lirc_mceusb doesn't recognize eHome IR receiver

[Peter Nyilas]

Binary package hint: lirc

lsb_release -rd:
Description: Ubuntu 9.10
Release: 9.10

dpkg -l | grep lirc:
ii liblircclient0 0.8.6-0ubuntu2 infra-red remote control support - client li
ii lirc 0.8.6-0ubuntu2 infra-red remote control support
ii lirc-modules-source 0.8.6-0ubuntu2 infra-red remote control support - kernel mo
ii lirc-x 0.8.6-0ubuntu2 infra-red remote control support - X utiliti

here's some lsusb output: (lsusb -vvs 1:2)
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:0161 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Mass Stroage Device
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass 0
  bDeviceProtocol 0
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x0bda Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
  idProduct 0x0161 Mass Stroage Device
  bcdDevice 61.10
  iManufacturer 1 Generic
  iProduct 2 USB2.0-CRW
  iSerial 3 20070818000000000
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 139
    bNumInterfaces 3
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 4 CARD READER
    bmAttributes 0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower 500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 3
      bInterfaceClass 11 Chip/SmartCard
      bInterfaceSubClass 0
      bInterfaceProtocol 0
      iInterface 6 Smart Card Reader Interface
      ** UNRECOGNIZED: 36 21 10 01 00 07 03 00 00 00 a6 0e 00 00 4c 1d 00 00 00 60 27 00 00 b4 c4 04 00 00 fe 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 01 00 0f 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 8
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x05 EP 5 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x86 EP 6 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 1
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 2
      bInterfaceClass 8 Mass Storage
      bInterfaceSubClass 6 SCSI
      bInterfaceProtocol 80 Bulk (Zip)
      iInterface 5 Bulk-In, Bulk-Out, Interface
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 2
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 2
      bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
      iInterface 7 eHome Infrared Receiver
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x07 EP 7 OUT
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 8
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x88 EP 8 IN
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 8
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
  bLength 10
  bDescriptorType 6
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass 0
  bDeviceProtocol 0
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  bNumConfigurations 1
Device Status: 0x0000
  (Bus Powered)

It's a built-in card reader and IR receiver with AIM RC-126 Remote Control. I've found some windoze drivers, it's recognises as a
VENDOR = "Realtek Semiconduct Corp."
Rts5161IR = "Realtek IR Driver(5161)"

(dmesg -l | grep mceusb)
[ 5914.455744] lirc_mceusb: Windows Media Center Edition USB IR Transceiver driver for LIRC 1.90
[ 5914.455752] lirc_mceusb: Daniel Melander <email address hidden>, Martin Blatter <email address hidden>, Dan Conti <email address hidden>
[ 5914.455758] lirc_mceusb: debug mode enabled
[ 5914.455820] usbcore: registered new interface driver lirc_mceusb

... and it's all no response from irw (from /var/log/syslog:)
Dec 3 13:37:01 htpc lircd-0.8.6[1044]: caught signal
Dec 3 13:37:01 htpc lircd-0.8.6[2521]: lircd(default) ready, using /var/run/lirc/lircd
Dec 3 13:37:26 htpc lircd-0.8.6[2521]: accepted new client on /var/run/lirc/lircd
Dec 3 13:37:26 htpc lircd-0.8.6[2521]: could not get file information for /dev/lirc0
Dec 3 13:37:26 htpc lircd-0.8.6[2521]: default_init(): No such file or directory
Dec 3 13:37:26 htpc lircd-0.8.6[2521]: Failed to initialize hardware
Dec 3 13:37:39 htpc lircd-0.8.6[2521]: removed client

[Ken Pratt (kenpratt)]

I am having the same problem on 10.10. My device is:

Windows Media Center Edition USB IR Transceiver driver

The same as the one noted by the original author of this ticket.

After boot, there is no /dev/lirc device node.

running 'lsmod | fgrep lirc' reveals

lirc_mceusb 14580 0
lirc_dev 12140 1 lirc_mceusb

From kern.log
usb 3-2: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 4
Mar 18 14:51:11 flipper kernel: [12318.109241] Registered IR keymap rc-rc6-mce
Mar 18 14:51:11 flipper kernel: [12318.109439] input: Media Center Ed. eHome Infrared Remote Transceiver (0471:0815) as /devices/virtual/rc/rc0/input8
Mar 18 14:51:11 flipper kernel: [12318.109536] rc0: Media Center Ed. eHome Infrared Remote Transceiver (0471:0815) as /devices/virtual/rc/rc0
Mar 18 14:51:11 flipper kernel: [12318.109591] mceusb 3-2:1.0: Registered Philips eHome Infrared Transceiver on usb3:4

[Alec Leamas (leamas-alec)]

Not having /dev/lirc0 is a kernel issue. re-assigning to kernel

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Alec Leamas (leamas-alec)]

Definitely the kernel (meda subsystem), but perhaps wrong version. Sorry, rookie doing my best...