Example setups: Difference between revisions

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This page lists '''example software configurations''' that you might find helpful as a suggestion of what you can do with your system.
This page provides examples of working hardware and software system configurations that may provide guidance for readers as to what can be accomplished on or with their own system.


If you believe you have a PVR / Linuxtv box that works well, please post a description that may be beneficial for others to read [such as your system hardware (mobo/chip/video), what TV tuner device you have (ideally with a link to the manufacturer's product page or to the device's entry here in the wiki) and with what kernel, drivers and software applications you operate on your system].
''For a complete list of programs, see the [[commented software list]] page --- here, you'll find solutions, not just simple programs. For testing purposed or small systems, have a look at the [[First steps with a budget DVB card]].''


In order to be most useful for the reader, this page is diveded into three sections:
In order to be most useful for the reader, this page is divided into three sections:
* setups for [[full featured card]]s (DVB cards with hardware decoders)
* setups for DVB cards that rely on "software decoding" (aka [[budget]] cards ... DVB cards without hardware decoders)
* setups for [[budget]] cards (DVB cards without hardware decoders) -- see here for USB DVB adapters
* setups for DVB cards with hardware decoders (aka [[Full-featured Card|full featured cards]])
* setups for analog TV cards (hey, shouldn't that sort of stuff rather be in the [http://linuxtv.org/v4lwiki/ video4linux wiki]?
* setups for analog TV cards
Each of the three sections can, in turn, be subdivided into categories covering the different standards (DVB-{C,S,T}, ATSC) for that type of hardware. Please add to the appropriate one, or create a new one if need be.

Readers should note that the suggestions found here are just that -- suggestions. For a more complete listing of available programs, see the commented [[TV Related Software]] page. Likewise, for more complete listings of supported hardware, consult the [Hardware & Components] section of the wiki.




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After installing the card drivers, I tried several solutions. I didn't get the [[VDR Software Decoder Plugin]] working so I tried [[xine]] -- which worked on the first trial and provides much functionality (for watching) on an easy and intuitive interface.
After installing the card drivers, I tried several solutions. I didn't get the [[VDR Software Decoder Plugin]] working so I tried [[xine]] -- which worked on the first trial and provides much functionality (for watching) on an easy and intuitive interface.


---

I use a [[TwinHan]] Express compatible card [http://www.axtrom.com/ Axtrom] which works great with linux. So far kaffeine is the best choice to use with a budget card. Since xine does not let you to record and it's interface is buggy and [[VDR]] is very hard to setup and startup I decided to stick to kaffeine. It lets you record un-attended. you can even record and watch multiple channels within same transponder.

---

==== DVB-T example ====
Location: Hampshire, UK

Device: [http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/products/data_novatstick.html Nova-T stick]

Hardware: Via SP13000 epia system

OS: Fedora Core 6

kernel: 2.6.18-1.2869.fc6

Drivers: extracted from hg

Works reasonably well, records about 8 TV programs a day using freevo. Get kernel ops requiring reboot about once a month, can be slow to tune and sometimes doesn't tune at all. Wouldn't recommend this device if you are looking for a hastle free solution ;) Also worth noting that I can only watch live TV with mplayer / xine, and record using mplayer. Things like dvbstreamer don't work with this stick, I just get mt2060 errors to syslog and no data.

UPDATE - see [http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-NOVA-T-Stick here] for new driver / firmware details to solve the various problems. Now streaming works correctly and I no longer get mt2060 errors, seems to work very well. Will update and remove previous comments once stability and long term lack of ops is proved.

==== Another DVB-T example ====

Location: Sydney, Australia

Devices: 2 x LifeView TV Walker Twin

Distribution: Debian

Kernel: 2.6.20

Drivers: from http://linuxtv.org/hg/~aapot/m920x

Software: kaffeine

Works fine playing and recording. It should be possible to play/record up to 4 channels simultaneously with this setup. Tuning a new channel takes 1-2 seconds.

