LE8 IR Remote help?

Kema · May 2, 2017 at 2:01 PM

Hi.
I'm a n0ob with LibreELEC and Linux but I have a fair amount of experience with computers, programming and electronics. Currently I'm trying to get a IR remote working by hooking up a IR receiver through GPIO. (Using TSOP32338)
I've connected OUT (data) to GPIO 18, Vs to 3V3 and GND to GND.
I've added device_tree_overlay=lirc-rpi to the last line of config.txt.

Code

NewPi:~ # dmesg | grep lirc_rpi
[    3.547124] lirc_rpi: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[    4.498173] lirc_rpi: auto-detected active high receiver on GPIO pin 18
[    4.498392] lirc_rpi lirc_rpi: lirc_dev: driver lirc_rpi registered at minor = 0
[    4.498395] lirc_rpi: driver registered!

I'm not sure that the TSOP32338 is actually active high, it might be active low? Det datasheet isn't really super clear on that and this is my first experiment with a IR receiver.

Code

NewPi:~ # ps | grep lirc
  269 root       0:00 /usr/sbin/eventlircd -f --evmap=/etc/eventlircd.d --socket=/run/lirc/lircd
  421 root       0:00 {kodi.sh} /bin/sh /usr/lib/kodi/kodi.sh --standalone -fs --lircdev /run/lirc/lircd
  425 root       0:26 /usr/lib/kodi/kodi.bin --standalone -fs --lircdev /run/lirc/lircd
  527 root       0:00 grep lirc

Code

NewPi:~ # ls -l /dev/lirc0
crw-------    1 root     root      243,   0 Feb 26 16:33 /dev/lirc0
NewPi:~ # lsmod | grep lirc
lirc_rpi                5930  0
lirc_dev                7013  1 lirc_rpi
rc_core                16649  1 lirc_dev

Code

NewPi:~ # irw /var/run/lirc/lircd-lirc0
Cannot connect to socket /var/run/lirc/lircd-lirc0: No such file or directory

Trying irrecord only get's me a no input detected and terminating after 10s.
For some reason the Pi isn't recording any input from the remote control?
Can someone please help me? I have no clue how to get this working and nothing that I've found through googling has helped.
Am I missing some processes that should be running? Should I be adding a pullup or pulldown setting on GPIO 18?
Adding a IR receiver is supposed to be easy but this is just driving me nuts.
Please help!
[hr]
Ok, I've made some progress.
Using irrecord I've successfully recorded the buttons on my remote.
The irw command still isn't working.
Where is the lircd.conf file supposed to be located? I placed it .config but that didn't work.

Edit. Disabled CEC in the GUI (System>Settings>System>Input>Peripherals>;) and made an addition in Lircmap.xml. (.kodi/userdata/)

Code

<lircmap>
<remote device="devinput">
<start>KEY_HOME</start>
</remote>
</lircmap>

No change, still doesn't work.

Edit 2. Somehow lirc had been disabled, reenabling it again, the remote works at least to some degree. Laggy and somewhat unresponsive to the buttons but it works.

Bubba2017 · May 4, 2017 at 12:32 AM

I set my remote up by programming it manually. I too use an IR reciever (USB) and everything works fines.
I followed the directions here ---> thread-7152-post-43818.html#pid43818

**HiassofT** · May 5, 2017 at 12:43 PM

Quote from Kema

I've added device_tree_overlay=lirc-rpi to the last line of config.txt.

FYI: I'd recommend using the gpio-ir overlay instead of lirc-rpi.

gpio-ir uses the upstream Linux gpio_rc_recv driver and supports in-kernel decoding (aka ir-keytable configuration) - so MCE remotes (plus a few others) will work out of the box and you don't need to use userspace lirc.

so long,

Hias

Kema · May 5, 2017 at 5:52 PM

That sounds interesting, how do I do that? Just change in the config.txt or what?

**HiassofT** · May 5, 2017 at 6:52 PM

Quote from Kema

That sounds interesting, how do I do that? Just change in the config.txt or what?

Yes, exactly. This'll use the same gpio as lirc-rpi per default, so if you've been using lirc-rpi before your IR receiver will work with gpio-ir as well.

