MCE remote control receiver as extender for AMP

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gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#90960 4-Oct-2011 13:04

Hi
My remote does not have a clear sight of the the amp in the cabinet, hence i was wondering if its possible to extend IR signal using the MCE remote controls receiver. I noticed there are two inputs for IR eye's. I use Media Portal and instead of MCE remote control i use Harmony one. I have two different activities set for MP and SKY.

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34 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#539374 30-Oct-2011 22:02

Check out LM Remote KeyMap. It's free, can learn from other remotes, and is supposedly the most reliable solution for blasting commands from the MS IR eHome receiver.

I've just done it myself and it works OK, and pretty simple to set up.

It's downloadable here:
http://www.lmgestion.net/@en-us/4/22/60/article.asp

NOTE: In the section of the program, "Learn IR Codes", the port options for the MS IR Blaster are a little confusing:

1) 3 port options appear (port0, port1, port2) when there are only 2 blaster ports on the device. port0 doesn't seem to be physically available.

2) Option "port1" actually maps to Port 2 as labeled on the top-back of the device. Likewise, option "port2" maps to the physical port 1 on the device.

The device I'm using is Microsoft Remote Receiver 1.0A for MCPC

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kiwijunglist

2968 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#539535 31-Oct-2011 12:41

+1 lmremote

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#539563 31-Oct-2011 13:37

downloaded the non-donator version. after the installation i went to learn IR menu and added my device, got to the stage where you learn IR key by pressing the button on your original remote while its aimed at the MCE Receiver. but it doesnt pick it up (the next key is grey). i maintained the stated distance between the remote and MCE Receiver.

martyyn

1846 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#540619 3-Nov-2011 10:18

I just use the IR Server Suite from within the Mediaportal forums. Works well and you can run a 'translator' which looks for commands from the IR receiver and sends something else to either blaster.

kiwijunglist

2968 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#540802 3-Nov-2011 16:36

i found that IR server sutie wouldn't work with my HP MCE compatible IR blaster (but LM remote did)

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#540830 3-Nov-2011 18:07

Why wouldnt it learn my remote ir commands though?

martyyn

1846 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#541152 4-Nov-2011 14:04

IR server suite worked great with my MCE remote and is working well with the Harmony 525 I picked up last week too. I seem to recall the learning curve was a little steeper than it really should have been, but I got there in the end.

geekPete

34 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#541312 4-Nov-2011 20:31

@gumdigger:

Yes, the "Learn IR code" procedure is a bit confusing, because it lacks a critical instruction: You have to repeat the "press the button on the remote and then click OK on the screen" TWICE! I don't think it actually states "Now click OK and press the button again". It caught me out too, and I also thought it wasn't working, but I persevered with the "trial and error" method. :\
It doesn't say as much, and the dialog buttons aren't labelled correctly IMHO, but I guess it's so the the program can find out if the remote button is a "toggling" remote button - like a "Power ON/Off" button, where a different code is sent for on and off. Only some remotes might be like this. If yours is, be wary of whether your first code is an OFF or an ON, depending on what you are trying to program.

geekPete

34 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#541313 4-Nov-2011 20:33

The other advantage of LM Remote is that it appears to support multiple blasters, so you can add another receiver if the 2 ports from 1 device is not enough. A 2nd device will give you 4 output blasting ports.

gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#541504 5-Nov-2011 19:14

geekPete: @gumdigger:

Yes, the "Learn IR code" procedure is a bit confusing, because it lacks a critical instruction: You have to repeat the "press the button on the remote and then click OK on the screen" TWICE! I don't think it actually states "Now click OK and press the button again". It caught me out too, and I also thought it wasn't working, but I persevered with the "trial and error" method. :\
It doesn't say as much, and the dialog buttons aren't labelled correctly IMHO, but I guess it's so the the program can find out if the remote button is a "toggling" remote button - like a "Power ON/Off" button, where a different code is sent for on and off. Only some remotes might be like this. If yours is, be wary of whether your first code is an OFF or an ON, depending on what you are trying to program.

it does pickup any signal no matter how many times i try. the next button stays greyed out

geekPete

34 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#541522 5-Nov-2011 20:38

the next button stays greyed out

Yes, it does, until you repeat the remote button keypress.

From memory... you press the remote button you want to learn; something on the screen goes green (a tick or something...?); and then you have to press the remote button again; that something on the screen goes green again; and the NEXT button finally becomes active. There's no instructions for this on screen, so that's why it's a bit confusing.

gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#541595 6-Nov-2011 07:30

OK this is definitely not happening. I mite be doing something wrong.
So you start the application - go to Learn IR - add a device - add button and learn IR - then by pointing your remote towards MCE receiver you briefly hold they button? i have tried long holds but no luck.

the application also crashes "GetOverlappedResult Failed - IOCTL" as soon as i press learn sometimes

Disrespective

1886 posts

Uber Geek

#541602 6-Nov-2011 08:22

You aren't doing this in a brightly lit room with sunlight streaming in are you? I have found that IR receivers can randomly get signals from reflected surfaces. None of them cause anything to happen on the HTPC but might be causing the software to get confused. Try in the evening with the curtains closed? Then if that still doesn't work/apply a reinstall/wipe of the software would be where I would start. Maybe try an older version if you can find it.

geekPete

34 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#541892 7-Nov-2011 08:11

@gumdigger: Also try it with a couple of different remotes, to see it there is any difference.

When I did it, I didn't have to hold the remote button for long at all. Just a normal keypress length.

Also, what version of Windows are you using?

gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#541920 7-Nov-2011 09:43

The software finally picked it up. i had to take the receiver in dark and bang! it turned green then i pressed next then repeated process and OK finally.
i have added device - learnt the power on and power off button - attached the eye in port 2 - stuck the eye on my AMP front panel.
however its not blasting. i have set the blaster option to all and also tried a specific port (considering what geekpete said), also made sure MCE remote receiver is selected

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