HOWTO: LMDE Windows Media Remote
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:47 pm
Ok hopefully this will save someone some headaches and it took me a while to figure out. If some of you use a windows media centre remote with xbmc this is what you have to do to make it work. You may notice that once you plug in your tranceiver, and press the arrow keys on your remote that it is mapped as a keyboard.
First install lirc, open the terminal and enter the following;
Once apt finishes installing the lirc package it will complain that there isn't a valid /etc/lirc/lircd.conf file, or something along those line. Ignore that for now and lets start configuring your remote. I tend to backup my config files before making changes, if you wish to ignore this step go ahead but its a force of habit for me.
Now lets edit the hardware.conf file
Replace the file with the following; just to note, your device maybe different than mine, but /dev/lirc0 is what is on my desktop. On my macbook the device location is /dev/usb/hiddev0. If you are not sure you can try it and see if lirc starts correctly.
Save and close the file and jump back into terminal and edit the lircd.conf file
and replace the contents of the file with the following.
Save the file and exit. Now lets restart lirc, hopefully with a working remote.
Note if someone how you tried this earlier and had a half working config, you may need to use restart instead of start. Now lets test the remote by opening irw and seeing what you get.
now press the left button and the right button on the remote you should get an output similar to this.
Ok great the remote is working. Now at this point when I fired up xbmc, I found when I pressed one of the direction keys on the remote it would register the button twice, this is because xorg thinks the remote is a keyboard. To stop that we need to tell xorg to ignore the device. You can press CTRL C to kill irw, and get back to work. Lets take a look in our xorg logs to find the remote tranceiver.
I get this output;
Now I have bolded what we are looking for, you may have to not put the | grep Media and just sift through the log depending on your tranceiver, to find it. Again, I would recommend you back up your xorg.conf file before proceeding. If you break X, I am not taking responsibility, especially if you didn't backup the config. Anyways, backup your xorg config;
Call the backup what ever you will but (fix the name in the following command) you can restore if X breaks on your machine with from bash.
Ok so now lets edit your xorg.conf
and add this to the bottom of your xorg.conf
Now if for some reason your tranceiver keeps changing to a differnt event-id you could try using the MatchProduct "Media Center Ed. eHome Infrared Remote Transceiver" instead of the MatchDevicePath line. I did try that but it didn't work for me and the device is always event7 even after a reboot for me.
Save and close xorg. Now you can restart X or reboot. Once you restart X or have rebooted to test if X is ignoring the remote as a keyboard, in terminal type in xev, press the left and right buttons on the remote, if xev does nothing thats great if it's saying that its a left or right keyboard press thats bad and we need to figure out why xorg is not ignoring your remote.
Start up xbmc and you have a working media centre remote. Hopefully that helps, I figure most people using LMDE know how to figure things out, but I thought in case someone reading this isn't too well versed in terminal or config files it may help I would provide all steps.
First install lirc, open the terminal and enter the following;
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sudo apt-get install lircCode: Select all
sudo cp /etc/lirc/hardware.conf /etc/lirc/hardware.conf.orig
sudo cp /etc/lirc/lircd.conf /etc/lirc/lircd.conf.origCode: Select all
gksudo gedit /etc/lirc/hardware.confCode: Select all
# /etc/lirc/hardware.conf
#
# Arguments which will be used when launching lircd
LIRCD_ARGS=""
#Don't start lircmd even if there seems to be a good config file
#START_LIRCMD=false
#Don't start irexec, even if a good config file seems to exist.
#START_IREXEC=false
#Try to load appropriate kernel modules
LOAD_MODULES=true
# Run "lircd --driver=help" for a list of supported drivers.
# DRIVER="devinput"
DRIVER=""
DEVICE="/dev/lirc0"
# MODULES=""
MODULES="lirc_dev mceusb"
# Default configuration files for your hardware if any
LIRCD_CONF=""
LIRCMD_CONF=""
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gksudo gedit /etc/lirc/lircd.confCode: Select all
