EventGhost

I have created a new plugin for HDMI-CEC using the Rainshadow Tech USB to HDMI-CEC bridge/converter.

You can view the product page here http://shop.rcaware.com/RCAware-PC-CEC- ... C-BNDL.htm.

And see a rough demo video here http://www.rcaware.com/MediaDocs.php#demo. There is also a link on the same page to view the install and users guide which will give you a good look at the plugin's options etc.

Can we use the HDMI ports of our graphics cards to send CEC signals too?

No. The HA edition Rainshadow Tech hardware is required.

LOL. I would give it a five of course but I am the author. I have a couple of people doing the beta program right now, I will ask them to login and give a rating once they are done the beta. Thanks for your interest.

Beta users please post your stuff here please. I have added a few support threads which previously were through email, for the benefit of others later. Thanks!


You can view the product page here http://shop.rcaware.com/RCAware-PC-CEC- ... C-BNDL.htm.

And see a rough demo video here http://www.rcaware.com/MediaDocs.php#demo. There is also a link on the same page to view the install and users guide which will give you a good look at the plugin's options etc.

I have changed the "Wakup Device" command so that if you specify TV, it will try sending the "Image View On" command. As it turns out this is how my LG TV needs to be awoken as well. I'll include it in the next release. Thanks for your help.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Issues
From: <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, August 12, 2011 3:17 am

I also have a gyration on my media center in the family room. Hard to beat that air mouse. Actually I want you to simply try setting the plugin to Remote: Enhanced (instead of events only) and Mouse: On to see if the TV remote can be used to control the computer (and media center) instead of just your gyration.

Setting up the XBox as an emulated device should do two things. 1) Of course you will now see XBox listed in the actions of the EG plugin and like you said you could map a button from the gyration to trigger a macro to do the switching and 2) PC-CEC will communicate to the TV that there is a device hooked up to the physical address you specify, so hopefully your TV CEC menus will actually show the XBox, either by name or depending on how you CEC device menu / Source list works some symbolic name. I'm guessing that previously you would have to send some IR signals to the amp to switch. Just another option, might not be worth the trouble for you situation.

PS - Since you said XBox is port 3 of the amp, you should probably setup the emulated device as 2.3.0.0.

PPS - Since your gyration can do RF and IR (mine could at least) you could program or learn your TV remote keys into one of the IR maps of the gyration (tv, cable, aux, etc) and in effect give yourself some extra buttons that will be sent to EG via the PC-CEC plugin when you have it set to Remote: Events Only. But please still try the TV remote test I mentioned above for my curiosity before setting back to events only.

---------------------------------------------------

I'm using a gyration media centre remote at the minute, have just put some fresh batteries in the TV remote as its be relegated to the draw since running media centre!! So from a test point of view, you want me to use the Media Centre to send the remote pass through signal to the TV? or am I misunderstanding?

Having an emulated device for the xbox, are you saying that I could have something in EG that would switch the Amp to the Xbox HDMI port, something i'd probably map to one of the spare buttons on the remote

Cheers

On 12 August 2011 10:41, <[email protected]> wrote:
Great news that is working for you. I did not consider that your might be using the amp as a switch. From what you have said the 2.1.0.0 is the correct physical address. You probably did not have to think much about physical address because I have some code which on plugin install/setup detects the physical address of the computer (your graphics card) via the EDID data. 2.1.0.0 would mean that the amp is hooked up to port 2 of the TV and besides being an amp it is acting as a switch with the computer hooked up to port 1 of the amp, exactly as you described. Where you have the PC-CEC does not matter physically since it is a communications "hack" for your computer, since your ATI graphics card does not wire into the CEC lines of HDMI. I'll send you a little patch script later this evening when I have some time and we'll get the 2.0.0.0 cleared outta there.

XBox does not do any CEC at all. If you wanted to though you can configure the bridge with an "Emulated" device and should then be able to at least switch to and from the XBox using the Menus of the TV as well as macros in EventGhost. I have done the same trick in my setup and I documented it as an example in the user and config guide (available on the website in the doc and videos section) so you can get the details there.

It sounds like you are using some kind of other remote like an MCE or other IR or RF remote, not the TV remote. That's cool, but could you test using the TV remote for me just to see if the keys are getting sent, if the default map works OK, etc, from your Sharp TV remote? I would really appreciate knowing how much is working with Sharp since you are the first using that brand with the plugin.


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Issues
Date: Fri, August 12, 2011 2:01 am
To: [email protected]

I sorted it using the one touch play option, this seems to work well! Turning on the Media Centre now switches the TV then the Amp on so that's excellent, same thing in reverse on a shut down. I can try the wake up device option to see if I can get it working if that would be useful?

I'm not 100% on which device should be the primary device. Basic set up is that I have the Onkyo Amp sat in the middle, TV connected to the Amp via the single HDMI out, the PC is connected via an ATI graphics card to HDMI 1 on the amp and via the USB-CEC device to HDMI 2 on the Amp. I did try and get my head around the physical addresses but i guess it didn't sink in! There is an Xbox connected to HDMI 3 too but this didn't detect, not sure what CEC capability the Xbox has, not that it ever gets switched on?!

