OK, after spending 3 hours finding one PC in my house that would work with the PVR-250 (under windows, figuring I should check that first), I finally started my KnoppMyth install. Unfortunately 3 installs later it still is not working. So I am looking for some help:

1) I found the faq but still need stuff like location of important confirugration files, so I can edit them as opposed to re-installing each time. For example, on the last install I selected DHCP which was a stupid thing to do since I can't give a good fixed IP address for the back end.

2) Is there a way to restart the "configuration" scripts without reinstalling (like DCHP setting)? I can get into Myth Setup but some of the original setup stuff I can't get to

3) I have a brand new PVR-250 (bought yesterday I don't think its the MCE edition since I was able to use it with Windows 2000 and the box looks different) ...and I am using the KnoppMyth image I downloaded yestereday (R4V5), somewhere I thought I saw that new PVR-250 need a config change, but I can't find that thread, can someone point me to it. During boot, it SEEMS to indicate that it can not find the PVR-250 (my interpretation of the log). The faq says get the driver and compile...well how do I know what I have, which driver I need and where do I get the driver. Hopefully its just a config issue

4) Is there a way to use a graphical directory browser and text editor, rather than using command line? I admit it I have been spoiled by notepad and WindowsExplorer <g>

5) During install it asks if I have an IR remote, is there a way to start with no, and change to yes later? Also, what the heck is the second hardware item its asking about????

6) found the answer thanks.... I think

Thanks for any help provided. I am going to commit more funds to this by buying dedicated hardware for this today (based on recommended MB, etc on this forum). You know there is some money to be made by teaming up with a hardware vendor and selling a complete system.

Please note that not all PCI slots are the same. The PVR-250 "likes" bus master PCI slots on some PCs better than non bus master PCI slots.

So, if it doesn't work on a PC, move the PVR-250 around in PCI slots until you get one that does work.

As for the GUI text editor, etc. My recommendation is to take copious notes on what configuration changes you are making and then learn to use vi. Then on reinstalls, at least the time to make the changes will be less.

I know, that sucks but thats life. Welcome to linux.

Over time, this will get easier. That or install an easier console text editor

apt-get update
apt-get install joe

HTH

Andrew Lynch

PS you may have a new style PVR-250. what does your dmesg say?

dmesg

Boy I wish they would have listed in their docs/box which motherboards and video cards they won't work with!!!!! It would have saved me a lot of time last night as my PCs (other than the eMachine one) are based either on VIA or SIS chipsets and have.

I guess its off to buying parts for a new unit.... Although I still have the other issues

Before you buy hardware, read the Tier 1 forum.

Better yet, read the Tier 2 and Tier 3 and avoid falling into holes you can't get out of.

I have an emachines and it uses an intel chipset. By pure luck, it works well.

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch

ps, wiki is your friend

http://knoppmythwiki.homelinux.org/

I have looked into those forums to see what to buy. The eMachine unit I am currently using was the last PC I had at home that would work with the PVR-250. Its just being used now to test out the concept. I had hoped to build a test system with existing parts, and once satisfied that I would be happy with a MythTV based system (instead of TiVo), I would build a custom box for it and return the test PCs back to their original configurations and uses.

Unfortunately it looks like I might have to buy the final solution before testing out the concept.....So I sure hope I love this thing

I think mythtv-setup will bring that up.


Have you tried changing the tuner type? Its in /etc/mythtv/modules/ivtv. Change the line 'options tuner type=x'. In the x part try 39 or 44. There are some more numbers I think. 44 worked for me. After you change it you have to run update-modules. There are a lot of things you might have to work out. A Wiki page covers a lot of issues for the 350, which are also issues for the 250.


You can use nedit, it is similiar to notepad. You can can get it with apt-get.
apt-get update
apt-get install nedit


This just decides which files to install. Yes will install the files that support remotes. So, even if you don't have one its ok to install those files. If you didn't install them and you want them installed you can run:
install-i686-l
or install-i586-l for pentium 2 or earlier (I think.)

_________________
P3 500 Mhz, no fan | 256 MB PC100 RAM | PSU SEASONIC SUPERTORNADO-300W | HD 160GB SAMSUNG 7200 SP1604N 2MB | TV TUNER HAUPAUGE WINTV-PVR 350 (990) PCI

post your dmesg results so we can see what sort of PVR-250 you have.

There are multiple versions floating about and tuner type does matter on whether it will work or not.

Thanks!

OK really dumb question now, how do it get the "dmesg results"? Also, I bought a new MB + CPU and I have asked under hardware if it will work since I could not find one of the tier1/2 products at my local store. Its close though an Abit NF7-S2G + Sempron 2400 but it has "extras":
gigabit ethernet
6 channel sound
hopefully it won't cause a problem with R4V5

1. netcardconfig
2. What would you want to change?
3. Perhaps a search of the forum.
4. Yes, however none of those tools are included because none are needed. KnoppMyth already has all you need already.
5. The debs are now built w/ LIRC so you don't worry about changing it later. XvMC. Google is your friend.
6. Ok.

Works great on Windows! Woot. I don't care. Telling us something works on Windows does us no good in helping as most manufactuer provides Windows drivers/develop only for Windows.

_________________
cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

2. Everything that I did the first time around. It would be nice to get back and fix dumb selections made without having to reload

3. Actually did a search of the forum. Unfortunately almost every post has PVR-250 in it so it was hard to find THE article talking about rev levels and config parameters that was relevant to "new" cards

4. Wow, per google: "XVMC algorithm concerning the modeling of the underlying scattering processes" what does that have to do with MythTV?
but you are right....

Finally, my comment on Windows was that I was using that as a test base to find hardware that worked together. Thus eliminating a possible problem BEFORE starting with KnoppMyth. If under windows with all those drivers, the hardware would not work, what chance did I have of it working on KnoppMyth with its more limited set of drivers! So I think your response was a bit unfair.

dmesg results are the kernel messages produced during the boot process.

to post dmesg results

login as root

dmesg | less

or to capture the output in a textfile

dmesg >output.txt




You can get the output.txt file off of the KnoppMyth computer by using putty form a windows PC and logging into the IP address of the KnoppMyth computer and just use

less output.txt

to cut and paste the result to this forum or better yet, transfer the file to a floppy disk and attach it to your post.

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch

Andrew, thanks for that great explanation. I will work on it tomorrow after I build the new PC and run install on it. I figure I might as well start with the final hardware now that I have it before bugging people with questions about my current hardware.

By the way, it helps to have a bit of a thick skin on the forums. Replys are what they are and sometimes you get dinged. Just live & learn.

Don't be afraid to wipe out and reinstall from scratch.

I just take lots of notes as I go and keep iterating until I get it right.

Thanks!

Andrew Lynch

Yeah, but considering I had just told cesman how to get a the MB+CPU for $60, I would have expected a "kinder gentler" reply