Philips SRM7500 RF MCE Remote

[Aridyme]

I bought a Philips SRM7500 RF MCE remote a couple months ago for my new HTPC build hoping to replace my old ATI Remote Wonder, but I don't seem to be able to get full functionality out of the thing.

If I select Microsoft MCE Remote in Configuration, the only buttons that work are the arrows, OK, and the number pad. If I select general HID I gain other buttons such as volume and play/pause/stop/etc, but none of the other special function buttons.

I've tried the MCE Replacement plugin as well as the IR Server Suite (for its general HID support) but I couldn't gain any additional functionality over MP's built-in general HID support. Is there a way to get this remote fully working with MP's built-in remote control modules? I'm guessing I can get it going with something like Girder but I'd like to avoid doing that if possible.

Thanks!

[Melloware]

This should definitely be possible. as long as each button is sending a unique HID instruction there is no reason it can't be mapped in MediaPortal or any other application.

If you couldn't get it to work with IRServerSuite and HID you might have better luck with our software Intelliremote we also have a HID tester application that lets you press every button on your remote to see that it spits out a HID code.

Give it a try here. That way you can diagnose if your remote is sending HID codes for every button.

http://melloware.com/download/warez/usbtester.zip

[Aridyme]

I ended up using an external program (EventGhost) to get things working. A bit of scripting, some button mapping, and a plugin installation is all it took. I'll post my EventGhost config for others to use when I'm done setting things up.

[Aridyme]

Here's what I did to get this remote working with MediaPortal:
(NOTE: To save yourself some work you can do steps 1-5, import the attached XML file, and be done with the configuration.

1. Install MP 1.0 RC1
   
   
2. Install 2008/06/27 SVN
   
   
3. Install the MessagePlugin for MP
   
   
4. Configure MP to use General HID
   • This lets MP handle the buttons it recognizes. You do not need to do anything in this section besides enabling it.
   
   
5. Install EventGhost v0.3.6.1446
   
   
6. Configure EventGhost's Generic HID plugin
   • Select "Philips RF Dongle"
   • Check "Use raw Data as event name"
   
   
7. Add the MediaPortal plugin
   
   
8. Create a macro called "Philips SRM7500"
   • Add an event called "HID.*"
   • Add a Python script called "Parse Remote Code":
     

     event = eg.event.string.split(".")[1][10:44]
     eg.TriggerEvent(event)
     

   • This generates useable events from the events received from the remote
   
   
9. Assign the parsed remote codes to the events in the MediaPortal group

The script is required because:

1. Each button press is toggled (meaning part of the event string is randomized) -- the actual remote code is a four-character substring of the event string. The following is the remote code for button "1":
   

   HID.0010F39C9B1242029A998053029A9965660400001803FF103E900000FFFF0ABBFF10465BBF4124000407D4AA8842844C058903817AF452C3858B816C0090053800
   

2. When idle, a bunch of events are generated with the same remote code as the most recently pressed button (at regular intervals). This means that if you parse out just the four-character remote code, you will experience constant repeated presses of that button when you're trying to enjoy your media. Fortunately, there is a difference in the button-press-events and the randomly-generated-events, which is why the code parses out [10:44]. Here are some button-press and randomly-generated event strings, respectively:
   

   HID.00205BC4391242029A998053029A9965660400000803FF103E900000FFFF0ABBFF10465BBF4124000407D4AA8842844C058903817AF452C3858B816C0090053800
   HID.0080BC52F31242029A998053029A9965660400001803FF103E900000FFFF0ABBFF10465BBF4124000407D4AA8842844C058903817AF452C3858B816C0090053800
   HID.00100F297B1242029A998053029A9965660400004803FF103E900000FFFF0ABBFF10465BBF4124000407D4AA8842844C058903817AF452C3858B816C0090053800
   
   HID.00304B1F980C5900000000000004184C340C00000803FF103E900000FFFF0ABBFF10465BBF4124000407D4AA8842844C058903817AF452C3858B816C0090053800
   HID.00F0FBB2510C5900000000000004144C2C0400001803FF103E900000FFFF0ABBFF10465BBF4124000407D4AA8842844C058903817AF452C3858B816C0090053800
   HID.00106182D90C59000000000000041044340400004803FF103E900000FFFF0ABBFF10465BBF4124000407D4AA8842844C058903817AF452C3858B816C0090053800
   

I've attached the EventGhost XML to save people the work. Hope this is helpful!

[Paranoid Delusion]

Hi Aridyme

Thanks for sharing, i'm sure the xml will come in very handy for someone else

[Ibeg]

Originally Posted by Aridyme

Here's what I did to get this remote working with MediaPortal:
[list=1][*]Install MP 1.0 RC1

Hi Aridyme,
thanks for your work. I have one question.
Need your solution the philips device driver for the SRM 7500? I have some trouble with this driver. Sometimes I have to reconnect the USB-dongle and reconnect (relearn) the remote to the dongle. I hate the Philips Software but I like the remote....

Stefan

[Aridyme]

Not sure I can help you there... do you have the latest driver?

http://update.homecontrol.philips.co.../mediacontrol/

[ohno]

thanks!!
is there any way of associate the green button to mediaportal? i'm kind of new to this..
update:
added "Start Program: AppStart.exe" to the eventghost mediaportal/start item, and it works.

[Melloware]

Just an FYI the latest version of Intelliremote supports the Philips SRM7500 remote natively and comes included with a philipssrm7500.xml profile with all the buttons mapped.

[Ibeg]

Originally Posted by Melloware

Just an FYI the latest version of Intelliremote supports the Philips SRM7500 remote natively and comes included with a philipssrm7500.xml profile with all the buttons mapped.

thanks for the info!
I will try it.