Firefly Remote, Keboard Reference, and Wiki

[Brillig2]

I am working on updating my Firefly Remote GB-PVR profile to make it address all buttons potentially usable with GBPVR. I could not get Mute to work. I did some searches on the GB-PVR Forum and found a number of disconnected Forum threads with the same issue (I guess people still don't use Search). It appears GB-PVR has no native Mute function or shortcut since it hands off Sound handling to the configured audio application(s) (as re-iterated numerous times in the threads by Sub). There are also no Mute keyboard Shortcuts in XP for the Windows Master Volume Control, and no native Windows or DOS commands that I could find.

A Google search for a Windows mute command lead to a some bloated and overkill packages (most of them needed to be memory resident to work). The only simple solution I found was the following link to a small Command Line Tool (about 15K and easy to call from a Remote profile):

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~maverick/old_public_html/programs.html

This is a cached personal page with the authors brief description and a download for a zip containing a command line mute tool (cmdmute.exe), and a folder with the C++ source code.

This may be a usefull command if it proves safe. It is an executable file. You should understand that you download and use it at your own risk. I took the following steps myself to be reasonably safe, but make no guarantees.

Step 1: Download and Initial Setup
NOTE: Extreme Cauton should always be used when downloading and opening an executable file from an unknown source.

• Since this is an executable file I created a restore point on the download computer (I have 3 computers and used my secondary XP system).
  
  
• I downloaded the archive and scanned it with AVG anti virus. No virus was found.
  
  
• I then unzipped the archive to a separate folder in "My Documents".

Step 2: Initial Test.

• I then tested cmdmute.exe on an active audio file (I happened to have music playing from Pandora.com) at the time).
  
• I double clicked the "cmdmute icon" that had been unzipped several times. It does indeed toggle mute volume on and off (using the Windows Master Volume control).
  

Step 3: Test with GB-PVR

• I copied the cmd.exe file to c:/Windows/System32 to make it easily available to all applications.
  
  
• It could have been left in the original location and accessed through the full Windows path.
  
• I tested it with GB-PVR by opening Live TV and then bringing up a Command Prompt window.
  
  
• I then entered cmdmute.exe several times in the Command Prompt
  
  
• The results: The sound toggled on and off with no other effects (it was quick and effected only the sound with no video artifacts .
  
• NOTE: I have a Logitech Wireless Keyboard with a Mute button. It works with GB-PVR, but causes momentary screen artifacts in GB-PVR with each activation.
  

Step 4: Update GB-PVR Profile for Firefly

Something to do tomorrow or the next day.

I will Post the new FireFly Profile when it is done and tested, and update the Firefly entry in the Wiki Hardware Section (yes there is one, entered in March 2006, so apparently I also don't always search thoroughly either)

Regards

Garth

[SuicideDog]

I've updated the gbpvr.xml file that was posted here. I've changed a couple of keys to make it work better with 98.x.

I've added "channelrecall" to get the back button working with live tv (flashback).

Fixed the rewind button.

I also did a work around to get the "DVD" button working.

I mapped the DVD button to "f12" then added the following to config.xml in the GBPRV install location.

<DefaultPluginPower>DVD</DefaultPluginPower>


NOTE just rename the attachment to gbpvr.xml and drop it in your firefly profiles directory.

[SuicideDog]

I've updated the gbpvr.xml again. I was having a hard time regulating the volume between gbpvr and my other applications so I just changed it to use the master rather than the gbpvr. I know I can check the box to tell gbpvr to use the master volume but I have had mixed results with responsiveness. I also had problems getting the mute to work all the time. I just copied the volume control from the global.xml which controls the master volume.

Stephen

[brfish]

I am now having a problem with the Next and Prev buttons. I am V99.5 and the Next and Previous buttons now control the volume as do the the Vol up and down buttons.

Any ideas why this happened??

[sub]

What type of remote have you got?

[brfish]

I have the Standard Firefly...not the mini

[sub]

I can only guess your firefly remote is sending the wrong keystrokes to GB-PVR.

I've checked with the supported Hauppauge and MCE remotes and it seems to be behaving as expected.

[brfish]

I can only guess your firefly remote is sending the wrong keystrokes to GB-PVR.

I've checked with the supported Hauppauge and MCE remotes and it seems to be behaving as expected.

Well...The crazy thing is that skip works to move TV Guide 1 day at a time, but when playing videos it makes the volume go up and down?????

[sub]

It sounds like its not applying the Control key to correctly. Ctrl-RightArrow is normally skip, RightArrow by itself does volume during movie playback - since Hauppauge 34 button remote shares volume with left/right navigation keys.

[brfish]

It sounds like its not applying the Control key to correctly. Ctrl-RightArrow is normally skip, RightArrow by itself does volume during movie playback - since Hauppauge 34 button remote shares volume with left/right navigation keys.

Like I said...It Skip buttons work right in all areas except for Video Library, even when playing back recordings. Video Library is where it starts with the volume change thing. Also while playing videos, I can hit cntl right on the keyboard and it works correctly, just not with the remote. :confused: