LIRC Remote and vfd screen

[gazlang]

Hi,

I have just set LMCE up and wish to use it with an imon vfd screen and imon pad remote.

I have installed LIRC for the remote in KDE and run the LIRC daemon it as a cronjob on boot. It works fine under irkick. I have also installed lcdproc 0.5.2 for the vfd screen and can echo to it in KDE, so I know it works. I have that starting on boot too.

However, I don't know where to go next in terms of getting then to work in LMCE. How do I get LMCE to listen to my remote?

Also, I have checked the 'use lcd display' in the mythtv setup inside LMCE but it doesn't display anything.

Does it matter that LIRC and LCDproc are installed in KDE? Or does LMCE run outside of kubuntu? (meaning that I have to install the drivers within LMCE)

I would be grateful for a 'how to' on installing a LIRC remote and vfd screen

Cheers

[gazlang]

ok, I found LIRC imon in the admin site, but when I add it as an interface device the orbiter says it has installed the software and needs to regen, but it still doesn't make my remote work.

I read that I have to enter a configuration file in the admin site. but where and how??

Has anybody managed to set up any LIRC remote?? Tell me how!!

cheers

[nite_man]

To setup LIRC remote you should do following:
1. Add manufacture and remote model to the device template if you don't see your model there (for example, iMON).
2. Edit new template: add a new parameter 'Configuration' and copy there content from appropriate lircd.conf file (you can find iMON file in the lirc-0.8.1).
3. Go to desired media director page and add your remote here - "Infrared remote controls you will use". Choose "Infrared Receivers" as default.
4. Reload router. After that you can see that lirc will be installed and data from your remote template will be copied into /etc/lircd.conf
5. Go to console and run irw. Press something on your remote. You should see the IR code.

For any troubles, please, see lirc log. Be sure that the appropriate module - lirc_imon or something is loaded (lsmod|grep -i imon) and the device /dev/lircd is exists.

To use iMON PAD you should download lirc-0.8.1 and apply that patch (http://brakemeier.de/electronics/vdr/lirc-imon-pad2keys.patch). After that just recompile LIRC and reload router. Find more information here:
http://smart-home-blog.com/writes/configure-imon-padvfd-in-plutohome

[gazlang]

Thanks nite_man,
However I don't understand the '2. Edit new template: add a new parameter 'Configuration' and copy there content from appropriate lircd.conf file' bit.
When I add a new device I can put in a custom manufacturer -> SoundGraph, and then choose LIRC Remote contol from the device list, but when I click custom template I get a screen with 3 checkbox options releating to plug and play, or need to design drivers etc.. and a single line space to enter a model number or name of my device!
Do I copy and paste my lirc.conf in here??
Also do I need to insert a lircrc anywhere?
AAllssoo I can't find "Infrared remote controls you will use" on a 'media director page'!

I obviously need a lot of help!

[nite_man]

Have a look to those screen-shots:

 - http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3/frezza.0/0_1f75_bd32632a_XL.jpg
 - http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4/frezza.0/0_1f74_101d2e86_XL.jpg

I think they help you.

[kuffi]

Hi gazlang,

and is your remote controll working? I have the some one but I have no clue how it works.
Is there someone out there who can explain what is to do that it works?

servus,
kuffi

[gazlang]

No, not yet!

I think I'm missing something...Here's what I've done so far:

After installing LMCE, entered KDE and downloaded and installed the debian packages for the following (since apt-get install doesn't seem to work with LMCE):
libtool
automake1.9
autoconf2.13
dialog

Then I fetched lirc from cvs:
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@lirc.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/lirc login
cvs -z8 -d:pserver:anonymous@lirc.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/lirc co lirc

Then I added the patch (above in this thread) to the lirc folder and applied it successfully:
cd lirc
sudo patch -p1 < lirc-0.8.1-imon.patch

Then configured and installed lirc:
sudo ./autogen.sh
sudo ./setup.sh (chose imon pad/vfd in usb devices)
sudo make
sudo make install
sudo modprobe lirc_dev
sudo modprobe lirc_imon
sudo chmod 666 /dev/lircd

then added 'alias char-major-61 lirc_imon'
 to /etc/modules

Started lirc, and entered mode2:
sudo /usr/local/sbin/lircd
mode2

can see the codes fine and patch seems to have worked as only one code for each of up, down, left and right appears.

exit mode2 and go onto the linuxmce admin site.
went onto advanced, device templates and added:
manufacturer: SoundGraph
Device: LIRC remote control
Template: ('clicked not in list' and added iMON PAD as model name)

The iMON device didn't show up under wizard, interfaces
I could only find it by clicking view installed devices at the bottom of the wizard menu. It shows up under 'core'

I clicked on iMON PAD and then on 'view' next to the device name.

