IP or IR for Apple TV

I am running MyServer in a VM on a Qnap server.  If I want to control the Apple TV via IP, I will need to install PyATV.  A form post also stated that I will need to manually start the .Net to Python Bridge, but does not explain how this is done.  There is a link to the PyATV website.  Should I use a Docker container, or not?  I found the pyatvagent.service in the data/python directory.  Is that the "bridge" they are referring to?

Before I dive into this, I thought it might be easier to just use IR to control the Apple TV.  I have setup my Global Cache to control my Blu-Ray player, so the hardware and Control Driver is already set up.

I have loaded the Apple TV Gen 4 device into the System IR Database, but what driver should I use for IR control of the Apple TV?

I would appreciate any suggestions as to if I should pursue IP or IR control of the Apple TV, and how to get past the point where I am stuck on each approach.

I switched to IR for my ATV before switching to the VM. My primary reason for doing it was because almost every update on the ATV caused the pairing to fail and I had to "jiggle the system" to get it working. IR has been bulletproof delivered via a stick-on emitter. In the Serial Database mine is listed as Apple TV Gen 4.

I was using an IR blaster for a bit and it worked just fine. My issue was that I kept messing with stuff and moving it off to the side, thus the ATV would stop responding. The stick-on emitter fixes that "problem".

bitzerjd wrote:

I switched to IR for my ATV before switching to the VM. My primary reason for doing it was because almost every update on the ATV caused the pairing to fail and I had to "jiggle the system" to get it working. IR has been bulletproof delivered via a stick-on emitter. In the Serial Database mine is listed as Apple TV Gen 4.

I was using an IR blaster for a bit and it worked just fine. My issue was that I kept messing with stuff and moving it off to the side, thus the ATV would stop responding. The stick-on emitter fixes that "problem".
 

For the blu-ray player, I use the Generic IR Control driver to setup the Global Cache box, and the BluRay Player IR Control driver for the player itself.  What driver do you use for the Apple TV when you want to control it via IR?

I also use the Gen 4 IR commands for my Apple TV. There is no device specific driver I use for this. I just copy the IR commands I need into my Apple TV scene in myDesigner and modify the appropriate macros to turn the ATV on and off as needed.

You are halfway there.... Just go into IR Database and add the ATV (Mine was Brand Name = Apple, Brand Type = Media Manager, Name =Apple TV Gen 4)

Once you add it, us the Generic IR Control to test the commands.

Mine look like this: Control|3~SendIR~Apple TV Gen 4~CHANNEL DOWN

Hope this helps

I got it as far as the test commands work.  I was hoping there was a driver like the BluRay Player IR control, that would create the scene and the macros for me, so all I would have to do is tell it which IR emitter to use.

I guess I have to build the scene from scratch.