Details about the gpio-ir DT parameters can be found in the overlays README (/flash/overlays/README) or here: linux/README at rpi-4.9.y · raspberrypi/linux · GitHub

Code

Name:   gpio-ir
Info:   Use GPIO pin as rc-core style infrared receiver input. The rc-core-
        based gpio_ir_recv driver maps received keys directly to a
        /dev/input/event* device, all decoding is done by the kernel - LIRC is
        not required! The key mapping and other decoding parameters can be
        configured by "ir-keytable" tool.
Load:   dtoverlay=gpio-ir,<param>=<val>
Params: gpio_pin                Input pin number. Default is 18.


        gpio_pull               Desired pull-up/down state (off, down, up)
                                Default is "down".


        rc-map-name             Default rc keymap (can also be changed by
ir-keytable), defaults to "rc-rc6-mce"

Display More

Instructions how to customize configuration via ir-keytable are in the thread linked by bubba2017: thread-7152-post-43745.html#pid43745

BTW: gpio-ir can be used with userspace lirc as well if your remote isn't supported via in-kernel decoding.

so long,

Hias

Kema · May 6, 2017 at 12:35 PM

Thank you so much, that worked like a charm. Imagine how much trouble I could have saved myself if I'd found that right away.

Kema · May 7, 2017 at 9:48 PM

Is it possible to use longpress? Having an extra set of commands would be very handy.

**HiassofT** · May 7, 2017 at 10:20 PM

Quote from Kema

Is it possible to use longpress? Having an extra set of commands would be very handy.

Not as long as Kodi is using lirc input.

Currently eventlircd translates linux input events (as generated by gpio-ir) into lirc events which are then read by kodi. This is done so that button translation can be done for a few remotes and because kodi doesn't support several buttons (like KEY_OK or KEY_CHANNELUP/DOWN) in "keyboard mode".

You can disable eventlircd by creating an empty /storage/.config/udev.rules.d/98-eventlircd.rules file, then remote button presses will show up as keyboard events in kodi and longpress works.

If you do this you also have to install a custom rc_keymap and change the KEY_OK mapping to KEY_ENTER - kodi without an "OK" button won't be too much fun

so long,

Hias

Kema · May 8, 2017 at 5:30 AM

Thanks, that explains things. They say hindsight is always 20/20 and I realized that not having a specific stop button on the remote makes it really awkward.
Is it possible to have the buttons meaning different things depending on other processes? Like if playing something...

**HiassofT** · May 8, 2017 at 8:01 AM

Quote from Kema

Is it possible to have the buttons meaning different things depending on other processes? Like if playing something...

Yes, via customized kodi keymap
Keymap - Official Kodi Wiki
HOW-TO:Modify keymaps - Official Kodi Wiki

so long,

Hias

Kema · May 8, 2017 at 11:35 AM

Ok, something is not adding up here. I'm using a rc-5 remote. Trying to get "longpress" working.
I created an empty "/storage/.config/udev.rules.d/98-eventlircd.rules" to disable eventlircd.
I have a custom rc_keymap "/storage/.config/rc_keymaps/justboom"
I have also a custom kodi keymap "/storage/.kodi/userdata/keymaps/remote.xml" I also tried renaming this to keyboard.xml.

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<keymap>
   <global>
      <keyboard>
         <enter mod="longpress">Stop</enter>
      </keyboard>
   </global>
</keymap>

Still, it doesn't work.
I have confirmed that changing the key name in the rc_keymap changes what key is being pressed.
I tried manually stopping eventlircd using "systemctl stop lircd".
using "ir-keytable -c -w /storage/.config/rc_keymaps/justboom -t" I looked at the output from pressing the key. It records multiple KEY_DOWN (and finished with a KEY_UPand shows the same scancode used for a single press.
It seems it's counting KEY_DOWN in fours.

Code

1494239079.299725: event type EV_KEY(0x01) key_down: KEY_ENTER(0x0001)
1494239079.299725: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494239079.413589: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494239079.413589: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494239079.527475: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494239079.527475: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494239079.601347: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494239079.601347: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494239079.755245: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015

I don't know if this actually means anything useful?
Regardless, I'm kind of out of ideas at the moment.

Edit.
It would seem remapping a key works but longpress does not?