On 11 August 2011 23:26, <[email protected]> wrote:
I can also see in your screen shot that somehow the plugin setup two "Primary" devices which is not supposed to happen. Obviously I need to change something to better prevent that from happening. Meantime tell me which is the correct physical address, 2.0.0.0 or 2.1.0.0, and I will send you a simple script to clean the bad one out without having to redo your entire setup. I am guessing that the 2.0.0.0 is probably the correct one, since that would be port 2 on your TV, and 2.1.0.0 would be port one of a switch hooked up to port 2 of your TV. Unless you do in fact for some reason have a switch.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Issues
Date: Thu, August 11, 2011 12:13 pm
To: "<[email protected]>" <[email protected]>

Hi Patrick,

Im having a play finally with the plugin. I have the volume synced across the PC and Amp which is the main thing!! The other thing i was hoping to do was to bring the amp and tv out of standby when the computer boots. The amp seems to respond well to the command but the TV doesnt, it will go into standby just fine.

Ive attached a screenshot of the discovery screen, does this all look ok to you?

Cheers mate

Great news. You should be able to use the "Select Source" action which is found under Routing:

Let me know if for some reason it does not work for you.

Thanks,
Patrick.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: AW: AW: AW: RCAware PC-CEC Software Update
Date: Wed, August 10, 2011 11:19 am
To: <[email protected]>

Patrick,

thank you for your immediate help. Now everything works perfect. You did a great job.

I have one question left for my configuration. Can you tell me the command to switch the TV input to the first HDMI port?

Yours


Von: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Betreff: RE: AW: AW: RCAware PC-CEC Software Update


I hope this fixes the screen events issue with the Übernehmen / Apply button. Just unzip and put into the EG\plugins \HDMI-CEC folder, and restart EG.

Download
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: AW: AW: RCAware PC-CEC Software Update
Date: Tue, August 09, 2011 10:03 am
To: <[email protected]>

Patrick,

Your installation program is working now. First I had to delete the old driver manually because the installation routine did not exchange it and the old driver did not find the .dll file after the installation.

The problem I detected while testing the screen events option is still there but I think it has nothing to do with the screen events button. When I press after configuring the screen events or the remote map the ok-button the software works fine. When I press instead of the ok-button the Übernehmen-button (accept-button in english?) the software crashes. Please see the screenshot. Purhaps it has to do with the german text on the button?


Von: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Gesendet: Montag, 8. August 2011 23:48
Betreff: RE: AW: RCAware PC-CEC Software Update


Based on the theory from my previous email, I created a fix. Please download from the same link and try again.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: AW: RCAware PC-CEC Software Update
From: <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, August 08, 2011 2:31 pm

I am very sorry for that, and thanks for the info. I probably made a bad assumption with the following script command. Please run this, and tell me what the output is, and I will fix for it immediately:

To open a command prompt, from the start menu enter the following:

cmd

In the command prompt windows, run the following command (you should be able to just cut/paste:

for /F "tokens=3" %i in ('systeminfo^|findstr "x64"') do echo %i



On my PC it looks like this:
x64-based

I am guessing that your computer has German output and looks maybe like this:
x64-base

Thanks,
Patrick.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: AW: RCAware PC-CEC Software Update
Date: Mon, August 08, 2011 2:16 pm
To: <[email protected]>

Patrick,

your new installation program causes an error message on my computer "you must run the 64 bit version of DPInst.exe on this computer"


Von: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Gesendet: Montag, 8. August 2011 02:25
An: [email protected]
Betreff: RCAware PC-CEC Software Update


Valued Customers,

A big thank you for your purchase and your participation in the beta program. Please download the updated version. Mostly the changes are minor and you will see little difference from the version you are running now.

The biggest change you will find is the new installation wizard for the driver and plugin. Before running the please be sure you have a backup of the plugin folder and driver just in case. Be sure to install the driver using the install program even if you already have it installed as some of the file locations have changed. If you have any issues at all with the plugin or the installation program please let me know ASAP and I will do my best to get the fix out fast.

Download RCAware Install

Thanks,
Patrick
RCAware, LLC

Hi Patrick,

good work !

The new version works well, I can now also select the HDMI computer input after turning on my tv.

Useful if the family had previously looked at the traditional TV.

If interested I can send you my macro for MediaPortal, you may enhance the package with a little sample for new users.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Patrick,

while I update my personal template EventGhost, if I disable and then re-enable the plugin I get an HDMI-CEC communication errors that can be solved only by turning off everything, PC and HDMI interface communication.

So I'm happy to read that you're working on this problem, I hope that the next version of the software my be easier to debug.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011/7/25

Hi guys. Have not heard from anyone in about a week now so hope all is well. I had time this weekend to code some fixes but before I release to you guys I was hoping to finalize everything and have a ÔÇ£Release CandidateÔÇØ. Here is the progress IÔÇÖve made so far...

- Fixed or at least significant reduced the ÔÇ£Communications ErrorÔÇØ problem.

