Good IR for 2018 Mac Mini

[Killerbob]

Today I finally upgraded my Mac Mini to the new 2018 version. I have used a Mac Mini as entertainment center connected to my TV for years, and amongst other things, I run Kodi on it. I control Kodi, and the rest of my entertainment setup, using a Logitech Harmony remote... So, imagine my surprise when I realised that Apple, in their infinite wisdom, have removed the build-in IR in the Mac Mini...

So now I either accept, and control TV, Amp, BlueRay, and Cable, using my Harmony, AND Kodi on my Mac Mini using a keyboard... OR, I find a way to continue using my Harmoney on the Mac Mini. I guess I need an IR.

What are my options? I can’t find any USB IRs, and I do not belive that there is a way to get Harmony control into the Mac Mini except via IR. And if I find a USB IR, will it be supported in Mojave?

Please help!

 

[Duncan68]

Today I finally upgraded my Mac Mini to the new 2018 version. I have used a Mac Mini as entertainment center connected to my TV for years, and amongst other things, I run Kodi on it. I control Kodi, and the rest of my entertainment setup, using a Logitech Harmony remote... So, imagine my surprise when I realised that Apple, in their infinite wisdom, have removed the build-in IR in the Mac Mini...

So now I either accept, and control TV, Amp, BlueRay, and Cable, using my Harmony, AND Kodi on my Mac Mini using a keyboard... OR, I find a way to continue using my Harmoney on the Mac Mini. I guess I need an IR.

What are my options? I can’t find any USB IRs, and I do not belive that there is a way to get Harmony control into the Mac Mini except via IR. And if I find a USB IR, will it be supported in Mojave?

Please help!

Would this be suitable?

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Re...ie=UTF8&qid=1547294415&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+ir

 

[Killerbob]

Thx. for the link...

I was hoping anyone had personal experience with any of these?

 

[ElectronGuru]

You’ve got to many devices to make it elegant but FYI

iRemote for Kodi
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iremote-for-kodi/id1244685334?mt=8

 

[Killerbob]

iRemote works to control Kodi using my iPhone, and thanks for guiding me in the direction!

However, I am really looking for a way to control Kodi using the Logitech Harmony. My family are not IT savy, and they are just so used to controlling everything using just one remote. Also, I have "activities" set up in Harmony, so for instance when you press "Watch Kodi", it 1) turns on the Amp, setting the input to Mac Mini, 2) turns on the TV, setting the source to Mac Mini, 3) Turns on Kodi on the Mac Mini, and 4) controls Kodi.

 

[saulinpa]

I used a Microsoft IR receiver and had to use this software to make it work properly: https://www.iospirit.com/labs/candelair/

 

[Killerbob]

I have used Candelair in the past, with the build-in Apple IR in the 2010 Mac Mini, and it works great. Which IR did you use?

But, what I need now is a physical IR, to connect to my new Mac Mini (which unfortunately does not have a build-in IR). Preferably one I can connect via USB, and which will send the input on to Kodi...

 

[saulinpa]

What I meant to say is that if you go with a non-Apple IR receiver you may need Candelair to make it work properly.

 

[CUDA_Switch]

I have used Candelair in the past, with the build-in Apple IR in the 2010 Mac Mini, and it works great. Which IR did you use?

But, what I need now is a physical IR, to connect to my new Mac Mini (which unfortunately does not have a build-in IR). Preferably one I can connect via USB, and which will send the input on to Kodi...

In the past when I was using a Chromebox as a Kodi media center, I used https://flirc.tv/more/flirc-usb for IR. I set the device up on a Mac though, they have a nice app. This company is very Kodi and Logitech friendly, so it sounds like it's worth a look for you.