Using MediaPortal IRSS and EventGhsot simulatneously.

[ijourneaux]

I am trying to use MediaPortal and to blast an IR code to my settop box, I need to use IRSS. I am using the USB-UIRT as a blaster. Unfortunately it appears that only IRSS or Eventghost can have access to the USB-UIRT. I beleive it is because IRSS using a separate dll to access the USB-UIRT.

Has anyone experience this problem and figured out a way around it?

Ian

[Livin]

You cannot share a device with two apps at the same time. EG can do everything irss can, and just use eventghost.

[ijourneaux]

THe USB-UIRT is supposed to allow for multipel connecdtions. A test with EventGHost and LRNHelper confirms that multipel connections are possible. Working with JOn (USB-UIRT developer), we confirmed that since IRSS is a service that connects to the USB-UIRT, that allowed only one connection at a time. Jon was able to modify, and I was able to test a version of uuirtdrv.dll so that both IRSS and Eventghost could connect to the USB-UIRT. Hopefully he will be able to provide a final version on his web site.

As for why both EventGhost and IRSS(MediaPortal); if was just controlling Mediaportal then eventghost would have worked but MediaPortal need to blast my cable box to change the channel and couldn't do that using the USB-UIRT if the USB-UIRT was used by EventGhost. With the new uuuirtdrv.dll. Both work as they should.

[Livin]

THe USB-UIRT is supposed to allow for multipel connecdtions. A test with EventGHost and LRNHelper confirms that multipel connections are possible. Working with JOn (USB-UIRT developer), we confirmed that since IRSS is a service that connects to the USB-UIRT, that allowed only one connection at a time. Jon was able to modify, and I was able to test a version of uuirtdrv.dll so that both IRSS and Eventghost could connect to the USB-UIRT. Hopefully he will be able to provide a final version on his web site.

Glad Jon was able to get it working for you. Do you know if he will post it? Does it work for any app/service wanting to connect to the UIRT?

Also -- I should have been more specific with my initial statement. Not more than one app may 'access' a device at any given time. I knew IRSS ran as a service since I used IRSS a long time ago... so I assumed it was locking the device, which is common with services. Vs EventGhost, which only connects to the device when/as needed.

As for why both EventGhost and IRSS(MediaPortal); if was just controlling Mediaportal then eventghost would have worked but MediaPortal need to blast my cable box to change the channel and couldn't do that using the USB-UIRT if the USB-UIRT was used by EventGhost. With the new uuuirtdrv.dll. Both work as they should.

I don't see a reason why EG could not send IR to your cable box? You can program the cable boxes IR codes into EG... with simple copy/paste if you already have the codes (most at published all over the web) or you can learn them into the UIRT / EG.

Would this not work for some reason I don't know?

[ijourneaux]

I don't see a reason why EG could not send IR to your cable box? You can program the cable boxes IR codes into EG... with simple copy/paste if you already have the codes (most at published all over the web) or you can learn them into the UIRT / EG.

Event Ghost could blast the cable box manually but I was unable to figure out how to get MediaPortal to tell eventghost when and what to blast when MediaPortal neede to change channels on the cable box. Maybe there is a way to do that, I just couldn't figure it out. Changing channels via IRSS is built in to MediaPortal.

I haven't heard back from Jon regarding what else was need to update the dll on his website. Will post as soon as I heard soemthing back.

[Livin]

gotcha. if it is automatic with MP I'd have kept it that way too, don't blame you. I suspect there would be a way to route the info to EG but probably not worth the time unless you need to trigger things in EG.

[ijourneaux]

I exchanged emails with Jon (USB-UIRT developer) and he gave me permission to share the new usbuirtddrv.dll. THis is not a final version. It still has bugs ( I have seen atleast one) but it does seem to make EventGhost and IRSS compatible.

This will need to be copied overtop the one already in the Windows\system32 folder and the system should then be rebooted.

If you observe any quirks, please post the information here.

[Livin]

Does he plan to do a test phase and an official release?

[ijourneaux]

He didn't indicate his path forward other than indicate that handling the fact that IRSS connects as a service rather than as an application (like Eventghost does) seriously complicates the code.

The bug I encountered generated an error but the USB-UIRT events are strill caught and processed by EVentGhost.

[brand10]

Hey guys,

There is a plugin for mediaportal which can send events to EG.
Give it a try and maybe u can uninstall the rubbish (in my opinion) irss....

[ijourneaux]

Thanks for the tip. Will look into it when I have a chance. I would love to remove IRSS