Harmony hub remote on Intel NUC (8th. gen) on Libreelec 9.0.2 - No IR signal

hat_dk · July 14, 2019 at 10:48 AM

Hi guys,

I recently changed my old Intel NUC to a new 8th gen version (nuc8i3bek), but for some reason I simply can't get my Logitech harmony hub remote to work with this new NUC when running LibreElec.

I currently have added my Kodi device in the harmony hub sw as a "Microsoft Media Center Extender", which was working fine on my old NUC setup.

If I run the "irw" command from a ssh shell and press a button on the remote, I get no information.

LibreELEC:~ # dmesg | grep -i cir

[ 5.954396] ite_cir: Auto-detected model: ITE8708 CIR transceiver

[ 5.954397] ite_cir: Using model: ITE8708 CIR transceiver

[ 5.954398] ite_cir: TX-capable: 1

[ 5.954399] ite_cir: Sample period (ns): 8680

[ 5.954399] ite_cir: TX carrier frequency (Hz): 38000

[ 5.954400] ite_cir: TX duty cycle (%): 33

[ 5.954401] ite_cir: RX low carrier frequency (Hz): 0

[ 5.954401] ite_cir: RX high carrier frequency (Hz): 0

[ 6.035936] rc rc0: ITE8708 CIR transceiver as /devices/virtual/rc/rc0

[ 6.035970] input: ITE8708 CIR transceiver as /devices/virtual/rc/rc0/input8

[ 6.036057] rc rc0: lirc_dev: driver ite-cir registered at minor = 0, raw IR receiver, raw IR transmitter

[ 6.045848] ite_cir: driver has been successfully loaded

LibreELEC:~ # ir-keytable

Found /sys/class/rc/rc0/ (/dev/input/event8) with:

Name: ITE8708 CIR transceiver

Driver: ite-cir, table: rc-rc6-mce

lirc device: /dev/lirc0

Supported protocols: lirc rc-5 rc-5-sz jvc sony nec sanyo mce_kbd rc-6 sharp xmp imon rc-mm

Enabled protocols: lirc nec rc-6

bus: 25, vendor/product: 1283:0000, version: 0x0000

Repeat delay = 500 ms, repeat period = 125 ms

LibreELEC:~ # lsmod

Module Size Used by

8021q 24576 0

snd_hda_codec_hdmi 49152 1

iwlmvm 286720 0

mac80211 577536 1 iwlmvm

iwlwifi 262144 1 iwlmvm

wl 6381568 0

ir_nec_decoder 16384 0

snd_soc_skl 94208 0

snd_soc_skl_ipc 53248 1 snd_soc_skl

snd_soc_sst_ipc 16384 1 snd_soc_skl_ipc

snd_soc_sst_dsp 24576 1 snd_soc_skl_ipc

snd_hda_codec_realtek 90112 1

intel_rapl 20480 0

snd_hda_ext_core 20480 1 snd_soc_skl

snd_hda_codec_generic 69632 1 snd_hda_codec_realtek

snd_soc_acpi_intel_match 24576 1 snd_soc_skl

intel_powerclamp 16384 0

ir_rc6_decoder 16384 0

snd_soc_acpi 16384 2 snd_soc_acpi_intel_match,snd_soc_skl

cfg80211 552960 4 wl,iwlmvm,iwlwifi,mac80211

snd_hda_intel 36864 2

snd_hda_codec 106496 4 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_realtek

snd_hda_core 65536 7 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_soc_skl

snd_hwdep 16384 1 snd_hda_codec

rfkill 20480 2 cfg80211

rc_rc6_mce 16384 0

ite_cir 28672 0

rc_core 36864 5 ite_cir,ir_rc6_decoder,ir_nec_decoder,rc_rc6_mce

pcc_cpufreq 16384 0

I would REALLY appreciate some pointers on how to debug my isssue

My setup:

LibreElec 9.0.2

Intel NUC nuc8i3bek

Yamaha RX-A1020 AVR

BTW: I've enabled "Consumer Ir" in the bios and disabled the bluetooth

**HiassofT** · July 14, 2019 at 11:06 AM

Try to update your NUC to the latest BIOS version (this may require Windows) - Intel has quite a history of screwing up IR. IIRC a BIOS update about half a year ago solved that on the gen7 models.

Also check with "ir-ctl -r" if your NUC receives any IR signals at all (you should get some "pulse" and "space" messages if you press a button).

Plus try placing the IR transmitter / hub very close to the NUC. IIRC there were also reports that the sensitivity of the IR receiver on some NUCs was very bad.

so long,

Hias

hat_dk · July 14, 2019 at 11:15 AM

Hi,

I have the latest bios.

But when I placed my hub directly in front of the NUC it started working fine..... Thanx!

Where did you read about the crappy IR-receivers?

**HiassofT** · July 14, 2019 at 12:27 PM

Quote from hat_dk

Where did you read about the crappy IR-receivers?

Sorry, can't remember, could have been on kodi or intel forums.

Unfortunately IR problems with NUCs seem to haunt a lot of (linux) users. An easy workaround is to use an external USB MCE receiver. The HP branded one for example works fine, it's not exactly a small or beautiful thing but it's well supported in Linux (I have one here too) and rather easy to get (package with HP MCE remote plus IR receiver costs about 15-20 USD shipped from China on ebay).

so long,

Hias

hat_dk · July 14, 2019 at 2:04 PM

Ok, think I'll play around with the placement of the NUC and the harmony hub. If it doesn't work out I'll grab a Flirc dongle or similar.

Really hate Intel for not spending a cent more to put in a decent IR-receiver. It's really a dumb place to cut cost imo.

Thanks for the help!