Gyration GYR3101US

Summary

The Gyration GYR3101US remote is identical in style to the Fiire Chief

And uses the gyro feature just like a mouse. The major difference is how the remote is detected and used by LMCE.

However the keys are not all mapped as nicely as the custom firmware of the Chief. However this can be simply updated by using the Xmodmap program, and its corresponding config file, to gain similar functionality from this remote.

The one I am using I purchased at Circuit CIty for $99US. This is only $50 less + shipping than the Fiire, but for those of us lucky enough to have a Circuit City nearby, it makes an inexpensive solution.

When the device is plugged in, it is identified and configured as a GO Wireless USB device. And the gyration mouse bit works immediatley. If this is all you want, your done. No more configuration is needed. In my case I wanted the "Ambience" (Volume/Lighting) control key mapped, as well as the Channel/Chapter function, and lets not forget the ability to pull up the menu while watching/listening to media. Also by default the Stop button will stop media playback, and the skip forward and back buttons work. Again, if this is all you want, your done :).

By default kubuntu/LMCE sees the volume up/down keys, the 10 key numbers, the MCE button, and the media control play/stop/ffwd/rwd/pause/skip fwd/skip back.

The HowTo

To enable the volume control, I used the xev application from the KDE desktop terminal window, and identified the required keys.

xev

Once this is run, it will pop-up a test window. Place your mouse in there, and then press the buttons on the Gyration remote, and see the results in the terminal. Pay special attention to the

keycode

entries, they are what you will place in your new .Xmodmap file.

Now on my particular setup, and I have a feeling its the default, the keys show up as:

Volume Up   keycode 176
Volume Down keycode 174
MCE button  keycode 97

Now the keys in LMCE that provide for the volume/channel/menu function are:

F6 = Channel/Chapter FFWD/RWD/PAUSE menu
F7 = Menu button
F8 = Volume/Lighting button "ambience"

Using this info, I created the following .Xmodmap file as root user in /etc

cd /etc
sudo vi /etc/.Xmodmap

/etc/.Xmodmap

keycode 176 = F8
keycode 174 = F6
keycode 97 = F7

Now after creating the file, we need to make sure it is loaded when LMCE starts up. To do this add the following as root to /usr/pluto/bin/lmce_launch_manager.sh

sudo vi /usr/pluto/bin/lmce_launch_manager.sh

Put this right before the line KDE_DEBUG=1 So that it looks like.....

xmodmap /etc/.Xmodmap
KDE_DEBUG=1

Save the file. Now you have two choices to get it going,

Choice 1 is to fire off the command

sudo xmodmap /etc/.Xmodmap 

This must be done from the KDE desktop term window, as it needs to be run in the X environment.

Choice 2 is to restart the core.

By placing the file in the lmce_launch_manager.sh script, anytime the core is rebooted, your settings are automagically set up. :)

There are a couple of oddities to deal with that I have seen. Now when I watch a movie, and want to change the volume or lighting, on a movie or pre-recorded program, it does what it supposed to, but when watching mythtv live, pressing the volume up on the Gyration remote invokes the Sleep Timer in mythtv. This can be easily resolved by remapping the sleep timer key using the mythweb application located at http://core.ip.address/mythweb/ for internal open systems or http://core.dhcp.server.adress/mythweb/

Simply unmap the sleep timer key.

So after you have completed these step the following keys will do these functions:

MCE button pulls up LMCE menu system
Volume Up button brings up the "Ambience" controls during media playback
Volume Down button brings up the Channel/Chapter Fast Forward/Rewind and Pause functions
The Gyration center button does movement
If you double click the center button, the mouse stays active, 
but remember to click once more to turn off, or you'll kill the batteries.
The Gyration Left button acts like the left mouse button for "Choose" functions
The Gyration Right button is the "exit" or "clear item" button. 
The left and right buttons are just like mouse buttons.
The Number keys work with MythTV

Thats it, your ready to be Inter "Active" with your LMCE system. Enjoy.

Please feel free to update this article with any other information, or if I forgot something. :-)