Hi all. I have been working on this system since wednesday and think I have read every post on every myth forum that there is. I am still having trouble getting the tuner to do anything besides give me fuz. It appears that absolutely everything else works. YEAH!! but the tv part doesn't. That is the only part I really want need to work.



I have wiped the box and reinstalled it several times from different cds in case it was just a bad cd.

Here is a breakdown of my system.
R5D1 version of mythv loaded from mysettopbox.tv I checked the md5 and all was well

asus a7v133
amd athlon xp1900 @ 1600 Mhz
512 mb ram
250 gb seagate ATA hd
soundblaster sound card
haupauge pvr 350 with silver remote
direct tv connector from serial to box
nvidia fx5200 tv out
DVD

here is the init ivtv part that is usually asked for

Nov 26 14:50:16 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
Nov 26 14:50:16 mythtv kernel: ivtv: version 0.7.1 (tagged release) loading
Nov 26 14:50:16 mythtv kernel: ivtv: Linux version: 2.6.17-chw-8 SMP preempt mod_unload 586 gcc-3.4
Nov 26 14:50:16 mythtv kernel: ivtv: In case of problems please include the debug info between
Nov 26 14:50:16 mythtv kernel: ivtv: the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines, along with
Nov 26 14:50:16 mythtv kernel: ivtv: any module options, when mailing the ivtv-users mailinglist.
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Autodetected Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350 card (cx23415 based)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: PCI: Enabling device 0000:00:0c.0 (0014 -> 0016)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [LNKA] enabled at IRQ 11
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:0c.0[A] -> Link [LNKA] -> GSI 11 (level, low) -> IRQ 11
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Unreasonably low latency timer, setting to 64 (was 32)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tuner 1-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tda9887 1-0043: chip found @ 0x86 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: saa7115 1-0021: saa7115 found @ 0x42 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: saa7127 1-0044: saa7129 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: msp3400 1-0040: MSP4448G-A2 found @ 0x80 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: msp3400 1-0040: MSP4448G-A2 supports radio, mode is autodetect and autoselect
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: Hauppauge model 48132, rev K268, serial# 9888987
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: tuner model is LG TAPE H001F MK3 (idx 68, type 47)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: audio processor is MSP4448 (idx 27)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: decoder processor is SAA7115 (idx 19)
Nov 26 14:50:17 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: has radio, has IR remote
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-dec.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Decoder revision: 0x02020023
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Create encoder radio stream
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder MPEG stream: 16 x 65536 buffers (1024KB total)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder VBI stream: 512 x 2048 buffers (1024KB total)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Create decoder VOUT stream
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA decoder YUV stream: 24 x 43200 buffers (1024KB total)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-init.mpg firmware (155648 bytes)
Nov 26 14:50:18 mythtv kernel: tuner 1-0061: type set to 47 (LG NTSC (TAPE series))
Nov 26 14:50:19 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Initialized Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350, card #0
Nov 26 14:50:19 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ==================== END INIT IVTV ====================

I am aware of the problem with the via chipset after reading all of the forum posts everywhere. That is why I have updated to the 0.7.1 version of the ivtv driver. I have tried deleting all of my sources and capture cards and input devices countless times and I think that I have tried all of them that were for my area (the us) still no luck

I have tried the suggestions in the wikki and even checked the logs for troubles and don't see anyhting that is EE or isn't loaded

I am using direct tv if that is any help troubleshooting. I really like the whole MythTV idea. I am going to try another computer with most of these same parts in it tomorrow if I can to see if it is purely the problem with the Via chipset. I appreciate any and all advice that is given on this. Thanks in advance Please help!

Thanks for your reply, but I have tried everything on that page with no luck. I am not an idiot, but don't know how o get this working.

Without a doubt there is a misconfiguration somewhere. My guess is that it is in the channel frequency table under the general part of the setup.. I have tried them all now. What I have tried now is I had another hard drive so I loaded windows on it and all of the drivers for the card. I can get one channel so I don't know if it is an actual problem with the tuner card. I downloaded the chanel changer from http://www.dtvcontrol.com/ and it works so it seems to me that there is something going on that I don't know how to fix, but I am making a little progress.

I really don't know where to start from here. I may just stick with windows until I can get a solution. At least I was able to get that to work changing channels.

OK, let's take a step back - When you say "fuz" what does that mean? You are actually seeing something on the screen (not blank)? Just want to be sure.

When you said "I can get one channel" on Windoze does that mean only one channel came in? If so I would guess that it's a problem with the card or the input. Does this cable (I'm assuming cable) produce quality pictures when plugged directly into a TV?

One thought - Did you select "Analog V4L capture card" or "MPEG-2 encoder card" during mythtv-setup? I've picked incorrectly there and had all sorts of strange behavior. Believe me, you only do that once!

I don't have any experience with the VIA chipset problems so I can't help you there, sorry.

EDIT: Sorry, just saw in your original post that you are using DirecTV. As with the VIA chipset, I'm afraid I am no help there, either. But maybe this thread can offer some help? http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12708
/EDIT

Hi,
I have been using the 350 card for quite some time and usually it is not difficult to make work. Sometimes to get tv out on the dongle cable may be a bit of a pain but that is covered in depth on other threads.

I am not familiar with DirecTV but I think it has to do with a sat receiver and tuner box. If that is the case, you may only have two options. RF on channel 3 or 4 or a composite video. Either way the setup has to be done just as if you were doing an antenna, cable connection. There should be a choice for x50 card.

