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General => Users => Topic started by: pigdog on April 11, 2009, 12:24:17 am

Title: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: pigdog on April 11, 2009, 12:24:17 am
Adding a wiimote in 8.10 is alot easier than the LMCE 7.10 variant.

The following link explains...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=993376

You can have three different ways you can use your wiimote.

...use wiimote as a mouse using acceleration
...use the wiimote as a mouse using an Infra-Red light source
...use your wiimote and IR LED pen as a whiteboard

The instructions explain swapping default left and right mouse buttons, using your Wii remote for watching DVDs, Elisa Media Center, Music Players, etc and remapping the buttons / axis on your wiimote / classic controller / nunchuck.

I tested "Using your wiimote as a mouse using an Infra-Red light source".

It worked just fine, no fuss, no muss, no files to create, minor editing.

However, you still get asked to add it as a phone.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: Pnuts on April 11, 2009, 12:59:50 am
Adding a wiimote in 8.10 is alot easier than the LinuxMCE 7.10 variant.

The following link explains...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=993376

You can have three different ways you can use your wiimote.

...use wiimote as a mouse using acceleration
...use the wiimote as a mouse using an Infra-Red light source
...use your wiimote and IR LED pen as a whiteboard

The instructions explain swapping default left and right mouse buttons, using your Wii remote for watching DVDs, Elisa Media Center, Music Players, etc and remapping the buttons / axis on your wiimote / classic controller / nunchuck.

I tested "Using your wiimote as a mouse using an Infra-Red light source".

It worked just fine, no fuss, no muss, no files to create, minor editing.

However, you still get asked to add it as a phone.

I wont dare touch 810 until atleast beta, Linux Newbie, but have you or anyone else tried using it as an acceleration mouse? Depending how it works, this might be a great alternative to the Fiire remote dispite the lack of preset buttons. Would also save those of us with a Wii from buying a gyration mouse or remote to save some cash.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: pigdog on April 11, 2009, 03:06:38 am
Hi,

I'm trying to do some Alpha testing.

Don't try using the Alpha as an operating system you will be disappointed.

I'm just troubleshooting some steps because I've found a problem on the alpha with wiimote.

Cheers
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: Pnuts on April 11, 2009, 06:50:01 am
Hi,

I'm trying to do some Alpha testing.

Don't try using the Alpha as an operating system you will be disappointed.

I'm just troubleshooting some steps because I've found a problem on the alpha with wiimote.

Cheers

Was this in response to my post or was a post removed? kind of a confusing response with mine being the only reply in the thread.

still curious if anyone tried using the Wiimote as a mouse via acceleration.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: valent on July 20, 2009, 10:34:36 am
I have been building Linux media center and one thing that was missing was a great remote control. I was impressed with Fiire Chief remote,
but it is too expensive and the Fiire company stopped making it ;(

Then I found out that you can use Wiimote on Linux and that it costs 40$ on Ebay.

I wrote a blog post on howto customize Wiimote for MythTV, and Elisa/Moovida.

This guide is more focused on Fedora but you can use it with OpenSuse, Arch and obviously LinuxMCE/Ubuntu. The main difference is how to install tools, other things should be same. There is also an Ubuntu guide that you can use as parallel with this guide.

If you are interested in this topic please read the full article at:
http://kernelreloaded.blog385.com/index.php/archives/ultimate-linux-remote-control/

If you have any suggestions or questions please feel free to contact me. If somebody likes this article feel free to transfer it to LinuxMCE Wiki.

Cheers!
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tschak909 on July 20, 2009, 11:06:39 am
This is not needed, as fully integrated wiimote support will be plug and play by the end of the beta in 0810.

-Thom
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: valent on July 20, 2009, 11:22:44 am
Woow, you guys are awesome!
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: SilkBC on March 29, 2010, 02:10:11 am
This topic is a bit old, but I have a pertinent question :-)

This is not needed, as fully integrated wiimote support will be plug and play by the end of the beta in 0810.

I am in process of installing 0810 as a core on a virtual server, so I don't have to install  existing hardware I am currently using :-)

I want to test out the media directors via PXE boot, but I also want t try using a WiiMote.  Is it possible to use a WiiMote on a thin client MD?  If not current, will it be possible when 0810 is out of beta and fully released?

Thanks! :-)

-SilkBC
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: valent on July 30, 2010, 11:36:45 pm
I have Wiimote should I do setup manually or is it PNP already?
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tschak909 on July 30, 2010, 11:39:42 pm
It should be, but I haven't tested in a while since some things have changed....

