Best Media Center remote support config? (1 Viewer)

[Terriff]

Hello all,

I'd like to start by saying that I'm amazed at the quality of the MediaPortal development and functionality. It really is allowing me to finally build my ultimate HD HTPC rig!

Having said that, I have one piece of functionality that I'm struggling with to allow me to finally set up my HTPC in the living room (and have my wife / kids able to use it): remote support.

I have read about and tried all of the remote control plug-ins that I could find in the forums, but I would like to get some advice on the smoothest setup considering my hardware. I have a Logitech Harmony 688 remote that I have programmed as a standard Microsoft Windows MCE remote. I would like to hear your experiences on the best way to use an MCE remote in MediaPortal for smooth navigation and functionality support.

My PC case uses a Soundgraph iMON LCD display with an embedded IR receiver:
Manager: 7.01.0204
Firmware: 0xa1

Here's what I've currently tried:

1. CybrDisplay External Status Plugin
   
   • 
     This is a fantastic plugin and I am currently using the beautiful LCD status functionality, but the MCE remote support doesn't really work well for me. The button presses aren't recognized very well. I've played with various delay settings, etc the button presses are very erratic. I usually need to hold the button down to have it recognized. I still need to read the entire support thread more carefully (please don't flame me Cybrmage...250 replies is a lot to sift through in the hopes of finding an answer, I'm working on it ).
2. IR Server Suite - Version 1.0.4.1
   • I'm currently using version 1.0.4.2, Preview 6. After much searching in this thread, it appears that the IR Suite doesn't yet support the iMON IR receivers . When it does, I'm pretty sure this will be my best avenue for remote support.
3. iMON software
   • This is the software that comes with the drivers for the Soundgraph LCD (with IR receiver). I'm able to control the PC and, in turn, MediaPortal with this software, but I'm getting double commands with a single click of a button, and I don't like the software as much as the power of IR Suite.

Anyway, I'm hoping that someone has found that sweet spot for remote control support in MediaPortal with similar hardware and can enlighten me (and others reading) with their experiences.

Thanks!


TV-Server Version: TVEngine3 SVN Rev18436
MediaPortal Version: MediaPortal SVN Rev18436
MediaPortal Skin: Bluetwo wide
Windows Version: Windows XP Pro SP2 - hotfixes from RyanVM's Windows XP Post-SP2 Update Pack 2.2.1, March 2, 2008
CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 - 2.33GHz
HDD: Hitachi - 500GB Deskstar T7K500 SATA II
Memory: Patriot - Extreme Performance DDR2 4GB (2 x 2GB) PC2-6400
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-73PVM-S2H w/ Geforce 7100
Motherboard Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i Chipset
Motherboard Bios: Award BIOS - v. F6
Video Card: Integrated nVIDIA® GeForce 7100
Video Card Driver: 6.14.11.6375 (Date: 2007.10.04)
Sound Card: Realtek ALC889A codec
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver: 5.10.0.5591 (Date: 2008.03.26)
1. TV Card: TechnoTrend S2-3200 Budget
1. TV Card Type: DVB-S2
1. TV Card Driver: TechnoTrend BDA 4.4.10.18
MPEG2 Video Codec: ffdshow_beta4a_rev1723_20071224_clsid.exe
MPEG2 Audio Codec: ffdshow_beta4a_rev1723_20071224_clsid.exe
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Nimiq 2 82°
HTPC Case: ANTEC - VERIS Fusion Black 430
Cooling: 2 x 120mm case fans, stock Intel Core2Duo fan
Power Supply: 430W provided with case
Remote: Logitech Harmony 688 - programmed as MCE remote
TV: Acer 22 inch LCD monitor
TV - HTPC Connection: VGA

 

[and-81]

Cybermage has figured out some details on how the Imon Remote works and I'm working on implementing this into IR Server Suite as we speak.

Hopefully I'll have proper support for it (including mouse/keyboard input) in IR Server Suite within a few days.

I'll post back here when I've got something you could maybe test for me?

Cheers,

 

[Terriff]

You rock! I will absolutely test anything you need!

 

[and-81]

great,

I've used cybrmage's findings to create a little test app (it's actually the input plugin IR Server Suite will use but compiled as a console app instead of a dll) ...

This is just a first attempt, and I've used a slightly different method to what cybrmage found because I'm curious to see if it works ...

If the attached test app doesn't work at all then I'll change the access method and try again, so don't panic.

Cheers,

 

[Terriff]

You've done it, my friend!

 

[and-81]

fantastic, all the kudos must go to CyberMage, he figured it out, I just put it into my IR Server Suite framework ...

This is very promising though ...

I'm going to make some refinements and include it in all future releases of IR Server Suite.

I'll post a new preview version of IR Server Suite 1.0.4.2 with this included very soon.

I assume those button codes correspond to Microsoft MCE remote buttons?

There are different kinds of Imon Remotes available aren't there?

I wonder if someone with a different one could try it out for me, see what codes it comes back with?

More news as it happens ...

 

[and-81]

ok, here's a new test application ...

This one does some logging so I can gather more info to fix a button repeat issue ...

Please do the following ...

1) Start the test app.
2) Press and release "1" three times in a row.
3) After a few seconds press "2", "1", "2", "1".
4) After a few seconds press and hold "3" for 2 seconds.

This will give me enough information to determine how the button toggle code works.

If you have an MCE remote keyboard then please also move the mouse stick around on it and press the left and right mouse buttons so I can collect some information on those too.

Finally, get the Imon Receiver.log file from the same folder as the test app and post it here so I can take a look.

Thanks,

 

[Terriff]

Sorry, I don't have an MCE keyboard. The closest thing I have to an MCE remote is the Logitech Harmony 688 programmed as an MCE remote.

Here are the logs and screen shot.

 

[and-81]

Try the new IR Server suite 1.4.2 preview 7, it's got experimental imon support.
I'm adding some more changes to the code so it can support the mce hardware & the imon pad remote.

Once these changes are in I'll post a new test app and a replacement for the ir server suite input service plugin.

Cheers,