USBUIRT and Phillips MCE Remote

[mikejaner]

Does anybody have the USBUIRT and MCE Remote working with sage. I have found that both Girder and Sage see two commands come from certain buttons like Left or Right when learning the remote. For example, if I tell Sage, with Girder not running, to learn the command for Left, then press the left key on my MCE remote, it gets a code. If I tell Sage to learn the command again, and press the same key on the remote, it gets a second code. If I go to program the right key in that same sequence, I get the same two codes.
So basically what happens is when I hit up I get up. If I hit up a second time I get down. I get this every time.
Does anybody else have this fixed with the Phillips remote? Basically it's sending two commands out for each button at alternating presses.

Mike

[Opus4]

It is using one of the IR protocols that uses a toggle bit to distinguish between repeated presses of the same button. As you've seen, you have to learn both states.

Edit: You do mean that the 2 codes for each button are distinct from the 2 codes for every other button, don't you? Each button should be sending 2 distinct codes, unless the MCE remote is doing something strange.

- Andy

[mikejaner]

Yeah, the MCE remote is doing something strange, because it is sending the same two codes for both left and right button presses. I know this cause I just finished testing it with my silver Hauppauge remote, and I can see that it has two distinct codes for each button, unlike the MCE. I thought I was going crazy for a while there. Unless somebody has a fix, I guess I have to give up the MCE remote. Thanks for the info though Andy

[oshapir]

Why are you trying to use the USB-UIRT as a reciver? just use the reciver you got with your MCE remote. (works in XP SP1).

I'm using the OEM (philips) MCE remote & girder to control SageTV - I managed to program all of the buttons, exept the power/stand by button which works as stand by button.
Also, there is no need to program the numbers & right/left/up/down/ok & enter keys - they just work fine.

You can also use KeyTweak to assign another key to the Green Window start button (like f2 etc) and then use girder. In my system it returns me to the main SageTV screen - very usefull!

BTW, this MCE remote is very comfortable to use in the dark, very responsive and is my wife's prefered remote...

[SilverBullet]

Originally posted by oshapir
Why are you trying to use the USB-UIRT as a reciver? just use the reciver you got with your MCE remote. (works in XP SP1).

In my case, I'm trying to use this remote with USB-UIRT because I need the ability to send IR Codes as well to control my satellite box. As far as I know, this can't be done with the MCE Receiver.

[mikejaner]

Why are you trying to use the USB-UIRT as a reciver? just use the reciver you got with your MCE remote. (works in XP SP1).

I'm using the OEM (philips) MCE remote & girder to control SageTV - I managed to program all of the buttons, exept the power/stand by button which works as stand by button.
Also, there is no need to program the numbers & right/left/up/down/ok & enter keys - they just work fine.

You can also use KeyTweak to assign another key to the Green Window start button (like f2 etc) and then use girder. In my system it returns me to the main SageTV screen - very usefull!

BTW, this MCE remote is very comfortable to use in the dark, very responsive and is my wife's prefered remote...

Been there, done that, Using SharpKeys and Girder. I am now looking into switching to Satellite and using it to control my boxes. You can't do that with the MCE dongle. Plus SP2 breaks the green button on XP.

Mike

[salsbst]

Mike, I have all the buttons (and both codes for those buttons that have two)programmed in my Girder GML, in case you decide to go with Girder.

http://stusals.com/scs-girder-gml.zip

[salsbst]

... and I don't suffer any of the issues that you mentioned where up sometimes acts like down. Perhaps using the codes from my GML will get you over that hump.

[Opus4]

That's with the USB-UIRT receiver, right?

I just thoguht of something else -- are the batteries fresh? Perhaps a weak battery is causing a weak signal that isn't getting learned correctly? Who knows... I'm just guessing.

- Andy

[salsbst]

That's with the USB-UIRT receiver, right?

If you're asking me (are you asking me?), then yes.

MCE Remote -> USB-UIRT -> Girder -> Windows Messages -> SageTV

[mikejaner]

Thanks salsbst, I will try it tonight
I know it's not batteries, because I unplugged the MCE reciever just minutes before. Maybe I am wrong

I did get my silver Hauppauge prgrammed in last night as a fall back, and it had two codes for each button, so maybey I can get it working now that I am familiar.

Mike

[SilverBullet]

Originally posted by salsbst
Mike, I have all the buttons (and both codes for those buttons that have two)programmed in my Girder GML, in case you decide to go with Girder.

http://stusals.com/scs-girder-gml.zip

salsbst:

I just downloaded your file and am trying to use it. I can't get it to work. I'm new to Girder, and from what I understand, you have your Philips MCE Remote buttons learned (I press a button and the focus in Girder goes to the appropriate button). In "Variable Manipulation Script, each button is doing a "TriggerEvent("rrButtonName", 18);"

What/where is the setting that picks up this event trigger and do something with it?

Again, I'm new to girder, so sorry if it sounds dumb!

[Droid]

I too am in this boat and I dont want to use Girder... Are you telling me I cannot use my MCE remote with the USBUIRT and sagetv? Is this a lack of functionality in the USBURIT or sage?

[salsbst]

Are you telling me I cannot use my MCE remote with the USBUIRT and sagetv? Is this a lack of functionality in the USBURIT or sage?

I am not telling you that, and it may be false. I just happened to *want* to use Girder -- plus the USB-UIRT plugin for SageTV did not exist when I was setting this up.

[salsbst]

Originally Posted by SilverBullet

salsbst:

I just downloaded your file and am trying to use it. I can't get it to work. I'm new to Girder, and from what I understand, you have your Philips MCE Remote buttons learned (I press a button and the focus in Girder goes to the appropriate button). In "Variable Manipulation Script, each button is doing a "TriggerEvent("rrButtonName", 18);"

What/where is the setting that picks up this event trigger and do something with it?

Again, I'm new to girder, so sorry if it sounds dumb!

Sorry that I didn't return to this thread...

If you were only interested in the learned MCE remote keys, then you have gone too deep. If you wanted to reuse all of my GML, then you're going to need a few Girder plugins. These are they:

Lua-Socket Library
SendMessage
TaskCreate
TaskSwitch
USB-UIRT
WinLUAEx
XP OSD

Another thing... my GML disables sections of itself based on which application is active. So, if you're not seeing things happening, it may be because the a section of the GML is deactivated.

IIRC, the way the rrButton works is that I have events set up for each application. If the application is found to be active, then its section of event handlers gets enabled. So, you'll find a section in the GML dedicated to controlling SageTV, and in there you should find commands that carry out Sage-y things based on rrButtonName events.

Once you understand my GML, then it will be fair to say that you're no longer new to Girder

separate topic: I received the following via PM. In the intersest of knowledge sharing, I'm going to respond in this thread:

Does that mean I can use the USB-UIRT and the MCE remote without Girder? I would really like to simply use Sage (I have an MX-500) and the simple MCE remote without another layer (Girder) since this is a dedicated sage box.

Answer: Sorry, I don't know.

FYI, Opus4 -- this is an example of a thread that I mysteriously didn't become subscribed to under the old forum.