Archive:Gyration USB remote in Ubuntu for XBMC using Lirc

This is a configuration for using a Gyration USB media remote reviewed at [1] This method uses two instances of lircd that are manually configured to start using /etc/rc.local. The files that are affected are: /etc/lirc/lircd.conf /etc/rc.local ~usernamerunningxbmc/.xbmc/userdata/Keymap.xml ~usernamerunningxbmc/.xbmc/userdata/Lircmap.xml

Credit goes to the random anonymous bits and pieces I've found on the Interwebs along with my own experimentation using hexcump -C to look at the character device files while pressing buttons.

First, install the lirc package. sudo apt-get install lirc

We do not want to use Ubuntu's init scripts and config files, therefore we need to tell it not to start up automatically. Here is the command which changes the symbolic link in /etc/rc2.d/: sudo update-rc.d lirc disable 2

Back up your old files that we are about to overwrite: mkdir ~/backupfiles for a in /etc/rc.local /etc/lirc/lircd.conf ~/.xbmc/userdata/Lircmap.xml ~/.xbmc/userdata/Keymap.xml ; do cp $a ~/backupfiles/; done

Put these lines in /etc/rc.local: /usr/sbin/lircd --driver=devinput --device=/dev/input/by-id/usb-Gyration_Gyration_RF_Technology_Receiver-event-mouse --output=/dev/lircd1 --pidfile=/var/run/lircd1.pid --listen /usr/sbin/lircd --driver=devinput --device=/dev/input/by-id/usb-Gyration_Gyration_RF_Technology_Receiver-event-kbd --output=/dev/lircd --pidfile=/var/run/lircd.pid --connect=localhost:8765

Here is /etc/lirc/lircd.conf

#This configuration has been automatically generated via
#the Ubuntu LIRC package maintainer scripts.
#
#It includes the default configuration for the remote and/or
#transmitter that you have selected during package installation.
#
#Feel free to add any custom remotes to the configuration
#via additional include directives or below the existing
#Ubuntu include directives from your selected remote and/or
#transmitter.

#
# lircd.conf
#    for Gyration MCE remote(s).  Could almost certainly be expanded to work for their keyboard as well.
#
# Composed by Marc Randolph based upon
#    initial lircd.conf by Modulok (https://bugs.launchpad.net/mythbuntu/+bug/156494/comments/6)
#    with help from the Linux MCE wiki (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Gyration-GYR3101US-codes)
#
# Notes:
#    Star and Hash keys produce two key sequences: 0x002A followed by either 8 for star, or 3 for hash
#
# Revision history
#    2.3 - Marc Randolph - Renamed camera to pictures and video to videos.  Added alternative mappings
#    2.2 - Marc Randolph - Added untested DVDMenu entry
#    2.1 - Marc Randolph - StarHash comment was wrong
#    2.0 - Marc Randolph - Special codes should be correct, or at least, very close to correct
#    1.0 - Marc Randolph - added missing codes and changed names to match up the mceusb remote
#                        -    Some of the more special codes have not been verified (Pictures, LiveTV,  etc)
#    0.1 - Modulok       - Initial revision
#
#
begin remote

 name     gyration
 bits           16
 eps            30
 aeps          100

 one             0     0
 zero            0     0
 pre_data_bits   16
 pre_data       0x8001
 gap          135997
 toggle_bit_mask 0x0

      begin codes
         Home                     0x0066 # AKA "Windows button"
         Up                       0x0067
         Left                     0x0069
         Right                    0x006A
         Down                     0x006C
         Mute                     0x0071
         VolDown                  0x0072
         VolUp                    0x0073
         Power                    0x008e
         Pause                    0x0077
         More                     0x0082  # AKA "Info" or Help
         Back                     0x009E
         Skip                     0x00A3
         Replay                   0x00A5
         Stop                     0x00A6
         RecTV                    0x00A7  #Not "recorded TV", but "record current show on TV"
         Rewind                   0x00A8
         Play                     0x00CF
         Forward                  0x00D0
         Pictures                 0x00D4  # not on Dell remote
         RecordedTV               0x00E2  # aka KEY_MEDIA
         Guide                    0x016A
         LiveTV                   0x016E  # aka KEY_PVR
         DVD                      0x0185
         Music                    0x0187  # not on Dell remote  # aka KEY_MP3
         Videos                   0x0189  # not on Dell remote
         ChanUp                   0x0192
         ChanDown                 0x0193
         DVDMenu                  0x019A  # untested.  not on Dell remote
         Clear                    0x0001
         One                      0x0002
         Two                      0x0003
         Three                    0x0004
         Four                     0x0005
         Five                     0x0006
         Six                      0x0007
         Seven                    0x0008
         Eight                    0x0009
         Nine                     0x000A
         Zero                     0x000B
         Enter                    0x001C
         StarHash                 0x002A  # Star=0x2a and 0x08; Hash = 0x2a and 0x03
        a                       0x001E
     end codes

end remote
# Alternative mappings to try if some of the above don't work
# (please report any findings back to http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Gyration-based_MCE_Remotes)
#            Up  0x0062
#          Left  0x0064
#         Right  0x0066
#          Down  0x0068
#         Pause  0x0075
#         Power  0x008E
#          Halt  0x019C
#        Lights  0x0111
#         Clear  0x0016
#         Enter  0x0024
#       DVDMenu  0x0029