Keyspan remotes essentially function as a remote mouse for either the PC or Mac when the receiver is plugged into either's USB connector. Works very well for PowerPoint and Keynote presentations.
Many professors, as well as the LAITS Staff, have found these devices to be very beneficial in presentations and everyday computer use. However, the LAITS department does not, at this time, provide Keyspan remotes in the media consoles. If you feel that you could benefit from the use of one of these devices, remotes can be purchased by individuals wishing to use them from national retailers such as CompUSA, or can be bought online via Keyspan's website. The approximate cost of these units is $80.
As more professors have begun to use these devices, we at the LAITS department are doing what we can to facilitate ease of use by those professors choosing to purchase a remote. You will notice new connectors in the bundle of wires coming from the top of the media console. These are USB port pigtails that lead either to the PC or Mac USB port noted on the paper tag. Additionally, the remainder of this page contains information about connecting and using the Keyspan remotes, as well as links to documentation and Frequently Asked Questions directly from the Keyspan website. Feel free to call the LAITS Help Line, at 471-9666, if you have any additional questions about the remote.
To connect the receiver to the USB port, use the pigtail connectors located in the auxiliary connections bundle coming from the top of the media console.
Simply connect the remote receiver to the USB pigtail of the computer you wish to use. The remote should now control the mouse, and perform the other fuctions listed below.
Modes:
There are two modes for the remote: “standard mode” and “media mode”
Standard mode
- Works essentially as a remote mouse. Has full mouse movement functionality, as well as both left and right click capabilities, though right clicking does not work on OS 9.x. Also has a laser pointer built in.
- The laser pointer is not “on” by default. To turn it on, you have to hold the Mode Key (the white pie-slice button at the bottom of the remote) and the laser pointer key (the pink button at the top of the remote) down for approx 5 seconds. The Mode Key flashes red when the laser pointer is enabled, and you can then let go of the two buttons. Pressing the pink key when enabled will turn the laser beam on. To conserve battery power, the laser pointer functionality turns off after 30 minutes of inactivity. Use the same “on” process to turn the laser pointer back off.
- “Composite Switch” is a semi-wheel on the side of the remote. It does not turn fully around, but does rotate up or down slightly, which allows easier scrolling. Also acts as a “left click and hold” allowing highlighting of text, selecting areas, or dragging windows around.
- More operationally speaking the mouse button works as a joystick, or can be used as a directional pad. You can either place a finger in the center of the button and move it directionally, or simply press on the edge of the button in the direction you wish to go. Also, the amount of pressure does affect the speed of cursor movement.
Media Mode
- Works only on Windows. Not supported in ANY MAC OS.
- To activate Media Mode, press the white pie-shaped button, and it will turn green. Press button again to return to Standard Mode.
- Acts as a remote for a media player, functioning to stop, play, cycle tracks and even opens up the media player.
- Composite Switch changes volume up and down, or mutes volume if pressed in.
- Media Mode turns off after 5 minutes of non-use.
Remote IDs:
All of the remotes come set to the same remote ID. This could be a problem in buildings with classrooms adjacent to one another (PAR, for example). It is possible to change the ID of the remotes by pressing the Composite Switch and the Mode Button together until the Mode Button flashes green rapidly. Then using a paperclip, press the ID button on the receiver (a small hole on the silver side of the receiver). Then you have to press the Composite Switch on the remote that you have just cleared to get the new ID from the receiver. This should make the remote work again, and if so, the ID was changed successfully.
There are 64 IDs stored into the receivers. All new remotes come set to ID #1, and it goes up by 1 each time, so after doing the above procedure, the new ID is 2, do it again and it is 3, and so on.
If you are using a Keyspan remote and it seems to be getting input from a remote other than yours, changing the ID should fix the problem.
|
Standard Mode |
Media Mode(Windows Only) |
| Laser Pointer (P) |
Laser Beam On/OFF |
Windows Media Player on |
| Mouse |
Control Mouse Cursor |
Up = Previous Track |
|
|
Down = Next Track |
| Left Mouse Button |
Left Mouse Button |
Play/Pause toggle |
| Right Mouse Button |
Right Mouse Button |
Stop |
| Mode Key |
Green LED off |
Green LED on |
| Composite Switch |
Up = Line up |
Up = Volume up |
|
Down = Line down |
Down = Volume down |
|
Push = Click and drag |
Push = Mute |
For additional information, Keyspan has this documentation as well as this FAQ, both linked from their website.