-Thom
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 16, 2010, 03:51:40 pm
What was the verdict, valent? I treated myself to a Wii last weekend :)
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: DragonK on August 16, 2010, 07:19:42 pm
Hi Guys,

I'm not a developer, but I just want to share my experience.

Purps, I setup a Wiimote last night using a bluetooth dongle. I followed this wiki
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Nintendo_WiiMote

It works, but if I lift or drop the wiimote the cursor doesnt move, but all the buttons work. I think it might be because I dont have the sensorbar and I'm using a usb bluetooth dongle instead.

Karel.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: Zaerc on August 16, 2010, 10:07:32 pm
Hi Guys,

I'm not a developer, but I just want to share my experience.

Purps, I setup a Wiimote last night using a bluetooth dongle. I followed this wiki
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Nintendo_WiiMote

It works, but if I lift or drop the wiimote the cursor doesnt move, but all the buttons work. I think it might be because I dont have the sensorbar and I'm using a usb bluetooth dongle instead.

Karel.
You could try putting two candles on your TV about 20 cm (8") apart until you have a proper sensor-bar.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 17, 2010, 11:33:43 am
Hi Guys,

I'm not a developer, but I just want to share my experience.

Purps, I setup a Wiimote last night using a bluetooth dongle. I followed this wiki
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Nintendo_WiiMote

It works, but if I lift or drop the wiimote the cursor doesnt move, but all the buttons work. I think it might be because I dont have the sensorbar and I'm using a usb bluetooth dongle instead.

Karel.

Glad to hear you got it going, will certainly give this a shot.

As Zaerc suggested, a couple of candles would do it. The Wii "sensor bar" is just a couple of infra-red LEDs, no more, no less. If I get the wiimote working and working well, I'm thinking I'll modify my sensor bar (or buy a second one, so I don't screw up the original) to be powered off USB rather than the Wii itself. I feel a howto coming on......... You can also get wireless ones (they run off batteries!).
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: DragonK on August 17, 2010, 09:36:56 pm
You could try putting two candles on your TV about 20 cm (8") apart until you have a proper sensor-bar.


Zaerc or I can just read the wiki properly.........  ;D

Purps u should try this it worked for me. This is from the Wiki at the bottom......
Code: [Select]
An additional change that I need to make was in /usr/sbin/wminputd. Had the change the line wminput -c ir_ptr
 $WIIMOTE_BDADDR & to wminput $WIIMOTE_BDADDR &. Otherwise I could not move the cursor, but the buttons works.

Hope it helps. It sure did for me. I dont need to get an exspensive remote now.  8)  Or two candles ontop of my TV....  ::)
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: Zaerc on August 17, 2010, 11:25:20 pm
You could try putting two candles on your TV about 20 cm (8") apart until you have a proper sensor-bar.


Zaerc or I can just read the wiki properly.........  ;D

Purps u should try this it worked for me. This is from the Wiki at the bottom......
Code: [Select]
An additional change that I need to make was in /usr/sbin/wminputd. Had the change the line wminput -c ir_ptr
 $WIIMOTE_BDADDR & to wminput $WIIMOTE_BDADDR &. Otherwise I could not move the cursor, but the buttons works.

Hope it helps. It sure did for me. I dont need to get an exspensive remote now.  8)  Or two candles ontop of my TV....  ::)

Thanks for reminding me again not to bother with "people" like you.  ::)
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 18, 2010, 10:20:40 am

Purps u should try this it worked for me. This is from the Wiki at the bottom......
Code: [Select]
An additional change that I need to make was in /usr/sbin/wminputd. Had the change the line wminput -c ir_ptr
 $WIIMOTE_BDADDR & to wminput $WIIMOTE_BDADDR &. Otherwise I could not move the cursor, but the buttons works.

Hope it helps. It sure did for me. I dont need to get an exspensive remote now.  8)  Or two candles ontop of my TV....  ::)

Are you saying that this allows you to use the wiimote properly without the need for a sensor bar? Or was this to fix a different problem?
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: DragonK on August 18, 2010, 07:19:12 pm
Purps,

I use the Wiimote to its full potential without the sensor-bar, but with a usb bluetooth dongle.

Zaerc, no disrespect.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 19, 2010, 12:34:30 pm
Karel,

I had a go at all of this last night, but unfortunately it didn't work for me :(

I followed the wiki exactly, and everything seemed to be fine, except for the final stage where the wiimote is supposed to work! The cursor just didn't move. I've been through it all again and checked my spelling etc, and it's fine. I will say that I used "nano" instead of "vi", but surely that doesn't make a difference?

