Ultramote Remote Control Software and IR Extender
www.Ultramote.com
Price: $15 for Software, $30 for Extender, $35 for both together

Ultramote is designed to be an easy to use program that turns your PPC into a universal remote to control your Audio/Video setup. This includes TVs, DVD Players, Receivers, VCRs, etc. The extender is made to extend the range that the remote has considering most built in IR systems on PPCs are only short range.

The first thing you have to do is download the trial version of the Ultramote software from Ultramote.com. After downloading and installing it, you can go into evaluation mode to see how you like the software.

The first thing you will want to do is add a new device. Simply click on device then add. You will be brought to this screen:

You now can enter the name for the device and select one of the built in themes (skins) to use for the background (you can make your own themes if you do not want to use one of the included ones). After hitting ok you are brought back to the device screen, but now it has buttons on it:

Depending on what theme you selected, the buttons and background will look different. Now to assign the keys the proper commands to control your device. First gather the remotes for the device you want to control. Then click on Learn to go into learning mode:

After following the instructions for the learn process, you now can repeat the previous steps and add more devices. The devices come up as tabs at the top of the screen so that you can easily switch between them.

Another neat feature on Ultramote is the ability to have a custom page with labels for buttons that you specify. To edit the labels, click on device and then edit, you then can add in your custom labels:

To get to the page with these labels, click on the device and then click on next.

You then can use the learn process to program the buttons.

Once you decide you want to buy the software, you simple go to Main --> About and then you find a code. You have to send this code along with your order as the key they send to unlock the software is dependent on this code and will only work on the PPC you sent the code in for. This means you cannot have the Ultramote software installed with the same serial on more than one PPC. Once you get the key, you can simple insert the code to regain full functionality of the software.

The extender card is a simple CF card with two IR diodes on the end.

To use the extender, simply insert it in your PPC's CF slot and then in Ultramote go to Main --> Output --> CF Extender. That will then make it so that the remote signals are sent through the extender. I got better range with the extender then I did with my normal TV remote (the extender got about 30ft where my tv remote got about 25ft). The diodes do not emit any visible light (unlike in the picture on their site where you can see the light (this is because the camera can see the light we cant see). Overall I was very impressed with the performance of the extender. It also comes with a plastic case that fits it well and works perfect for holding and protecting it.

All together I was very impressed by the Ultramote Software and Extender. It is simple to use, has a great range, and works great. One thing that would be a nice improvement for the future would be the support of CCF skin files so that you can use skins that are made for the Phillips Pronto line of remotes, but besides that, the software is awesome!

Thanks to Ultramote for the Review Sample!