Input Mapping Help Request - Plex HTPC and URC Remote

Plex Players Desktop Players
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Plex HTPC.log (73.3 KB)
I am using a MacMini as my PlexServer and client. I’ve been using Plex Media Player, as I cannot get Plex HTPC to work with my remote.

I have a URC MX-890 remote, that works perfectly well with Plex Media Player, but despite hours of attempts at creating an appropriate input map to be used in Plex HTPC, I cannot get the URC MX-890 remote to have the same functionality in Plex HTPC, that it does in Plex Media Player.

The URC MX-890 remote controls Plex Media Player via an IR blaster on the MacMini, and has worked well for years, through most iterations of Plex clients, Plex HTPC being the exception.

I’ve compared the contents of the input map files for Plex Media Player to those for Plex HTPC, and my limited knowledge has not led me to identify any obvious discrepancies.

I’ve read and re-read the https://support.plex.tv/articles/plex-htpc-input-maps/ tutorial, opened Plex HTPC, clicked buttons on my URC MX-890 remote, quit Plex HTPC, viewed the logs, and attempted to create my own custom input map file in .json format, and saved it to the appropriate folder: ~Library/Application Support/Plex HTPC/inputmaps, but I am obviously doing something wrong, and I can’t get the URC MX-890 remote to function with Plex HTPC, even though the same remote operates Plex Media Player on the same MacMini without any difficulty.

My Plex Media Server and Plex HTPC versions are the most current / updated, as of 02 September 2024.

Any help is greatly appreciated - thank you!

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My current attempt at an input map file (.json) created using BBEdit on the MacMini, and stored in the appropriate folder as noted in my initial post:

{
  "name": "URC MX-890",
  "idmatcher": "IOSPIRIT GmbH-IOSPIRIT IR Receiver Emulation.*",
  "mapping": 
  {
     "KEY_LEFT": "left",
     "KEY_RIGHT": "right",
     "KEY_UP": "up",
     "KEY_DOWN": "down",
     "KEY_MENU": "home",
     "KEY_SELECT": "enter",
     "KEY_OK": "enter",
     "KEY_BACK": "back",
     "KEY_EXIT": "back",
     "KEY_RED": "red",
     "KEY_GREEN": "green",
     "KEY_YELLOW": "yellow",
     "KEY_BLUE": "blue",
     "KEY_PLAY": "play",
     "KEY_STOP": "stop",
     "KEY_PAUSE": "pause",
     "KEY_SEEKFWD": "seek_forward",
     "KEY_FASTFORWARD" : "seek_forward",
     "KEY_SEEKBCK": "seek_backward",
     "KEY_REWIND": "seek_backward",
     "KEY_SUBTITLES": "cycle_subtitles",
     "KEY_INFO": "host:toggleDebug",
     "KEY_NEXT": "step_forward",
     "KEY_PREV": "step_backward",
     "KEY_HOME": "home",
     "KEY_NUMERIC_([0-9])": "%1",
     "KEY_DVD": "home",
     "KEY_EPG": "home",
     "KEY_1": "1",
     "KEY_2": "2",
     "KEY_3": "3",
     "KEY_4": "4",
     "KEY_5": "5",
     "KEY_6": "6",
     "KEY_7": "7",
     "KEY_8": "8",
     "KEY_9": "9",
     "KEY_0": "0",
     "KEY_MENU": "menu",
     "KEY_GUIDE": "home",
     "KEY_FWD": "seek_forward",
     "KEY_REW": "seek_backward",
     "KEY_SEL": "enter",
     "KEY_ENT": "enter"
  }
1 Like
3

I gave up and just use a FLIRC receiver.

4

Got it. I actually ordered a FLIRC USB and Skip1s remote (on sale) a few days ago.

Any tips on setting up the FLIRC for optimal use with Plex HTPC?

5

Your logs do not indicate any input being received from this remote. So the issue is not the mapping but rather the keycodes not even making it into the app.

6

Any thoughts on troubleshooting?

The same remote works fine with Plex Media Player, and looking through the various .json files in the respective application support inputmap folders for PMP and HTPC doesn’t (to my uneducated eyes) look different.

I noticed that one line is the log shows that an AppleRemote was detected by HTPC, so presumably my URC remote acts by mimicking the Apple Remote to some extent (I don’t own or use an Apple Remote).

The log entry about the “IOSPIRIT” remote made me think that this was the remote being identified by HTPC when I tried to use the URC.

The additionally weird part is that when using HTPC the URC remote can successfully go right and left with right and left arrow key movements, and the “sel” button on the URC remote is accepted as “enter” — but that’s it. No ability to move up or down, numeric input isn’t accepted, no key reproduces back or exit.

I wonder if changing the AppleRemote .json default key mapping info would change anything?

7

It is super easy but what is really useful is being able to create desktop shortcut combinations mapped to unused remote buttons.

Even simple commands like using the remote to start Plex HTPC and then exit it when done, with the press of a button.

Fixing FF and REW mapping is super easy too.

Flirc comes with good help files but it is intuitive. The ready made interfaces are useful.

I did set up our Harmony 650 to use with Plex but then modified some actions for our usage.

I wasn’t that impressed with the Flirc Skip1s but maybe it has improved.

I have a number of new 650’s as backups so should last me another 10 years. The database is still quite active with new models still being added despite new remotes not being developed by Logitech.

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