Go through the setup steps 12354 sequence and at least make two channels. I use ch3 for rf and ch1 for video. Be sure to set the freq id # to match the 1 and 3. Now you have something to assign to the card inputs tuner and composite.

If you want the listings, then you will have to obtain an account with labs.zap2it.com.

Hope this helps point you in a good direction.
Mike

I want to know more about your wiring. If I understand correctly you're getting your TV signal from an external tuner box (for a DircetTV sattelite hookup?) Is this true? Or did you mean that you're hooked directly to the cable coming out of the wall?

Setting up an external tuner is a slightly advanced topic. These boxes become the effective tuner in your configuration and the PVR card simply listens on the same "rebroadcast" channel all the time (typically channel 3 or 4) known as the "preset channel" or on a composite or S-Video input. This also means setting up some way for the MythtTV application to control the external tuner/decoder box. The most common method involves something called an "irblaster" (an excellent search term to try BTW), but there are boxes which can be controlled by some kind of direct wired connection via either a serial, USB, or Firewire cable. On the software side you need to setup and configure an "external tuner script" (another good search phrase) which sends the desired channel requests to the external device and returns a success or failure indication to the MythTV application.

Thanks again for your replies.

@ tjc I am getting the signal from the directv box and bringing it in through the coax from the directv box to the PVR350 in (not fm antenna). I checked to be sure


The Fuz is like when there was only broadcast tv and you weren't on one of the 4 channels that was being broadcast (boy am I dating myself) Or now when you would disconnect the coax from the cable box. Just fuz. Not Black screen. That is how I am pretty sure that it is just not pointing to the right input.

Like I mentioned before, I was able to once get the the signal. I a not positive what the settings were that I had that had it working but I changed them and don't have anything. I had someone suggest that instead of using the coax to try the s-video from the directv box to the s-video in. That is the way I got it to work in windows and haven't tried in myth. It was late and I had to be at work early today.

I have set up the zap2it.com account and when I get into mythweb it seems to have everything there with the right scheduling and such.

When I had the one channel working in windows I could change channels with the directv box remote which actually just controlled the directv box.

I did a little more searching and found http://www.dtvcontrol.com/ and tried that which uses the serial connector from the back of my machine to the back of the satellite box and I can change the channels with that (in windows) . With the script that has been mentioned, I have seen some people that have got it to change channels using that using myth. I am still researching that. Without a picture there isn't much use to have all the info on changing channels. LOL

@ slowtolearn I am fairly certain that my problems aren't as a result of the via chipset now. I am using another box to be sure with the cards in it from the last machine.

@ slowtolearn No I selected the x50 card option. That is why I picked this card is that it was supported and fairly simple to set up.

@mjl I have the nvidia fx5200 set up as tv out that seems to be a popular card and that should work for the tv out well.

@ mjl What do you mean when you said RF on channel 3 or 4 or a composite video. Either way the setup has to be done just as if you were doing an antenna, cable connection. There should be a choice for x50 card.

Go through the setup steps 12354 sequence and at least make two channels. I use ch3 for rf and ch1 for video. Be sure to set the freq id # to match the 1 and 3. Now you have something to assign to the card inputs tuner and composite. **** This is what I am not sure about what you are talking about.

@ mjl I will try it again using the b-cast setup since that is what you use when you have an antenna right? I have been choosing the cable, cable-hrc, cable-irc and I would guess that is why it isn't working.

Hi,
Sorry, it seems I left you with more questions than answers... To try a clear things a little, when I do an alt s to obtain a setup screen, I then go through the steps in the sequence listed.

The first three are fairly straight forward and I simply make a label for each connection I use on the x50 card. Video and RF (my choice of letters) and into RF I set up my zap2it account information. The choice here is actually important as the choice I believe affects how the line up comes in and you want the one that closely matches the DTV listing. To start, maybe only select a couple of lower channels on zap2it until you figure out the best choice.

The fourth step has you assign an input to a source and the channel number. Since you don't have any channel numbers yet do step five first and make a new channel 1 & 3.

On step five, I set the ChName & callsign to Video, Ch # 1, Visable, Commercial free, source as Video & Tv Format as NTSC then hit next. Page two, I enter Freq ID as a number 1 then finish. Repeat for channel 3 (most common vcr/cable box/ modulator channel) with adjustments to match RF (Freq ID 3).

Now when I go to step 4, I can select video for the composite input and rf for the tuner and all is happy.

There are special tricks to disable the switching on channel select with an external tuner. With a search of the forum and wiki should help you with that as it involves a form of irblaster or as you mentioned a serial driver maybe your option. The irblaster may be easier...

I have been using via chip set stuff off and on for a couple of years and have yet to have an issue. That doesn't mean there may not have been certain production runs that did have an issue. I have run KM on a lot of junk and road kill and if it is 400mhz or more, 256 meg of mem and a large enough drive to hold the os, it has worked. Some took a little tickle to get audio or network up. Less than 600mhz seems to need to use an x50 to record and the 350 for tv out for satisfactory performance at my level.

Hope that fills in some ambiguities.
Mike

********U P D A T E *********

It works. I still have to change the stations with the directv box, but was up late last night and found a script that is supposed to help me with the serial connection. I will post what I did and if it works. It is really starting to take shape because all of the help from this board. Thanks again all that helped. I was able to get the football game yesterday. I even tested all of mythweb.