The Fugue

The "Debian Way" to install external kernel modules is, when applicable, to use module assistant. This creates and installs a .deb so that you can install/upgrade/whatever with apt.

Apparently a recent change in the linux kernel moved include/config.h to include/autoconf.h. When I tried to build the lirc modules for my new kernel by typing:

m-a -t a-i lirc

I got yelled at. Well it turns out there's a bug report and patch, so I could have patched the lirc-modules-source package, but armed with knowledge of the source of the problem problem it was easier to short circuit and just do this:

ln -s /lib/modules/`uname -r`/source/include/linux/{autoconf,config}.h

Works like a charm. Enjoy.

lircr (pronounced 'lurker') is a LIRC client library for Ruby. It's simple, it's easy, it's fun. If you got LIRC, get lircr. I am not responsible if you grow more hair on your index finger or thumb.

require 'lirc'
lirc = LIRC::Client.new
event = lirc.next
if event.name == "play"
    system "xmms", "/av/music/3.mod"
end

I've always been a software guy. I'm doing good if I can keep up with what good computer hardware is. But a combination of needing a way to control mplayer from the couch, poverty, and a desire to learn the useful skill of soldering drove me to create my own serial IR receiver for use with lirc.

I was afraid my first soldering project would be a disaster, but it really has turned out quite nice. At least, it's nice if you don't look at the back. :-) Check out the pictures on flickr.

I followed the instructions from the Linux Journal article, with some modifications. I didn't want it inside a DB9 case, I wanted to show off my geeky creation so I didn't cut up the perf board. I didn't want a DB9 connector, I wanted to use cat5 cable and an RJ45 to DB9 adapter that I had made previously. I used the IR Receiver from Radio Shack, model 276-640. The electronics store didn't have the precise voltage regulator called for but had one with the same output that could handle higher voltage so I got that instead.

If I were to start fresh, I would wish I had found these instructions instead. The LJ instructions are good, but these ones are better. I think I'd still use perfboard anyway, since I'm not encasing it in a DB9 hood.

The version of lirc-modules-source in Debian testing at the moment didn't work for some reason but the version from unstable works fine. I had a hard time finding out what model my universal remote is, but I was able to create a lircd config file for my DVD remote easy enough, and irw recognizes it fine.

I still have to configure mplayer but there should be nothing special to that. So I declare my IR receiver a success! Many thanks to Von for teaching me to solder, Jared for helping me in the initial research, and Erin for not putting up too much resistance to the idea.