- Many fixes for LG equipment (you guys wouldnÔÇÖt know about this, I just bought a new LG TV and amplifier this week).

Also will be coding everything found in the TO DO section of the pluginÔÇÖs header:
Config Panel
Should remove emulated amp when PC Speakers turned off
Add popup reminder dialog after changes to primary or emulated devices to refresh your TVÔÇÖs HDMI-CEC menu / device list

Default Macros
Need to add amp power stuff
Need to add LG stuff (maybe)

Hangs sometimes on DLL PCCEC_Open, maybe due to traffic... Mostly fixed but consider looking into the DLL for more improvement.

Plugin runs in background of EG even if you cancel the install

Had to do special coding for volume sync specific to manufacturer like LG and Samsung for instance:
Need to add code to disable vol sync option for non-supported amps
Need to update website and find those with other amps willing to do beta / dev program.

Remote and Mouse Map
Prevent "Button Released" from being removed from maps
Add nice names include:
UI Commands
play commands
deck commands
Vendor commands (this will require automatic free type edit box)
Other (this will require automatic free type edit box)
Add import/export

ActiveSource use setstreampath for emulated devices (makes it look like a port on primary device)

Add HDMI-CEC 1.4 spec stuff

So if you guys have any other bugs to report or changes you would like to request please let me know ASAP so I can try to get them into this release.

Thanks,
Patrick.

Gday Pat,

I can happily report that I've not had a single crash or problem with the app/plugin since my last email.
Seems the family test has gone quite well too.

I'll keep testing and let you know if anything else crops up in the meantime.

Update for everyone that did not like the price of the hardware before, it has been reduced by 25%.

I purchased the USB-CEC a couple of months ago and after struggling with the ValkyrieTech software the device came with I purchased the EG plugin, since then I've had no issues and am now able to control my TV and Amp the way you should be able. I honestly think the RainshadowTech device with the original ValkyrieTech software is limited to the point it just isnt worth having, thought I'd purchased a bit of a dud until this plugin was released.

So on a personal note I'd like to thank the guys at RCAware for the the EG plugin plus all the advice and support you've provided! I've now managed to put the Amp away and stopped the wife moaning about the clutter, no sticky fingers pressing buttons either!

Although I am focused on other things I have this device plugged in and monitoring my system. I intend to write a review at some point but instead of a review of the Bridge and the Plugin (they are both pretty cool) I'll share some of my thoughts about HDMI-CEC and it's potential in general. There are a few things that impress me about the HDMI-CEC and there are a few dissapointments.

The main dissapointment of HDMI-CEC is that the system as designed by the manufacturers treats the TV as the boss and yet the TV is pretty dumb and because it is a closed system you can't make it smarter. This is big deal cause once you see messages on the bus you think of all the features that could take advantage. I think if you have played around with EG you start seeing unpimped AV gear as pretty boring.

The upside of HDMI-CEC is that it is already in our AV gear and we can extend it to do extra stuff if we want. We can just treat the TV like the dumb display it is and use XBMC and start hacking our own electronics to use HDMI-CEC in more creative ways. When I saw the new chumby NeTV recently I thought this look interesting. Also XBMC willl be supporting CEC via libcec pretty soon - that will lead to some cool stuff for sure.

Hi Patrick,

I'm using your plugin to control xbmc via my samsung tv remote. I don't have an amplifier and I'm not using mouse control, so I just have your plugin in events only mode.

On initial config of your plugin, the default is to set the CEC bridge to logical address 1 to be a recording device - everything works well!

Unfortunately for me, because I'm using an older version of the CEC bridge (v1.7_HTPC) the logical address does not seem to be stored in flash of the bridge. So after a reboot (or sleep) the logical address gets changed back to 4 (playback device) and your plugin no longer recognises it as the Media Center device anymore (ie. all events are from .4. instead of .Media Center.

I can re-configure the plugin and change the bridge to always be logical address 4, which then keeps the same address after a reboot - but because it is then a playback device, I lose notifications of half the buttons on the remote. (maybe half is an exageration)

I noticed there is an action to get/set logical address - I haven't tried yet - but could I trigger this after reboot or wakeup to set the logical address back to 1?

Yes you should be able to use the set logical address action to do that. Go ahead and give it a try first, but I am thinking something else may be going on though, because if I remember correctly 1.7 should have the ability to save the logical address in flash. If you were doing any of your own macros already where you call set logical address I would double check that you are setting it back at the end of the macro, but sounds like your not doing that. Let me know your invoice number if you still have it or send me an email at [email protected] with your email or name and I will send you a fresh install, maybe if you re-install from scratch the problem will go away.

As powerful and cool as this solution is compared to just about anything else out there, your absolutely right that the biggest limitation of HDMI-CEC is the not so smart TV's that are put in charge. Personally I own an LG which releases their firmware open source, I was considering cooking a version for my own TV to take control back if possible, sort of dumb the TV down to the level it should be when a computer is hooked up. Problem is finding the time.

Checked out that NeTV... very cool, has a lot of potential. I may look into adding that to my own setup and maybe even developing on the platform.