Install OpenElec 1.0.2 on Asrock ION 3D 152d and a Logitech Harmony Remote

This is a step-by-step guide to install OpenElec 1.0.2 on an Asrock ION 3D 152d, and optionally configuring a Logitech Harmony Remote.

Installing OpenElec:

Go to the OpenElec site and download the ION build (i have downloaded the i386 build, but the x86_64 i think will work too with this guide).

1. Make a bootable USB key from your PC using this guide if you are on Windows PC, or this guide for Linux PC.
2. Install OpenElec on your Asrock using this guide.

That’s all about the installation, now we go further for fixing some little problems.

Fixing some problems

Get the audio over HDMI working

My Asrock in connected to an Onkyo TX-NR608 Audio/Video receiver and i use only audio over HDMI, so I have disabled the onboard sound card in the BIOS.

I think this will also work if your Asrock is directly connected to your TV through HDMI.

1. Disable the onboard sound card in the BIOS.
2. OpenElec will default make some shares available, go to [your Asrock ip]Configfiles
3. Open the directory asound.conf.sample and copy the file asound.conf_double-xs35gt.sample into the Configfiles share. Then rename the file to asound.conf.
4. Open this file, go down and edit this:

   pcm.tv {
   	type hw
   	card 1
   	device 7
   	channels 2
   }

   to this:

   pcm.tv {
   	type hw
   	card 0
   	device 7
   	channels 2
   }

5. Save and close the file.
6. Reboot your system.
7. Inside XBMC, go to:Settings -> System –> Audio and make the following configuration:
   • Audio output = HDMI
   • Speaker configuration = 5.1 (or what your receiver is capable of)
   • Audio output device = custom
   • Custom audio device = plughw:0,7
   • Passthrough output device = custom
   • Custom passthrough device = plughw:0,7  
8. Reboot the system

Fix the Splash Screen

1. Follow this guide (follow the NVIDIA instructions)

Setting up the Logitech Harmony Remote

I have an old Logitech Harmony 885 Remote and i want to use it with my XMBC, this guide will work also for the most Harmony Remotes, maybe changing a little the key mappings.

The following things are really important for me to accomplish with it:

• Change the subtitles while watching a video
• Change the audio stream while watching a video
• Be able to set the subtitle delay while watching a movie with external subtitles.
• Go to DVD menu while watching a DVD video

Follow this steps:

1. Start the Logitech Harmony Remote Software
2. Add a new device:
   Device: Computer -> Media Center PC
   Manufacturer:  Microsoft
   Model:              MCE-1039
3. Once you finalize the process of adding your HTPC, you will see it listed under the “Devices” tab. Now you can customize the device settings. Click on “Settings” for your HTPC device..
   
4. This is how my settings looks like:
5. This are my additional buttons:
6. Once you have finished configuring the remote you can move on to settings on your Asrock. The settings I use are found under Settings –> System –> Input devices. Under this section I have both “Remote control sends keyboard presses and Enable mouse DISABLED.
7. In order to completely customize the button functionality like I wanted on your Harmony Remote, you must personalize the mappings in the keymap.xml file. Under OpenELEC, this file can be created at the following adres [your Asrock ip]Userdatakeymaps

This is how my file looks like: http://pastebin.com/EwLMxcqP

An explanation about what i did:

in the file I have done the following changes in the section :

SubtitleDelayPlus
SubtitleDelayMinus
NextSubtitle
AudioNextLanguage
ShowVideoMenu

This makes possible to change the delay of the subtitle with the pageup en pagemin, Showing the DVD menu with the * key (this key was not native on my Harmony so i have to map it as custom button), and changing the subtitle and the audio streams (this are also custom buttons).

A little note is for the audio, the command in XMBC is named ‹language›, but in the Logitech Remote Software the command name is Audio