(original thread) MCE Replacement Plugin v1.0.0 (3 Viewers)

[zombiepig]

sweet - thanks and-81
i noticed one issue i've got last night (running 0.2.1, with the standard mce driver). I'm getting a weird behaviour with the mute button - if i press it once it'll mute but instantly unmute. i have to hold it down for about 2 seconds to get it to mute properly. everything else seems to work fine - no issues with the info button like other ppl reported, and i've disabled the inbuilt mce remote support and removed the extra mappings...
any advice on this one?

 

[Topher5000]

How do get it to learn a remote that's not on the list? I select new ir command, name it 1 & click Learn IR, but it immediately goes to Failed to Learn IR. What am I doing wrong?

 

[and-81]

i noticed one issue i've got last night (running 0.2.1, with the standard mce driver). I'm getting a weird behaviour with the mute button - if i press it once it'll mute but instantly unmute. i have to hold it down for about 2 seconds to get it to mute properly. everything else seems to work fine - no issues with the info button like other ppl reported, and i've disabled the inbuilt mce remote support and removed the extra mappings...
any advice on this one?

Sounds like the same problem others have had with the info button. Try removing the input mapping for the Mute button. If that works then I'll make a change to the input mapping section to make it so it removes all the standard driver buttons.

How do get it to learn a remote that's not on the list? I select new ir command, name it 1 & click Learn IR, but it immediately goes to Failed to Learn IR. What am I doing wrong?

I don't know. That sounds like you're doing it right. Is your MCE receiver Microsoft or third party? Can you use the MCE remote to control mediaportal with the plugin? Are you using HIP or Girder or the MCEReplacementTray at the same time?

Cheers,

 

[Topher5000]

It's a Microsoft remote. I'm able to control Mediaportal fine & I'm not using Girder, HIP or MCEReplacementTray.
I was using the old myblaster with an older version of Mediaportal & was able to change channels fine. I tried the old myblaster with 0.2.1.0 & while myblaster learned the ir codes fine, Mediaportal wouldn't transmit the signal, so I tried this one.
I didn't update the driver since it was optional. Could this be it?
I tried girder a few years back. Would it help if I got Girder to learn the IR codes? I think it can create a file.

 

[and-81]

It's a Microsoft remote. I'm able to control Mediaportal fine & I'm not using Girder, HIP or MCEReplacementTray.
I was using the old myblaster with an older version of Mediaportal & was able to change channels fine. I tried the old myblaster with 0.2.1.0 & while myblaster learned the ir codes fine, Mediaportal wouldn't transmit the signal, so I tried this one.
I didn't update the driver since it was optional. Could this be it?
I tried girder a few years back. Would it help if I got Girder to learn the IR codes? I think it can create a file.

It sounds like the MceIr.dll is not connecting to the driver. So maybe try the replacement driver ... You really shouldn't need to update the driver, it is completely optional and as far as I know it doesn't effect the learning or blasting of IR codes. But if all else fails I guess it's worth a try.

Anything that can create a Phillips Pronto style code will be fine for the plugin. just take the code and put it in a text file and give it a .ir extension. You can see examples of this in the STB folder that is included with the plugin. Almost all of the .IR files in those quick setup folders were created from Pronto codes. The ones that were generated by the plugin will be binary files (you'll see the difference when you look).

Aside from trying the replacement driver, all I can suggest is that you try plugging the receiver into a different USB port and try again. And make sure you don't have anything that could be interfering with the learning (although it doesn't sound like that's the problem)

Taken from the "MCE Remote Replacement Driver FAQ" at http://www.byremote.com.au/Hip/mce_remote_faq.htm ...

Reception Problems

ALL infrared receivers are susceptible to outside interference. If the reception LED is constantly flashing, then you must find a way to either find and remove the source, or shield the receiver from it.

In the HTPC environment, there are 2 common sources:

1. Plasma Screens - Do NOT position your IR receiver in the immediate vicinity of a Plasma Screen as the technology creates a wall of IR interference.
2. IrDA Ports - Computers (especially notebooks) and PDAs often have a IR port for communication, and when on are continually transmitting IR commands (these commands cannot be read by the MCE device, but can interfere with other signals). Simply turn these ports off when not in use.

Learning Problems

There are a number of reasons why you may be having problems teaching your MCE remote:

1. IR Interference - if your MCE receiver LED is continually flashing, then there is another source of Infrared that will conflict with the learning procedure. Must common culprits are IrDA ports on notebooks and PDAs, and Plasma screens and this can be solved by simply finding the source and turning it off during the learning procedure.
2. IR Frequency - Some remotes use frequencies that are beyond the range of this device, or use another transport mechanism (such as RF). Unfortunately there is no solution to this problem.
3. Toggle Codes - Some remotes use the concept of "Toggle Codes" where different IR values are generated whenever a key is pressed. This is difficult to overcome without editing the IR output directly, but many users have found that using manufactures IR Codes stored in CCF Files work better than teaching the commands directly.

 

[gommer]

Aaron,

I have a small intermediate question for you.
As you know, I only use the plugin with sendmassage, through girder.
I'm defining additional key now (by adding them in the "MCE Replacement.xml")
For these additional keys i use unused, unique code number (in my case i used 170->181).

My question, is this a sensible thing to do, or can it give conflicts somehow?

Thanks, Marc

 

[and-81]

gommer:

That's fine. There is code in the MediaPortal SVN for adding new buttons, it hasn't been enabled yet, but that's pretty much how it will work. I've been meaning to have a look into that, but I've been kept busy with the plugins.

@everyone:

I still need someone to confirm that the 1.0.1 test version is working on 0.2.1.0 and SVN for channel changing. I will put it on the download page as soon as I get confirmation. The reason I ask is because I can't test it myself at the moment.

Thanks,

 

[donaldkennedy]

Aaron

I hope to have a chance to test out 1.0.1 tonight.

Donald

 

[gommer]

sweet - thanks and-81
I'm getting a weird behaviour with the mute button - if i press it once it'll mute but instantly unmute. i have to hold it down for about 2 seconds to get it to mute properly.

The cause here is that the mute command from a HID interface is also interpreted by windows. So both Windows and MP will mute/unmute, hence net result is no action. The solution is to block all interpreted commands from going through to the OS (this is something the developper can do only in this case).

I had the same problem at first with girder, but girder has loads of available plugins and one of them can solve this.

 

[donaldkennedy]

Hey all,

I've done some work on the channel blasting aspect of the plugin. Hopefully it's fixed now. 0.2.1.0 users will see a slightly different configuration screen for External Channels....

If a few people can test the attached version of the plugin and get back to me as soon as possible with either a "Yes, it works", or "No, you've just wasted my time" then I'll either post it to the download site or get back to work fixing it.

0.2.1.0 version - "Yes, it works" with STB blasting

HTH

Donald

PS - This version is the first I've used with event mapping. To be honest, it's not something I need at the moment (though it may become more important in due course), so I've only tested the mediaportal_start event, to change to a different window from the Home. It strikes me that you've not included all the possible windows, Aaron - is this deliberate? (eg, I'm currently using it to change to Weather, but I quite often use News as the first function I go to in MP. News isn't listed as an option though...)