LIRC Configuration

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 07:26

I have installed Zorin-os-16 Pro on a late 2011 Macmini and I am trying to configure the LIRC for an Apple TV Remote (second gen). I want to use the machine mainly as Kodi media centre.
here is a text dump from "lsusb" command in terminal

xpuser@Macmini-Zorin:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 006: ID 045e:07f8 Microsoft Corp. Wired Keyboard 600 (model 1576)
Bus 002 Device 005: ID 0557:8021 ATEN International Co., Ltd Hub
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 0409:005a NEC Corp. HighSpeed Hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 05ac:8242 Apple, Inc. Built-in IR Receiver
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0424:2513 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) 2.0 Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 05ac:8281 Apple, Inc. Bluetooth Host Controller
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0a5c:4500 Broadcom Corp. BCM2046B1 USB 2.0 Hub (part of BCM2046 Bluetooth)
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:2513 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) 2.0 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

I am just above beginner level with Linux and I don't quite understand how the configuration for LIRC works.

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 07:32

Have you installed the LIRC package?
If so, what is the terminal output of:

irdb-get

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 07:37

I have installed LIRC package

xpuser@Macmini-Zorin:~$ irdb-get
No command given

Usage:
irdb-get update
irdb-get find
irdb-get info
irdb-get find-driver
irdb-get download
irdb-get list [pattern]
irdb-get yaml-config
irdb-get <-h | --help | -v | --version>

The Model number for the remote is A1294
At the moment I can only control volume with the up and down arrows

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 07:40

Ok, how about

irdb-get list

Should provide a pretty long list...

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 07:43

Yes a very long list, but I think this is the one I need

T--- Apple_A1294 apple/A1294.lircd.conf

I am not sure how to install the driver ...

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 07:48

We're rock n' rolling' now.

irdb-get download apple/A1294.lircd.conf

Once you have it downloaded, move it to its new home:

sudo mv apple/A1294.lircd.conf /etc/lirc/lircd.conf.d/

Restart the LIRC service:

sudo systemctl start lircd

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:08

I have confirmed the A1294.lircd.conf file is in /etc/lirc/lircd.conf.d

Should this file be renamed as "lircd.conf"?

I ran
"sudo systemctl start lircd"

When I use the remote control I can still only control the volume

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 08:10

lircd.conf.d is the directory name and A1294.lircd.conf is the File Name.

Have you rebooted your computer?

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:24

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:24

I have rebooted the computer.

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 08:24

What the screenshots show is correct.

What is the output of

sudo ir-keytable

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:29

puser@Macmini-Zorin:~$ sudo ir-keytable
[sudo] password for xpuser:
sudo: ir-keytable: command not found
xpuser@Macmini-Zorin:~$

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 08:30

sudo apt install -y ir-keytable

Let's try the above... but I just did a bit of checking and found this:
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=210755

Does not bode well.

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:31

xpuser@Macmini-Zorin:~$ sudo ir-keytable
No devices found
xpuser@Macmini-Zorin:~$

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:34

Interesting that the remote partially works ...

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 08:38

The bug report states that user installed keymaps are not being loaded. Perhaps it is only able to direct the keypresses that are defaulted in.

I am not sure.

EDIT: Searching that bug report led me to this post that suggests a possible workaround:
https://forum.mythtv.org/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3729&start=30#p20670

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:43

I just looked at that post but I am none the wiser how I would apply the fix???

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 08:53

From your home folder, right click an open area within the folder and from the menu, select to create a new document.
Name it:
70-infrared.rules

Open the newly created document and paste this into it:

# Automatically load the proper keymaps after the Remote Controller device
# creation.  The keycode tables rules should be at /etc/rc_maps.cfg

ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="input", SUBSYSTEMS=="rc", KERNEL=="event*", ENV{.rc_sysdev}="$id", RUN+="/usr/bin/ir-keytable -a /etc/rc_maps.cfg -s $env{.rc_sysdev}"

Now, let's move it:

sudo mv 70-infrared.rules /lib/udev/rules.d/

Do you have the following directory on your computer?
/lib/udev/rc_keymaps

bill.vic.au · 27 September 2021 08:59

Done

Aravisian · 27 September 2021 09:00

Is there a file within rc_keymaps that matches the name of your remote?