[mythtv-users] Controlling STB with Lirc

Erik Sejr esejr at wildroseinternet.ca
Tue May 21 03:40:31 UTC 2013


On 5/20/2013 11:07 PM, aaron wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> This might be a bit off-topic, and I might not have described properly
> in the subject, but hopefully it will make sense...
>
> I had been happily using analog cable with two PVR-250 capture cards
> since 2005 (which is when I bought the capture cards. Before that I
> was relatively happily using it with a BT8x8 card since 2002).
> Everything worked great, I just plugged the cable directly into both
> cards and away I went.
>
> Just recently, I moved into a new house, and rather than migrate my
> analog Rogers service, I decided to try the new Bell Fibe service.
> Which, of course, requires a box. While the PVR software offered with
> Fibe is leaps and bounds ahead of the pitiful offering of Bell's
> ExpressVu service, it's still pretty pathetic compared to Myth. So
> naturally I would like to capture the output on my Myth box.
>
> So I set about connecting the composite out of the Fibe box (I lost my
> SVideo cable in the move :( ) and I was able to successfully capture
> video and audio. yay!
>
> But the sticking point is trying to control the Fibe box (to change
> channels). I bought a USB-UIRT device, which seems to work (I was able
> to successfully turn the TV off with it. Baby steps. :) )
>
> I wasn't able to find any ready-made remote configuration files for
> the Fibe box that I have (...which I would have to look up later as I
> forgot to write it down. I remember it's a Motorola something-or-other).
>
> I figured I could use irrecord to learn the remote's codes and then
> point the transmitter at the box and use that config file to blast
> using irsend.
>
> After a fair bit of trial and error, I was able to get irrecord to
> learn the codes for Power, Select, and 0--9. Which I think will  be
> all I need, but I can deal with that later.
>
> Then I turned the blaster around, pointing at the Fibe box, and issued:
> $ irsend SEND_ONCE Fibe BTN_POWER
> to send the "Power" button command
>
> ...and... nothing happened. I saw the light on the blaster blink,
> indicating it did something, but the box didn't respond. I tried again
> with other codes, but none of them had any effect.
>
> Is there some other trick needed to program the transmitter codes? Is
> this box/remote using some frequency/code/language/whatever that the
> USB-UIRT isn't able to recognize? Has anyone else tried to control
> such a box? I found precious little information on trying to connect
> Fibe to a PVR system, or control the box with a blaster.
>
> Any input would be appreciated. And I'm happy to provide more details,
> just it's late right now and I'm not near the Myth box, and not sure
> which details might be helpful.
>
> aaron
>
Aaron,
This is certainly not off-topic for the users list. I don't have a Fibe
Box (I assume we're talking Bell here?) but the process is the same
regardless.

It sounds to me like you have the transmitter working OK - which is
good, we'll skip that part.

The remote definitions are usually stored in /etc/lircd.conf, if you're
using a remote to control your myth frontend on the same machine you may
have defs for both the incoming and outgoing signals. If you're just
using it for the IR blaster then you just need the defs in there to
control your Fibe box.

To get those you have a couple options:

1. Look though the Lirc remote database at
http://lirc.sourceforge.net/remotes/ and try some you think might work
based on the model and manufacturer of your box.

2. Put a large database of remotes in your lircd.conf and write a script
to go though all of them trying to toggle the power on your STB while
watching the STB. Wait until the power toggles, and presto! You'll know
at least one of the codesets supported by your STB

3. Create your own lircd.conf by using irrecord (this is a lot of work
for you and probably a last resort). This is almost certainly not
required, pretty much every codeset imaginable is out there somewhere.

Let me know if I can help further

Erik


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