(original thread) MCE Replacement Plugin v1.0.0

[and-81]

Thanks everyone for your comments, I really appreciate it.

Unfortunately, one of the risks of running SVN is that things will sometimes not work as expected. But because the plugin relies on changes that are only in the SVN there is currently no choice but to push on.

@opusnut:
Could you send me your log files? They might give me a clue as to what is going wrong. Also, you could try going to the MCE button mapping screen and re-setting the blast commands. Maybe the upgrade mucked up the paths or something.

@everyone:
If you use my plugin to control your set top box, could you post the make and model of your set top box along with a zip file of the IR code files for digits 0 through to 9 and the select button. I'm going to try to make a database of set top boxes and include it in the plugin. The IR files are so small it shouldn't take up much space (less than a kilobyte for a full set of codes). This would make the plugin easier for newcomers to set up.

Thanks all,

Cheers,

[Dale#1976]

Hi Everyone:

Thanks Opusnut for the headsup. I was going to update to that SVN.

Is anyone using today's SVN MediaPortal-svn--10-13-2006--12-58-Rev11030.exe?
IF so does the blaster work? Have they fixed the pause and inf buttons yet. I reported yesterday these buttons didn't work properly when watching TV and listening to music.

Aaron ... I'll send my 0-9 codes this weekend. You're doing a GREAT job with this plugin .... Thanks ... Dale

[opusnut]

Pastebin isnt cooperating with me right now.. here are the relevant parts of my log. It looks like MP has a problem with the MceIR.dll .


2006-10-13 10:33:16.990375 [Info.][6]: Commandprocessor:starting
2006-10-13 10:33:17.271625 [Info.][MPMain]: Main: Running
2006-10-13 10:33:17.287250 [Info.][MPMain]: Main: Starting up
2006-10-13 10:33:17.302875 [Info.][MPMain]: PlugInManager.Load()
2006-10-13 10:33:17.302875 [Info.][MPMain]: Load plugins from :C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\plugins\process\dtvcontrol .dll
2006-10-13 10:33:17.318500 [Info.][MPMain]: Load plugins from :C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\plugins\process\MceIr.dll
2006-10-13 10:33:17.318500 [Info.][MPMain]: PluginManager: Plugin file MceIr.dll is broken or incompatible with the current MediaPortal version and won't be loaded!
2006-10-13 10:33:17.318500 [Info.][MPMain]: PluginManager: Exception: System.BadImageFormatException: Could not load file or assembly 'file:///C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\plugins\process\MceIr.dll' or one of its dependencies. The module was expected to contain an assembly manifest.
File name: 'file:///C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\plugins\process\MceIr.dll'
at System.Reflection.Assembly.nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, Assembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection)
at System.Reflection.Assembly.InternalLoad(AssemblyNa me assemblyRef, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean forIntrospection)
at System.Reflection.Assembly.InternalLoadFrom(String assemblyFile, Evidence securityEvidence, Byte[] hashValue, AssemblyHashAlgorithm hashAlgorithm, Boolean forIntrospection, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
at System.Reflection.Assembly.LoadFrom(String assemblyFile)
at MediaPortal.GUI.Library.PluginManager.LoadPlugin(S tring strFile)

WRN: Assembly binding logging is turned OFF.
To enable assembly bind failure logging, set the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog] (DWORD) to 1.
Note: There is some performance penalty associated with assembly bind failure logging.
To turn this feature off, remove the registry value [HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion!EnableLog].

2006-10-13 10:33:17.381000 [Info.][MPMain]: Load plugins from :C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\plugins\process\MCEReplace ment.dll
2006-10-13 10:33:17.396625 [Info.][MPMain]: Load plugins from :C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\plugins\process\ProcessPlu gins.dll
2006-10-13 10:33:17.459125 [Info.][MPMain]: WebEPGGrabber: schedule: 0:0
2006-10-13 10:33:17.459125 [Info.][MPMain]: WebEPGGrabber: run on: monday:True, tuesday:True, wednesday:True, thursday:True, friday:True, saturday:True, sunday:True
2006-10-13 10:33:17.459125 [Info.][MPMain]: Load plugins from :C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\plugins\process\Zap2itPlug in.dll
2006-10-13 10:33:17.474750 [Info.][MPMain]: PlugInManager.Start()
2006-10-13 10:33:17.568500 [Info.][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Starting
2006-10-13 10:33:17.584125 [Info.][MPMain]: MAP: using custom mappings for MCE Replacement
2006-10-13 10:33:17.599750 [Info.][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Remote enabled
2006-10-13 10:33:17.599750 [Info.][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Started
2006-10-13 10:33:17.599750 [Info.][6]: Commandprocessor:starting tv cards

and....


