for this.

 

[CigarSmokedByClinton]

Well guys I settled on a plugin called NGWinamp TCP-IP Remote Control

http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=135602

The user interface is actually pretty nice. And it does exactly what I want flawlessly. And I don't have to take over the mouse or anything.