Wii remote
This article describes how to install and configure a software to use the nintendo Wii remote to control MythTV.
Contents
Installing a bluetooth adapter
- Connect a linux supported bluetooth adapter (e.g. D-Link DBT-120)
- Install linux bluetooth support BlueZ
# apt-get install bluez-utils
- First check, if the bluetooth adapter is installed correctly. Entering the following command should give you a list of all adapters.
# hcitool dev Devices: hci0 01:23:45:67:89:AB
- Next scan for bluetooth devices. To activate the discover mode of the Wii remote, press buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously, then enter the following command, which should give you a list of all bluetooth devices in range.
# hcitool scan Scanning ... 99:88:77:66:55:44 Nintendo RVL-CNT-01
The Wii remote is named (as you can see) Nintendo RVL-CNT-01.
Install linux driver for Wii remote
Install Python, Python-XLib and PyBlueZ
# apt-get install python-xlib python-bluez
Now install the Wii remote driver by downloading and unpacking the newest package from this site, or use the subversion repository to get the bleeding edge version. The latest code from subversion has mouse support. The following chapters assume you installed the driver in ~mythtv/wmd
Modify configuration file
Edit the configuration file ~mythtv/wmd/wmd/Config.py Find MY_WIIMOTE_ADDR and set the address of your Wii remote which you got from the previous scan.
'MY_WIIMOTE_ADDR': "99:88:77:66:55:44",
Find commandMap and configure the buttons to suite your needs
'commandMap': { 'A': ['key', 'KEY_ENTER' ], 'B': ['key', 'KEY_ESC' ], 'H': ['quit', 1], # Home key: quits WMD '+': ['key', 'KEY_TAB' ], '-': ['key', [ 'KEY_LEFTSHIFT', 'KEY_TAB' ] ], '1': ['key', 'KEY_M' ], '2': ['key', 'KEY_I' ], 'U': ['key', 'KEY_UP' ], 'D': ['key', 'KEY_DOWN' ], 'L': ['key', 'KEY_LEFT' ], 'R': ['key', 'KEY_RIGHT' ] },
Test driver
To test the driver run ~mythtv/wmd/WMD.py. Press button 1 and 2 on your remote and wait for the driver to connect.
# ~mythtv/wmd/WMD.py Registering key KEY_ENTER for button A with code 1c Registering key KEY_ESC for button B with code 1 Registering key KEY_DOWN for button D with code 6c Registering key KEY_TAB for button + with code f Registering key ['KEY_LEFTSHIFT', 'KEY_TAB'] for button - with code 2a Registering key ['KEY_LEFTSHIFT', 'KEY_TAB'] for button - with code f Registering key KEY_LEFT for button L with code 69 Registering key KEY_M for button 1 with code 32 Registering key KEY_I for button 2 with code 17 Registering key KEY_UP for button U with code 67 Registering key KEY_RIGHT for button R with code 6a [[1074025828, 3], [1074025831, 0], [1074025831, 1], [1074025828, 2], [1074025830, 0], [1074025830, 1], [1074025828, 1], [1074025828, 0], [1074025829, 28], [1074025829, 1], [1074025829, 108], [1074025829, 15], [1074025829, 42], [1074025829, 15], [1074025829, 105], [1074025829, 50], [1074025829, 23], [1074025829, 103], [1074025829, 106]] Could not import pygame. Set DISABLE_PYGAME=1 CONNECTING Looking for Wiimote services at address 99:88:77:66:55:44 Victory! We have found that Wiimote! We are now connected to Wiimote at address 99:88:77:66:55:44 CONNECTED Event type WM_CLOCK_BEAT is being ignored [112, 0, 22, 126, 124, 129, 28, 151, 150, 154, 18, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
Now press any buttons on your remote and you should see the corresponding events
... CONNECTED Event type WM_CLOCK_BEAT is being ignored [112, 0, 22, 126, 124, 129, 28, 151, 150, 154, 18, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] Send Key DOWN: 50 Buttons down: ['1'] mSend Key UP: 50 Buttons up: ['1'] Send Key DOWN: 23 Buttons down: ['2'] iSend Key UP: 23 Buttons up: ['2'] Send Key DOWN: 15 Buttons down: ['+'] Send Key UP: 15 Buttons up: ['+']
If you see an error message complaining about a missing uinput-device you have to load the uinput kernel module first.
# modprobe uinput
Setup for MythTV use
You will want to enable the mouse pointer in Mythtv. In the settings menu, select "Appearance". On the second page enable a checkbox to enable the mouse pointer.
To use the Wii remote in mythtv we just need to start the main python script ~mythtv/wmd/WMD.py. Create a file ~mythtv/wmd/mythtv_wiimote.sh with the following content
and add it to your X startup file ~/.xinitrc
# Using the wiimote to control mythtv $HOME/wmd/mythtv_wiimote.sh & xset -dpms s off xsetroot -solid black xsetroot -bg black xsetroot -cursor $HOME/etc/X11_EmptyCursor $HOME/etc/X11_EmptyCursor /usr/bin/evilwm & mythwelcome
To use your remote just press button 1 and 2 and it should connect to your mythtv box.
Make sure that the uinput module is loaded on system startup and your mythtv user has read access to the created device /dev/input/uinput. I added the following lines to /etc/rc.local
modprobe uinput chmod a+r /dev/input/uinput
Alternatively, install MythPyWii
MythPyWii is a very new (and probably quite buggy) Wiimote interface script written by Benjie Gillam. Please give it a try, so that it can become a high quality method for controlling mythfrontend with a wii remote. You can find MythPyWii (and optionally give feedback on it) here:
http://www.benjiegillam.com/2008/09/mythpywii-a-wiimote-interface-to-mythtv-using-python/