2006-10-13 10:33:32.318500 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "16" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:32.865375 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "17" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:34.349750 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "14" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:34.771625 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "16" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:35.131000 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "17" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:35.443500 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "14" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:35.756000 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "16" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:36.099750 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "17" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:36.427875 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "14" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:36.693500 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "16" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:37.006000 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "17" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:37.287250 [Debug][MPMain]: MCEReplacement: Command "14" mapped
2006-10-13 10:33:39.818500 [Info.][MPMain]: GUIFont:texture disposing:0 debug
2006-10-13 10:33:39.818500 [Info.][MPMain]: GUIFont:texture disposing:1 font10

thanx
opusnut

[opusnut]

It would be great if your MCE blaster code could be incorperated into MP so that i could map buttons on my ATI remote wonder to blast ir through my MCE blasters.

opusnut

[and-81]

@Dale#1976

Just to make sure it's not my plugin, can you disable mine and enable the built in MCE support and check if the problem still exists? If it still occurs then I guess you'll need to wait for a fix in the SVN, if it doesn't then I'll have to figure out what's changed and try to fix it

I've added the ability to "quick setup" a set top box for external channel changes in my latest version of the code, so as soon as I have your codes I'll start releasing the plugin with that enhancement. Thanks.

@opusnut:

The log entry about MceIr.dll is nothing to worry about. It's because that dll is not a plugin, but is needed by my plugin for interop. I will look at moving the file to avoid that log entry.

The lower section of the log shows that the commands are being mapped, but doesn't say anything about the blasting ... which is odd. Can you send me the "MCE Replacement.xml" from "MediaPortal\InputDeviceMappings\custom" ? That will show me what the mappings are and maybe show why they are failing. Also, turn on extended logging in the plugin and see if there is any more information in the log.

Have you tried mapping your ATI remote in the "different remote" section of my plugin?

When I started writing this plugin I actually put it straight into the MediaPortal source. Then I cut it out into a plugin, but once the plugin is 100% I will put it to the devs that it might be worth integrating. And as you say, this would let anyone with an MCE transceiver blast codes, no matter what input device they are using.

The way I think about this is that you would integrate my changes into the mapping form so anything can map to blast an IR command. And then have another section in the setup for choosing an IR blaster, this could be an MCE or USBUIRT, etc... This approach should work pretty well. But this is something that can only be considered once this plugin is 100%, I'm sure the devs would agree.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

[sikk]

and-81,

I've been trying to sort out the final part of my MP solution using your software. I am working on the proper reliable control (blasting) of a Pace DC420NF set top box, it's the (to me) standard Foxtel Digital STB.

I know the hardware is working properly, since the blaster was working a treat under MCE 2005. Now, under XP SP2 with either Myblaster or MCE Replacement RC1 I am having no luck. I won't bore you with the Myblaster issues (they are legion).

I am running a standard MCE Blaster with the blaster on port 2 with MCE Replacement RC1. I am using "MediaPortal-svn--10-10-2006--22-12-Rev10978.exe".
Myblaster is disabled. I don't have Girder ot HIP installed. When I go to Configuration > Plugins > MCE Replacement > Configure and try to learn a code, I always get a message indicating that the code was learned before I press a button on the remote I am trying to learn from. On the second try it seems to work properly. When I try a test of the learned code I get no response from the STB. It's pretty easy to tell if the code was recognised as the STB responds with a luverly shiny red LED when it sees a code it knows.