I tried it with my Wii on (in order to supply some juice to the sensor bar) and with my Wii off, but to no avail. What should the 4 little blue lights on the remote be doing? I tried pressing 1+2 and the red sync button on the back, which makes them flash, but it never "locks on" to anything (unless I have the Wii switched on, in which case I assume it's connecting with the Wii).

Sorry for the vague description guys, but that's all I have. Any tips on diagnosing the problem would be appreciated.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: DragonK on August 19, 2010, 02:49:31 pm
Purps,

You using a bluetooth dongle? Can you navigate through the menu's with the directional keys on the Wiimote?

My Wiimote has the motionplus adapter, I had to remove it.
When i start the wminputd script i then only pressed 1+2 on the Wiimote. The 4 blue lights flashed then stopped. after that it was working.

You do have the wiimote's mac address in /etc/wminputd.conf?

Karel.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 19, 2010, 02:58:04 pm
Yep, using a bluetooth dongle. As far as I can tell it's as dead as a can of spam, no response from any of the buttons, no cursor movement, nothing. I was able to obtain the MAC address, so it must be communicating with the dongle on some level at least.

I don't have motion+ attached, or the nunchuk.

After the blue lights have finished flashing, does the first one remain on once connected, or are all of the blue lights meant to turn off?

Yes, the wiimote's MAC address is in /etc/wminputd.conf

I have just noticed that there is some troubleshooting information at the bottom of the wiimote wiki page that describes a problem similar to mine, I will give that a go first. I also have another bluetooth dongle that I might try failing that. Will keep you posted, thanks for your suggestions.

Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: DragonK on August 19, 2010, 07:16:10 pm
Purps,

JUst got home.

Tested my Wiimote. After connected all lights go dead.

Maybe we should move this discussion to the users or installation issues section for other users to benefit from it to?

Karel
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tschak909 on August 19, 2010, 07:40:01 pm
Wow, Here's a thought...
Why don't you guys take a look at the Wiimote device template, and ..gee.. I dunno.. TRY TO MAKE IT WORK AUTOMATICALLY?! Dear god, I spent months making the plumbing for it, and it pisses me off that you guys just duct tape over it out of sheer ignorance!

I can't work on everything at once.

-Thom
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 20, 2010, 10:43:54 am
Purps,

JUst got home.

Tested my Wiimote. After connected all lights go dead.

Maybe we should move this discussion to the users or installation issues section for other users to benefit from it to?

Karel

OK that's cool, at least I know not to wait for blue "connected" lights to come on now! Thanks for letting me know.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 20, 2010, 10:57:17 am
Wow, Here's a thought...
Why don't you guys take a look at the Wiimote device template, and ..gee.. I dunno.. TRY TO MAKE IT WORK AUTOMATICALLY?! Dear god, I spent months making the plumbing for it, and it pisses me off that you guys just duct tape over it out of sheer ignorance!

I can't work on everything at once.

-Thom


Firstly, I have to politely ask that you drop the attitude please.

Are you telling us that there IS a device template already (I couldn't see one in the orbiters page), or are you telling us to MAKE a device template for the wiimote from scratch? If it's the latter, then could you please point me in the direction of a some instructions/tutorials/wiki as to how to achieve this?

In any event, is the first step not to try and get it working, and then take it from there once you know what's going on?
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: hari on August 20, 2010, 11:02:34 am
tschak needs some days off :-)
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tschak909 on August 20, 2010, 04:06:26 pm
It's not on the Orbiter's page, because it's not an Orbiter.

The Device Template # is 1954.. it's the one called Wii Remote. Which you can find if you go to advanced > configuration > device templates, and type in Wii in the device template drop down.

As you can see, a complete device template, with a package to install when detected. If you drill down into it, you'll see the package is called lmce-wiimote-support ...


If you dig into that package, you'll notice there is a postinst script that gets run as part of the package installation that does all the work.

There is EVEN a part in the device template to select whether you want to use the IR or Accelerometer as your pointing device.

As I said. Been there. Done the work, something broke, and it would be nice if those interested could track down the issue and fix it.

-Thom
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 20, 2010, 05:11:50 pm
OK cheers, I'll have a look.

So am I right in saying that I need to get this working first, before I can even attempt at looking at the template for it? Or should I be looking at the template straight away?
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tschak909 on August 20, 2010, 05:15:01 pm
looking at the template. the template is doing all the stuff you're doing manually, do you not get that?

