Perfect Home Theater (PHT)/Wesena/Streacom Internal IR Module
Introduction
The Perfect Home Theater (PHT)/Wesena/Streacom Internal IR Module is a remote control receiver that mimics keystrokes or combinations. Using EventGhost, the user is able to fully control an HTPC regardless of the chosen front end (Kodi, Plex, Emby, etc.). The module I was shipped came with no documentation, no instructions, no installation media. This post is meant to serve as a repository of information gleaned from the retailers site, forums, etc.
Let me know in the comments before if I've made a mistake or if you have any additional information about this module.
Installation
Connect the IR Module to the motherboard and power button PCB as shown in the wiring diagram provided in the user guide. You'll notice that the power signal is routed through the IR Module, this allows the remote to turn on the computer, not just bring it out of sleep or hibernation. Pretty cool!
Fig 1.1 - Wiring Diagram
According to this important information document on the manuals & drivers page, there is an alternate way to wire up the IR module:
Fig 1.2 - Alternate Wiring Diagram
The only difference in the two figures above seem to be the order in which the power signal is routed through the IR Module. Top to bottom: motherboard to chassis button or vice versa. In my case, Fig 1.1 worked.
To ensure the path through the IR Module is correctly connected, I started by pressing the power button on the case to power on the machine. Leaving the power on via remote functionality to test later.
Windows will automatically install the appropriate drivers. Windows will view the module as a generic HID compliant device. Button presses on the remote will correspond to key-presses (individual keys or combinations) on the keyboard. For example, by default the power button on the remote is treated as the ALT+F4 key-press combination.
Customization
Flash The IR Module Firmware (Untested)
After the IR Module is installed, you have a few options to customize the functionality of the remote. A common complaint seems to be the ALT+F4 functionality of the remotes power button. If that is all that you want to change, you can flash the IR Module firmware using these tools provided by the retailer on their help page (the instructions are important because the executable seems to be in Chinese):
- Download the executable:
- http://techsupport.perfecthometheater.com/RC26.exe
- Download on the following existing firmware binaries:
- http://techsupport.perfecthometheater.com/RC260-20120114-Alt-F4.bin
- http://techsupport.perfecthometheater.com/RC260-20120515-SLEEP.bin
- http://techsupport.perfecthometheater.com/RC260-20141118-OFF.bin
- Follow the instructions:
- http://techsupport.perfecthometheater.com/Manuals/Programming%20IR.pdf
You appear to be able to remap the entire remote (creating your own .bin file) using this tool provided by Streacom on their product information downloads page. There's also a discussion over on the Kodi forums pertaining to flashing the remote.
Install EventGhost
If you're on Windows, you can install EventGhost from their website and customize the functionality of each button press without needing to flash the firmware. EventGhost allows you to interact with a number of plugins and if you're using Kodi (or another media player) on Windows, this might be the more appropriate route
There is not a specific plugin required for this IR Module. After installing EventGhost, simply ensure that the Keyboard plugin is added to the Autostart tree. You can test the remote by pressing a button and seeing the corresponding keypress in the EventGhost event log.
Now, you can create a macro to respond to the ALT+F4 event. Simply creating the macro and adding the ALT+F4 event will prevent the keypress from bubbling up to Windows and closing the current application. If you have the Kodi plugin (XBMC2) enabled, you could add the Power action below the ALT+F4 event, and now pressing the Power button will tell Kodi to take whatever action it's configured to take when "Power" is pressed.
Sources
- http://www.streacom.com/products/irrc/#mt-sctabs-Downloads
- http://techsupport.perfecthometheater.com/Manuals%20&%20drivers.htm
- http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=167500