PC that can be turned on with a Remote Control

[Sagima]

I've been asked to find a PC that can be turned on/off (not sleep) with a remote control - I'd prefer something that could be plugged into a pc we already have but I haven't found any usb things that actually turn the thing on from off.

It's going to sit on a beam above a projector so it needs to be quite small.

 

In my mind I was thinking of a usb device for power with some sort of ethernet passthrough that would send a WOL signal when it was off and a shutdown command directly when it was on. I may have been overthinking it

 

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[3s-gtech]

Hmmm. A remote controlled switch, bridging the power contacts on the FP header on the motherboard, would work. We did the same with a remote (wired) turn on button for a PC using speaker cable and a simple push switch.

 

Forget trying to use USB devices etc, just keep it simple.

[dhicks]

Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

An old tray-loading CD drive, mounted just the right distance away from the PC's power button, with a stick poking out the front.

[LeMarchand]

Not tried any of these, but:

 

Controller for Win10

Universal IR Remote Power Switch for PC or, for less of a homebrew https://flirc.tv/

[caffrey]

I have a home htpc which I've installed a simerec pcs-2 SIMEREC Universal IR Remote Control PC Power Switch worked flawlessly for years

[juliuscaesar]

All you need is to hook it up via ethernet and set up Wake on LAN (WoL), there are lots of sites for this and only takes a few steps. I use an app called universal remote on my phone/tablet to wake and remotely control a number of PCs

[LeMarchand]

Was looking for something else and came across this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SilverStone-SST-ES01-PCIE-Wireless-Remote-Computer/dp/B019OBKWBC

[chazzy2501]

Some ASRock motherboards have a IRDA power on optional extra.

[tomo1095]

No need to make it complicated more than it already is... You don't need any USB devices, just an IR receiver that can plug into the motherboard in place of the usual power button connections, that comes with a remote control.

[chazzy2501]

found it:

 

ASRock > Smart Remote

 

and their list of boards

 

http://www.asrock.com/mb/spec/card.asp?Model=Smart%20Remote&cat=Support

 

the dongle goes into a usb port but you rewire it to a specific header on the mb

Edited May 4, 2016 by chazzy2501

[pete]

I'd use a Windows Media Centre Edition - esque remote.

 

You could also tie the PC directly into the projector (assuming the projector has a relay block). That way powering on the projector will turn on the PC. Stick an SSD in it and it'll be ready before the projector is.