**HiassofT** · May 8, 2017 at 6:58 PM

Just did a quick test here with my justboom remote and ran into an interesting issue, kodi didn't detect any button presses at all if eventlircd was bypassed.

lsof clearly showed that kodi was using the input event device, but nothing at all showed up in kodi log (debugging enabled)

Code

LibreELEC:~ # lsof | grep /dev/input
1350 /usr/lib/kodi/kodi.bin /dev/input/event0
1350 /usr/lib/kodi/kodi.bin /dev/input/event1
LibreELEC:~ # evtest
No device specified, trying to scan all of /dev/input/event*
Available devices:
/dev/input/event0: Logitech K400
/dev/input/event1: gpio_ir_recv
Select the device event number [0-1]: ^C

As I was pretty sure it worked with my hauppauge remote before I dug into that and could make it work if I added a (dummy) keymap entry for KEY_NUMERIC_0 - looks like this is enough to make kodi detect the remote as a keyboard (maybe kodi thinks this is a game controller otherwise - don't know for sure).

Here's the working .config/rc_keymaps/justboom I've used for testing:

Code

# table justboom, type: RC5
0x1010 KEY_HOME
0x1011 KEY_POWER
0x1012 KEY_MUTE
0x1013 KEY_LEFT
0x1014 KEY_RIGHT
0x1015 KEY_ENTER
0x1016 KEY_MENU
0x1017 KEY_BACK
0x1018 KEY_VOLUMEDOWN
0x1019 KEY_VOLUMEUP
0x101A KEY_UP
0x101B KEY_DOWN


# dummy key so that kodi detects remote as a keyboard
0x1e00 KEY_NUMERIC_0

Display More

With this keymap longpress-OK worked out of the box with kodi, default kodi keymap contains an entry to map longpress-enter to context menu.

BTW: I needed to restart kodi after changing the keymap with ir-keytable -w ... on-the-fly, kodi only seems to test for "keyboard/non-keyboard" when it accesses the input device the first time.

Snippet from default kodi keyboard.xml:

Code

<enter>Select</enter>
<enter mod="longpress">ContextMenu</enter>

And also visible in kodi.log

Code

17:36:39.358 T:1962061824 DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x1c, sym: 0x000d, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
17:36:39.891 T:1962061824 DEBUG: Previous line repeats 1 times.
17:36:39.891 T:1962061824 DEBUG: OnKey: long-return (0x100f00d) pressed, action is ContextMenu

BTW: I think you need to have both <key ...> and <key mod="longpress"...> in keyboard.xml to make longpress working in kodi. Also, the ~500ms delay for the first key-repeat showing up in evtest/ir-keytable is normal - this is the initial repeat delay:

Code

LibreELEC:~ # ir-keytable
Found /sys/class/rc/rc0/ (/dev/input/event1) with:
Driver gpio-rc-recv, table rc-rc6-mce
Supported protocols: unknown other lirc rc-5 rc-5-sz jvc sony nec sanyo mce-kbd rc-6 sharp xmp
Enabled protocols: lirc rc-5
Name: gpio_ir_recv
bus: 25, vendor/product: 0001:0001, version: 0x0100
Repeat delay = 500 ms, repeat period = 125 ms
LibreELEC:~ # ir-keytable -t
Testing events. Please, press CTRL-C to abort.
1494265897.242319: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494265897.242319: event type EV_KEY(0x01) key_down: KEY_ENTER(0x0001)
1494265897.242319: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494265897.356251: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494265897.356251: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494265897.470204: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494265897.470204: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494265897.584149: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494265897.584149: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494265897.698086: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494265897.698086: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494265897.746357: event type EV_KEY(0x01) key_down: KEY_ENTER(0x0001)
1494265897.746357: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494265897.812019: event type EV_MSC(0x04): scancode = 0x1015
1494265897.812019: event type EV_SYN(0x00).
1494265897.876355: event type EV_KEY(0x01) key_down: KEY_ENTER(0x0001)

Display More

so long,

Hias

Kema · May 8, 2017 at 11:02 PM

There is a certain amount of irony connected to this.
I to get the longpress to work following your instructions using the default keyboard.xml.
However, it refuses to let me remap the function...
(/storage/.kodi/userdata/keymaps/keyboard.xml)

Code

<keymap>
   <global>
      <keyboard>
         <enter>Select</enter>
         <enter mod="longpress">Stop</enter>
      </keyboard>
   </global>
</keymap>

is not getting the job done.

**HiassofT** · May 9, 2017 at 8:31 AM

Enable debug logging in kodi and check kodi.log if it reported errors about the keyboard.xml file. Also check if the remote presses actually show up as keyboard events. If they show up as lirc events in the log, eventlircd is still translating the events.

