[linux-dvb] Re: Any experiences with Macs?

[John Dalgliesh <johnd@syd.microforte.com.au>]

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003, Lauri Pesonen wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> just a general call for comments about using DVB HW with Macs.
> 
> I'm moving soon to another country and leaving all my PC stuff behind. I'm 
> planning on getting one of those cool looking iMacs once I get settled in 
> at the new place. I've never had a Mac before, so I think it's time to get 
> one :)
> 
> I'm gonna miss my VDR a lot, so I was wondering has anyone used DVB 
> hardware with iMacs?

No, not an iMac, but yes for PowerMacs.

> Can you connect a USB DVB device to an iMac?

Yes.

> Can you 
> compile the linuxdvb driver on OS X?

Unlikely. The Mac OS X driver model is quite different to the Linux one.  

For example, if you are driving a PCI card, then you write a class that
derives from IOService and connects to a provider nub of class
IOPCIDevice. When a matching PCI card is found an instance of your driver
class is automatically instantiated to drive that card. Also the task
scheduling mechanism and the stuff that happens at primary interrupt time
is different too (not that I really know that much about how Linux does
it).

Drivers for USB devices are similar, except that they usually execute in 
userspace, not in the kernel (because access to a USB bus does not 
compromise the system, unlike access to a PCI bus)

When I wanted to get my PCI DVB-T card working in my Mac, I didn't really
consider directly compiling the linux-dvb source. Although if I'd known
what I know now then I might have tried it. I didn't even know what source
files were relevant so I spent a fair bit of time flailing around in the
dark, trying various things. Anyway, I ended up writing my own, gleaning
the technical details from the linux drivers (thanks guys!)

I am currently in the process of rewriting the Mac driver for the
TehcnoTrend DVB-T PCI cards, after my first attempt which was a bit of a
dog's breakfast. It is taking me a lot longer than I expected, partially
because I want to make it good, and partially because now that I have
something working I spend a lot more time watching TV :). The revised
version should also make it easier to convert linux-dvb drivers to work 
on the Mac. Maybe even with source compatibility ... but that's a long way
off :)

When I'm done I'll post it all (including source of course) on my web site
at <http://www.defyne.org/dvb/>. I haven't been in a big hurry either 
because up until last week I didn't have any known users. But now I know 
that I have at least one! Woohoo! OK, so he works in the same office as 
me, but still :)

> Do the DVB devices provide their own 
> OS X drivers and SW? Are they any good?

No, I don't think there are any DVB cards distributed with Mac drivers.  
Certainly no DVB-T ones anyway (might find something with DVB-C 'tho).

> I'd be ultra happy if some one would tell me that I can run VDR on a iMac, 
> but I'm pretty sure that's not the case. At last not right now. Maybe I 
> could do some porting...

I don't know about vdr, but you can run vlc and mplayer fine. And 
apparently QuickTime player can handle MPEG2 if you pay Apple US$20 for 
the codec (grumble, grumble). I use mplayer.

> All comments are welcome!

Hope this helps!

>  -- 
>   Lauri

{P^/



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