Lirc 0.8.2-0ubuntu8 doesn't allow changing serial port address

Actually this can be modified. You will need to setup modprobe options similar to http://osdir.com/ml/hardware.lirc/2005-11/msg00044.html
This can be achieved by creating a file /etc/modprobe.d/lirc. In it, add a line like this:

options lirc_serial io=0x2f8 irq=3

rmmod and modprobe lirc_serial again, and you will have it using a different port.

During the next cycle we can go through and try to let this be chosen by debconf.

Thanks for the quick answers; I didn't realize it could be changed with modprobe options.

I think it'd be a good idea to allow debconf to modify this; or at least, I'd like to see this tip in http://help.ubuntu.com/community/Install_Lirc_Gutsy

Cheers

This bug was fixed in the package lirc - 0.8.3~pre1-0ubuntu4

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lirc (0.8.3~pre1-0ubuntu4) hardy; urgency=low

  * Add 25_upstream_2_6_24 to fix lirc_dev,lirc_serial,lirc_sir
    on 2.6.24.
  * Add 26_transmitter_lircd.conf for pre-shipped cable/satellite
    receiver lircd.conf's as well as a transmitter.hwdb
  * Add 27_multiple_include for allowing lircd.conf's via
    an 'include' directive.
  * Update 16_lirc-gpio, 22_hauppauge_novat_500, 24_freecom_dvbt
    for upstream driver name change from dev/input to devinput.
  * Drop 17_devinput since it is no longer necessary due to
    upstream driver name change.
  * Update 12_lirc_pvr150 for 2.6.24.
  * Update 20_lirc_serial_igor for 2.6.24.
  * Update 13-warning-cleanup for more cleanup on sir
  * Update 03_extra_files, 04_manpages, 12_pvr150_transmit_support,
    13-warning-cleanup, 16_lirc-gpio, 20_serial-igor, 21_atiusb,
    22_hauppauge_novat_500, 23_pad2keys, 24_freecom_dvbt
    to give a description of the patches.
  * debian/control:
    - Have lirc depend on setserial, so that lirc.postinst can
      customize things. (LP: #152871)
  * debian/lirc.links:
    - Add symlink from /etc/lirc/lircd.conf -> /etc/lircd.conf
      to prevent confusion for users coming from different distros.
    - Add symlink for transmitter.hwdb to different share directories.
  * debian/hardware.conf
    - Change top level remotes, drivers, etc to be remote specific.
    - Add support for transmitters.
    - Default to having lircd off until the maintainer scripts have
      updated things.
  * debian/lirc.init.d:
    - Reorder checking for hardware.conf, to make sure it occurs earlier.
    - Update init script to use LSB output.
    - Update init script to have the ability to spawn multiple lirc
      processes.
  * Drop devfs.conf and devfs.devices since devfs is no longer used
    in Ubuntu.
  * debian/rules:
    - No longer install devfs.conf and devfs.devices.
    - Install transmitter.hwdb
    - Install usr/share/lirc/transmitters
  * debian/lirc.templates:
    - Add extra templates for our chosen transmitter, device, driver,
      modules, and lircd_conf
    - Update all old device, driver, modules, and lircd_conf templates
      to be for remote only.
    - Remove extra space from remote template.
    - Add template for whether to enable/disable lircd.
    - Add a template for serial port selection (LP: 152871)
  * debian/lirc.postinst:
    - Unload all modules when issuing a reconfigure command.
    - In check_hardware_conf, don't write UNCONFIGURED, just write
      empty quotes to make sure we don't throw things off.
    - In check_hardware_conf, write out all our new modules as
      necessary.
    - In Save & DebconfLoad, read and store all new transmitter
      variables.
    - In ChooseRemote, read old values from hardware.conf rather than
      debconf, since debconf is not designed to be used as a database,
      but rather an intermediatary storage method.
    - In ChooseRemote, add transmitter support.
    - In ChooseRemote, define what lirc device we are using for
      dev/input as described in:
      https://blueprints.launchpad.net/mythbuntu/+spec/lirc-gpio-alternative
 ...