SupaCEC - A utility to switch TV inputs when a controller is connected

Sano

Ok finally found a simple solution working here, if anybody could test :

First install cec-utils :
sudo apt-get install cec-utils

Create a /etc/udev/rules.d/10-cec.rules with this line:

ACTION=="add", KERNEL=="js0", SUBSYSTEM=="input", RUN+="/bin/bash -c '/bin/echo as | /usr/bin/cec-client -s -d 1'"

Note the rule will match only for the first controller (js0) and execute only once, and also note the full path to binaries.

Reload udev rules :
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules

When you plug the first controller, the tv should switch to retropie.
I tested it with (wireless) PS3 controller and USB arcade stick.

@psyke83
I was so concentrated testing things that I missed your post. Congrats, you found it first :)
The good thing is we both came to the same conclusions.

superterran

Awesome @Sano and @psyke83! I haven't had a chance to test this yet, but I like where this was headed and wanted to formalize something. I'll hopefully test it tonight, in the meantime if anyone wants to look it over https://github.com/superterran/SupaCEC/tree/refactoring-to-udev-rule

psyke83

@superterran

The script seems to work fine* - except for unnecessary sudo invocations - on my DS3 controller. The previous test only switched to the Pi when the tv was off, but yours will also switch HDMI inputs when the tv is on.

until you merge changes to the master branch, users need to specify the "refactoring-to-udev-rule" branch both in the curl instruction and manually appended to the gitPullOrClone line.

Edit: hmm, the first test worked, but second test after waiting for controller to timeout didn't switch inputs.

psyke83

I've done further testing and come to the conclusion that cec-client only works reliably when a single command is invoked.

Your script appears to send the two commands simultaneously per line - the "pause" & switch source command, but both of your rules match my DualShock 3, which means it's 4 commands being sent at once.

The behaviour is unpredictable with your version; sometimes the tv will switch source and sometimes not. With my simpler version, it works more reliably, but it doesn't always work, especially after first boot. I have Kodi configured to start on boot, so it may be interfering somehow.

ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="input", KERNEL=="js[0-9]*", RUN+="/bin/bash -c 'echo as | /usr/bin/cec-client -s -d 1'"

Sano

@meleu :
(Screaming like a movie character with fists toward the sky)
Nooooooo ! Whyyyyyyy ?

meleu

@Sano yo! Whats up doc?! :-)

Sano

@meleu It's my new (totally natural and not overacting) reaction to a downvote :)
I wish we had PM here...
Sorry !

meleu

@Sano OMG dude! Sorry! It was an accident (I was on the Android phone). You deserve an upvote!

I'm looking for a free time to join this conversation/development here. I'm interested!

meleu

Hello fellows.

I would like to say thanks! The cec-utils package is pretty handy. The udev rules are perfect!

The only addition I've made on my arcade build was adding a turn off monitor.sh script in RetroPie Menu.

#!/bin/bash
# turn off monitor.sh
#################
# Actually puts the monitor on stand by mode.
echo standby 0 | cec-utils -s -d 1