I’ve had to set up this remote on quite a few linux systems now, and this is the best guide I’ve found to get it working. This is based on this old guide, which I’m updating a bit and making a couple tweaks of my own. I’ve used this on OSMC, Kodibuntu & Ubuntu so far, and it’s worked well.
Warning: Using this guide apparently makes the mouse functions unusable. I don’t know, the mouse on my remote stopped working long ago after it’d been dropped for the 9,000th time.
Install Lirc
First, install the lirc package.
sudo apt-get install lirc
The installer will ask you what hardware you have so it can use the correct config file. What you select here will be overwritten later in this guide, so it really doesn’t matter what you select.
Disable lircd automatic startup
We do not want to use Ubuntu’s init scripts and config files, therefore we need to tell it not to start up automatically. Here is the command which changes the symbolic link in /etc/rc2.d/:
sudo update-rc.d lirc disable 2
Back up files
Back up your old files that we are about to overwrite. These commands assume you are logged in as the user that is starting Kodi.
mkdir ~/backupfiles
cp /etc/rc.local ~/backupfiles
cp /etc/lirc/lircd.conf ~/backupfiles
cp ~/.kodi/userdata/Lircmap.xml ~/backupfiles
cp ~/.kodi/userdata/keymaps/Keymap.xml ~/backupfiles
Edit /etc/rc.local
Put these lines in /etc/rc.local:
/usr/sbin/lircd --driver=devinput --device=/dev/input/by-id/usb-Gyration_Gyration_RF_Technology_Receiver-if01-event-mouse --output=/dev/lircd1 --pidfile=/var/run/lircd1.pid --listen
/usr/sbin/lircd --driver=devinput --device=/dev/input/by-id/usb-Gyration_Gyration_RF_Technology_Receiver-event-kbd --output=/dev/lircd --pidfile=/var/run/lircd.pid --connect=localhost:8765
Do an ls /dev/input/by-id/ to make sure these are the correct device names! The name of the mouse device changed on me at some point and I had to update my /etc/rc.local to match.
Edit /etc/lirc/lircd.conf
#This configuration has been automatically generated via
#the Ubuntu LIRC package maintainer scripts.
#
#It includes the default configuration for the remote and/or
#transmitter that you have selected during package installation.
#
#Feel free to add any custom remotes to the configuration
#via additional include directives or below the existing
#Ubuntu include directives from your selected remote and/or
#transmitter.
#
# lircd.conf
# for Gyration MCE remote(s). Could almost certainly be expanded to work for their keyboard as well.
#
# Composed by Marc Randolph based upon
# initial lircd.conf by Modulok (https://bugs.launchpad.net/mythbuntu/+bug/156494/comments/6)
# with help from the Linux MCE wiki (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Gyration-GYR3101US-codes)
#
# Notes:
# Star and Hash keys produce two key sequences: 0x002A followed by either 8 for star, or 3 for hash
#
# Revision history
# 2.3 - Marc Randolph - Renamed camera to pictures and video to videos. Added alternative mappings
# 2.2 - Marc Randolph - Added untested DVDMenu entry
# 2.1 - Marc Randolph - StarHash comment was wrong
# 2.0 - Marc Randolph - Special codes should be correct, or at least, very close to correct
# 1.0 - Marc Randolph - added missing codes and changed names to match up the mceusb remote
# - Some of the more special codes have not been verified (Pictures, LiveTV, etc)
# 0.1 - Modulok - Initial revision
#
#
begin remote
name gyration
bits 16
eps 30
aeps 100
one 0 0
zero 0 0
pre_data_bits 16
pre_data 0x8001
gap 135997
toggle_bit_mask 0x0
begin codes
Home 0x0066 # AKA "Windows button"
Up 0x0067
Left 0x0069
Right 0x006A
Down 0x006C
Mute 0x0071
VolDown 0x0072
VolUp 0x0073
Power 0x008e
Pause 0x0077
More 0x0082 # AKA "Info" or Help
Back 0x009E
Skip 0x00A3
Replay 0x00A5
Stop 0x00A6
RecTV 0x00A7 #Not "recorded TV", but "record current show on TV"
Rewind 0x00A8
Play 0x00CF
Forward 0x00D0
Pictures 0x00D4 # not on Dell remote
RecordedTV 0x00E2 # aka KEY_MEDIA
Guide 0x016A
LiveTV 0x016E # aka KEY_PVR
DVD 0x0185
Music 0x0187 # not on Dell remote # aka KEY_MP3
Videos 0x0189 # not on Dell remote
ChanUp 0x0192
ChanDown 0x0193
DVDMenu 0x019A # untested. not on Dell remote
Clear 0x0001
One 0x0002
Two 0x0003
Three 0x0004
Four 0x0005
Five 0x0006
Six 0x0007
Seven 0x0008
Eight 0x0009
Nine 0x000A
Zero 0x000B
Enter 0x001C
StarHash 0x002A # Star=0x2a and 0x08; Hash = 0x2a and 0x03
a 0x001E
end codes
end remote
# Alternative mappings to try if some of the above don't work
# (please report any findings back to http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Gyration-based_MCE_Remotes)
# Up 0x0062
# Left 0x0064
# Right 0x0066
# Down 0x0068
# Pause 0x0075
# Power 0x008E
# Halt 0x019C
# Lights 0x0111
# Clear 0x0016
# Enter 0x0024
# DVDMenu 0x0029
Create ~/.kodi/userdata/keymaps/Keymap.xml
<!-- This file contains the mapping of keys (gamepad, remote, and keyboard) to actions within XBMC -->
<!-- The <global> section is a fall through - they will only be used if the button is not -->
<!-- used in the current window's section. Note that there is only handling -->
<!-- for a single action per button at this stage. -->
<!-- For joystick/gamepad configuration under linux/win32, see below as it differs from xbox -->
<!-- gamepads. -->
<!-- The format is: -->
