[sclug] Linux compatible Digital TV hardware?

Tue Jan 15 02:41:29 UTC 2008

Hi Sebastian,

I use a FREECOM DVB-T USB Stick on my ubuntu (GUTSY 71.0) laptop. You 
can get one from Tesco, Maplin, etc for around 50 quid.

To use it with linux, you'll need to install "v4l"  source package and 
compile it configure to use the "dvb_usb_dtt200u" module.

When I insert the usb stick it produces the following syslog output:

dvb-usb: generic DVB-USB module successfully deinitialized and disconnected.
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.596000] usb 5-4: new high 
speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 7
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.728000] usb 5-4: 
configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.728000] dvb-usb: found a 
'WideView WT-220U PenType Receiver (based on ZL353)' in warm state.
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.728000] dvb-usb: will use 
the device's hardware PID filter (table count: 15).
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.732000] DVB: registering new 
adapter (WideView WT-220U PenType Receiver (based on ZL353)).
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.732000] DVB: registering 
frontend 0 (WideView USB DVB-T)...
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.732000] input: IR-receiver 
inside an USB DVB receiver as /class/input/input10
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.732000] dvb-usb: schedule 
remote query interval to 300 msecs.
Jan 15 02:21:53 nigel-laptop kernel: [60636.732000] dvb-usb: WideView 
WT-220U PenType Receiver (based on ZL353) successfully initialized and 
connected.

Also, you can customise the key responses on the remote control using 
the " DVB Remote Editor" tool which you can download from:

http://itooktheredpill.dyndns.org/dvbremote.html

I use the FREECOM DVB-T stick with MythTV and Kaffeine and it works just 
fine for "Freeview" reception, so long as you are in a good signal 
reception area.

If you need any more help I can supply you with more details on the 
required config.

Hope This Helps,
Nigel Pallett.

Sebastian Malcolm wrote:
> Hi all,
> Would any other SCLUGers like to join me in my quest for quality Digital TV
> watching and recording using Linux and open source software?
>
> My girlfriend and I have just recently bought a 26" Phillips TV that sports
> every input connector except for "PC Input" (VGA & DVI):
> http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0870371/Trail/searchtext%3EPHILLIPS+26+INCH.htm
>
> and would now like to watch Digital TV channels on it and anything we
> record. Rather than buy a Freeview box or DVD recorder with built in
> Freeview, we've decided to buy a USB Digital TV receiver for my Linux
> computer (a Dell SC430) and permanently connect that computer to the TV,
> probably through one of the 2 HDMI sockets.
>
> I've got two hardware selections I need to make that I'd like advice with to
> ensure we get the best possible picture quality with a minimum of setup
> hassle; I'm happily running a Xen setup on this machine using stock Ubuntu
> kernel so I'd rather not recompile a custom kernel.
>
> (1) Graphic Card - PCI, PCIe-8x, PCIe-4x or PCIe-1x (or PCIe-16x with
> http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/express-adapter-p-755.html)
> I've been told that I should be able to get a very sharp image at the full
> native 1366x768 resolution using a DVI to HDMI adaptor or cable, so I don't
> need to spend the premium on a graphics card with built-in HDMI output or
> will I require that to watch Blue-Ray or HD-DVD with a Linux movie player?
> Any suggestions on a card with DVI (or HDMI) output that would be able to do
> the H.264 decoding to offload that from my CPU(s) that could be busy with
> recording video and/or compiling code? I've read that the nVidia drivers
> lack the "PureVideo" capability that exists in their Windows drivers to
> enable hardware accelerated decoding of H.264 video. I've read that nVidia's
> GeForce 6-series (>=6150) will at least do some hardware acceleration of
> MPEG-2 decoding.
>
> (2) USB DVB-T Reciever?
> I've reviewed the long list of USB DVB-T devices on LinuxTV.org Wiki and
> some of the info on MythTV.org but I'm looking for some more opinions for
> what spend (my girlfriend's) money on...
>
> Any reasons to buy a Card instead of USB? Perhaps to get 5.1 surround sound
> (SPDIF output) if that is broadcast here in the UK?
>
> We're wondering if any of you have a working configuration or any
> recommendations of any decent brands, which support Linux. Our criteria is
> that when used with appropriate software such as Kaffiene or MythTV are:
> - must be able to record and watch digital channels.
> - pause live TV option
> - preferably dual (can record one channel and watch another) but not
> necessary
> - a USB stick rather than a card so we can use it in other laptops around
> the house and when on the move
> - preferably under ?100
> - obviously must be Linux compatible.
> - remote control is preferable but not essential
> - connects to the wall aerial (we live in an apartment block so we doubt we
> have good reception with a stand alone aerial)
> - would be _very_ nice extra to be able to receive (decode?) HDTV in the UK
> and Australia, but I don't know if that means it must be able to decode
> MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 ( H.264?). I think that in Australia 1080i is available via
> a MPEG-2 broadcast but here in the UK and elsewhere deploying HDTV the
> digital video stream will be MPEG-4, eventually?
>
> After extensive research over the weekend, we may buy the AverMedia brand
> because they provide Linux Drivers for some of their products, but I'm still
> unsure which model of thiers to buy because Driver Support for their latest
> models seems to be lacking. For example (despite Maplin's claim) the "Volar
> X" is the A815 model and lacks drivers but the "Hybrid+FM" A828 model does
> have drivers at avermedia.com: http://tinyurl.com/yuqq97. Product info:
> http://www.averm.co.uk/avermedia/aver/products_digitvtuner_dvbshybridA828.asp?show=1<http://tinyurl.com/yuqq97>
>
> Has anyone had any experience with the AverMedia products? If we go with the
> cheaper/older "Volar" (A808) model that lacks a remote control, then can
> someone recommend a USB IR Dongle and/or remote*?
>
> Many thanks,
> --Sebastian
>
>
> P.S. For a remote & IR USB Dongle, I guess I can just shop around for
> anything listed at http://www.lirc.org/.
>   