[linux-dvb] Re: List of Frontends/PLLs used by DVB devices

[Manu Abraham <manu@kromtek.com>]

On Sat September 18 2004 10:17 pm, Andrew de Quincey wrote:
> On Saturday 18 Sep 2004 18:55, Manu Abraham wrote:
> > On Sat September 18 2004 3:13 pm, Andrew de Quincey wrote:
> > > > These satellite cards feature an LG tuner, with SL1925 + STV0299B +
> > > > TSA 5059T in a metallic tuner. these cards have their initialization
> > > > routines for the respective frontends in the ASIC itself. The
> > > > frontend DVB that get loaded are bt878, dst.
> > > >
> > > >  Twinhan VP-1020 (DST MOT) (blue board)  bt878, dst
> > > >  Twinhan VP-1020 A (DST 03T) (red board)  bt878, dst
> > > >  Twinhan VP-1030 (DST-CI)(red board with CI) bt878, dst
> > > >    ?? DST-MCI  ??    bt878, dst
> > > >
> > > > These terrestrial/cable cards, i don't have but they also behave the
> > > > same way, ie all the initialization is in the ASIC
> > > >
> > > >  DCT-NEW
> > > >  DTTNXT
> > > >  DTTDIG
> > > >  DCT-CI
> > >
> > > Ah cool - so we don't really need to care about the frontend hardware
> > > details for tinwhan cards - its all done by dst.c/the ASIC, nice.
> >
> >   It is cool as long as the firmware in the ASIC is perfect. There could
> > be cases where the code in the ASIC does not handle certain cases, since
> > the manufacturer is always in a hurry to get the product into the market,
> > resulting in unstable hardware in certain conditions.
>
> Nah - I just meant it was good for my immediate concerns - I prefer how all
> the other devices do it for exactly the reasons you suggest - software is
> easily fixable. Odd though - I would have thought developing an ASIC would
> have added to the cost of the device as well, and usually they go for the
> cheapest option.

		I asked the manufacturer the same question.. They said they would have 
unfair competition in China..

> Just out of interest, is it possible to bypass the ASIC on those devices
> and talk to the frontend directly?
>
> > > Does you know if the dibusb/vp7041 TwinHan cards are like this as well?
> >
> >   The Twinhan hardware, i believe what i have seen the design is the
> > same. The frontend coupled to a proprietary ASIC, and that ASIC is
> > connected to the appropriate bus through another interface chip.
> >
> >   Johanson has a terrestrial card, maybe he could explain about the
> > Terrestrial cards ?
> >
> >   But it is always better to make sure about the USB based device. I
> > don't have the hardware, but if someone still doesn't come back with an
> > answer, i can find it out for you from the manufacturer itself.
>
> Thanks - just have to wait and see.