Linux [How-To] DirecTV Remote on XBMC EVERY Button
#1
Got an unused DirecTV remote laying around?
Want to buy a excellent quality XBMC remote for $5 ($12 for Backlit) Free Shipping? These remotes are so plentiful they are near dirt cheap. eBay & Amazon. I got mine $5 free shipping (New)

Good news, I will show you how to use EVERY SINGLE BUTTON on the DirecTV RC64 RC65 & RC66 Infared remote to control XBMC & use it for your TV

It is assumed you have lirc setup and configured.

In order for this to work correctly we will use the remote in the DirecTV Satellite Receiver mode.
This is the only way to use EVERY SINGLE BUTTON.
For this reason if you have a DirecTV Satellite Receiver it will likely interfear with the use of the remote for XBMC.

So, Idealy you would NOT have a DirecTV Satellite Receiver or have it turned off when using XBMC.


A few caveat's should be disclosed first.

The big problem with this remote is the lack of the repeat function when you hold a button down in the DirecTV Satellite Receiver mode.
We can only overcome this on the volume key (The most important IMO). We will use an MCE repeating volume key.
The volume key is the only key that can be locked to another mode (AV1 or AV2) while in the DirecTV Satellite Receiver mode.
All other buttons that you might want to repeat will have to be pushed multiple times (Page up, Page Down, Arrows).
However the page buttons are mitigated by the SMSjump function. The SMSjump function allows you to jump to
the specified letter with the number keys. #2 ABC #3 DEF....etc. So if you're in the movie section and movies are sorted alphabetical
you can rapidly go the top middle and bottom by pressing 2, 5, 8 (or 9). It works for any letter number.

The other problem is when you program a code for AV1 AV2 or TV, Not all of the buttons work.
This is why we are using the DirecTV Satellite Receiver mode. All buttons are available

So to sum it up.
You will use EVERY SINGLE BUTTON to control XBMC (DirecTV Satellite Receiver mode)
You will use it to independantly control your TV (TV Mode)
Buttons that you might want to repeat (execpt Volume) will have to be pushed multiple times (Page up, Page Down, Arrows).
SMSjump quickly navigates faster than page up and down


1. Go to DirecTV Remote Code Finder to find and write down the code for your make and model TV

Go To lirc.conf , Lircmap.xml , & remote.xml to download the required configuration files.


2. Reset the remote to factory default. (All saved codes will be lost)

Press Select and Mute at the same time (hold the buttons down for several seconds until the LED flashes twice.

Type in the reset code. 981

The LED should flash four times.


3. Program the code for your TV

Slide the selector switch to TV mode

Press Select and Mute at the same time (hold the buttons down for several seconds until the LED flashes twice.

Type in your TV code from the DirecTV website above.

The LED should flash twice.


3. Program the code that allows XBMC Volume and mute to work.

Slide the selector switch to the the AV1 (or AV2) mode.

Press Select and Mute at the same time (hold the buttons down for several seconds until the LED flashes twice.

Type in the MCE code. 21972

The LED should flash twice.

4. Lock the DirecTV Satellite Receiver volume to the the AV1 (or AV2) mode.

Slide the selector switch to the the AV1 (or AV2) mode.

Press Select and Mute at the same time (hold the buttons down for several seconds until the LED flashes twice.

Type in the Volume Lock code 993, LED flashes twice, press SELECT. The LED's should again flash twice.

5. Download the /etc/lirc/lircd.conf /home/xbmc-user-name/.xbmc/userdata/Lircmap.xml & /home/xbmc-user-name/.xbmc/userdata/keymaps/remote.xml I have provided and replace your exising files after backing them up.



6. Switch the selector to DirecTV, Reboot your computer and all should be well.


Global
RED takes you to Movies
Green takes you to TV Shows
Yellow is Weather
Blue is HOME
REC is ScreenShot
Enter (below #9) is XBMC.RestartApp()
Menu works as expected
DASH (below #7) is a local script I use (you create it yourself in .lircrc) to kill XBMC and restart
PWR brings up the shutDown menu
Guide when in (TV shows for example) with a show highlighted will scan that show for new episodes (its like a micro update library)
List is Favorites



During playback
List is CodecInfo
Active is Enable Disable subtitles
Guide is Next subtitle language
Back, Menu & Info work as excpected
Prev is Next Audio Language
Media keys work as expected (stop, play, pause...etc)

Home
Info is System info
Zero is FileManager (if your skin supports it, Confluence)
Prev is Settings

Your TV should work as expected with this remote.
The On Off button will turn the TV on off regardless of the mode switch.


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#2
(2014-03-15, 00:28)FishOil Wrote: For this reason if you have a DirecTV Satellite Receiver it will likely interfear with the use of the remote for XBMC.

So, Idealy you would NOT have a DirecTV Satellite Receiver or have it turned off when using XBMC.

Nice write-up.

The way around the above issue if a DIRECTV receiver/DVR is also being controlled by the same remote is to set the AV1/AV2 code to 00002, which is the DIRECTV code for receiver 2 and will prevent any overlap. Of course, you would then need to record new lircd.conf codes (or you could just change the receiver/DVR to respond to code 00002), but the rest of the process remains the same.
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#3
(2014-03-15, 07:59)Txxb161 Wrote:
(2014-03-15, 00:28)FishOil Wrote: For this reason if you have a DirecTV Satellite Receiver it will likely interfear with the use of the remote for XBMC.

So, Idealy you would NOT have a DirecTV Satellite Receiver or have it turned off when using XBMC.

Nice write-up.

The way around the above issue if a DIRECTV receiver/DVR is also being controlled by the same remote is to set the AV1/AV2 code to 00002, which is the DIRECTV code for receiver 2 and will prevent any overlap. Of course, you would then need to record new lircd.conf codes (or you could just change the receiver/DVR to respond to code 00002), but the rest of the process remains the same.

Excellent, thanks for pointing that out.
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[How-To] DirecTV Remote on XBMC EVERY Button0