MCE Computer with built in IR (1 Viewer)

[plemen]

Hi folks - I'm loving mp but I can't get the remote going.

I have an Acer MCE computer that has built in MCE Remote support. I am using my Harmony remote to emulate the MCE Remote and this works like a charm for SageTV (I just select MCE Remote in its config and all of the buttons work). With MP I configure it to use MCE Remote and all I get is the direction buttons and the middle OK/Enter button working.

I've tried installing IR Server Suite and it doesn't detect my remote - I've disabled/enabled the HID service with no luck. I see a lot of information here for people who have a MCE USB IR Receiver but what about the MCE computers that have a built in IR Receiver?

BTW I am willing to try anything as my Harmony remote will emulate most any remote out there - just want to be able to control MP.

Thanks for reading this and please let me know if you have any ideas on what I can try. Will provide any logs/info that may help.

 

[guytpetj]

Does the built in IR receiver run on IRTrans software? You should be able to find this in the manual or software that came with the computer. YOu might even have an IRTrans group in your start menu.

 

[plemen]

No unfortunately no - the computer does not have IR Trans software installed. It does have a HID Device which I believe is responsible for interfacing with the IR receiver. Here is an excerpt from the Mediaportal.log - seems mp is identifying and recognizing a MCE remote but still only the direction buttons work.

2007-10-14 10:41:24.716475 [Info.][MPMain]: MCE: Initializing MCE remote
2007-10-14 10:41:24.732141 [Info.][MPMain]: MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_147a&pid_e00d&col01#6&1a98549&1&0000#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
2007-10-14 10:41:24.732141 [Info.][MPMain]: MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_147a&pid_e00d&col02#6&1a98549&1&0001#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
2007-10-14 10:41:24.732141 [Info.][MPMain]: MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_147a&pid_e00d&col03#6&1a98549&1&0002#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
2007-10-14 10:41:24.732141 [Info.][MPMain]: MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_147a&pid_e00d&col04#6&1a98549&1&0003#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
2007-10-14 10:41:24.732141 [Info.][MPMain]: MCE: Found: \\?\hid#vid_147a&pid_e00d&col05#6&1a98549&1&0004#{4d1e55b2-f16f-11cf-88cb-001111000030}
2007-10-14 10:41:24.732141 [Info.][MPMain]: MAP: using default mappings for Microsoft MCE
2007-10-14 10:41:24.732141 [Info.][MPMain]: MCE: MCE remote enabled

 

[guytpetj]

Can you check the keyMap.xml file in the MediaPortal folder. It should be about 30KB in size and have a few hundred lines in it.

 

[plemen]

Yes - keymap.xml is there and it is 30KB. When I view it in notepad I see the XML tagged key definitions.

 

[plemen]

Okay here is some more info - my Acer Aspire does indeed have an Internal MCE remote control receiver as noted in this article about disabling it:

http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/fo...m/us&siteid=7293&words=all&keywords=&areaid=7

Not that this really helps me. So now I know I have an "Internal MCE remote control receiver" and that the remote works perfectly with SageTV and with Microsoft Media Center.

Once again any help would be appreciated.

 

[guytpetj]

When you go to "controle panel, system, hardware, device manager" what info can you find about the IR device? This info is moste likely under the USB devices.

I use both IRtrans and the MCE IR receiver on various computers without problems. The IRtrans is the built-in device in one of my PC's. Depending on what you find in the question above we might be able to find configuration errors, or even steer you in the direction of the IR server software.

 

[plemen]

Thanks for trying to help guytpetj. Here are the devices I have:

Hive: Human Interface Devices
HID-compliant consumer control device
HID-compliant consumer control device
HID-compliant device
HID-compliant device
USB Human Interface Device

Hive: Universal Serial Bus controllers

Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2830
Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2831
Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2832
Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2834
Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2835
Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Universal Host Controller - 2836
Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Universal Host Controller - 283a
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub

I've gone through the properties of each HID device looking for any sign of the letters "IR" or the word remote and nothing.

 

[guytpetj]

Plemen,

If the problem still exists, can you contact me on MSN?
Just take the time difference in account, evening for you now, morning for me.

 

[rsbrux]

plemen,
In case you need any encouragement, my MCE PC also has a built-in IR receiver and works fine with the out-of-the-box MCE RC support (no additional SW needed). I can control MP either with my original MCE remote or with an iPAQ 3950 running Pronto emulation SW. With the Pronto emulation, I can even simulate an MCE IR keyboard for use in MP functions (like Music Search) which accept keyboard input.