BTW: If you change anything it's best to reboot, this is the easiest way to make sure all new config files are picked up.

so long,

Hias

Kema · May 9, 2017 at 12:43 PM

How do I check if the remote presses show up as keyboard events?
So far I haven't seen button presses showing up in the kodi.log? Is there some setting I need to add? The only way that I've been able to see the codes for button presses have been by stopping eventlircd and stopping kodi. With kodi and eventlircd running I haven't been able to find any way to see the code for buttons pressed?
I started with a clean install of LE8.0.1. Have installed Exodus and the stuff that came with that, LCDproc and XBMC LCDproc. No more and no less, perhaps I'm missing some diagnostic tools?
My advancedsettings.xml is currently empty since I'm still working with the basics.
[hr]
These are the log posts I can find containing keyboard.xml

Code

17:33:11.655 T:1961762816    INFO: Loading special://xbmc/system/keymaps/keyboard.xml
17:33:11.733 T:1961762816    INFO: Loading special://masterprofile/keymaps/keyboard.xml

And I found some buttonpresses as well.

Code

13:46:28.335 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x6c, sym: 0x0112, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:28.338 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: down (0xf081) pressed, action is Down
13:46:28.724 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x6c, sym: 0x0112, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:28.969 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x6a, sym: 0x0113, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:28.970 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: right (0xf083) pressed, action is Right
13:46:29.358 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x6a, sym: 0x0113, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:29.418 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Previous line repeats 1 times.
13:46:29.418 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: right (0xf083) pressed, action is Right
13:46:29.684 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x6a, sym: 0x0113, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:32.129 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x1c, sym: 0x000d, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:32.520 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: return (0xf00d) pressed, action is Select
13:46:33.234 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x1c, sym: 0x000d, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:34.997 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x6c, sym: 0x0112, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:34.997 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: down (0xf081) pressed, action is Down
13:46:35.278 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x6c, sym: 0x0112, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:36.090 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x1c, sym: 0x000d, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:36.346 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: return (0xf00d) pressed, action is Select
13:46:37.323 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x1c, sym: 0x000d, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:38.777 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x9e, sym: 0x0008, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:39.035 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: backspace (0xf008) pressed, action is Back
13:46:39.061 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x9e, sym: 0x0008, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:40.929 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x1c, sym: 0x000d, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:41.448 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Previous line repeats 1 times.
13:46:41.448 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: long-return (0x100f00d) pressed, action is ContextMenu
13:46:41.581 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x1c, sym: 0x000d, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:43.716 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x9e, sym: 0x0008, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:43.716 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: backspace (0xf008) pressed, action is Back
13:46:43.999 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Keyboard: scancode: 0x9e, sym: 0x0008, unicode: 0x0000, modifier: 0x0
13:46:47.786 T:1961762816   DEBUG: Previous line repeats 1 times.
13:46:47.787 T:1961762816   DEBUG: OnKey: backspace (0xf008) pressed, action is Back

Display More

13:46:41.448 is showing the longpress for the enter button ("ok" button named KEY_ENTER in justboom)
Notice the longpress is actually logged as long-return?
And the KEY_ENTER is recorded as return?
Could this be the problem? In my custom keyboard.xml I've been using <enter> and <enter mod="longpress">. Should it be <return> and <return mod="longpress"> instead?
And here are the error logs I could find.

Code

17:33:09.440 T:1961762816   ERROR: DBus: Error org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown - The name org.freedesktop.UPower was not provided by any .service files

Only one error entry in total.
[hr]
Success! Using <return mod="longpress"> in the custom keyboard.xml file solved the issue.
Thank you for all the help, you're a true hero.

Lee_qu · December 10, 2017 at 2:42 AM

Hi Hias,

Just joined to let you know some experiences I'm having re IR fun and games..

I'm running the latest x86 version LE on an Intel Nuc which utilises an inbuilt IR receiver, plus a HP MCE remote.

This combination has been used previously on a Windows Kodi install for a few years with no issues.

I'm getting the dreaded double press when LIRC is switched Off, however I believe it could well be a timing issue as pressing the key sharply will often not result in a double activation.

I've tried rebooting etc after disabling LIRC with no changes, however I've also experienced issues when returning from sleep on occasion wherby despite LIRC being on, I get double presses again. This is then fixed by turning LIRC.. Off!!

I'll try to nail down what sequence occurs for this to happen, if my wife doesn't kill me first. Her approval rating of the system is dropping.

LE8 IR Remote help?

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