windows + boxee + wiimote

[invisiblek]

this is made to be a bit of a tutorial, hope it helps someone...

so me and my friend (i have yet to receive my windows alpha invite so we used his stuff) decided that his wiimote would be a great remote for boxee, since you can pretty much do everything you need to do in boxee with only a few keys

we didn't use ir since we were kind of cheap on the whole deal, so no pointing like the wiimote is actually designed for (as of yet at least)
by the way, hes running vista x64 on his htpc, so if it works with vista64, i would think its pretty well backwards compatible to vista32 as well as xp

what you need:
- windows computer running boxee
- bluetooth dongle with drivers (vista usually takes care of this by itself)
- wiimote
- program called glovepie, get it here (http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/glovepie_download) (we used the 0.29 version at the time of this setup)

ok so this is step by step what we did:
1. plug bluetooth dongle in, and install drivers if necessary
2. connect wiimote by holding 1+2 (hold these until you click finish at the end of the wizard), clicking on the "add bluetooth device" in the bluetooth menu, choosing the wiimote (called nintendo...something), choose no passkey, and finish
3. unpack the glovepie archive and run glovepie.exe
4. the very first thing you do in glovepie is click troubleshooter -> bluetooth fix
5. download my attachment (boxee.txt) and copy and paste the contents into the glovepie window
6. feel free to edit it to your needs, save this file as youll probably need it again someday
7. click run
8. start boxee and enjoy!

some of these steps may need to be repeated upon a reboot, im sure theres some way to automate it on log in or something, but i havent gotten that far

hope this helps someone! :)

[kjeckell]

so i have been shopping for a usb ir reciever and I will stop right now. I love the wii move and i love boxee, what a great combo.

[invisiblek]

not to say that the ir functions of the wiimote would be totally useless, to me it just seems like a pain to set up, and like i really need another ir receiver sitting under my tv :)

[xev1n]

this is made to be a bit of a tutorial, hope it helps someone...

so me and my friend (i have yet to receive my windows alpha invite so we used his stuff) decided that his wiimote would be a great remote for boxee, since you can pretty much do everything you need to do in boxee with only a few keys

we didn't use ir since we were kind of cheap on the whole deal, so no pointing like the wiimote is actually designed for (as of yet at least)
by the way, hes running vista x64 on his htpc, so if it works with vista64, i would think its pretty well backwards compatible to vista32 as well as xp

what you need:
- windows computer running boxee
- bluetooth dongle with drivers (vista usually takes care of this by itself)
- wiimote
- program called glovepie, get it here (http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/glovepie_download) (we used the 0.29 version at the time of this setup)

ok so this is step by step what we did:
1. plug bluetooth dongle in, and install drivers if necessary
2. connect wiimote by holding 1+2 (hold these until you click finish at the end of the wizard), clicking on the "add bluetooth device" in the bluetooth menu, choosing the wiimote (called nintendo...something), choose no passkey, and finish
3. unpack the glovepie archive and run glovepie.exe
4. the very first thing you do in glovepie is click troubleshooter -> bluetooth fix
5. download my attachment (boxee.txt) and copy and paste the contents into the glovepie window
6. feel free to edit it to your needs, save this file as youll probably need it again someday
7. click run
8. start boxee and enjoy!

some of these steps may need to be repeated upon a reboot, im sure theres some way to automate it on log in or something, but i havent gotten that far

hope this helps someone! :)

Regardless on whether or not I will use this it is pretty cool...Thanks!:D

[Metacore]

There are two ways to connect the wiimote automatically, and neither works perfectly.

One option is a program called WiimoteConnect and works with the windows bluetooth stack, but doesn't run continuously(you have to press connect, and it automates the rest). However, the creator is working on full automation in newer versions(you can check it out and donate on wiimoteproject.org) as well as support for more stacks.

The other option is built into glovepie and runs continuously but requires you use the BlueSoleil stack(supports most bluetooth chips these days). It is fully automated and as long as glovepie is already running all you have to do is press 1+2, but it still doesn't work too well.
Finally, I don't know if it is automated, but cool none-the-less. BlueSoleil supports different add-ons(I don't think they released an SDK yet, so you're stuck with the official ones) one of which is the BlueSoleil Gamii, which is another sort of program to use the wiimote for the computer. It's a lot more user friendly, but BlueSoleil isn't free. There is a trial version, which most people say works fine. Also, there is a version of BlueSoleil for linux, meaning Gamii most likely works as well.

Anyway, until I can connect the wiimote without any input other than from the wiimote, it's just a hassle and is pointless to use. If I have to go to a keyboard(wireless or otherwise) I might as well use that. Still, if any of these options was to work better, using the wiimote would be very practical.

[gsacks]

not to say that the ir functions of the wiimote would be totally useless, to me it just seems like a pain to set up, and like i really need another ir receiver sitting under my tv :)

FYI, the Wii remote only communicated via bluetooth. It does not transmit IR at all. It reads positional data from the lightbar under/over your TV and transmits this information to the Wii (or your PC) via bluetooth. So if you already have a Wii light bar then you don't need any additional hardware beyond the bluetooth dongle to get full use of the Wiimote.

[xamboozi]

i second that. i bought a wii remote and got the software and ir bar working perfect! however i cant get the thing to autoconnect... i started out using glovepie but it seemed i could only get one script to work as all the rest were broken like they were using old commands or something. the only one that did work was laggy and i got pretty frustrated using it. the only program i could stand using was the wiinremote. that has awesome tracking! the bad part is no autoconnect:( oh well i will wait with you until someone can program an autoconnect feature. also i have the ability to use the windows stack or bluesoliel so whichever comes out first.

