NextPVR 3.2.9 and Remote Controls

[georgewbateman]

There does not seem to be any CURRENT information about remote controls that is relevant to NextPVR 3.2.9.

I have a FireFly remote. I have set “Handle MCE remote events” and I am able navigate all of the menus. However during playback only the “exit” keys is processed. Is there a way to configure NextPVR to use stop, play, skip, etc. during playback ? I have not found complete, coherent configuration documentation on FireFly. There are a configuration profiles for other applications but they do not seem to make much sense. Is there any truly useful information about configuring FireFly ? I would like to send commands only to NextPVR even though the Windows program focus is on another application. I sometimes use Media Player Classic and would like to use the remote to control MPC. (In know there is a conflict there) Is that possible ? If so how – again the documentation.

The driver for the remote is a generic X10 driver. Do I even need FireFly software ? Is software required above the driver level ? I have read briefly about LM Remote Keymap. The claim is that it replaces FireFly. True or False ? Has anyone used it ? Did it work ?

Alternately, would a newer remote solve the above problems ? The Wiki has images of Hauppauge and Microsoft remotes. (I could not find either the Hauppauge or Microsoft remotes in their respective websites. Are FireFly, Hauppauge and Microsoft all out of the MCE remote business ?) I have to believe that there are other remotes that will also work. Are there any recommended remotes ? Are there remotes to avoid ?

As you can tell my search has left me with more questions than answers. Thank you in advance for any clarity you can bring.

[ccihon]

I think most MCE-specific remotes should work - I have used them for xbmc but for my windows NPVR client machines, I am using a fully programmable receiver called FLIRC (http://flirc.tv) It lets you use any infrared remote you already have, or any universal remote, to issue any keypress or keyboard command you can imagine. It's truly a swiss army knife approach. Once programmed, the receiver retains its programming if moved to any machine and becomes a usb hid (keyboard) device, so it's possible to program in on one machine and use it on another...so for instance, you can use the windows programming tool to set what remote buttons issue which keypresses, then plug it into and android box etc. The flexibility and customization are great.

[johnsonx42]

wow, that FLIRC looks cool, and only $23. I've seen other things along those lines before, but they cost a lot more. I may have to order one... I've always wanted to use my old TiVo remote with NextPVR.

[ccihon]

I have two in service. They are easy to program and seem to be quite sensitive, so positioning them is less critical than some ir targets. They can be placed at the end of a usb extension for hideaway head units. The only thing missing for them as a total pc remote solution is mouse control - currently they can enable any standard keyboard key or combination, as well as media center keys. You end up with a driverless solution, and can use a remote you are most comfortable with. I'm using a logitech for my main client area so I can do input switching and audio receiver controls, and a Universal WR7 illuminated remote for my bedroom mini-client.

[jghanisco]

The problem that I've had with MCE remotes isn't the remote itself, but the major difficulties are in getting the receiver to work on any OS beyond Windows XP. I've tried a few different ones, and always spent hours trying to get it to work, and eventually broke down and purchased a USB-UIRT on ebay used for $30, and it works flawlessly with Windows 8 and my old MCE remote (which I find perfect in my hand, even better than the harmony). I set it up using HIP but IR Server Suite also worked. I think that is a similar approach to the FLIRC mentioned above.

[Danswan]

Just getting started with NextPVR and my only major gripe is getting the remote working the way I want it. I'm using the standard Microsoft MCE remote and receiver, and I noticed that by default it quit the program when I pressed 'Back' on the remote. I do want to be able to quit NextPVR via the remote but I also want to be able to navigate back from menus in the software, currently I have to quit the program and start it up every time. So I started messing around, I unchecked 'Handle MCE Remote events' and used advanced MCE Remote Mapper to configure the remote to send keypresses rather than MCE events.

I see that esc on the keyboard goes back in the menu system and indeed it does when I use the keyboard so I mapped the back button to send 'Backspace' and added the following to C:\Users\Public\NextPVR\keymappings.xml: <Key code="Backspace" command="Escape"/> No difference.

I think I'm missing something pretty basic here. In case it's relevant I have NextPVR configured as a client on my HTPC and access it via a menu I've added to Windows 7 Media Center.

[Danswan]

Anyone have any idea? Think I should have asked this in a new thread

[johnsonx42]

certain key commands in npvr are hard-coded, and can't be changed in keymappings.xml. The Escape key is one of them. Can't you map the back button to send "Escape" instead?

[mikeh49]

No help with the Firefly remote. I use the MCE remote and a Harmony remote configured to be the MCE remote. You can get MCE-equivalent remotes on ebay in several forms, HP-like, Dell-like, and MS-like. But, you need to get one that is a "real" MCE remote that uses the eHome driver and is not just a keyboard emulator. A "real" one will have a fairly large IR receiver. Like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Genuine-HP-U...3a763b6d2b

I have two of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-MCE-Re...33808f0466

Not one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IR-Wireless-Wind...2a126e277e

Take a look at this thread:

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...highlight=

Also, this info is in the wiki.

@danswan

The "Back" button ( <- ) on my MCE remote does not exit the program, it goes back to the previous screen/menu/etc. Keyboard "Backspace" seems to do nothing. You could be plowing new ground running NPVR within MCE. All bets might be off.

[Reddwarf]

wow, that FLIRC looks cool, and only $23. I've seen other things along those lines before, but they cost a lot more. I may have to order one... I've always wanted to use my old TiVo remote with NextPVR.

You can do exactly that with an USBUIRT and HIP. That also gives you the option of up to 3 separate blasters in case you need to control STB's. With HIP I can use any infrared remote control, just need to find one with enough buttons :p