How to setup an infrared remote on LibreELEC/Kodi on RPI

ir-libreelec.md

Using a simple IR receiver such as IR5040 or TSOPxxxxx and a Raspberry Pi running LibreELEC + Kodi

Enable lirc in Kodi

Edit the file at /flash/config:

• mount -o remount,rw /flash
• vi /flash/config
• append device_tree_overlay=lirc-rpi
• mount -o remount,ro /flash

Connect the receiver

Check pinout on datasheet; use 3.3V rail, any GND, and data to GPIO #18/pin 12 (cf https://learn.adafruit.com/assets/5909)

IR5040 datasheet: http://www.tme.eu/en/Document/54a544ab7820a97322a14fb463e54018/ir5040.pdf

When looking at the component, flat side parallel to the ground plane, legs towards you, leg further from the other to the right:

• pin 1: GND
• pin 2: VCC (2.7~5.0V)
• pin 3: OUT

Reboot the PI

Check that the IR receiver works

• ssh root@mykodi
• dmesg | grep lirc (should give something like "lirc_rpi: auto-detected active low receiver on GPIO pin 18")
• killall lircd && mode2 -d /dev/lirc0 to check if it receives anything when pressing any button on the remote

Map the IR codes to specific keys

In /storage/.config:

• irrecord -d /dev/lirc0 to start the recording wizard, use brand-remote-model pattern to name file
• record at least the following keys:
  • KEY_UP
  • KEY_DOWN
  • KEY_LEFT
  • KEY_RIGHT
  • KEY_PLAY (will play/pause)
  • KEY_PAUSE (optional, will do the same as KEY_PLAY)
  • KEY_STOP
  • KEY_VOLUMEUP
  • KEY_VOLUMEDOWN
  • KEY_INFO
  • KEY_EPG (contextual menu)
  • KEY_EXIT (back)

Symlink the remote file

lircd will look for a file named lircd.conf: If the remote doesn't have any effect but the receiver is working (as verified with mode2), then double check the remote config file is named lircd.conf.

• ln -s "$(pwd)/myremote.lircd.conf" "$(pwd)/lircd.conf"

Check if lirc works

• irw /rub/lirc/lircd-lirc0 and press remote buttons. Should see the keymaps as the buttons are pressed.

Troubleshooting

Check if lircd works at all

• killall lircd
• /usr/sbin/lircd --nodaemon --loglevel=debug --driver=default --device=/dev/lirc0 --output=/run/lirc/lircd-lirc0 --pidfile=/run/lirc/lircd-lirc0.pid --release=_LIRCUP /storage/.config/lircd.conf in one terminal
• /usr/sbin/lircd-uinput --loglevel=debug --release=_LIRCUP /run/lirc/lircd-lirc0 in another
• press keys, see if there is any output

If keys configured successfully, try

• irw -d /dev/lirc0 and press buttons. If it registers, check that /storage/config/lircd.conf exists; file must be lircd.conf and not other name.

Helpful threads:

• https://www.solihull-web-design.com/blog/how-setup-lirc-gpio-ir-remote-control-openelec-xbmckodi-raspberry-pi-1-and-2
• https://forum.libreelec.tv/post-41994.html
• https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread-8016-post-48094.html

sony-rmt-d109a.lircd.conf

# Please take the time to finish this file as described in
# https://sourceforge.net/p/lirc-remotes/wiki/Checklist/
# and make it available to others by sending it to
# <[email protected]>
#
# This config file was automatically generated
# using lirc-0.9.4c(default) on Sat May  6 19:04:25 2017
# Command line used: -d /dev/lirc0 lircd.conf
# Kernel version (uname -r): 4.9.13
#
# Remote name (as of config file): sony-rmt-d109a
# Brand of remote device, the thing you hold in your hand:
# Remote device model nr: rmt-d109a
# Remote device info url:
# Does remote device has a bundled capture device e. g., a
#     usb dongle? : no
# For bundled USB devices: usb vendor id, product id
#     and device string (use dmesg or lsusb):
# Type of device controlled
#     (TV, VCR, Audio, DVD, Satellite, Cable, HTPC, ...) :
# Device(s) controlled by this remote: tv/dvd

begin remote

  name  sony-rmt-d109a
  bits           12
  flags SPACE_ENC|CONST_LENGTH
  eps            30
  aeps          100

  header       2387   601
  one          1191   604
  zero          590   604
  post_data_bits  8
  post_data      0x92
  gap          44916
  toggle_bit_mask 0x0
  frequency    38000

      begin codes
          KEY_VOLUMEUP             0x06B
          KEY_VOLUMEDOWN           0xCCB
          KEY_UP                   0x9EB
          KEY_DOWN                 0x5EB
          KEY_LEFT                 0xDEB
          KEY_RIGHT                0x3EB
          KEY_OK                   0xD0B
          KEY_PLAY                 0x4CB
          KEY_PAUSE                0x9CB
          KEY_STOP                 0x1CB
          KEY_EXIT                 0x70B
          KEY_INFO                 0x2AB
          KEY_EPG                  0xD8B
      end codes

end remote

You have to look at your schematic, it tells you what the pinout is. Yours is in a different order than the one I used, so you have to wire it accordingly so that your GND, VCC, OUT go to the right pins on the RPi.

Depending on your sensor, you might have fried it if you put VCC on the wrong pin.

In your case, it looks indeed like the flat side should be on the left and then your pins are OUT, GND, VCC. Each sensor can have a different order for the pins but it doesn't matter (in that case) as long as the output signal is compatible.

Thanks a lot for your answer . I'll try to-morrow to modify my wiring, hopefully the device is not dead ...

FINE ! It does work ! I am lucky, I had not fried the device, and OUT,GND,VCC is good.
Thanks again, best regards from France.

Glad to hear it, enjoy your system!

Well ..... I'm afraid I was too much optimist ! My first problem was to set the IR device working, and thanks to you, it does. BUT :

• It works on my Raspberry Pi 3 running standard Raspbian.
• On the same Rasp 3, changing only the SD card to run LibreELEC, without touching the IR device, it does not at all : dmesg | grep lirc displays nothing, /dev/lirc* does not exist. What is wrong ? I expect there are some differences between LibreELEC and the standard Raspbian, but I cannot install anything in the LibreELEC OS.
  And I tried to use an infrared remote to LibreELEC... Is there any solution ?

Sorry to hear. I’ve switched to CEC about three years ago and don’t use IR anymore.

Did you do the first step (and did it take?) You can check by opening the /flash/config file again and check that it has the extra overlay directive. You need to do it again when you swap the card because that’s all stored on the SD.

Or maybe your sensor is busted, you could try with a new one or you could build a circuit with a led and a resistor on the OUT pin. I’d expect the led to light up matching the pulses that the sensor receives if it’s functioning normally. I reread your comment and you’re saying it works in raspian so the sensor is most likely fine.

Finally, you’ll probably have more luck asking on the libreelec forums; you’ll have a higher chance of finding someone currently using libreelec with an IR sensor.

Me again ....
Most of my problems have been resolved now, but one : irw is well responding the name of the key I have pressed on the remote, but irexec do nothing. I have put a .lircrc file in /storage, but it seems it is never read...
Since my last message, I try to register to libreelec.tv forum, but they never send the registration code, so I cannot ask any question in the forum.