Remote Controls for Macs without a Remote Control

If you have a iMac or Macbook manufactured in 2005 or later, it will come with an Apple Remote and the infrared receiver to let it function. The Apple Remote is great for controlling the computer when you’re not at the keyboard, such as giving presentations or watching DVDs. A remote control can also be a great (and cheap) accessibility aid – it has a lot fewer buttons than a keyboard so it can be useful for those who can’t type. It’s smaller and lighter than a keyboard and needs less finger movement so it can be useful for people with certain movement disorders.

But different people have different needs, and the Apple Remote may not be right for you. So what’s available for those of us who have a Mac that didn’t come with a remote but want these bonuses? And what’s available if you have an Apple Remote but need something different for accessibility reasons?

The System

A remote control system actually needs two parts – the remote that you hold, and a receiver on the computer to receive and decode the signals. The computers that come with an Apple Remote have an an Infrared (IR) receiver built into them somewhere. For others, you can either purchase an IR receiver known to be compatible with Mac OS X, use one of the remotes listed below that doesn’t need an IR receiver or comes with its own IR receiver.

Irfrared (IR) Versus Radio Frequency (RF) Remotes

There are several important differences between Infrared (IR) and radio frequency (RF) remote controls. This table describes some of the most important differences:

	Infrared (IR)	Radio Frequency (RF)
Cost	IR remotes are usually cheaper than RF remotes. This is especially true for a Mac computer which already contains an IR receiver so you’ll only need to purchase the remote control itself.	RF remotes cost a bit more, but the signal is stronger and more robust so they can be easier to use.
Distance	IR remotes usually work up to about 30 feet from the receiver. The distance may be more or less, depending on the remote’s power.	RF remotes generally work up for a much longer distance, but that distance depends on the remote’s power and the amount of interference and obstacles between the remote and the receiver. Distances up to 300 feet are possible though.
Direction	An IR remote must be pointed fairly accurately in the direction of the receiver.	RF remotes work equally well no matter which direction they’re pointed.
Obstacles	An IR remote won’t work unless there’s a clear path (often called a “line-of-sight”) between the remote and the receiver.	An RF remote can work even if there is furniture or walls between the remote and the receiver, although very dense objects such as brick or stone walls can interfere with the signal.
Interference	IR remotes can be disrupted by bright sunlight, but this is uncommon.	RF remotes can be disrupted by any other radio-frequency devices using a similar frequency, but this is also quite uncommon. Other radio-frequency devices may include such as wireless (wifi) networking, cordless phones, walkie-talkies, cordless microphones, etc.
Integration With Other Devices	IR remotes are more common. If you already have an environmental control device or a communication device which is capable of learning remote control signals, these are probably IR type remotes. These devices should be able to learn the Apple Remote’s signals just like they can learn your TV or DVD remote’s signals.	Newer devices are more commonly using RF signals, RF based universal remote controls are even available now, so I would expect RF controller integration to increase in the future.

Griffin Technology’s AirClick USB

• Works via RF signals, and can be used from up to 60 feet away.
• Needs a spare USB port to plug the RF receiver into, but doesn’t need a built in IR receiver.
• Has 5 buttons which are rubber and significantly raised from the casing. They should be easy to feel and identify without looking.

Keyspan’s RF Remote For Front Row

• Works via RF signals and can be used from up to 60 feet away.
• Needs a spare USB port to plug the RF receiver into, but doesn’t need a built in IR receiver.
• Has 9 buttons which are rubber and significantly raised from the casing. They should be easy to feel and identify without looking.

Keyspan’s URM-15T Remote For PCs and Macs

• An IR remote which comes with its own IR receiver.
• Has 17 raised rubber buttons arranged in a non-symmetrical pattern (see picture).
• Comes with buttons already programmed for using with common programs like iTunes, QuickTime, and PowerPoint, and a control panel where you can add settings for extra programs.

Keyspan’s RF Presentation Remote

• RF remote control works up to 100 feet from the computer.
• Needs a spare USB port to plug the RF receiver into, but doesn’t need a built in IR receiver.
• Provides complete cursor control and two-button mouse capabilities.
• Works with Keynote, PowerPoint, iTunes and QuickTime. Doesn’t appear to be able to be programmed for other software unless the other software uses the same key presses as these.

Other Keyspan Remotes

There are other Keyspan remotes – there’s a full list of Keyspan Remotes available. Just check to make sure the ones you’re looking at works with OS X – not all of those on the list do.

EyeTV Remote Control

Elgato’s EyeTV television receivers all come bundled with an IR-based remote control. Generally this remote only works with the EyeTV software, but if you run a program called RemoteBuddy you’ll be able to use the remote just like any other.

iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad Remote

The iPod Touch/iPhone come with an app called ‘Remote’ already on them, and you can use this app to control iTunes on your computer. But so much more is possible – there are many apps which will allow your iTouch device to function as a full-fledged remote control for your Mac. Some, like iTap can emulate a keyboard and/or trackpad to let you access anything, but others such as RowMote just emulate a remote control on the device’s screen.

These remote emulators use a local wireless network to function. If your computer isn’t already using a wireless network, you can set up what’s called an “Ad Hoc Network” just to join the iTouch and the Mac – check out the article Using Apple Keynote Remote Without Wifi – the same network you set up there can be used for the regular remotes too.

Wii Remote

Using a program like RemoteBuddy will allow you to use the Wii remote control with your Mac. If you also have the IR “sensor bar” that the Wii uses you can use RemoteBuddy to emulate a mouse as it does for Wii games.

The Wii remote works via a Bluetooth connection which means it’s mostly like an RF remote control, but will use a lot of battery power – so get a recharger and have a spare set of AA rechargable batteries handy.

SiK Rex Remote Control

The Sik Rex is a small 6-button remote which exactly mimics the functions on the regular Apple Remote except it’s a lot smaller – see photo. If you have a MacBook Pro with an ExpressCard/34 slot it can actually be stored in the slot!

Being an IR remote control it has all the usual limitations that infrared brings, but I must admit it’s cute!

Conclusion

With so many options out there, there’s got to be the perfect remote for everybody somewhere.

I must admit that I don’t even use a remote control – my Mac is set up so I can almost always reach it! But I do use the iTap program on my iPod Touch so I can use it as a wireless external trackpad which I find invaluable since wireless external trackpads don’t actually exist for Mac computers. Do you use a remote for your Mac?

- Ricky Buchanan