For those interested in experimenting with their hard earned seven dollars, here's how I set up the C2 remote for the Harmony.

I originally tried the PS/2 device type, but was able to add the PS3 (with DVD) from the Harmony database. The Harmony software warns the PS3 is a Bluetooth device and cannot be controlled by the Harmony, but regardless it provided most of the basic DVD control functions out of the gate with the C2 IR Dongle (play, pause, scan forward, scan back, prev and next chapter).

After adding the device, I learned the following keys from the C2-Tech remote as 'Analyzed':

Circle (Back) - from C2 remote 'Enter'
Triangle (Options) - from C2 'Title'
Enter - from C2 'Play/Pause' or 'Stop'
Menu - from C2 'Menu'
Display - from C2 'Display'

The only keys I had to learn as 'RAW' were the four directional keys on the C2 remote before they would work. Those keys now function, though are slower than they operate with the Sony bluetooth remote (about a 1/2 second pause between keypress and response).

I also remapped the Harmony keys as follows:

Channel Up/Down to 'blank'. These were set for PS3 chapter forward/back, but there are dedicated transport keys to do this already. The volume keys control the sound on the amp or TV I have in that particular activity.

OK to 'Enter'.
Menu to 'Menu'.
Exit to 'Circle'.
Guide to 'Triangle'.
Info to 'Display'.

On soft keys, I moved the Triangle, Circle, Square and Exit buttons to page 1 of the PS3 activities so they are in the same orientation as the PS3 controller and remote, and remapped the 'Square' soft key to the 'TopMenu' command so it now functions correctly for the DVD menu, toggling views during audio playback, etc.

Other than access to the Power and 'PS' button functions (a problem with all IR PS3 solutions) this now works great.

I've loaded it into a couple of Harmony 550 remotes equipped with miniature rechargeable RF 'battery replacement' transmitters. I use these throughout the house with displays connected to a central HDMI splitter, which is hooked up to an HDMI switch for the PS/3 and other AV sources.

LOL any tricks to getting my hard earned 7$ C2 perchase to work? Is there a setup or something i need to do? I have only had my 40gig for a few weeks and used the usb to charge remote and display media from a thumb drive, but i could not get the C2 remote to work? Do i need to do something in the system setup to get it to work?

AAA's are installed :)

As I recall, I didn't have to do anything special with the C2 standalone remote - I just put batteries in the remote, plugged the IR receiver into a USB port, and restarted the PS3 system (may or may not be required). It worked (although with somewhat quirky keys) out of the box.

I can't speak for the 40GB system, as I did this with a 60GB system - but I'm not aware of any differences in the USB.

If you have a digital camera with an electronic viewfinder or display, power it up and point the remote at it while you press the buttons. They are sensitive to the IR wavelength and you will see the emitter on the remote light up if it's sending signals.

Ya it works now. Dont think it was pushed in all the way... Its an ok device, for 7$ u cant complain plus my wife can adapt better then having use the game pad

Anyone found one of these in a Toronto RCS? I went to the one at Eglinton & Don Mills and no-one there has heard of it.

I picked up the BluWave at The Source and used it to program my URC MX-900.

It works very well, does everything it's supposed to, and gives my universal remote the ability to control movie watching on the PS3. However, I have to vent at Sony over this. The PS3 is supposed to be a high end home theatre device as well as a gaming console and high end universal remotes (Harmony, URC, Nevo, etc) don't work with the thing. Worse, even if you do purchase a C2, BluWave, or Logic3 as a workaround, you still don't get full control (no direct audio, time, or colour button functions). Just ridiculous and one of those things that always reminds me why I often wind up hating Sony.

FYI: You can also home brew this solution as well.

If you have an older PS2 DVD remote with the plug-in IR receiver (later versions of the PS2 have the IR receiver built in and later remotes don't include the module), you can simply buy a PS2 to PS3 controller adapter (about $10) and plug the IR module into the adapter, the adapter into the PS3, and program your unversal from the PS2 remote (or just pull it from the Harmony or URC databases).

However, I have to vent at Sony over this. The PS3 is supposed to be a high end home theatre device as well as a gaming console and high end universal remotes (Harmony, URC, Nevo, etc) don't work with the thing. Worse, even if you do purchase a C2, BluWave, or Logic3 as a workaround, you still don't get full control (no direct audio, time, or colour button functions). Just ridiculous and one of those things that always reminds me why I often wind up hating Sony.

So you have a company that in its design decided to do away with an inferior technology and provided people with a more practical one no longer requiring line of sight to the component so you have more choice in where you locate the component.

Yes it doesn't work with universal remotes because they are all based on that old technology. Universal remotes were created to remove the clutter of all the remotes because IR was different for all. Sony didn't ignore a "spec" for universal remotes nor any agreement that all devices must adhere to, rather they decided to use a standards based technology that should other devices follow, will eliminate the need for specific universal remotes but rather any bluetooth unit would work.

I agree that it's a shame it doesn't have an IR ability as well, but let's have some perspective here. They clearly were doing this to be ahead of their time in thinking about this for a home theatre device and while unfortunately not compatible with IR, I hardly think it's hateworthy. Their remote does the job quite nicely and when more devices move to bluetooth, it will be the IR ones that are left behind.

P.S. Everytime I have to point my remote over my head behind me to the component rack towards the back, I lament that other devices haven't followed suit with Bluetooth.

Hang on Calvin. I have no issue with Sony using Bluetooth for the remote. My issue is that not only did they not include an IR receiver, but that they do not have a control spec that would allow an IR remote to gain full control, instead of the workaround using a PS2 control protocol through an emulator.

Further, when I talk about universal remotes, I am not talking about an 8 device Sony or RCA, I am talking about Harmony, URC's MX line (newer units like the 810, 900, or 980), the Nevo SL, RTI Theatertouch, and Philips Pronto. These are high-end home theatre remote controls that are also unable to control the PS3. Consumers invest in products like these because they want to have only a single remote control for their home theatre systems. Sony's approach prevents that. That's what's wrong with it. If you use one of these remotes (not the Harmony ... it's not in the league of URC or the others) not sure how they can be described as inferior, notwithstanding the limitations of IR.

I don't see Sony TV's and AVR's being Bluetooth remote. If Sony was trying to leverage adoption of Bluetooth as a better control spec, then at least their products should feature BT. They don't. The PS3 is a standalone protocol and not even a high end Sony universal remotes like the RM-AX4000 or RM-AX1400 can control the thing.

Hang on Calvin. I have no issue with Sony using Bluetooth for the remote. My issue is that not only did they not include an IR receiver, but that they do not have a control spec that would allow an IR remote to gain full control, instead of the workaround using a PS2 control protocol through an emulator.

I see this being a function of them fully adopting Bluetooth and not including an IR at all. If a company is not including an IR port at all, then I would expect them to not be concerned about having an IR control spec allowing it full control purely from a design principle. (ie. should we include a control spec for IR? no, because we don't have an IR port. Why invest the time, money and engineering. Should we include an RF control spec for this unt? No, because we don't support control of this unit using RF). etc etc

I don't see Sony TV's and AVR's being Bluetooth remote. If Sony was trying to leverage adoption of Bluetooth as a better control spec, then at least their products should feature BT. They don't. The PS3 is a standalone protocol and not even a high end Sony universal remotes like the RM-AX4000 or RM-AX1400 can control the thing.

I wasn't calling the remotes you mentioned inferior, just IR in general. I agree it would be nice to start seeing TV's and such having that as well. I imagine they simply can't start doing them all at once and I suspect the backlash that the PS3 sees from (in my opinion) fairly inconsequential IR removal would be compounded orders of magnitudes for TVs and such. I expect that they thought "we'll try this out on PS3 group which we think would be the most open to change to see how it flies". Given all the posts I hear about this, perhaps not so open to change...

I picked up the BluWave at The Source and used it to program my URC MX-900.

It works very well, does everything it's supposed to, and gives my universal remote the ability to control movie watching on the PS3. However, I have to vent at Sony over this. The PS3 is supposed to be a high end home theatre device as well as a gaming console and high end universal remotes (Harmony, URC, Nevo, etc) don't work with the thing. Worse, even if you do purchase a C2, BluWave, or Logic3 as a workaround, you still don't get full control (no direct audio, time, or colour button functions). Just ridiculous and one of those things that always reminds me why I often wind up hating Sony.
Its not on the Source's web site? Anyone pick up anyone of these alternatives here in Toronto?

I own a Philips Pronto, and I have to agree with Johnny Canuck - it doesn't seem like a design decision but just a oversight (maybe to save a buck). If they were truely intending to advance remote protocols (and be consumer conscience), they would also include IR aswell and use the PS3 as a bridge device allowing backward compatibility while maintaining a future protocol. I'm sure they will include a built-in IR adapter in future revisions of the PS3 like the newer PS2 slims (the original PS2 didn't include an IR adapter either).

Additionally most decent or sufficiently strong IR remote should be able to control all your devices where ever they are in the room (especially in a darkened environment) without you having to "point" at them. I just hit a programmed macro button on mine (where ever its pointed), and it does all it needs with activating the drop down screen in the ceiling (far above my components), activating my components and my overhead projector behind me without me "pointing" at them.

I didn't see it on their website either but I went in for something else and saw it on display.

I found it at EB Games today - it wasn't out on display, I had to ask for it, and they had it kept in the back?! It was $19.95 - too bad there are no 3rd party IR remotes with the number keys nor direct audio keys.

It works as promised and my Philips Pronto learned all the codes correctly. I'm sure in a few years right before the PS4 comes out, there will be a Sony IR remote with all the necessary buttons (argh!).

I finally set mine up this weekend along with my Harmony 880.

It does work pretty well... it's a little more sluggish than using a BT controller or remote, but it's nice to be able to control everything with one remote.

I don't like the fact that I can't turn the PS3 on and off with it, but hopefully there's a way to do it in time (without purchasing a 3rd party device or having to borrow/buy a psp).

Silly question, but are people finding it a hassle to turn the PS3 on and off using a Sixaxxis controller? I have it sitting on my end table all the time, for when I want to game. I use my Harmony to set my tv and audio system, and by hitting the button on the controller, the PS3 turns on and is ready to go.

Well, I think that for most of us, we'd like to control everything with 1 remote.

So to some extent, yes it is a hastle. Is it a major one? Hardly... especially when we have to get up to put in the movie anyways.

I admit I'm surprised, too, that Sony didn't give some infrared capability. Seems like everything else with the PS3 makes it so perfect to replace a DVD player in your home theatre. Maybe they will eventually come out with a model with built in infrared, with the ability to power on and off. Too bad for us.

They are working on a very interesting solution at RemoteCentral. The idea is that you will be able to buy a solderless mod kit for a Sony BT PS3 remote and use it with any IR based universal remote (eg. Harmony or URC). Daniel Tonks has written an article at RemoteCentral summarizing the progress: http://www.remotecentral.com/articles/ir4ps3_full_function_ir_remote.htm

a solderless mod kit for a Sony BT PS3 remote and use it with any IR based universal remote (eg. Harmony or URC). That looks great. Not sure if it is possible, but it would be really nice if the mod just plugged into the mini USB connector on the PS3 remote (which could also provide power).

They are working on a very interesting solution at RemoteCentral. The idea is that you will be able to buy a solderless mod kit for a Sony BT PS3 remote and use it with any IR based universal remote (eg. Harmony or URC). Daniel Tonks has written an article at RemoteCentral summarizing the progress: http://www.remotecentral.com/articles/ir4ps3_full_function_ir_remote.htm
That is damn cool... if version 2 goes into production I'll definately buy myself one. :)