== Another example, using Terratec Card ==

It was really easy to setup the following, good working configuration:

* Debian linux
* kernel.org sources for 2.6.23.12
* Terratec Cinergy HT !CardBus card, [http://tven.terratec.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=245]
* kernel modules:
** tda827x
** saa7134_dvb
** video_buf_dvb
** dvb_core
** tda1004x
** tuner
** saa7134
** video_buf
** compat_ioctl32
** ir_kbd_i2c
** ir_common
** videodev
** v4l2_common
** v4l1_compat (for older software, compatibility with e.g. {{{camE}}}
* no additional firmware was required
* no kernel parameters were required
* watching analog + composite works fine with:
** gxine, xawtv
* watching dvb-t works fine with
** gxine

To get the DVB-channels for '''Austria / Linz''', i had the following line in the scan-script:
<code>
T 650000000 8MHz 3/4 NONE QAM16 8k 1/4 NONE #K43, Linz
</code>
found on [http://dvb-t.the-media-channel.com/oesterreich/dvb-t-oberoesterreich.html].

== A sample solution for MPEG-4 encoded / PAFF interlaced streams with budget card ==

* Transmiter: Emitel/POT - Warsaw; Poland
* Compression: video - MPEG-4; audio MPEG-2/AC3
* Hardware:
** AMD 1.7XP/512MB DDR400 as MythTV server & client (frontend)
** AMD64 3200+ Venice/1024MB DDR400 as MythTV client (frontend)
** [http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/AVerMedia_AVerTV_DVB-T_777_%28A16A-C%29 AverMedia 777 A16A-C] budget card (with Fedora 8/9 ia32 & Gentoo ~amd64)
** [http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/AVerMedia_AVerTV_Hybrid%2BFM_PCI AVerTV Hybrid+FM PCI (A16D)] (with PLD Th ia32)
* Software:
** Tested systems:
*** Fedora 8/9 ia32 as MythTV server & client (frontend)
*** Gentoo ~x86_64 as MythTV server & client (frontend)
*** PLD Th test as MythTV server & client (frontend)
** kernel versions 2.6.25 2.6.26 for Fedora&Gentoo/Aver 777; 2.6.25 + [http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb Mercurial drivers rev. e2a8b9b9c294] for PLD/Aver Hybrid
** CoreAVC win32 codec + [http://code.google.com/p/coreavc-for-linux/ coreavc-for-linux] dshowserver
** [http://http://svn.mythtv.org/trac/ Mythtv 0.21] with dshowserver patch - Fedora&Gentoo
** [http://svn.mythtv.org/trac/ Mythtv 0.22 svn18642 snapshot] with dshowserver patch - PLD
** [http://xinehq.de/ xine-libs-1.1.15+xine-ui] with dshowserver patch
** [http://mplayerhq.hu mplayer/mencoder] with dshowserver patch for watching/converting recordings

Due to MPEG-4 encoding and no PAFF interlacing in x264 must use CoreAVC commercial codec v. 1.7 ~ 15 €.
Served by [http://code.google.com/p/coreavc-for-linux/ coreavc-for-linux] dshowserver.
Note that works good with [http://www.mythtv.org/ Mythtv 0.21] and [http://xinehq.de/ xine-libs+xine-ui.] Other xine front-ends freezes when changing channels. To convert such streams use 32bit [http://mplayerhq.hu mencoder] with dshowserver patch.

It's a pity both my computers are too slow to decode HD/MPEG-4 streams.


== A sample solution for a system with a full-featured card ==
== A sample solution for a system with a full-featured card ==
My system is a Mythtv pc installed with Fedora Core 6 following this [howto http://www.wilsonet.com/mythtv/fcmyth.php]. I use the Technotrend Premium DVB-C 2300 Hybrid dvb-c card [http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Use_cases#Grimstad_Cable_TV_.5B1.5D ] bought from Dvb shop in Germany [http://www.dvbshop.net/index.php/cat/c17_Premium-PCI.html].


'''DVB-C example'''<BR>
After installing the card drivers, I tried several solutions. I didn't get the [[VDR Software Decoder Plugin]] working so I tried [[xine]] -- which worked on the first trial and provides much functionality (for watching) on an easy and intuitive interface.
My system is a MythTV pc installed with Fedora Core 6 following [http://www.wilsonet.com/mythtv/fcmyth.php this howto]. I use the [[TechnoTrend Premium C-2300]] hybrid [[DVB-C]] card, which I bought from [http://www.dvbshop.net/index.php/cat/c17_Premium-PCI.html Dvbshop] in Germany. I was thinking buying the [[TechnoTrend Budget C-1500]], but it was out of stock from [http://www.dvbshop.net/product_info.php/info/p16_Technotrend-Budget-C-1500-incl--Remote--W98-ME-2K-XP-MCE-.html Dvbshop] at that time. I am going to document in the [http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Adding_Digital_Cable_Channels_For_DVB-C_Tuner_Cards_--_Norway MythTV Wiki] how to use the [[Norway - Grimstad]] channels.conf file for setting up channels in MythTV. Also see, the [[Conditional Access Module Usage Examples#Grimstad_Cable_TV_.5B1.5D|Grimstad Cable TV use example]].



