IR Server Suite - Version 1.4.2 Test Build 3158/3281 (1 Viewer)

[kluivert76]

kluivert76:

Absolutely. I'll do a proper write-up on how to do this later, but it will involve multiple installs of the Input Service, one for every machine with an IR device. Then you can do one of several things ...

1. use the software on one machine pointed at the input service on another.
or
2. use the input service on one machine in relay mode to send all input to the other.
or
3. use a macro/command on one machine to launch a command line tool that sends to another input service ...

I'll leave you to try it yourself and when I get some time I'll write up a bit more detailed info for you.

Thats good news. I think I understand what you are saying (that the software is capable) but what hardware do I need to accompish this? I am confused as to how the IR signal gets from teh TV server to the IR receiver on the Set Top Box. Do I need to get a second IR receiver for the MCE Remote COntrol?

Can't wait for some doco!

While we are waiting some documentation is there any chance that somebody else out there will be able to point in the right direction with regards to the hardware setup I need to use to fix my problem?

Cheers!

 

[cartman]

While we are waiting some documentation is there any chance that somebody else out there will be able to point in the right direction with regards to the hardware setup I need to use to fix my problem?

Cheers!

I'm not sure how others have done this but I use EventGhost (free) on both machines with a blaster pointing to my Foxtel box and a separate remote receiver on the other computer. You could use MCE remotes on both or any other blaster hardware you might get your hands on. I use the USBUIRT as my main blaster as I've found it more flexible to use (albeit more difficult).

Basically I use EventGhost as the commandline tool mentioned by Aaron to do the http commands between the two machines and the input service to do the communication between Mediaportal and the remote. (BTW I'm not even using MediaPortal at the moment but I can guarantee this does work).

If you really have the time you can do pretty much anything remote related using EventGhost once you get the hang of it. If you've used Girder before then it's actually pretty easy to understand.

So in short:

1. You'll need 2x remote receivers and one blaster (or a combined one which you have in the MCE Remote) - go get yourself another one for the second machine.
2. Setup the input service on your server
3. Setup Eventghost to communicate with the input service and make use of tcp/http commands
4. Setup Eventghost on the client to send the tcp/http commands to the server
5. Setup the input service to work with Eventghost on the client - very similar to the server setup.

Hope that helps a little.
Steve

 

[Terriff]

Terriff:
Sounds like these things are working for you, but you're not mapping the input.
You could try enabling Abstract Remote Model in the Input Service configuration,
or setting up a new remote map in MP Control Plugin or Translator.

I'll have to get back to you with better instructions for that,
or look around the forum and see what you can find.

Hi and-81. I've done some further testing with my Harmony remote programmed as an MCE-1040 model and MCE-1069 model (see here for visuals). The testing generally consisted of pressing the Up and Down directional buttons and numbers 1, 2, 3 on the number pad of the remote. I've attached logs with various configuration tests.

I was doing some playing with the various Abstract Remote Maps and I noticed something interesting. I copied the Microsoft MCE remote map into the "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\IR Server Suite\Input Service\Abstract Remote Maps\Imon" folder and renamed the files:

• 1. Original Microsoft MCE.xml
• 2. Imon Microsoft MCE.xml

Here's what shows up in the log:

2008-04-22 12:15:21.604642 - Info:	Input Service is running in Abstract Remote mode
2008-04-22 12:15:21.604642 - Info:	Load Abstract Device Files: Imon
2008-04-22 12:15:21.620267 - Info:	[B]Abstract Remote Table (Imon:1. Original Microsoft MCE) loaded[/B]
2008-04-22 12:15:21.620267 - Error:	System.Data.ConstraintException: Failed to enable constraints. 
One or more rows contain values violating non-null, unique, or foreign-key constraints.

If I change the numerical order of the map files, I notice that the Abstract remote table no longer loads:

• 1. Imon Microsoft MCE.xml
• 2. Original Microsoft MCE.xml

2008-04-22 12:19:10.357570 - Info:	Receiver plugin started: "Imon"
2008-04-22 12:19:10.357570 - Info:	Input Service is running in Abstract Remote mode
2008-04-22 12:19:10.373195 - Info:	Load Abstract Device Files: Imon
2008-04-22 12:19:10.373195 - Error:	System.Data.ConstraintException: Failed to enable constraints. 
One or more rows contain values violating non-null, unique, or foreign-key constraints.

Does this indicate something wrong with the original Imon map file?


Also, can you please reduce the logging in "Imon Receiver.log"? This file grew to 500MB after around 5 minutes with the IR Suite Service running (without MP started or remote buttons being pressed)!!

I made sure that Extended Logging in the MP Config screen was unchecked just to be sure this wasn't causing the increased size.

Question: Does the MP Config "Remote" section need to have the Microsoft MCE remote support checked to use the IR Suite with MCE remotes?

Thanks!

 

[Terriff]

I forgot to shut down the IR Suite Service and the "Imon Receiver.log" ate up all 25GB of my C: drive.

This logging really needs to be reduced

 

[neilk]

Hi there

I have just upgraded to MP1 RC1, but the MCE remote does not seem to work anymore, the buttons work outside MP and in configuration, but not in MP. When I enable MP's support for MCE remote, that works, but not with IR server alone. I have used the latest version IR server Preview 7. Please let me know if there is an issue with IR server and MP1.

Thanks

Neil

 

[and-81]

kluivert76:

If you can't get the receiver (or blaster lead) to reach from one room to another then you may need to get an ir device for each computer.

Ironman1965:

The translator icon should be back to normal in the next release. Thanks for the feedback.

RobinE:

Not sure what the problem is there, logs might help. But it could be you have a mce device that doesn't work with the software 100% ... Or it could be an IR protocol that the MCE device struggles to reproduce.

beowulf:

I'm working on this and hope to have a solution before the 1.4.2 final version is released.

cartman:

Your suggestion is interesting, but should be achievable entirely with the IR Server Suite alone. You can communicate between two instances of Input Service quite easily. Either by setting the mode to be a repeater or relay, or by executing the IrBlast command line app targeting the other Input Service instance.

Terriff:

There was a problem in the mce remote abstract remote map for the imon device, it is fixed for the next test version (within 24 hours I promise). And the logging should be smaller, but if it's still too much I'll drop it lower again.

neilk:

The next version will be compiled against MP 1.0 RC1 so let me know if it doesn't solve your problem. Give me 24 hours to get the new version out.

Cheers,

 

[Terriff]

...it is fixed for the next test version (within 24 hours I promise).

No worries. You don't need to promise anything. You're doing this as a hobby, not paid support.

 

[and-81]

IR Server Suite - 1.4.2 RC 1

ok, so here's a new version for MediaPortal 1.0 RC1.

There's a few bug fixes and the iMon support is now "finished" in so far as it's feature complete, but needs testing.

Please download 1.4.2 RC1 from the first post of this thread and let me know if you have any trouble.

Note:

Please uninstall any previous version before installing this one. Otherwise you'll end up with two iMon remote plugins listed.

Also, the installer has a known issue where it doesn't detect the location of MediaPortal correctly in some situations.

Thanks,

 

[chemelli]

Downloading and testing with my iMON PAD

Simone

 

[and-81]

If you have trouble with iMon support try this updated dll.

Edit: And there is a new Abstract Remote Model file too.

Edit: Moved attachments (into one archive) to the first post.