[mythtv-users] Finding a suitable device for a Harmony remote

[Craig Treleaven]

At 4:25 PM +0000 3/3/12, Mike Perkins wrote:
>I have a Harmony 600 remote, and it is mostly programmed enough right that we
>can all use it to watch TV, Myth, and our other devices.
>
>However, it isn't perfect, and I'd like to find out what devices the group use
>to get the best fit to operate with Mythtv.
>
>My particular problem is that the pseudo-device I have chosen doesn't have all
>the keys we now use in Mythtv. In particular, there doesn't seem to be a keycode
>I can bind to the 'Menu' button. I have one for 'Info' and there's another I
>came across which binds to 'O' but nothing for 'M'. This means I have to keep a
>wireless keyboard around to get to the menu screens.
>
>When I set this up originally I /think/ I chose the device 'Mythtv 0.21'. I have
>tried others with varying success. I can't seem to find a way to let me tell it
>what codes I want out of the remote, the software is not as flexible as I'd like
>it, although it probably is fine for the average user.
>
>I looked for a MCE Remote, or variations on that theme, none seem available. I
>don't know any names of retail hardware I can pretend to be. I can't use the
>remote which came with the (cheap MCE) IR receiver I use to program the Harmony,
>as that doesn't have a menu key either.
>
>I don't have an infra-red keyboard either, so I can't get my remote to learn the
>codes I want from that.
>
>The problem, it seems to me, is that the 'Logitech Way' is to use the original
>remote which comes with any gadget to program their universal remotes. However,
>this falls down when something like Mythtv is the device in question.
>
>So, how do other people get round this problem?
>

Hi Mike:

I'm presumimg that your 600 is similar to my 880.  Lirc can accept IR from all sorts of remotes and then present them as key presses to Myth.  Logitech remotes can emulate all sorts of remotes.  We just need to choose and arbitrary remote that Logitech and Lirc can agree on!

I told the Harmony config software that I have an older model Panasonic DVD (VEQ2249) since there was a complete-looking config file on lirc.org and the buttons available seemed to match well with Myth functions (ie "Menu", "Info", etc).  Put the lirc.conf file in the right place (likely /etc) and configure the Harmony to send those codes.  I *don't* have that DVD player--it is just a convenient set of codes that won't conflict with the devices I do have.

Finally, you need a lircrc config file to map button presses to Myth commands.  See:

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/LIRC

Hope this helps,

Craig