Create a custom kernel IR keytable

• Today nearly every device is fitted with an IR remote, so why not piCorePlayer?
• If your display has no touch capability or you do not want to control your device by a smartphone, an IR remote can be very helpful.
• Since 4.19 linux kernel the original LIRC uinput drivers have been removed.
• We need to configure IR keytables to get IR remotes running with pCP.
• We use a cheap NEC Remote.

• You can create a custom kernel keytable with any supported IR remote that uses rc-5, rc-5-sz, jvc, sony, nec, sanyo, mce_kbd, rc-6, sharp or xmp protocol.
• I have successfully tested SEG, Western Digital, Haupauge, NEC and JustBoom IR remotes.

What we need

• Raspberry Pi, piCorePlayer 7 or 8, Jivelite installed
• A display connected to RPi
• An IR remote
• A TSOP4838 or similar IR receiver like OS-0038N connected to RPi—see Add an IR receiver to piCorePlayer
• Powersupply, 5V, 2,5 A
• Putty installed on PC/Laptop
• Text editor installed on PC/Laptop

Steps

Step 1 - Check compatibility

• Bring up the pCP web interface.
• Click [Tweaks] tab and scroll down to section “IR remote control”.
• Click [IR page] and install IR tools (accept the reboot prompt).
• When the reboot has finished, login to your RPi via ssh (software=putty – user: tc, password: piCore) and enter the following command:
  • $ sudo ir-keytable -t
• Press some buttons, and you should see something like this:

• Stop the process by pressing control+c.

Step 2 - Create a keytable

• The keytable file is a plain text file without a file extension. You can create it on your PC or laptop.
• Open your favourite text editor and insert the header:

	# table: nec, type: nec

• Back in a ssh window, enter the following command:
  • $ sudo ir-keytable -t
• First press the home button. Note the scancode, go back to editor and insert it in line 2, column 1.
• In column 2 write down the key-command, here KEY_N.
• You can insert a description to column three, not necessary but helpful.
• Don’t forget to comment out the description out with a #.
• Now go on, step by step, with every button of the remote. When finished, your file should look like this:

# table: nec, type: nec
0x728D	KEY_N			#go home/now playing
0x6897	KEY_C			#pause
0xEA15	KEY_POWER		#Power
0xC23D	KEY_UP
0x50AF	KEY_DOWN
0x609F	KEY_LEFT
0x708F	KEY_RIGHT
0x40BF	KEY_L			#OK
0x58A7	KEY_A			#Menu
0xB24D	KEY_ESC			#Back
0x0AF5	KEY_EQUAL		#Volume Up
0x4AB5	KEY_MINUS		#Volume Down

• Save the file as a plain text, filename jivelite, without a file extension.

Step 3 - Load keytable file

• Bring up the pCP web interface.
• Click [Tweaks] tab and scroll down to section “IR remote control”.

• Click [IR page].
• Click [Browse] and search for your custom keytable.

• Load your keytable file.
• Your IR remote should now work without reboot.

More information

• Add an IR receiver to piCorePlayer
• Jivelite key-commands
• Access piCorePlayer via ssh
• Basic vi commands