EG does not log any events from Remote

[CaptainCanuck]

EDIT: edited title for clarity

Hello all,

I'm not sure if my stupidity is because of the back meds I am on, or that I am just plain stupid! In any case I need some HELP please!

I am using:
-- EventGhost v0.3.7.r1194
-- Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit SP2
-- I have disabled UAC
-- I run EG as administrator in an administartor account

Problem:
-- no 'events' being logged in the 'log' window of the main window of EG when I press any button on the MCE remote so I cannot map anything to get the remote to work in XBMC

I have read, and read, and read, and searched, and searched and searched for days and cannot for the life of me figure out what I am missing... no matter what I do I cannot get the remote to show any 'events' in the log window no matter what buttons I press.

Remote works perfectly in Media Center and in MyMovies.

The cases/remotes I am using are the OrigenAE X11 and S16V. The remotes look to be MCE remotes(v1 & v2 rebranded Philips). IR Trans is setup and functioning as the cases/remotes require in the OrigenAE documentation.

Thanks for any and all help, figured an upside to being laid-up with a bad back would be the ability to figure out EG and XBMC... seems it is beyond my mental capabilities right now... siiiiigh

Thanks much!

CaptainCanuck

[jonib]

Have you added the correct plugin for your remote receiver?

And is the Log only assigned and activated events in the bottom of the window unchecked?

jonib

[CaptainCanuck]

Have you added the correct plugin for your remote receiver?

And is the Log only assigned and activated events in the bottom of the window unchecked?

jonib

Hello,

Thanks for the reply!

I am assuming that the correct plugin for my receiver is the MCE Remote plugin that I installed, the receiver(VFD/IR) comes bundled with the OrigeanAE cases (x11 s16v) and the 'rebranded' MCE Remotes. Haven't found anything that says it would be different... guessing on my part...

I have the following items in the left window of the main window(log window):
--Welcome to EventGhost
--Plugin: XBMC
--Plugin: Microsoft MCE Remote
--Plugin: Task Create/Switch Events
--Autostart
--Enable Exclusive: Keyboard Emulation

Yes, the Log only assigned and activated events in the bottom of the window is unchecked.

Thanks much for any and all help, Cheers!

CaptainCanuck

[jonib]

I am assuming that the correct plugin for my receiver is the MCE Remote plugin that I installed, the receiver(VFD/IR) comes bundled with the OrigeanAE cases (x11 s16v) and the 'rebranded' MCE Remotes.

I don't know much about MCE remotes or the receivers, but the Generic HID plugin could possible work, worth a try.

Hopefully some more knowledgeable jumps in.

jonib

[CaptainCanuck]

I don't know much about MCE remotes or the receivers, but the Generic HID plugin could possible work, worth a try.

Hopefully some more knowledgeable jumps in.

jonib

Hi jonib,

Thanks for the reply!

I've tried the Generic HID plugin and it works the same as the MCE plugin for me, as far as I can tell anyways. Still nothing logged in the log window of EG... ???

I can get some numbers to work if I press everything multiple times out of shear-frustration!? Does that help figure anything out??

Cheers!

CaptainCanuck

Edit: Edited for formatting. Can't type on meds! The legal stuff!!

Edit2: Willing to add a screen capture of EG, but cannot attach .pdf or .docx files to see if anyone notices an obvious screwup?

[jitterjames]

if you are using vista you need to use the new mce plugin and service for vista/win7

get it and learn about it here:

http://www.eventghost.org/forum/viewtop ... =mce+vista

[CaptainCanuck]

if you are using vista you need to use the new mce plugin and service for vista/win7
get it and learn about it here:
http://www.eventghost.org/forum/viewtop ... =mce+vista

Hi jitterjames,

Thanks for the reply!

I had gone through that thread and installed the service without anything working better/different than the regular MCE plugin and/or the HID plugin.

No offense intended, but are you sure that is the 'fix' for me? If so it seems I should then be working in that thread to find the solution... but I don't want to go into that thread if we aren't sure that is my problem. Thanks again, just wanting to clarify before accidentally sending anyone on a wild goose chase for me!

