[LINUX] CiT (Aureal) Remote Control in XBMC for Linux?
#1
Hello,

has anybody used the CiT Media Centre Remote (reports as a Aureal Semiconductor in lsusb) sucessfully with XBMC?

I bought mine on cclonline in the UK (http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.as...id=gsearch)

I am not sure which lirc conf I have to use, the aureal on the lirc/remotes web site does not seem to work.

Cheers,
peter
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#2
Did you get anywhere with this remote?

Ive got the same remote however when in XBMC the directional buttons move the mouse pointer instead of moving up and down the menus.

Also some of the buttons do work, such as the play, stop, fwd, rwd and some others for menu navigation.

There is also a blue button labelled toggle. When I press that, everything stops working.

It could probably be a very usable remote if the d-pad worked correctly.

Cheers
BM
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#3
The issue with this remote is that it incorrectly reports itself as a single key keyboard. As this remote is a USB HID, you need to ensure that you install this patch from the following thread.

http://gitorious.org/hid-aureal-kernel-module

and then do this
There would be a makefile, do make and then make install. You need to add "sudo" to both the comments. Once done, i think you need to move the .o and .ko files to a location where the kernel can find it. Once done reboot and then do this to your /etc/rc.local file.


edit /etc/rc.local and include

rmmod usbhid
modprobe hid-aureal
modprobe usbhid

After this, all keys in the remote should work with out any issue. No need to setup lirc.
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#4
Forgot to add the thread which was discussing about this and thanks to the folks who made it to work.

http://www2.dealextreme.com/forums/Defau...did.624377
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#5
Hello, thanks for all to provide a solution.

I have downloaded, compiled and installed the kernel module. Most seems to work.

One thing I find annoying is that the remote's arrow keys make the mouse move. I would prefer them to behave like the cursors. How can I do that?

BTW I tried lirc with the lirc.conf provided on page 2 of "http://www2.dealextreme.com/forums/Default.dx/sku.34435~threadid.624377", but still the same.

Or should I just leave it and edit the keymap in XBMC?

Cheers,
peter
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#6
It would be a great help if someone would post the output of lsusb for the device or even lsusb -v. I'm having a similar problem but on a different device and wanted to see if the manuf. and device were the same output as yours.

example: lsusb
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0755:2626 Aureal Semiconductor

example: lsusb -v
Code:
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0755:2626 Aureal Semiconductor
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x0755 Aureal Semiconductor
  idProduct          0x2626
  bcdDevice           29.82
  iManufacturer           1
  iProduct                2
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           59
    bNumInterfaces          2
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower              100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      1 Keyboard
      iInterface              0
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.10
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength      78
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0008  1x 8 bytes
        bInterval               8
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      2 Mouse
      iInterface              0
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.10
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength     119
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0008  1x 8 bytes
        bInterval               8
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#7
@PeterW
You need to simply press the "toggle" button in the remote to make it work like keyboard. Its quite annoying, i know. but i havent found a solution for it yet.
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#8
@mebo:
Thanks a lot for the hint. It works fine now.

@speed32219:
Code:
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 0755:2626 Aureal Semiconductor
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x0755 Aureal Semiconductor
  idProduct          0x2626
  bcdDevice           29.82
  iManufacturer           1
  iProduct                2
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           59
    bNumInterfaces          2
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower              100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      1 Keyboard
      iInterface              0
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.10
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength      78
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0008  1x 8 bytes
        bInterval               8
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      2 Mouse
      iInterface              0
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.10
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength     130
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0008  1x 8 bytes
        bInterval               8
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#9
Has anyone got the remote to mimic the "c" (Context menu) or "i" (Info) keystrokes with this remote?
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#10
^
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#11
I was using this remote with XBMC, and I've just sorted out how to use the commands from this remote in my Harmony 525.

I used the patch that was suggested on this forum, together with the toggle option, and no problems. I notice some of the buttons work under CrunchBang normally, but I wanted to configure a start button for the Harmony... which hopefully I've just got sorted.
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#12
Hi Guys,

Just picked up this CIT remote today - for £7 off ebay, it seems a great buy and managed to get it to do all of what i need it to by the following keyboard.xml edits and a couple of scripts for 'autohotkey' (http://www.autohotkey.com)

1st script i use is to force the 'Media Centre', or 'Green Button' as its usually but not on this remote, to open XBMC - get the script from link below and added to all the Windows All users>startup profile folder.

http://xbmccustomregis.sourceforge.net/r...art_Button

2nd script makes the 'WWW' button act as the toggle for current playing video being 'full screen' or 'small window' (i use Alaska skin so use the down arrow to start trailers then use toggle button. Added to the ‘all users’ profile the same as above script.

I've copied the script i used as i can't find it now in the search.... as you can see its coded by 'Elitegamer360' so all credit goes to them for this.

;Script written to only activate specific keys when XBMC is in focus, Hence mouse functionality issue solved.

SetTitleMatchMode 2 ; Start for XBMC matching in window title/ fast default.
#IfWinActive XBMC ahk_class XBMC ; Script will look for XBMC window before activating the mapping.
; if XBMC is Closed or sent to the background code designed to
; bypass blinding the buttons, to resume proper mouse functionality
; when needed.
;blind START.
Browser_Home::Send {tab}
;blind END.

Return
#IfWinActive ; Reset outside window.
;Coded by Elitegamer360




For the last few keys that i use I then did a couple of basic edits of the c:\program files\xbmc\system\keymaps\Keyboard.xml and changed/added

<a mod="ctrl">ContextMenu</a> {which makes the 'FM Radio' button act as the context menu key}

and...

<t mod="ctrl,shift">FirstPage</t> {which makes the 'My TV' button act as the back to 'First Page' button when browsing movies/music files etc}

and...

<menu>Info</menu> {makes the 'i' button bring up the 'Info' on a file)


Pretty basic functionality only as i'm just a noobie but for me it makes a £7 remote a perfectly usable tool for XBMC.

My Setup….
5 x XBMC deploys
6 x Media remotes (1 CIT remote, 1 x Rii Mini 2.4G Wireless Keyboard, 3 x VRC-1100 remotes)
3 x standard PC's (win 7 + XP)
1 x Acer Rivo (win 7 U) (HDMI split to 2 rooms bedroom+bathroom using cat5)
1 x Antec Media Centre (win vista U)
1 x Win XP - 6TB file server for movies, music, music videos
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#13
mebo Wrote:The issue with this remote is that it incorrectly reports itself as a single key keyboard. As this remote is a USB HID, you need to ensure that you install this patch from the following thread.

http://gitorious.org/hid-aureal-kernel-module

and then do this
There would be a makefile, do make and then make install. You need to add "sudo" to both the comments. Once done, i think you need to move the .o and .ko files to a location where the kernel can find it. Once done reboot and then do this to your /etc/rc.local file.


edit /etc/rc.local and include

rmmod usbhid
modprobe hid-aureal
modprobe usbhid

After this, all keys in the remote should work with out any issue. No need to setup lirc.

Hi,
I know this thread is pretty old now but I was wondering if anyone might be able to clarify how to compile this patch and install it?

Unfortunately my knowledge of Linux is limited (although I'm OK with general command line use etc) and it's been a while since I even used the DOS command line in anger.

I'm using XBMC Live 10.1.
I have the patch files and have moved them into my home directory using FTP. I have a SSH session open with Putty to the XBMC box.

However, I'm not really sure how to compile the patch and where to put the resultant file/files Huh.

Could anyone give me a pointer?
I was hoping that there might be some newbie instrutions with the source code. I presume they assume you know what you're doing. Sad
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#14
I'm also using XBMC Live 10.1. and having the same issue.
Could some one please list steps by steps instructions for installing this patch.
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#15
from start to finish:

Code:
git clone git://gitorious.org/~fcatrin/hid-aureal-kernel-module/fcatrins-hid-aureal-kernel-module.git aureal
cd aureal
make
sudo make install

Code:
sudo nano /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
add to above file:
hid-aureal
usbhid

Code:
sudo update-initramfs -k all -u
sudo reboot

make sure xbmc option for remote sends keyboard presses is unticked.
toggle between mouse/keyboard works now.
xbmc works with it with minimal button support but it does work to navigate and play/pause etc.
i have noticed that xbmc does not allow inputs from the keyboard side of this device right away (takes a few seconds after starting).

you can try cloning the actual hid-aureal-kernel-module git but I was getting compile errors so had to use this cloned repository.
only big difference is recompiling the kernel which wasnt mentioned for some reason.

anytime you do a kernel update, you will need to repatch and recompile.
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Please make sure to visit the Sticky section for common issues/questions/etc. Also, XBMC for iOS information
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[LINUX] CiT (Aureal) Remote Control in XBMC for Linux?0