First I should clarify that I have enough experience with the issue of lirc, which is software that basically allows you to run operations on a PC using a traditional remote control. 7 years I've been using it at home on my server and is part of my day to day as the PC works among other things like entertainment center. The first time I actually did use lirc from scratch, manufactured my own "receiver" of IR (infrared) by following instructions found on the Internet to build it and connect the serial port and configure a generic remote control for 5 euros. Over time I make changes here and there, but basically just changed the remote control looking more and more friends and the final finish using a Sony control was very good indeed. Lirc allows different types of things like execute commands by pressing a key (eg, run or close the Television application for, or to watch DVDs, or listen to music, etc) or send commands directly to applications (example: Skip the movie we're watching, turn up volume to give you pause a video, etc).
thought I'd never change the remote control, everything worked perfectly, especially when I lived in my previous apartment, where I had the server in my room which was relatively small, but nearly two years ago I moved to a bigger apartment and Now the server is in the room, which is bigger. The reception began to give me some disadvantages of distance and basically because I had to point the remote at the PC and had no major obstacles on the way (as a person in half.) Although a minor inconvenience, I could live with it.
But a few weeks ago I was researching a new project I have in mind for my next apartment / house when I move again, I have the idea of \u200b\u200binstalling a home automation system, this means controlling elements connected to the mains through a remote control and / or PC. For example, I turn off the light in the room when I go see a movie, you would with a remote control, I close electric curtains (if you have), I would do with the remote, I want you at 9 am each weekdays the PC make sure all lights are off and if you have forgotten to turn off some before going to work, the PC's fail. This is done with a technology called X10. Reading I found that Linux already has everything necessary to make use of it, it seems that many nerds using Linux in the world today, which does not surprise me. When I wanted to make a price list and evaluate the project, I went for the most recognized brand in the market, Marmitek and take me a very great surprise, they made a remote control technology that combines IR (to control traditional appliances such as televisions, DVD players , etc.) with technology RF (radio frequency) to communicate with a PC. Just out of curiosity check LIRC stand this remote and could not believe what I had discovered, the remote control is fully supported and works perfectly. Now what really shook the soul of a geek in me was that when reading the specifications discovered that by operating through RF in PC mode, the remote has a range up to 20 meters and no matter what obstacles have been involved, that is, through walls and whatnot. Just finished reading this was already decided, a quick search to find the cheapest place where you could buy and immediately ordered, 20 euros plus 5 for shipping. It should be noted that the remote control also supports X10, so when you deploy my automation system may use the same control.
The installation was incredibly simple, the control receiver is USB, so it was matter of simply connecting to PC. How does RF there is no problem concerning the location, so you connect to a port behind the PC and leave it hidden.
The next step was to install the driver for LIRC. Simple too, if you have the soul of nerd. We must choose the driver "atiusb" and not have to configure anything else (when using the above made by me, was to set the IRQ and UART serial port and do not remember what else). It compiles and installs the driver in the traditional way (make, make install). A detail is that the version of lirc 0.8.2 does not compile correctly under Ubuntu Dapper, so I had to use the previous version 0.8. When programmers will understand that also the stable versions not important?
I did a quick search on Google and found that this person was an example of the configuration of the buttons, the link is this:
http://www.t3i.nl/php/blogdload.php?file=lircd . marmitek.tgz
I basically use the remote to control an application called Freevo , so did not want to use the large circle above as the mouse (has 8 directional buttons, up, down, right, left, and a through each one of them). Freevo is controlled easily with UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, PLAY, STOP, so for convenience I put the big circle up and behave like the arrow buttons below that are very small and are uncomfortable to use. Complete the configuration by placing the buttons that emulate the clicks of the mouse L and R as STOP and PLAY, ENTER respectively. The rest was carpentry, other buttons more like the numbers, the forward, reverse, pause, menu, ok, etc.
If anyone cares, my configuration file here:
http://ciudadmomia.com/linux/lirc/lircd.conf
Finally
rigorous tests that were more than satisfactory. The reception is excellent, it works fine from anywhere in the apartment (which is two floors). Although I have not tasted from outside the building (I live in fifth and sixth floors), but I'm sure it works. I can not more to recommend this remote, is the best I've used so far. The only drawback is that it is relatively large and heavy and uses four AAA batteries and as it works with RF, I assume that last less than the normal control IR.
