Difference between revisions of "XBOX DVD IR Receiver"

Revision as of 09:16, 9 February 2008

The Xbox DVD IR receiver (both Microsoft original and generic) can be used as an USB IR receiver with LIRC and MythTV. LIRC support is included in the lirc_atiusb module.

Hardware Modifications

The IR Receiver obviously does not plug directly into a standard USB port without some modifications being made. Fortunately, the ports on an Xbox are only modified usb ports, so all Xbox hardware is basically USB compatible hardware.

There are several guides online that discuss how to physically modify the receiver so that it can be plugged into a standard USB port. [1] [2]

You can also buy an extension cable on ebay that plugs into the controller ports on the front of the Xbox and has a socket for the receiver to plug into on the other end. By cutting the male end of the cord off and connecting the loose wires to a cable with a male USB plug at the end, you have a nice long USB to Xbox input extension cable. For people that decide to go this route, the pictures below may be helpful since the Xbox extension cables don't seem to use standard USB colored wiring.

Fedora 8 Setup

Since I have only used this remote with Fedora, that is all that I can provide detailed help with. Other packages should use a similar procedure.

Blacklist the xpad Module

Xpad is a driver included in Linux that allows the use of Xbox gamepads. For LIRC to work correctly with the Xbox IR receiver, this driver cannot be loaded. In order to prevent this from happening, add the following line to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist:

blacklist xpad

Configure LIRC

Copy the following file to /etc/lircd.conf:

# this config file was automatically generated
# using lirc-0.8.3-CVS(default) on Fri Feb  8 09:34:50 2008
#
# brand: Microsoft Xbox DVD Receiever (also works with generic)
# remote control: Xbox remote or any remote using RCA DVD player codes

begin remote

  name  Xbox_Remote
  bits            8
  eps            30
  aeps          100

  one             0     0
  zero            0     0
  gap          163983
  toggle_bit_mask 0x0

      begin codes
          left                     0xA9
          up                       0xA6
          right                    0xA8
          down                     0xA7
          enter                    0x0B
          1                        0xCE
          2                        0xCD
          3                        0xCC
          4                        0xCB
          5                        0xCA
          6                        0xC9
          7                        0xC8
          8                        0xC7
          9                        0xC6
          0                        0xCF
          menu                     0xF7
          display                  0xD5
          rewind                   0xE2
          ffwd                     0xE3
          play                     0xEA
          pause                    0xE6
          stop                     0xE0
          skip-                    0xDD
          skip+                    0xDF
          title                    0xE5
          info                     0xC3
          back                     0xD8
      end codes

end remote

Add the following file to ~/.mythtv/lircrc:

# ~/.mythtv/lircrc
#
# MythTV native LIRC config file for
# the Xbox remote control and usb receiver.
# The Xbox remote uses RCA dvd player commands.
# Any universal remote should be able to control
# this device.

begin
prog = mythtv
button = up
repeat = 4
config = Up
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = down
repeat = 4
config = Down
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = left
repeat = 4
config = Left
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = right
repeat = 4
config = Right
end

# Select
begin
prog = mythtv
button = enter
repeat = 4
config = Space
end

# Menu
begin
prog = mythtv
button = menu
repeat = 4
config = M
end

# Info
begin
prog = mythtv
button = info
repeat = 4
config = i
end

# Play
begin
prog = mythtv
button = play
repeat = 4
config = Return
end

# Stop
begin
prog = mythtv
button = stop
repeat = 4
config = Esc
end

# Pause
begin
prog = mythtv
button = pause
repeat = 4
config = P
end

# skip forward (short)
begin
prog = mythtv
button = ffwd
repeat = 4
config = Right
end

# skip back (short)
begin
prog = mythtv
button = rewind
repeat = 4
config = Left
end

# jump forward (long)
begin
prog = mythtv
button = skip+
repeat = 4
config = down
end

# jump back (long)
begin
prog = mythtv
button = skip-
repeat = 4
config = up
end


# Numbers 0-9

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 0
repeat = 4
config = 0
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 1
repeat = 4
config = 1
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 2
repeat = 4
config = 2
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 3
repeat = 4
config = 3
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 4
repeat = 4
config = 4
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 5
repeat = 4
config = 5
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 6
repeat = 4
config = 6
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 7
repeat = 4
config = 7
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 8
repeat = 4
config = 8
end

begin
prog = mythtv
button = 9
repeat = 4
config = 9
end



# The following buttons can be configured as desired.  The configuration below repeats
# commands available from other buttons.

# Title Button
begin
prog = mythtv
button = title
repeat = 4
config = i
end

# Display Button
begin
prog = mythtv
button = display
repeat = 4
config = i
end

# Back Button
begin
prog = mythtv
button = back
repeat = 4
config = esc
end

Set LIRC to start at boot:

[root@LivingRoom ~]# /sbin/chkconfig lircd on

Load the lirc_atiusb Module

Support for the Xbox IR receiver is built into the driver for the ATI Remote Wonder USB receiver. Load this module at boot by adding the following line to /etc/rc.local:

/sbin/modprobe lirc_atiusb

Reboot

[root@LivingRoom ~]# reboot

Your remote should now work in MythTV.

Universal Remote Support

The standard codes used by the Xbox IR receiver are RCA DVD player codes. You should be able to program any universal remote to use these codes.