-Thom
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: purps on August 20, 2010, 06:00:20 pm
Yes I do, I was only asking in order to make life a little bit more unbearable for everybody :) No really, I didn't know, hence I asked the question. Please show me where this kind of information is documented and I will read up on it.

Anyway thank you for pointing me in the right direction, I shall have a look at it tomorrow and see how I get on.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tux-box1 on December 14, 2010, 01:32:11 am
Hey all,
I sure could use some help / ideas on that's going on with my setup. I went through the
Code: [Select]
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Nintendo_WiiMote guide, and well some times it works then some times it won't It's almost as if something is terminating the connection or the link is dying, because it'll stop working in the middle actually trying to use it. If any one is willing to offer a suggestion. I'd be grateful. Oh and one more thing I tried the template thing. Not sure if I set that up correctly as the admin site is some what confusing to me, but not the command line, that I have a modest understanding of.
Thanks

Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: valent on December 18, 2010, 04:47:35 pm
What kind of batteries are you using? Are they disposable or rechargeable?
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tux-box1 on December 18, 2010, 08:29:35 pm
Well their rechargeable, and they are charged. Interesting note tho.. After I rebooted the whole box it worked. IT WORKED   :) don't know what was going on or what I did but after a full reboot the wii mote worked. Now to figure out how to keep the thing form losing it's connection on idle. It's not like it was, just when I put the remote down for the duration of a movie let's say. When I pick it up I have to hit the red button again. I use the red button because I'm using the sensor bar form my wii.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: kiwibum on September 26, 2011, 11:03:16 am
It's not on the Orbiter's page, because it's not an Orbiter.

The Device Template # is 1954.. it's the one called Wii Remote. Which you can find if you go to advanced > configuration > device templates, and type in Wii in the device template drop down.

As you can see, a complete device template, with a package to install when detected. If you drill down into it, you'll see the package is called lmce-wiimote-support ...


If you dig into that package, you'll notice there is a postinst script that gets run as part of the package installation that does all the work.

There is EVEN a part in the device template to select whether you want to use the IR or Accelerometer as your pointing device.

As I said. Been there. Done the work, something broke, and it would be nice if those interested could track down the issue and fix it.

-Thom

Hi Thom
Sorry to bring up an old thread. I've tried using Device Template #1954 for adding a Wii-mote, however when I sync the Wii-mote I just get the option to ignore the MAC or select a phone associated with it. I'm slowly searching through to see how you have implemented it, from what I can tell I have all the packages.

My question: Would you please clarify your statement "something broke"? Does this mean it is no longer working as expected, still needs work etc? I've searched through all your posts for the last 12 months and read the post you made regarding your thoughts on setting this up. However I haven't found anything more about it. The wiki on the Wii-mote is old and doesn't mention using the device template. I'm not asking anyone to fix it I'm requesting for information and the state of play on it so I can be more useful to the project.

Happy to skype if it's easier to talk than type.
Thanks
Steve
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tschak909 on September 26, 2011, 04:27:43 pm
What a difference a year makes.

This code was merely a stop gap, until somebody came around and wrote something better...

Well, nobody has written anything better, so I have been picking up the torch.

I am writing a proper Wii Remote driver that follows the specifications I've outlined here: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/New_Wii_Remote_Driver

and here:
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php/topic,10702.0.html

The current Wii Remote support as it stands is damned near nonexistant.  And will be until I get a new driver written. As I am both a core developer of this project, and I also have a real life doing work and solving problems for others, this will get done when it gets done.

-Thom

EDIT: In the mean time, I finished working on a USB Gamepad driver to control Orbiter, and it is currently in the 10.04 branch, and needs testers.
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: toppot on November 09, 2011, 02:01:30 pm

EDIT: In the mean time, I finished working on a USB Gamepad driver to control Orbiter, and it is currently in the 10.04 branch, and needs testers.


Just one question: I am wondering if your work towards the new WiiMote driver will be available in 810, or if it is "reserved" for 1010 (or is it 1004)?... Or put another way: Should we all now migrate to 1010, since all new developments and problem solving will be done there (unless we have a 100% working 810, that we are not going to expand)??

I now for sure I am going to implement the WiiMote - this cheap device makes soo much sense as an orbiter... (well actually as a remote for the UI orbiter).

-Tony
Title: Re: wiimote on 810 alpha2
Post by: tschak909 on November 09, 2011, 02:08:43 pm
All of my development is happening on the LinuxMCE-1004 branch, (It is temporarily halted, due to real life circumstances, I have to work...)

As to whether it will be backported to 0810, that wouldn't be done until I knew for sure that it would be possible without underlying system changes.

-Thom