How can I obtain/build a wireless volume knob for Windows?

Question

I use my computer as a media center and simply love it. It's an older box running XP and it works better than everything else I've tried turning into a media center (Windows 7, Vista, several Linux distros, etc).

The only thing I hate is having to walk to my audio amp to turn the volume up or down. I can use the Windows volume slider or any keyboard with keys to control volume. What I'd really love is to have a wireless knob which I can put anywhere when listening to music (e.g. kitchen) which controls the volume. It seems so simple yet I can't find it anywhere.

Having controls for pausing and moving to next song would also be terrific.

Griffin's Powermate could do the trick but I'd really want it to be wireless.

Do you know of something I can buy or build myself to serve this purpose?

Answer 1

How about a wireless mouse and the Volumouse program from Nirsoft? With it you can set the scroll wheel to change volume when either no key is pressed, or when some media players are focused.

EDIT: Just noticed that this is similar to Moab's wireless mouse with AutoHotKey answer, just using a different application.

Answer 2

See this article

http://www.instructables.com/id/Remote-Volume-Control-with-Wireless-Mouse/

EDIT:

xmouse is another option, it can intercept any mouse button and reassign volume up down to that button also

http://www.highrez.co.uk/downloads/XMouseButtonControl.htm

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Answer 3

I can use the Windows volume slider or any keyboard with keys to control volume.

There's your answer. You want a wireless keyboard. Get a bluetooth model for improved range.

You might also look into a media center remote or a logitech harmony.

Answer 4

Try that (for Linux and no knobs...) http://anyremote.sourceforge.net/index.html