I'm a bit of a remote control nut, and I have a JP1 enable UEC remote which I have programmed myself to control the DC420NF. As a result of this effort I discovered that the DC420NF STB does not use the normal RC6 IR protocol but rather an IR protocol that the JP1 boys call RC6-M-20n. Quoted below is an extract from some literature I found about the RC6-M-20n IR protocol that defines its difference from the normal RC6 IR protocol. This protocol varient seems to be specific to the Sky (Pace) STB's of which the Pace DC420NF is (duh) one.

"This protocol supports any RC6-M-20 variant where the toggle bit doesn't actually toggle (in decodes the T value is always the same).

The only examples we have seen are for the "Sky" device.
In those examples M is always 6, Device is always 0, Sub Device is either 0 or 12, and T is always 0."

Please don't be offended, as I'm out on a limb here, and probably barking up the wrong tree, but is it possible you have coded your plugin to only decode RC6 formated IR codes? The only reason I am posting this is that I remember reading something about RC5 or RC6 protocols, and I thought it might be relevant.

Either way, once I learn a code, my Pace DC420NF doesn't respond to the tested code. I can see the blaster LED flashing, but no response from the STB is evident. I did try a simple test using my XBOX, and the IR codes are blasted as expected. From this result I can see that I am on the right track, allthough the XBOX does use a basic RCA IR protocol.

Any chance you can have a think and offer me a suggestion (or two)?

Sikko.

[and-81]

Hey Sikko,

The reference I've made earlier about RC6 is in regard to what I believe the MCE IR receiver will respond to as a compatible remote. But neither the driver nor the plugin care what system the learned (for blasting) IR codes are in. At least, that's what I thought before I read your post

It sounds like the driver is recording the code wrong, such that when it blasts it it's not close enough to the original to be recognised by the foxtel box.

I'll try to get my hands on a foxtel remote and get to the bottom of this. Also, I'm trying to track down a file that has the codes in it. I can then make a "quick setup" entry in the next version of my plugin with the codes already programmed (correctly). If you find one let me know.

I'm certainly no IR code expert, but I am learning, and I'll do my best to get this working. I'm really starting to regret not having foxtel anymore

I will Private Message you when I have any news, hopefully in the next few days.

Cheers,

[xavier]

Originally Posted by and-81

I've attached a new version of the plugin. Please only use this one if you want to test the new "different remote" feature. This feature lets you map any "compatible" remote to act like an MCE remote.

Great work !

Now, with your experimental plugin, I can control MediaPortal from all the native TV remote control in my house.

Yes, all my TV is made in Philips, with RC6 protocol, but this is a quantic leap in MP functions. No more Girder or HIP, now !

Only the teletext keys don't work yet, but this is a acceptable bug...

Originally Posted by and-81

I'm certainly no IR code expert, but I am learning, and I'll do my best to get this working.

I think that the best solution would be to extend the Bruno Fleurette driver.

If you are interested to add more protocols, you can start from this one.

Best regards,
xavier.

[sikk]

Aaron,

I found a MyBlaster dat file for the Pace 420 which I assume is for the box I have. I'm having no luck with Myblaster either, but thats another story for another day.

Smirnuff is hosting the Myblaster dat files, and they can be found at the link below.

MCE IR Blaster RC STB Database

By the way, given the blaster worked with Foxtel with MCE2005, is it possible that I need to use the MCE2005 IR transciever driver? Rather than the XP SP2 one, or are they the same?

Hmmm for that matter why don't I try the replacement driver you have provided :p Why didn't I think of that last night at 1:00AM

You could have a look at the forums at www.hifi-remote.com as well, there is a load of information there.

FYI the EFC's (or advanced code, EFC is remote speak) for the Foxtel Digital remotes number buttons are as follows. If you can emulate the RC6-M-20n protocol in software somehow, then those are the codes you would send.

0 - 018
1 - 010
2 - 034
3 - 026
4 - 242
5 - 234
6 - 002
7 - 250
8 - 082
9 - 074


Ray.

[sikk]

Aaron,

Update. I tried the replacement driver today, same issue. I even tried the DOS commands MCEIRREC and MCEIRPLAY with the same result. I can learn the signals, but the Pace DC420NF doesn't respond to anything.