Thanks much!

CaptainCanuck

[jitterjames]

well, if you are using vista and you are sure you have an mce compatible receiver then , yes, I'm pretty sure you should be using that plugin. You should follow that thread to the best of your ability. If that still doesn't work, then maybe you should post to that thread so the developper who made the plugin will be more likely to see it and be able to help you. I don't understand the inner workings of it myself.

first though, be sure to install the latest version of eventghost, then install the service (using the button on the plugin) then restart. It wouldn't hurt to skim the thread though... I know it's long but maybe you'll see something that clicks.

once you're fairly certain you've followed the correct procedure, be sure to post your logged errors to that thread as well, since it will probably mean something to stottle.

[stottle]

I'm NOT sure you should be using the (my) new MCE plugin. I'm not sure you shouldn't, either.

I can't tell from your post, but I think some of the OriginAE case come with an internal IR receiver. My plugin only works with USB connected receivers. It doesn't really matter what the remote looks like, what matters is the IR receiver.

As a general gripe (not directed at the OP):
I know we get a bunch of questions on this forum. "I've got remote X, what plugin should I use?" I don't really know how to answer that, I can only tell about the remotes I personally can test. Any suggestions for this?

To the OP:
If you've looked at the other thread, can you open the registry and see if you have any keys at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes?

If you have an MCE receiver, there should be keys like "745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da".

Brett

[CaptainCanuck]

well, if you are using vista and you are sure you have an mce compatible receiver then , yes, I'm pretty sure you should be using that plugin. You should follow that thread to the best of your ability. If that still doesn't work, then maybe you should post to that thread so the developper who made the plugin will be more likely to see it and be able to help you. I don't understand the inner workings of it myself.
first though, be sure to install the latest version of eventghost, then install the service (using the button on the plugin) then restart. It wouldn't hurt to skim the thread though... I know it's long but maybe you'll see something that clicks.

once you're fairly certain you've followed the correct procedure, be sure to post your logged errors to that thread as well, since it will probably mean something to stottle.

Hi jitterjames,
Thanks again, your help(and everyone else) has been VERY much appreciated!
I have been reviewing that thread over and over again for a week or two, tried everything and anything listed, all to no avail. Figured it didn't apply to me... but then everything I read hasn't seemed to apply to me since nothing I did worked! Oh well, that's always my luck it seems!
Will keep at it to be sure, but I posted after reading anything and everything on the board, I have to get the WAF by getting the remote to work... unfortunately she is blind as a bat from the sofa so she can't see the screen enough to use the keyboard like me!
Cheers!
CaptainCanuck

[CaptainCanuck]

Hi stottle,

Thanks for chiming in, hadn't woken up from my 'drug-induced coma' to look back at the thread again till now! Gotta love back meds! Great way to lose days!

I'm NOT sure you should be using the (my) new MCE plugin. I'm not sure you shouldn't, either.

Well that makes two of us!!

I can't tell from your post, but I think some of the OriginAE case come with an internal IR receiver. My plugin only works with USB connected receivers. It doesn't really matter what the remote looks like, what matters is the IR receiver.

You are correct, the OrigenAE cases do come with the Internal IR Receiver, and yes... I am using these cases with the internal IR Receivers supplied by OrigenAE.

As a general gripe (not directed at the OP):
I know we get a bunch of questions on this forum. "I've got remote X, what plugin should I use?" I don't really know how to answer that, I can only tell about the remotes I personally can test. Any suggestions for this?

My 2-cents (only 1.88CAD at the time of writing though):
I do understand that you, and everyone else that writes plugins/et al, can only "tell what they can test"... if only the companies would wake up and supply all you guys with everything for FREE to test and solve the problems before we all have them!
I know after I figure out this problem, and any others I encounter, I will happily rewrite/edit some of the stickies/faq's/etc at XBMC and/or here (anywhere I can contribute I do) to correct some of the missing/incorrect info/steps.
The one thing I noticed going through all the posts/threads was a lot of total newb's (I'm just an old newb!) getting totally lost because a real simple step was not entered into an FAQ/How-To since it was too obvious for the original author(s) to even realise it was left out. An oversight that gets you guys a million and one questions.