<!-- <device> -->
<!-- <button>action</button> -->
<!-- </device> -->
<!-- To map keys from other remotes using the RCA protocol, you may add <universalremote> blocks -->
<!-- In this case, the tags used are <obc#> where # is the original button code (OBC) of the key -->
<!-- You set it up by adding a <universalremote> block to the window or <global> section: -->
<!-- <universalremote> -->
<!-- <obc45>Stop</obc45> -->
<!-- </universalremote> -->
<!-- To find out the OBC's of your remote, try enabling the <displayremotecodes> tag in AdvancedSettings.xml -->
<!-- Note that the action can be a built-in function. -->
<!-- eg <B>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MyMusic)"</B> -->
<!-- would automatically go to My Music on the press of the B button. -->
<!-- Joysticks / Gamepads: -->
<!-- See the sample PS3 controller configuration below for the format. -->
<!-- -->
<!-- Joystick Name: -->
<!-- Do 'cat /proc/bus/input/devices' or see your xbmc log file to find the names of -->
<!-- detected joysticks. The name used in the configuration should match the detected name. -->
<!-- -->
<!-- Button Ids: -->
<!-- 'id' is the button ID used by SDL. Joystick button ids of connected joysticks appear -->
<!-- in xbmc.log when they are pressed. Use your log to map custom buttons to actions. -->
<!-- -->
<!-- Axis Ids / Analog Controls -->
<!-- Coming soon. -->
<keymap>
<global>
<remote>
<three>VolumeUp</three>
<six>VolumeDown</six>
<nine>Mute</nine>
<play>Play</play>
<pause>Pause</pause>
<stop>Stop</stop>
<forward>FastForward</forward>
<reverse>Rewind</reverse>
<left>Left</left>
<right>Right</right>
<up>Up</up>
<down>Down</down>
<select>Select</select>
<pageplus>PageUp</pageplus>
<pageminus>PageDown</pageminus>
<back>ParentDir</back>
<menu>ContextMenu</menu>
<info>Info</info>
<skipplus>SkipNext</skipplus>
<skipminus>SkipPrevious</skipminus>
<display>FullScreen</display>
<start>PreviousMenu</start>
<record>Screenshot</record>
<volumeplus>VolumeUp</volumeplus>
<volumeminus>VolumeDown</volumeminus>
<mute>Mute</mute>
<power>XBMC.ShutDown()</power>
<myvideo>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MyVideos)</myvideo>
<mymusic>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MyMusic)</mymusic>
<mypictures>XBMC.ActivateWindow(MyPictures)</mypictures>
<mytv>XBMC.ActivateWindow(Home)</mytv>
</remote>
</global>
</keymap>
##Create ~/.kodi/userdata/Lircmap.xml
<!-- This file contains the mapping of LIRC keys to XBMC keys used in Keymap.xml -->
<!-- -->
<!-- How to add remotes -->
<!-- <remote device="name_Lirc_calls_the_remote"> -->
<!-- -->
<!-- For the commands the layout following layout is used -->
<!-- <XBMC_COMMAND>LircButtonName</XBMC_COMMAND> -->
<!-- -->
<!-- For a list of XBMC_COMMAND's check out the <remote> sections of keymap.xml -->
<lircmap>
<remote device="gyration">
<select>Enter</select>
<pause>Pause</pause>
<stop>Stop</stop>
<forward>Forward</forward>
<reverse>Rewind</reverse>
<left>Left</left>
<right>Right</right>
<up>Up</up>
<down>Down</down>
<select>OK</select>
<pageplus>ChanUp</pageplus>
<pageminus>ChanDown</pageminus>
<back>Back</back>
<menu>Guide</menu>
<play>Play</play>
<info>More</info>
<skipplus>Skip</skipplus>
<skipminus>Replay</skipminus>
<display>LiveTV</display>
<start>Home</start>
<record>Record</record>
<volumeplus>VolUp</volumeplus>
<volumeminus>VolDown</volumeminus>
<mute>Mute</mute>
<power>Power</power>
<myvideo>Videos</myvideo>
<mymusic>Music</mymusic>
<mypictures>Pictures</mypictures>
<mytv>TV</mytv>
<one>One</one>
<two>Two</two>
<three>Three</three>
<four>Four</four>
<five>Five</five>
<six>Six</six>
<seven>Seven</seven>
<eight>Eight</eight>
<nine>Nine</nine>
<zero>Zero</zero>
<mytv>Red</mytv>
<mymusic>Green</mymusic>
<mypictures>Yellow</mypictures>
<myvideo>Blue</myvideo>
</remote>
</lircmap>
##Testing
Make sure lircd is not running:
sudo killall lircd
Start lircd using /etc/rc.local:
sudo /etc/rc.local
We use the irw command to test. It comes with the lirc package. This is me pressing various buttons, then holding the volume up. Notice that the repeating key shows incrementing numbers. You should get a blank line that will print the key name as configured in lircd.conf when that button is pressed.
sudo irw /dev/lircd
00000000800100a6 00 Stop gyration
00000000800100a7 00 RecTV gyration
0000000080010073 00 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 00 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 01 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 02 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 03 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 04 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 05 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 06 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 07 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 08 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 09 VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 0a VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 0b VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 0c VolUp gyration
0000000080010073 0d VolUp gyration
Please let me know if you’ve found this guide helpful, had any problems, or would like to suggest a change.