wii hardware / IR sensor + bluetooth questions

[Pikoko]

Hi! Built a new rig that will be capable of wii emulation - was wondering what were the recommendations as far as setting up my real wiimote. Can I use the usb IR receiver from the wii on my windows 7 machine, or will it not work because of drivers etc? If not, recommendations on what to buy where on the internet for the IR receiver and bluetooth usb dongle? I may get a PCI bluetooth if they're available and affordable, does anyone know about those? I'd also prefer to get an IR receiver that draws power from USB so I don't have to replace batteries. I hate batteries - even the rechargable packs die so fast. (wiimotes for instance 9_9 )

[Runo]

It isnt an IR receiver, the sensor bar is a pair of IR emitters, it can even be wired and connected on your wii while you play on the emulator if you want, but recommendation is a wireless one. There is no data transfer between the IR and the Wii/PC, it is just a pair of IR LEDs, the trick is done by the wiimote, which uses a IR receiver to orientate itself. You can use any bluetooth usb dongle, I use a generic no brand one and it works just fine.
Give a look at this page: http://www.dolphin-emu.org/support.html#wiimote

[Pikoko]

(07-03-2011, 10:41 AM)Runo Wrote: It isnt an IR receiver, the sensor bar is a pair of IR emitters, it can even be wired and connected on your wii while you play on the emulator if you want, but recommendation is a wireless one. There is no data transfer between the IR and the Wii/PC, it is just a pair of IR LEDs, the trick is done by the wiimote, which uses a IR receiver to orientate itself. You can use any bluetooth usb dongle, I use a generic no brand one and it works just fine.
Give a look at this page: http://www.dolphin-emu.org/support.html#wiimote

oh awesome, thanks! I'd prefer not to have to buy another IR bar then, I assume it needs to be connected via USB to generate the IR lights - so I'm assuming connecting it to USB on my pc would be enough then? my real wii is connected to my old tube tv and I'm planning on having my pc monitor be used for emulating - so I'd want to put my IR bar with the pc monitor, not connect it to my wii. I'd rather not get a battery powered ir bar. (Although if it's just generating IR lights i assume the batteries would last pretty long on a charge) are there any wired / usb powered wii IR bars?

[HawaiianPunch]

No, there are none of those. You can open up the sensor bar, or just buy a wireless one on eBay.

[Pikoko]

o: I can't just plug it into the USB on my pc or other usb jack? It sounds like all it does is draw power from usb to run the IR lights. Since I have my wii sensor bar I don't want to purchase a second if I don't need to.

[artantaaa]

Here's a usb powered sensor bar.

http://www.amazon.com/Nextronics-Sensor-Bar-USB-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B001UAAX60

It would be much cheaper to build or convert one, but $25.00 isn't that bad.