To the OP:
If you've looked at the other thread, can you open the registry and see if you have any keys at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes?

If you have an MCE receiver, there should be keys like "745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da".

I do have the keys:
745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57db
745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57dc
745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57dd
745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57de
at the above mentioned location. *praying this makes some progress*

Thanks again for your help!! Cheers!

CaptainCanuck

[stottle]

It looks like the OriginAE S16V uses an internal USB port with the "IR221", and is supposed to look like an MCE remote. There was a post about it successfully working with Intelliremote, potentially using the old MCE driver (not sure). I don't know about the X11.

Can you try the steps listed in this post, and report back with the results? It is kind of a step-by-step that helps me understand where the problem is.

Thanks,
Brett

[stottle]

I may have spoke too soon.

In one post, Melloware (author of Intelliremote) says he can't get the s/w to work with IRTrans (post from Jan 2009):
http://forum.melloware.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6757
In another post, an OriginAE owner got the receiver to work (from Oct 2009):
http://forum.melloware.com/viewtopic.ph ... 221#p15198

That implies there may be other software needed. I'd still like to know how the tests do, but I'm less optimistic about the receiver working without more info.

Brett

[Melloware]

Here are the IRTrans API's included when you buy an IRTRans. THere is a C example, .NET Example, and ActiveX example. I hope this helps!

[CaptainCanuck]

It looks like the OriginAE S16V uses an internal USB port with the "IR221", and is supposed to look like an MCE remote. There was a post about it successfully working with Intelliremote, potentially using the old MCE driver (not sure). I don't know about the X11.

Can you try the steps listed in this post, and report back with the results? It is kind of a step-by-step that helps me understand where the problem is.

Thanks,
Brett

Hi Brett,

I again tried using the steps below and did not get the remote to work. Below please find the steps I followed and the subsequent 'event':
1.) Make sure the old plugin (MceRemote) isn't installed in EG. If it is, delete it from EG's AutoStart section.
Was not installed.
2.) Double click the MceRemote_Vista plugin in EG to open the config and hit the "uninstall" button. This will uninstall the service and add back the registry keys.
3.) Reboot
4.) Without starting EG: Test to make sure the Remote and keyboard work FROM THE OS. Open Notepad and make sure typing from the keyboard is input to Notepad. Number keys on the remote should also show up in the document, the "Ok" button should work like enter, and the up/down/left/right keys should work like the keyboard arrow keys to move around. PASS - Both work from the OS.
5.) Start EG: Run the same tests as above, they should work the same as in step 4.

Upon starting EG the log window said:
-->Autostart
-Plugin: Task Create/Switch Events
-Enable exclusive: Keyboard Emulation
-Plugin: Microsoft MCE Remote - Vista/Win7
-Plugin: XBMC
- MCE_Vista: MceIr pipe is not available. app doesn't seem to be running
- Will continue to try to connect to MceIr
- Message = The system cannot find the file specified.
- {blank line}

6.) Open the MceRemote_Vista config dialog and hit the "install" button.

After clicking the "Install" button, the EG log window said:
-MCE_Vista: Connected to MceIr pipe, started handling IR events
-Service Successfully installed

7.) Reboot
8.)Without starting EG: Repeat the Notepad tests. The keyboard should work fine. There should be no response to the remote in Notepad.

FAIL - The remote DOES RESPOND within NotePad.

9.) Start EG. Don't use the remote at first. You said the service didn't throw until a remote signal was received. Run the "MceRemote_Vista->Get MCE IR device capability" action and post back what that says in the log.

When I run the "MceRemote_Vista->Get MCE IR device capability" action, the EG log window shows:
-IR Receiver is unplugged
-system.idle

Note:((The receiver/remote work with IRtrans and within Windows))

10.) Try the remote, see if it cause an exception or not.
No exceptions thrown in the log(?).

I hope this helps!

Thanks again for all the help and info!!

CaptainCanuck

Edit: Grammar