#
# brand: HP
# model no. of remote control: TSGH-IR01
# devices being controlled by this remote: HP Slimline S3100y
#
# RC-6 config file
#
# source: http://home.hccnet.nl/m.majoor/projects_remote_control.htm
# http://home.hccnet.nl/m.majoor/pronto.pdf
#
# used by: Philips
#
#########
#
# Philips Media Center Edition remote control
# For use with the USB MCE ir receiver
#
# Dan Conti dconti|acm.wwu.edu
#
# Updated with codes for MCE 2005 Remote additional buttons
# *, #, Teletext, Red, Green, Yellow & Blue Buttons
# Note: TV power button transmits no code until programmed.
# Updated 12th September 2005
# Graham Auld - mce|graham.auld.me.uk
#
# Radio, Print, RecTV are only available on the HP Media Center remote control
#
#
# Updated with codes for MCE 2007 Remote additional buttons
# Visualization, Aspect, SlideShow, Eject
# Note:
# Renamed some buttons: DVD->DVDMenu, More->MoreInfo, Star->Asterisk, Hash->Pound
# Note:
# Blue, Yellow, Green, Red, and Teletext buttons do not exist on the HP remote
begin remote
name mceusb
bits 16
flags RC6|CONST_LENGTH
eps 30
aeps 100
header 2667 889
one 444 444
zero 444 444
pre_data_bits 21
pre_data 0x37FF0
gap 105000
toggle_bit 22
rc6_mask 0x100000000
begin codes
#seen on HP Pavilion dv3t remote --Tim Mann, 3 Nov 2009
Media 0x00007b7f
PlayPause 0x00007b91
#unused by HP remote
Blue 0x00007ba1
Yellow 0x00007ba2
Green 0x00007ba3
Red 0x00007ba4
Teletext 0x00007ba5
#ba6 - bae unused
BA6 0x00007ba6
BA7 0x00007ba7
BA8 0x00007ba8
BA9 0x00007ba9
BAA 0x00007baa
BAB 0x00007bab
BAC 0x00007bac
BAD 0x00007bad
BAE 0x00007bae
Radio 0x00007baf
Print 0x00007bb1
#bb2 - bb4 unused
BB2 0x00007bb2
BB3 0x00007bb3
BB4 0x00007bb4
Videos 0x00007bb5
Pictures 0x00007bb6
RecTV 0x00007bb7
Music 0x00007bb8
TV 0x00007bb9
#bba - bbf unused
BBA 0x00007bba
BBB 0x00007bbb
BBC 0x00007bbc
BBD 0x00007bbd
BBE 0x00007bbe
BBF 0x00007bbf
#bc1 - bca unused
BC1 0x00007bc1
BC2 0x00007bc2
BC3 0x00007bc3
BC4 0x00007bc4
BC5 0x00007bc5
BC6 0x00007bc6
BC7 0x00007bc7
BC8 0x00007bc8
BC9 0x00007bc9
BCA 0x00007bca
Eject 0x00007bcb
SlideShow 0x00007bcc
Visualization 0x00007bcd
#bce - bcf unused
BCE 0x00007bce
BCF 0x00007bcf
#bd1 - bd7 unused
BD1 0x00007bd1
BD2 0x00007bd2
BD3 0x00007bd3
BD4 0x00007bd4
BD5 0x00007bd5
BD6 0x00007bd6
BD7 0x00007bd7
Aspect 0x00007bd8
Guide 0x00007bd9
LiveTV 0x00007bda
DVD 0x00007bdb
#NoGap
Back 0x00007bdc
OK 0x00007bdd
Right 0x00007bde
Left 0x00007bdf
Down 0x00007be0
Up 0x00007be1
#NoGap
Star 0x00007be2
Hash 0x00007be3
#NoGap
Replay 0x00007be4
Skip 0x00007be5
Stop 0x00007be6
Pause 0x00007be7
Record 0x00007be8
Play 0x00007be9
Rewind 0x00007bea
Forward 0x00007beb
#NoGap
ChanDown 0x00007bec
ChanUp 0x00007bed
VolDown 0x00007bee
VolUp 0x00007bef
#NoGap
More 0x00007bf0
Mute 0x00007bf1
Home 0x00007bf2
Power 0x00007bf3
#NoGap
Enter 0x00007bf4
Clear 0x00007bf5
#NoGap
Nine 0x00007bf6
Eight 0x00007bf7
Seven 0x00007bf8
Six 0x00007bf9
Five 0x00007bfa
Four 0x00007bfb
Three 0x00007bfc
Two 0x00007bfd
One 0x00007bfe
Zero 0x00007bff
end codes
end remote
#
# this config file was automatically generated
# using lirc-0.8.4a(default) on Mon Feb 23 23:55:04 2009
#
# contributed by
#
# brand: Hauppauge
# model no. of remote control:
# devices being controlled by this remote: PVR-150 Remote (MCE kit)
# SMK dongle 0609:031d
#
begin remote
name mceusb_hauppauge
bits 13
flags RC6|CONST_LENGTH
eps 30
aeps 100
header 2674 870
one 455 427
zero 455 427
pre_data_bits 24
pre_data 0x1BFF82
gap 106288
min_repeat 1
toggle_bit_mask 0x8000