[ruckerz]

Someone who can get this to work without GlovePIE gets a +1 in my book. Better if I didn't have to load another app.

[happylinks]

Hey Everybody,

I use my WiiMote as a remote for Boxee and got tired of connecting with my keyboard and mouse and just wanted to connect if i start the pc.
I created a little program with AutoIt which opens bluesoleil's search for my wiimote. So when i press 1+2 the wiimote wil automatically be recognized, start my glovepie script and open Boxee.
How to:
1. Install Bluesoleil (One of the newer versions)*ugh*Piratebay*ugh*
2. Connect your WiiMote.
3. Make a shortcut to the WiiMote on your Desktop (you do this by going to Bluetooth Locations and drag the Nintendo... to your Desktop.
4. Rename the shortcut to "Nintendo".
5. Change my Autoit script to your Boxee & Glovepie pad and enter the Window Title which you get if you click on the Wiimote when it is connected.
6. Set the script to auto-startup.
7. Test the script. (first disconnect the WiiMote again)

The Script: (Change the first Pad to the shortcut, change the WinActive to the window title and change the Glovepie & Windows pad)

$i = "0"
Do
Run("cmd.exe /k C:\Users\MEDIA\Desktop\Nintendo.lnk")
Sleep(500)
Run( "taskkill /f /im cmd.exe")
Sleep(13000)
If WinActive("Bluetooth Human interface-apparaat Status") Then
$i = "1"
EndIf
Until $i = "1"
Run("C:\Users\MEDIA\Documents\GlovePIE\Glovepie.exe -C:\Users\MEDIA\Documents\GlovePIE\boxee.pie")
Sleep(500)
WinMinimizeAll()
Run("C:\Program Files\Boxee\BOXEE.exe -fs -p")
Exit

Compile/Test using Autoit (http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/)

[partofaplan]

Where does the lightbar hook into? Do you detach it from the Wii?

[derrick1985]

Where does the lightbar hook into? Do you detach it from the Wii?

You don't use the lightbar. You are not using the wiimote as a mouse. To use this, you only need a computer with a working bluetooth radio, a wiimote, glovepie, and the above directions.

[morscata12]

I followed this tutorial and got my Wiimote working perfectly on my Windows 7 machine! The WiimoteConnect program was recently updated to autoconnect, as well as starting an app on the connection of the Wiimote. It has special support for Glovepie - you can autostart a Glovepie script when the Wiimote connects to the PC.

These were the steps I followed to get it working:
1. plug bluetooth dongle in, and install drivers if necessary
2. unpack the glovepie archive and run glovepie.exe
3. download the attachment (boxee.txt) and copy and paste the contents into the glovepie window
4. in glovepie, click troubleshooter -> bluetooth fix
5. save this file - feel free to edit it to your needs. run glovepie.
6. install and run WiimoteConnect (http://www.wiimoteproject.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;id=14).
7. click "settings", and set the following:
- run program = true
- program path = <path to glovepie>
- program is glovepie = true
- glovepie script = <path to glovepie script>
- send to tray on startup = true
- autoconnect on startup = true
- close when connected = true (if you only connect your Wiimote once per startup).
8. restart WiimoteConnect.
9. connect wiimote by holding 1+2. windows will detect and install, and WiimoteConnect will autostart the Glovepie script.
10. start boxee and enjoy!

Due to a bug in Glovepie/Windows, Glovepie must be running the script before WiimoteConnect starts Glovepie. Put these two programs in your startup (send the proper parameters to Glovepie to minimize it and to autorun the script). These scripts will run in the taskbar waiting for the Wiimote to connect.

I set the Wiimote's Home button to Keyboard.Windows and Keyboard.1. In Windows 7, pressing the start button and 1-5 will start programs 1-5 on the task bar. Put Boxee in position 1, and you'll be able to start it by pressing "Home" - even if Boxee is closed!

[Satire]

Alright, color me confused.

Am I able to use the tiny dongle that came with the Acer Revo 3610 that connects the mouse and keyboard? Is that bluetooth?

I went to add devices and managed to get a bluescreen due to something that seemed like (?) the random string you're supposed to get when connecting a wiimote, but I haven't even been able to reproduce that since -- Windows just sees nothing.

So is the tiny dongle bluetooth or do I need to buy a separate component?

Thanks for your help!

[morscata12]

Actually, the Revo attachment is not a bluetooth dongle (found this (http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-entertainment-pcs/1189285-using-ps3-remote-acer-revo-3610-media-center.html) on Google). You'll need to buy a separate bluetooth dongle. The good news is that you can pick up a cheap one (under $10) since they all pretty much do the same thing.

[Satire]

I found that as well, I was hoping someone could give a bit more info: if it isn't a bluetooth dongle, what the heck is it? Admittedly, none of the components say "bluetooth" on them, but I can't image what other wireless tech it would be.

Also, there was that brief blue-screen that seemed like something was connecting, although that could wishful thinking.

Thanks for the help!

[EricJD]

You'll need to buy a separate bluetooth dongle. The good news is that you can pick up a cheap one (under $10) since they all pretty much do the same thing.

I got my bluetooth dongle off ebay for $1.40 :rolleyes: