Two things the Fitlet needs
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:27 pm
So far I have been very happy with the two fitlets I bought to play with. I had at least 4 client applications in mind and so far, all needs have been met with two glaring omissions.
While they have been mentioned before, it was some time ago and I wanted to push them a bit again.
With the Fitlet spruiking its FHD HDMI outputs, the application as an HTPC is obvious. Thus the lack of IR receiver. The only thing that will keep my 6yr old mac mini HTPC in place until it dies is the internal IR. I have been very impressed with the performance of the Fitlet with OpenElec installed, it is brilliant but currently requires a mouse, USB IR (not pretty) or Android app to control it (that does work well but is not as convenient as the Apple remote). If anyone knows a bit more about it, perhaps there is a simple fix to include one connected to the GPIO headers? I have no idea what is involved (nor can I find the GPIO pins on my fitlet-I, wrong model?), there is plenty online about doing it on a Raspberry Pi. Perhaps an HTPC FACET card for a Fitlet-X? A mini PCIe card that replaces the WiFi card and puts an IR receiver in an antenna socket?
The other missing feature, as mentioned some years ago, is PoE support to power the unit which would make the Fitlet a very nice option as a small discrete firewall (which is already is with Pfsense installed but it would be neater without a power pack). Again, I can see that a modified FACET card would be the best option for this on the X model.
Thanks
While they have been mentioned before, it was some time ago and I wanted to push them a bit again.
With the Fitlet spruiking its FHD HDMI outputs, the application as an HTPC is obvious. Thus the lack of IR receiver. The only thing that will keep my 6yr old mac mini HTPC in place until it dies is the internal IR. I have been very impressed with the performance of the Fitlet with OpenElec installed, it is brilliant but currently requires a mouse, USB IR (not pretty) or Android app to control it (that does work well but is not as convenient as the Apple remote). If anyone knows a bit more about it, perhaps there is a simple fix to include one connected to the GPIO headers? I have no idea what is involved (nor can I find the GPIO pins on my fitlet-I, wrong model?), there is plenty online about doing it on a Raspberry Pi. Perhaps an HTPC FACET card for a Fitlet-X? A mini PCIe card that replaces the WiFi card and puts an IR receiver in an antenna socket?
The other missing feature, as mentioned some years ago, is PoE support to power the unit which would make the Fitlet a very nice option as a small discrete firewall (which is already is with Pfsense installed but it would be neater without a power pack). Again, I can see that a modified FACET card would be the best option for this on the X model.
Thanks