(The budget setup above of course also works for FF cards.)


== A sample solution for a system with an analog card ==
== A sample solution for a system with an analog card ==
My PVR is constructed with a low-power, fanless, mini-itx computer hidden within a former dual-tape recorder.
''write it down if you have one -- I can't do it cause I haven't''
* Zotac ION N230 with integrated Intel ATOM CPU and Nvidia GPU
* HVR-1950, which has a MPEG2 encoder

This seems like a weak setup for PVR use. However, it works because of the specific hardware combinations:-
* MPEG2 from the HVR-1950 imposes little CPU demand when recording.
* VDPAU libraries use the integrated GPU with little CPU demand during playback.

Here is a script for NTSC-tv or cable:-
<nowiki>
#!/bin/bash
# record analog TV (MPEG2 Transport Stream) from HVR-1950
# file: tv1.sh
# tested with Sabayon Linux, a Gentoo derivative

PREFIX=`date +%F-%H-%M`
echo "[tv1.sh channel=$1 duration=$2 seconds]"

ivtv-tune --freqtable=us-cable --channel=$1
(cat /dev/video0 > ~/Videos/${PREFIX}_$1.ts)&
pid=$!
echo waiting $2 seconds for channel $1 process $pid
sleep $2
kill $pid
echo Bye..
</nowiki>


You can use the "at" command to schedule a future recording.


== See also ==
== Also See:==
* [[Commented software list]]
* [[Testing your DVB device]]
* [[TV Related Software]] - a commented software list
* [[First steps with a budget DVB card]]
[[Category:Hardware]]

Latest revision as of 00:35, 18 May 2014

This page provides examples of working hardware and software system configurations that may provide guidance for readers as to what can be accomplished on or with their own system.

If you believe you have a PVR / Linuxtv box that works well, please post a description that may be beneficial for others to read [such as your system hardware (mobo/chip/video), what TV tuner device you have (ideally with a link to the manufacturer's product page or to the device's entry here in the wiki) and with what kernel, drivers and software applications you operate on your system].

In order to be most useful for the reader, this page is divided into three sections:

  • setups for DVB cards that rely on "software decoding" (aka budget cards ... DVB cards without hardware decoders)
  • setups for DVB cards with hardware decoders (aka full featured cards)
  • setups for analog TV cards

Each of the three sections can, in turn, be subdivided into categories covering the different standards (DVB-{C,S,T}, ATSC) for that type of hardware. Please add to the appropriate one, or create a new one if need be.

Readers should note that the suggestions found here are just that -- suggestions. For a more complete listing of available programs, see the commented TV Related Software page. Likewise, for more complete listings of supported hardware, consult the [Hardware & Components] section of the wiki.


A sample solution for a system with a budget DVB card

My system is a Twinhan DTV Mini Ter on a cheap HP Pentium 4 1.2GHz. The graphic card is only an on-board Intel 82810E with shared memory, so nothing fancy.

After installing the card drivers, I tried several solutions. I didn't get the VDR Software Decoder Plugin working so I tried xine -- which worked on the first trial and provides much functionality (for watching) on an easy and intuitive interface.

---

I use a TwinHan Express compatible card Axtrom which works great with linux. So far kaffeine is the best choice to use with a budget card. Since xine does not let you to record and it's interface is buggy and VDR is very hard to setup and startup I decided to stick to kaffeine. It lets you record un-attended. you can even record and watch multiple channels within same transponder.

---

DVB-T example

Location: Hampshire, UK

Device: Nova-T stick

Hardware: Via SP13000 epia system

OS: Fedora Core 6

kernel: 2.6.18-1.2869.fc6

Drivers: extracted from hg

Works reasonably well, records about 8 TV programs a day using freevo. Get kernel ops requiring reboot about once a month, can be slow to tune and sometimes doesn't tune at all. Wouldn't recommend this device if you are looking for a hastle free solution ;) Also worth noting that I can only watch live TV with mplayer / xine, and record using mplayer. Things like dvbstreamer don't work with this stick, I just get mt2060 errors to syslog and no data.

