[mythtv-users] Controlling a Frontend from a Laptop

[Matthew Phillips]

On 06/04/2005, at 5:42 AM, Nathan Cournia wrote:
> I currently run mythbackend and mythfrontend on the same box.  It
> works great.  To change channels I use a wireless keyboard.  However,
> the range of the wireless keyboard seems to be quite limited (about 5
> feet).  I'm looking into alternate ways to change channels.
>
> What I would like to be able to do is control mythfrontend from my
> laptop.  This would be analogous to controlling the frontend from a
> wireless keyboard, but with my laptop I wouldn't have to worry about
> the 5 feet limitation of my keyboard since I'll be communicating with
> the frontend over 802.11b.
>
> Has anyone tried to do this before?  If not, any ideas on how this may
> be accomplished?

If you decide to go the VNC route, then you'll probably want to use 
xf4vnc (http://xf4vnc.sourceforge.net). This runs as a module in the 
X11 server and allows remote mirroring of the screen. This is handy 
because (a) the TV doesn't need to be on (b) if your TV is the CRT kind 
it's often easier to the read the text of non-Myth apps on the laptop 
screen, and (c) you can do it from anywhere in the house and freak 
people out ;)

If you'd like some advice on how to set it up, feel free to email.

Cheers,

Matthew.