Note

This HOWTO (at least the installation part) does not apply on a more recent Ubuntu version (Gutsy 7.10 and newer). You can just execute 'aptitude install lirc' from a terminal to install it.

Contents

Contents
Prepare the kernel source
Install Lirc
Get configuration files from the lirc ubuntu package
Configuration
Test
Map buttons

LIRC is a package that allows you to decode and send infra-red signals of many (but not all) commonly used remote controls.

Warning ! due to some bug into lirc-modules-source, lirc-0.7.3pre1 won't compile on dapper. more informations at https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/lirc/+bug/5343

Prepare the kernel source

install the kernel source package:

   sudo apt-get install linux-source-2.6.12

install setserial (this is needed to free the port)
- ```
   sudo apt-get install setserial
```

run the following command to setup the kernel for compiling the modules:

   cd /usr/src
   tar xjvf linux-source-2.6.12.tar.bz2
   ln -s linux-source-2.6.12 linux
   cd linux
   cp /boot/config-2.6.12-9-386 .config
   
   make oldconfig
   make include/linux/version.h
   
   #this line is only need to create the file "/usr/src/linux/include/asm/param.h" that is needed
   # by the installation (and perhaps some more files). You don't have to compile all of the modules, just 
   # hit Ctrl+C after a minute or so.
   make modules

Install Lirc

download the lirc source:

   wget http://lirc.sourceforge.net/software/snapshots/lirc-0.7.3pre1.tar.bz2

install:

   cd /usr/src
   tar xjvf ~/downloads/lirc-*.tar.bz2
   cd lirc-0.7.3pre1
   ./setup.sh

configuration (inside setup.sh):
- This is the configuration for a simple DCD serial reciever:
- 1. Driver Configuration:
  - 1. Home-brew (16x50 UART compatible serial port)
  - 1. COM1 (0x3f8, 4)
  - Driver specific options:
    - 1. With transmitter diode = YES
    - 2. Software generated carrier = YES
    - 3. Igor Cesko's variation = NO
- 2. Software configuration:
  - 1. Compile tools for X-Windows = YES
- 3. Save configuration & run configure
run make and make install
- ```
   make
   make install
```
free the serial port: (if your reciever is a serial device)
- ```
   setserial /dev/ttyS0 uart none
```

Get configuration files from the lirc ubuntu package

download the lirc package:
- ```
   sudo apt-get -d install lirc
```

extract the package and copy the files to the correct places:

   cd /tmp
   dpkg -x /var/cache/apt/archives/lirc_0.7.0.1-1ubuntu3_i386.deb lircdeb
   cd lircdeb/etc
   sudo cp -R * /etc

create symlinks for lircd and lircmd:

   cd /usr/sbin
   sudo ln -s ../local/sbin/lirc* .

create a symlink for lircd.conf:

   cd /etc
   sudo ln -s lirc/lircd.conf .

Configuration

put the remote control configuration file in /etc/lirc/lircd.conf
edit "lirc/hardware.conf" and set these variables: (change "MODULES" to fit the module for your device)
- ```
   DRIVER="default"
   DEVICE=""
   MODULES="lirc_dev lirc_serial"
```
to make lirc run on startup:
- ```
   sudo update-rc.d lirc defaults
```
to make irexec run on startup (irexec handles the button mapping):
- goto System\Preferences\Sessions\Startup_Programs
- add "irexec" to the list

Test

to see if it's working run:

irw

and try pressing buttons in your remote control, you should see something like this:

   000000000000c230 00 > jvc-lp20337-004-vcr
   000000000000c230 00 > jvc-lp20337-004-vcr
   000000000000c230 01 > jvc-lp20337-004-vcr
   000000000000c230 02 > jvc-lp20337-004-vcr

Map buttons

create a file called ~/.lircrc (this file configures what every key does),

here is a sample ~/.lircrc file to control mplayer, beep-media-player and volume:

   #Mplayer buttons
   begin
        button = VOL+
        prog = mplayer
        config = volume 1
        repeat = 1
   end
   begin
        button = VOL-
        prog = mplayer
        config = volume -1
        repeat = 1
   end
   begin
        button = ||
        prog = mplayer
        config = pause
   end
   begin
        button = Prog+
        prog = mplayer
        config = pt_step 1
   end
   begin
        button = Prog-
        prog = mplayer
        config = pt_step -1
   end
   begin
        button = MENU
        prog = mplayer
        config = vo_fullscreen
   end
   begin
        button = 1
        prog = mplayer
        config = seek -10
   end
   begin
        button = 4
        prog = mplayer
        config = seek -60
   end
   begin
        button = 3
        prog = mplayer
        config = seek 10
   end
   begin
        button = 6
        prog = mplayer
        config = seek 60
   end
   begin
        button = 7
        prog = mplayer
        config = audio_delay +0.1
   end
   begin
        button = 9
        prog = mplayer
        config = audio_delay -0.1
   end
   
   #Beep-Media-Player Control
   begin
       button = >
       prog = irexec
       config = beep-media-player --play-pause
       repeat = 0
   end
   
   begin
       button = >>
       prog = irexec
       config = beep-media-player --fwd
   end
   
   begin
       button = <<
       prog = irexec
       config = beep-media-player --rew
   end
   
   begin
       button = #
       prog = irexec
       config = beep-media-player --stop
   end
   
   #Volume
   begin
       button = Start+
       prog = irexec
       config = aumix -v+5
       repeat = 0
   end
   
   begin
       button = Start-
       prog = irexec
       config = aumix -v-5
       repeat = 0
   end

for more information about .lircrc see http://www.lirc.org/html/configure.html

CategoryHardware