UPDATE - see here for new driver / firmware details to solve the various problems. Now streaming works correctly and I no longer get mt2060 errors, seems to work very well. Will update and remove previous comments once stability and long term lack of ops is proved.

Another DVB-T example

Location: Sydney, Australia

Devices: 2 x LifeView TV Walker Twin

Distribution: Debian

Kernel: 2.6.20

Drivers: from http://linuxtv.org/hg/~aapot/m920x

Software: kaffeine

Works fine playing and recording. It should be possible to play/record up to 4 channels simultaneously with this setup. Tuning a new channel takes 1-2 seconds.

Another example, using Terratec Card

It was really easy to setup the following, good working configuration:

  • Debian linux
  • kernel.org sources for 2.6.23.12
  • Terratec Cinergy HT !CardBus card, [1]
  • kernel modules:
    • tda827x
    • saa7134_dvb
    • video_buf_dvb
    • dvb_core
    • tda1004x
    • tuner
    • saa7134
    • video_buf
    • compat_ioctl32
    • ir_kbd_i2c
    • ir_common
    • videodev
    • v4l2_common
    • v4l1_compat (for older software, compatibility with e.g. {{{camE}}}
  • no additional firmware was required
  • no kernel parameters were required
  • watching analog + composite works fine with:
    • gxine, xawtv
  • watching dvb-t works fine with
    • gxine

To get the DVB-channels for Austria / Linz, i had the following line in the scan-script: T 650000000 8MHz 3/4 NONE QAM16 8k 1/4 NONE #K43, Linz found on [2].

A sample solution for MPEG-4 encoded / PAFF interlaced streams with budget card

  • Transmiter: Emitel/POT - Warsaw; Poland
  • Compression: video - MPEG-4; audio MPEG-2/AC3
  • Hardware:
    • AMD 1.7XP/512MB DDR400 as MythTV server & client (frontend)
    • AMD64 3200+ Venice/1024MB DDR400 as MythTV client (frontend)
    • AverMedia 777 A16A-C budget card (with Fedora 8/9 ia32 & Gentoo ~amd64)
    • AVerTV Hybrid+FM PCI (A16D) (with PLD Th ia32)
  • Software:

Due to MPEG-4 encoding and no PAFF interlacing in x264 must use CoreAVC commercial codec v. 1.7 ~ 15 €. Served by coreavc-for-linux dshowserver. Note that works good with Mythtv 0.21 and xine-libs+xine-ui. Other xine front-ends freezes when changing channels. To convert such streams use 32bit mencoder with dshowserver patch.

It's a pity both my computers are too slow to decode HD/MPEG-4 streams.

A sample solution for a system with a full-featured card

DVB-C example
My system is a MythTV pc installed with Fedora Core 6 following this howto. I use the TechnoTrend Premium C-2300 hybrid DVB-C card, which I bought from Dvbshop in Germany. I was thinking buying the TechnoTrend Budget C-1500, but it was out of stock from Dvbshop at that time. I am going to document in the MythTV Wiki how to use the Norway - Grimstad channels.conf file for setting up channels in MythTV. Also see, the Grimstad Cable TV use example.


A sample solution for a system with an analog card

My PVR is constructed with a low-power, fanless, mini-itx computer hidden within a former dual-tape recorder.

  • Zotac ION N230 with integrated Intel ATOM CPU and Nvidia GPU
  • HVR-1950, which has a MPEG2 encoder

This seems like a weak setup for PVR use. However, it works because of the specific hardware combinations:-

  • MPEG2 from the HVR-1950 imposes little CPU demand when recording.
  • VDPAU libraries use the integrated GPU with little CPU demand during playback.

Here is a script for NTSC-tv or cable:-

 #!/bin/bash
 # record analog TV (MPEG2 Transport Stream) from HVR-1950 
 # file: tv1.sh
 # tested with Sabayon Linux, a Gentoo derivative

 PREFIX=`date +%F-%H-%M`
 echo "[tv1.sh channel=$1 duration=$2 seconds]"

 ivtv-tune --freqtable=us-cable --channel=$1
 (cat /dev/video0 > ~/Videos/${PREFIX}_$1.ts)&
 pid=$!
 echo waiting $2 seconds for channel $1 process $pid
 sleep $2
 kill $pid
 echo Bye..
 

You can use the "at" command to schedule a future recording.

Also See: