Configuring Windows Media Center Remote control for Elisa on Ubuntu 8.04

Hardware used:

Windows Media Center Remote (usb, 2nd model)
Hewlett Packard Easynote R0933 Laptop

Software used:

Ubuntu 8.04 Website
LIRC Website
Elisa Media Center Website

Before we begin, it would be a good idea to check your remote model.
Use this documentation over here.

First, we’re going to need to install lirc to get our remote to interact with the computer over infrared.

sudo apt-get install lirc

During the setup you will be prompted with a few configuration choices.
The first choice is the remote- On the list make sure you pick “Windows Media Center Remotes ( new version Philips et al. )”.
On the second prompt pick “None”.

After the installation finishes, plug in the infrared device and start the Lirc service:

sudo /etc/init.d/lirc restart

To test weather everything works correctly , on the terminal type:

irw

then after pressing any button on the remote you should see the output , altogether with the name of the key you pressed.

Elisa Media Center can be installed from the repos:

sudo apt-get install elisa

Now let’s create a proper configuration of the remote, with all the necessary keys and feed it to Elisa.

sudo irrecord -d /dev/lirc0 elisa.lirc

Afterward move the file to the directory where the IR Remote conf files are located for lirc:

sudo cp elisa.lirc /usr/share/pyshared/elisa/plugins/lirc_plugin/data/lirc/
sudo cp elisa.lirc /home/YOUR_USERNAME/.elisa/

create a symbolic link too :

cd /usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/elisa/plugins/lirc_plugin/data/lirc
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/elisa/plugins/lirc_plugin/data/lirc/elisa.lirc ./

Now we need to instruct the elisa.conf file to take the info from the elisa.lirc
gedit /home/YOUR_USERNAME/.elisa/elisa.conf

Find the lirc_rc parameter and set it to:

lirc_rc = 'elisa.lirc'

Here’s the content of my elisa.lirc file:
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Play
config = toggle_play_pause_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Right
config = move_right_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = OK
config = activate_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Power
config = close_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Mute
config = toggle_mute_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = VolDown
config = decrement_volume_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Rewind
config = seek_backward_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Stop
config = stop_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Up
config = move_up_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = VolUp
config = increment_volume_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Down
config = move_down_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Pause
config = pause_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Enter
config = activate_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Forward
config = seek_forward_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Home
config = toggle_menu_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Red
config = toggle_fullscreen_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end
begin
remote = mceusb
prog = elisa
button = Left
config = move_left_key
repeat = 0
delay = 0
end


Restart Lirc, fire up Elisa and all is done.

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