Then in the 'Device Data' box scrolled down to show configuration, added lircd.conf under comments, and pasted my lirc.conf file under 'Default Value'

Then went to 'media directors' under the wizard menu, and clicked add remote -> iMON PAD
A message comes up saying something like 'This is a complex device and will take some time...' but I do not then get a iMON PAD link above 'Add remote' (as seen in the screenshots above, this thread)

I made sure Infrared receivers is set to default, regen the orbiter, but nothing else happens, and my remote doesnt work!!

Sorry all that is quite long winded, but I need to know if i'm missing anything!
Do I need to add a LIRC receiver device?? or point LMCE to /dev/lircd??? or add a lircrc file anywhere??

I appreciate your help this far nite_man!

[nite_man]

This is strange. I added iMON remote in the three installations without any troubles. Have a look log files: /var/log/pluto/pluto.log for example. Moreover, if remote was added you should see its log in /var/log/pluto/<Device ID>_LIRC.log. Try to add your remote into MD and see some errors in the logs.

[gazlang]

I'll have a look at my logs, and have another play around with it later.
There is an iMON PAD LMCE wiki page now! although it doesn't tell me anything new.

http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Adding_iMON_PAD

I used the lircd.conf posted on it in my device template and also replaced my /etc/lircd.conf

http://smart-home-blog.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-downloadMonitor/download.php?id=7

When you installed your iMON PAD nite_man, did you set up the device in LMCE first, before installing lirc in KDE??

[nite_man]

When you installed your iMON PAD nite_man, did you set up the device in LMCE first, before installing lirc in KDE??

You shouldn't install anything. When you add iMON PAD device to the media director all needed packages will be installed automatically. You just have to re-build lirc with patch (and it'll replace original imon module by patched) to use PAD buttons.

Regarding lircd.conf. It'll be replaced every time by data from your iMON device. Be sure that iMON remote is added to the MD page. Also, check the LIRC.log in /var/log/pluto and /var/log/lircd.

But I suspect that something wrong with adding remote to the MD. You should see the link (as on my screen-shot), new devices should be created with log <DEV ID>_LIRC_DCE.log

[nite_man]

Yesterday I setup iMON PAD remote control on my test LinuxMCE installation. It works fine but there is a mistake in the example of lircd.conf which I published in the iMON PAD how to. Just remove comments:

Code: [Select]

#
# Modified according to Plutohome/LinuxMCE mapping
#
and quick reload router to refresh /etc/lircd.conf. After that it should work fine.

[gazlang]

I got a bit further yesterday, but maybe I din't get to the working stage because of the above addition to the lircd.conf!?!

The iMON PAD showed up as a remote on my MD page, but when I refreshed the router it hung for a minute whilst trying to load the device iMON PAD and then told me that not all devices were loaded on this orbiter.

I checked out the lirc log file and there are errors relating to 'no remote present'

I'm going to try your new lircd.conf later and also try unloading the lirc modules from the cvs lirc I installed. Could they be hogging my remote away from LMCE?

Also, have you got the iMON vfd screen?? If so, have you managed to get mythtv lcdserver to display on it??

I had followed the howto here http://smart-home-blog.com/writes/configure-imon-padvfd-in-plutohome In a previous installation using lcdproc-0.5.2, but it doesn't appear to contain an imon.so file!
Although I can echo to the lcd screen, mythtv doesn't display anything (with enable lcd checked in the setup)

[gazlang]

Done it!

Seems that you definitely have to load the device in LMCE first before installing lirc modules in KDE. My fault for not following the howto exactly!
Cheers nite_man!

So that takes care of one little piggy, now onto the vfd display. I'm gonna try following this wiki:
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/LCDproc

[gazlang]

vfd is sorted now too :-)
Followed the above wiki, only I didn't copy and alter the init file for lcdproc to start on boot, instead:
sudo crontab -e
and add the line
@reboot /usr/local/sbin/LCDd -c /home/mythtv/lcd/LCDd.conf

works a treat!