Linux and remote

[oliv]

Hi there,

I use ubuntu 8.04.

Is there a way to use a remote controller for boxee, like on the mac?
If so, which one would you recommend?

Oli

[Brian]

I would also like to know what is the recommended remote control for Linux. I have a Firefly RF remote from my old BeyondTV system. I love the remote.

A list would be great; I don't mind purchasing a supported remote :)

[tsella]

we support anything that is supported under lirc (http://www.lirc.org) and also linux input (so if you have a special keyboard or trackball, you can map those as well).

according to http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Snapstream_firefly_mini, it maps as /dev/input/by-id/usb-HOLTEK_USB_Keyboard-*

so you can add entries for
/dev/input/by-id/usb-HOLTEK_USB_Keyboard-event-kbd
/dev/input/by-id/usb-HOLTEK_USB_Keyboard-event-mouse
/dev/input/by-id/usb-HOLTEK_USB_Keyboard-mouse

in ~/.boxee/userdata/Lircmap.xml

if you make it work, please send me your xml for inclusion in boxee.

[skywise]

bluetooth remotes under boxee?
a ps3 bluetooth remote caught my eye the other day and thought it would be cool to use that with boxee, no need to have line of sight to the media box (which i'm hoping to put in the basement and component up to the tv in the living room)

sky

[tsella]

@skywise - it may work - i suggest you look up how ps3 remotes work under mac/linux in general. are they identified? do they pass event codes?

if yes, then you can map it under boxee and use it.

[kenadak]

bluetooth remotes under boxee?
a ps3 bluetooth remote caught my eye the other day and thought it would be cool to use that with boxee, no need to have line of sight to the media box (which i'm hoping to put in the basement and component up to the tv in the living room)

sky
I use the PS3 remote on a windows box and XBMC, and it works fine... I use a tool that maps the commands to keyboard keys in Windows, I was able to pair it with linux I just need to get the event codes and how it handles them now... *I know the XBMC forums talk about it working in linux(hence why I bought it in the first place.) and their are lirc config files floating around somewhere.

[malmeida]

bluetooth remotes under boxee?
a ps3 bluetooth remote caught my eye the other day and thought it would be cool to use that with boxee, no need to have line of sight to the media box (which i'm hoping to put in the basement and component up to the tv in the living room)

sky

It does, I have it working in my computer.

[rmclaren]

malmeida

Care to share your set up for the PS3 Bluetooth remote. I installed Blueman (recommended on XBMC forum) but cannot get all the way through the initial connection procedure. Would appreciate a few pointers.

[malmeida]

Sure,

I followed the instructions in
http://antst.blogspot.com/2008/02/linux-driver-for-sony-bd-remote.html

I have also posted on http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=874284 a how-to on this subject. I don't know how up-to-date it is, as I've read that there might have been some changes in Ubuntu 9.04 regarding the way the remote communicates with Linux (as per antst's blog entry's last comment(s)).

[shawnx]

The snapstream Firefly (http://www.snapstream.com/Products/Firefly/) works great in Linux.

[emotional_friend]

I might be stating the obvious, but you can use a web-capable cellphone (iPhone, etc.) or a laptop to control it through the http interface. Here's the package to install:

Boxee Web Remote (http://code.google.com/p/boxee-web-remote/)

I know it's a lot more comfortable / convenient to use a hardware remote. This solution works with stuff you might have on-hand.

Emotional Friend

[rmclaren]

malmeida

Thank you for the link. However, completely serendipitously, I found the following: http://popey.com/blog/, which appears to be up to date, referencing Blueman.

I had actually completed several of the steps already, but without ultimate success. This time, I completed all the steps and got the PS3 Bluetooth remote working.

The problem I had had was not being able to get to the second configuration screen, the one that allows you to select "Input Service". Prior attempts had only reached the first screen, with a false success after selecting "Not Pairing". I think it may be extremely important exactly which buttons on the remote are pressed when Blueman is discovering the device (Enter and Start). In any case, this time, I got to the second screen and was able to select "Input Service". The remainder of the steps worked as advertised.

I am sure that there are further tweaks I can make, but most/all the important buttons work and the configuration survives a reboot. All in all, a pretty serviceable remote for under $20. And it doesn't require line of sight; the Boxee box can be in another room as long as it is connected to the TV with the HDMI cable.

[branx86]

You only need lirc and lirc-x
http://www.lirc.org/receivers.html To build a IR receiver

1. If your using Ubuntu or Debian you can just type apt-get install lirc in a terminal window.

* Once installed Type service lirc stop to stop the service
* Then service lirc start to start the service ask me why we have to do this I’ll never know but has to be done.

2. Then record some buttons from the remote by typing irrecord –d /dev/lirc0 boxeeir or whatever name you want your remote to be.

* Once done recording the remote stop the service with service lirc stop

3. Now check to see if you are getting the correct remote commands. Start the lirc server By typing this in a terminal windows. lircd –d /dev/lirc0 /etc/boxeeir

4. Now at the promt type irw

* Press the buttons on your remote you just learned and see if they match. Press ctrl+c to quit irw.

5. If irw gave the right output, stop lirc with killall lircd

6. In the terminal window at the /etc/ prompt type cat boxeeir > lircd.conf

7. Now start the lirc server type /etc/init.d/lircd start

8. Now edit the Lircmap.xml the file is located in /opt/boxee/system

* In the Lircmap.xml change the <remote device="boxeeir">
* Match Lircmap.xml with lircd.conf buttons

9. Start Boxee and check remote.

[rveguilla]

I was able to configure the PS3 BD Remote for Boxee/XBMC (on Fedora) by just using blueman and gnome-lirc-properties.

I followed the instructions from this XBMC forum post (http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50717), but instead of configuring LIRC by hand, I used gnome-lirc-properties.

Now I just need to figure how to customize the keymapping for Boxee.