Usb-uirt

http://www.usbuirt.com/overview.htm

Didn't see an entry for this beast here in gentoo land so here's how I just got mine working.

Environment:

Kernel: Linux g2 2.6.23-gentoo-r5 #1 Sat Feb 16 18:04:53 PST 2008 i686 Intel(R) Celeron(R) D CPU 3.06GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linu lirc version:

• app-misc/lirc

     Latest version available: 0.8.2-r2
     Latest version installed: 0.8.2-r2
     Size of files: 619 kB
     Homepage:      http://www.lirc.org/
     Description:   decode and send infra-red signals of many commonly used remote controls
     License:       GPL-2

Kernel config changes:

Get the FTDI module in your kenel:

# grep FTDI /etc/kernels/kernel-config-x86-2.6.23-gentoo-r5 
CONFIG_USB_SERIAL_FTDI_SIO=m

via genkernel menuconfig:

  Location:                                                  
      -> Device Drivers                                      
        -> USB support (USB_SUPPORT [=y])                    
          -> USB Serial Converter support                    
            -> USB Serial Converter support (USB_SERIAL [=m])

/etc/make.conf

Add a line for lircd configuration: LIRC_DEVICES="usb_uirt_raw"

emerge lirc, rebuild kernel, etc. When it comes up check dmesg for what tty is assigned to the usb-uirt:

dmesg | grep usb
drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial Driver core
drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial support registered for FTDI USB Serial Device
drivers/usb/serial/ftdi_sio.c: Detected FT232RL
usb 5-1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
usbcore: registered new interface driver ftdi_sio
drivers/usb/serial/ftdi_sio.c: v1.4.3:USB FTDI Serial Converters Driver

This is the argument you'll give lircd

/etc/conf.d/lircd file: 
LIRCD_OPTS="-H usb_uirt_raw -d /dev/ttyUSB0"

You can then use irrecord, irw, etc to record a remote, test an existing remote, etc.