Apple TV Linux IR Howto

From AwkwardTV

[edit] How to setup IR for Linux on the Apple TV

Install lirc version >= 0.8.2.

(Ubuntu 6.10 and 7.04 must be upated. The 7.10/gutsy "src.deb" may be rebuilt (.dsc,.diff.gz,.orig.tar.gz). Use dpkg-source -x to extract, and ( cd package ; dpkg-buildpackage ) to build. )

lirc versions <= 0.8.2 do not flag repeat events for a apple hiddev device. The patch on the lirc sourceforge site fixes this:

lirc-0.8.2-macmini-repeat.patch

apt-get source lirc
cd lirc-0.8.2
patch -p1 < ../*lirc-0.8.2-macmini-repeat.patch
dpkg-buildpackage
dpkg -i ../lirc*deb

If your kernel has not already been updated apply the apple hiddev patch.

diff --git a/drivers/hid/usbhid/hid-quirks.c b/drivers/hid/usbhid/hid-quirks.c
index 6b21a21..3621df1 100644
--- linux-2.6.22/drivers/hid/usbhid/hid-quirks.c	2008-03-13 15:21:34.000000000 +0000
+++ linxu-2.6.22/drivers/hid/usbhid/hid-quirks.c	2008-03-13 15:22:03.000000000 +0000
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@
 #define USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_FOUNTAIN_TP_ONLY	0x030a
 #define USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_GEYSER1_TP_ONLY	0x030b
 #define USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_IR		0x8240
+#define USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_IR_1	0x8241
+#define USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_IR_2	0x8242
 
 #define USB_VENDOR_ID_ASUS		0x0b05
 #define USB_DEVICE_ID_ASUS_LCM		0x1726
@@ -304,6 +306,8 @@
 	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_AIRCABLE, USB_DEVICE_ID_AIRCABLE1, HID_QUIRK_IGNORE },
 	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_ALCOR, USB_DEVICE_ID_ALCOR_USBRS232, HID_QUIRK_IGNORE },
 	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_APPLE, USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_IR, HID_QUIRK_IGNORE },
+	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_APPLE, USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_IR_1, HID_QUIRK_HIDDEV },
+	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_APPLE, USB_DEVICE_ID_APPLE_IR_2, HID_QUIRK_HIDDEV },
 	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_BERKSHIRE, USB_DEVICE_ID_BERKSHIRE_PCWD, HID_QUIRK_IGNORE },
 	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_CIDC, 0x0103, HID_QUIRK_IGNORE },
 	{ USB_VENDOR_ID_CYPRESS, USB_DEVICE_ID_CYPRESS_HIDCOM, HID_QUIRK_IGNORE },

(See usb mailing list for an explanation. Though that patch is missing 0x8242. [1] )

Apply patch. Rebuild and install usbhid.ko.

cd /usr/src/linux ; make SUBDIRS=`pwd`/drivers/hid modules

Install module, Reboot, or reload module.

Download hardware.conf

Put that in /etc/lirc/

For my system, I had to edit the file and change:

DEVICE="/dev/usb/hiddev0"

Generate lircd.conf with:

irrecord -H macmini -d /dev/usb/hiddev0 lircd.conf

Yes, the intial press is a whole line of dots.

I named the buttons PLUS, MINUS, PREV, NEXT, PLAY, MENU

Put that file in /etc/lirc/

(Note, that you actually are not limited to the AppleTV remote. I recorded the remote of a dead DVD player, and concatenated the lircd.conf files, so both remotes can be used. -don )

restart lirc

download dot-lircrc

Install that as .lircrc

Then I play a external DVD with: vlc --intf lirc --alsadev iec958 /dev/scd0

Alternate vlc settings, which may work better for the Apple TV remote:

begin
prog = vlc
button = PLAY
config = key-nav-activate
end

begin
prog = vlc
button = MINUS
config = key-nav-down
end

begin
prog = vlc
button = PLUS
config = key-nav-up
end

begin
prog = vlc
button = NEXT
config = key-chapter-next
end

begin
prog = vlc
button = PREV
config = key-chapter-prev
end

begin
prog = vlc
button = MENU
config = key-disc-menu
end