Conclusion – Only an Option for Hands-On Tinkerers

Origen AE’s upgrade modules aren’t quite as sleek and stylish as typical front panels with built-in IR or FM solutions. The modules consist of one or more circuit boards, lots of cables and a non-existent installation guide.

What makes the installation so complicated is that unlike radio-based solutions, IR receivers always need a direct line-of-sight to the emitter. That means that the sensor either needs to be mounted on the outside of the case or an opening has to be present to allow for clear reception.

Only the IR220 sports two connectors for external IR sensors, while the IR110 and IR210 don’t. Unless you feel comfortable taking a drill to your computer’s case, that basically limits your choice to the IR220. Once you’ve taken the hurdle of installing the module, you’ll need to find the right operating system. While the IR110 and IR220 also work with Windows XP MCE, the IR221 is limited to Windows Vista. Don’t take that to mean that you’ll no longer need a mouse, though. The part that is supported is not Windows itself, but only the multimedia interface of the Windows Media Center.

Another drawback is that there are only very few shops worldwide that carry Origen AE products. You can find out which ones do on the company’s homepage. Each of the individual modules cost around €40, to which you need to add the cost of the IR remote control.