rc6_mask 0x100000000
begin codes
TV 0x1BB9
Music 0x1BB8
Pictures 0x1BB6
Videos 0x1BB5
Power 0x1BF3
Stop 0x1BE6
Record 0x1BE8
Pause 0x1BE7
Play 0x1BE9
Rewind 0x1BEA
Foward 0x1BEB
Replay 0x1BE4
Skip 0x1BE5
Back 0x1BDC
More 0x1BF0
Up 0x1BE1
Left 0x1BDF
Right 0x1BDE
OK 0x1BDD
Down 0x1BE0
VolUp 0x1BEF
VolDown 0x1BEE
Home 0x1BF2
ChanDown 0x1BED
ChanUp 0x1BEC
Mute 0x1BF1
RecTV 0x1BB7
Guide 0x1BD9
LiveTV 0x1BDA
DVD 0x1BDB
One 0x1BFE
Two 0x1BFD
Three 0x1BFC
Four 0x1BFB
Five 0x1BFA
Six 0x1BF9
Seven 0x1BF8
Eight 0x1BF7
Nine 0x1BF6
Star 0x1BE2
Zero 0x1BFF
Hash 0x1BE3
Clear 0x1BF5
Enter 0x1BF4
end codes
end remote
#
# this config file was automatically generated
# using lirc-0.8.4a(default) on Tue Mar 10 19:27:09 2009
#
# contributed by
#
# brand: SIIG Vista MCE remote
# model no. of remote control:
# devices being controlled by this remote:
#
begin remote
name vista_mce
bits 16
flags RC6
eps 30
aeps 100
header 2654 889
one 427 427
zero 427 427
pre_data_bits 21
pre_data 0x37FF0
gap 69850
toggle_bit_mask 0x8000
rc6_mask 0x100000000
begin codes
Power 0xEBF3
Pictures 0x6BB6
Radio 0xEBAF
Videos 0x6BB5
Music 0xEBB8
Rec 0x6BE8
Pause 0xEBE7
Stop 0x6BE6
Skipback 0xEBE4
Play 0x6BE9
Skipfwd 0xEBE5
Rwd 0x6BEA
Fwd 0xEBEB
Start 0x6BF2
Back 0xEBDC
More 0x6BF0
Volup 0xEBEF
Voldown 0x6BEE
Chup 0xEBED
Chdown 0x6BEC
Up 0xEBE1
Down 0x6BE0
Left 0xEBDF
Right 0x6BDE
Mute 0xEBF1
Rectv 0x6BB7
Guide 0xEBD9
Livetv 0x6BDA
Dvdmenu 0xEBDB
1 0x6BFE
2 0xEBFD
3 0x6BFC
4 0xEBFB
5 0x6BFA
6 0xEBF9
7 0x6BF8
8 0xEBF7
9 0x6BF6
* 0xEBE2
0 0x6BFF
# 0xEBE3
Clear 0x6BF5
Enter 0xEBF4
end codes
end remote
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sudo /etc/init.d/lirc startCode: Select all
irwCode: Select all
000000037ff07bdf 00 Left mceusb
000000037ff07bdf 01 Left mceusb
000000037ff07bdf 02 Left mceusb
000000037ff07bde 00 Right mceusb
000000037ff07bde 01 Right mceusb
000000037ff07bde 02 Right mceusbCode: Select all
sudo cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep MediaCode: Select all
[ 17.731] (II) config/udev: Adding input device Media Center Ed. eHome Infrared Remote Transceiver (147a:e03e) ([b]/dev/input/event7[/b])
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sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bakCall the backup what ever you will but (fix the name in the following command) you can restore if X breaks on your machine with
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sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak /etc/X11/xorg.confOk so now lets edit your xorg.conf
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gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.confCode: Select all
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "Remote"
MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event7"
Option "Ignore" "True"
EndSectionSave and close xorg. Now you can restart X or reboot. Once you restart X or have rebooted to test if X is ignoring the remote as a keyboard, in terminal type in xev, press the left and right buttons on the remote, if xev does nothing thats great if it's saying that its a left or right keyboard press thats bad and we need to figure out why xorg is not ignoring your remote.
Start up xbmc and you have a working media centre remote. Hopefully that helps, I figure most people using LMDE know how to figure things out, but I thought in case someone reading this isn't too well versed in terminal or config files it may help I would provide all steps.