Here's what I have (brand new from NewEgg). One has a remote that it came with, the other is OEM without a remote. Both have the same quality issue. I suppose I will be struggling to find a 250 or 350 at my local best buy or circuit city. But after comparing tuners, I couldn't convince my friend to trade his 350 for my 150.

tveeprom 2-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)
tveeprom 3-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)

Ugh, those new ones. Please post your ivtv log extract as described on the CheckingLogFiles wiki page here: http://www.knoppmythwiki.org/index.php?page=CheckingLogFiles

Your options settings in /etc/modprobe.conf for those two cards should be:

I've updated the TVCaptureCards page to mention this.

I don't remember if you've upgraded to 0.7.1 yet, but that maybe worth while, it's got slightly better support for that tuner chip. There's also a brand new 0.7.2 out, but since what look like the same basic set of changes from 0.8.0 to 0.8.1 showed some ugly tuning artifacts for me I can't recommend it.

Finally, have you checked into the latest firmware recommendations on the ivtv wiki? http://ivtvdriver.org/index.php/Firmware The mailing lists are also wortth exploring.

I upgraded to .7.2 last night hoping it would fix it, but I think it's just crappy hardware. I'll check the firmware recommendations again but I thought the ivtv upgrade also automatically handled firmware. Seeesh, so people should beware not to buy PVR-150's, then right?

It ain't magic, if you don't do it it doesn't get done. Also I was making and _advanced_ recommendation since you seem to have the basic skills needed.
- Go to the ivtv wiki and mailing lists and do some research.
- See if they're recommending a newer (possibly beta) version of the firmware for cards with that tuner chip.
- Install that and see if it helps.


I would say that was an unwarranted conclusion. We generally only warn people off hardware when we know it's either flat out isn't supported or has serious pathologies. For all we know you've just got some minor setup/configuration problem that needs to be addressed.

BTW - I _still_ want to see those log extracts.

OK fair enough, I'll spend some time and go deeper on this before I ship back the cards.

tveeprom 2-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)
tveeprom 3-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)

===============
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ivtv: version 0.7.2 (tagged release) loading
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ivtv: Linux version: 2.6.17-chw-8 SMP preempt mod_unload 586 gcc-3.4
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ivtv: In case of problems please include the debug info between
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ivtv: the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines, along with
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ivtv: any module options, when mailing the ivtv-users mailinglist.
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Autodetected Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 card (cx23416 based)
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC2] enabled at IRQ 17
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:01:07.0[A] -> Link [APC2] -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 20
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: tuner 2-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Dec 2 00:55:23 mythtv kernel: cx25840 2-0044: cx25841-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: cx25840 2-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: wm8775 2-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: Hauppauge model 26132, rev F1B2, serial# 10061737
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: audio processor is CX25841 (idx 35)
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: decoder processor is CX25841 (idx 28)
Dec 2 00:55:26 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: has no radio, has IR remote
Dec 2 00:55:27 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Dec 2 00:55:27 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
Dec 2 00:55:27 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:27 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:27 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:27 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:27 mythtv kernel: tuner 2-0061: type set to 50 (TCL 2002N)
Dec 2 00:55:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Initialized Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150, card #0
Dec 2 00:55:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ====================== NEXT CARD ======================
Dec 2 00:55:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Autodetected Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 card (cx23416 based)
Dec 2 00:55:28 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC3] enabled at IRQ 18
Dec 2 00:55:28 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:01:08.0[A] -> Link [APC3] -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 21
Dec 2 00:55:28 mythtv kernel: tuner 3-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Dec 2 00:55:28 mythtv kernel: cx25840 3-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: cx25840 3-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: wm8775 3-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: Hauppauge model 26582, rev F0B2, serial# 10080722
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: has no radio, has no IR remote
Dec 2 00:55:31 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: tuner 3-0061: tuner type not set
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: tuner 3-0061: tuner type not set
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Initialized Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150, card #1
Dec 2 00:55:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ==================== END INIT IVTV ====================
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ivtv: version 0.7.2 (tagged release) loading
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ivtv: Linux version: 2.6.17-chw-8 SMP preempt mod_unload 586 gcc-3.4
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ivtv: In case of problems please include the debug info between
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ivtv: the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines, along with
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ivtv: any module options, when mailing the ivtv-users mailinglist.
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Autodetected Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 card (cx23416 based)
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC2] enabled at IRQ 17
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:01:07.0[A] -> Link [APC2] -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 20
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: tuner 2-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Dec 2 09:54:24 mythtv kernel: cx25840 2-0044: cx25841-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: cx25840 2-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: wm8775 2-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: Hauppauge model 26132, rev F1B2, serial# 10061737
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: audio processor is CX25841 (idx 35)
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: decoder processor is CX25841 (idx 28)
Dec 2 09:54:27 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: has no radio, has IR remote
Dec 2 09:54:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Dec 2 09:54:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
Dec 2 09:54:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:28 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:28 mythtv kernel: tuner 2-0061: type set to 50 (TCL 2002N)
Dec 2 09:54:29 mythtv kernel: ivtv0: Initialized Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150, card #0
Dec 2 09:54:29 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ====================== NEXT CARD ======================
Dec 2 09:54:29 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Autodetected Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 card (cx23416 based)
Dec 2 09:54:29 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC3] enabled at IRQ 18
Dec 2 09:54:29 mythtv kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:01:08.0[A] -> Link [APC3] -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 21
Dec 2 09:54:29 mythtv kernel: tuner 3-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Dec 2 09:54:29 mythtv kernel: cx25840 3-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: cx25840 3-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: wm8775 3-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: Hauppauge model 26582, rev F0B2, serial# 10080722
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: tuner model is TCL M2523_5N_E (idx 112, type 4)
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: tveeprom 3-0050: has no radio, has no IR remote
Dec 2 09:54:32 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: tuner 3-0061: tuner type not set
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: tuner 3-0061: tuner type not set
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: ivtv1: Initialized Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150, card #1
Dec 2 09:54:33 mythtv kernel: ivtv: ==================== END INIT IVTV ====================


(II) Host-to-PCI bridge:
(II) Bus -1: bridge is at (0:24:3), (-1,-1,5), BCTRL: 0x0008 (VGA_EN is set)
(II) Bus -1 I/O range:
[0] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0000ffff (0x10000) IX[B]
(II) Bus -1 non-prefetchable memory range:
[0] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
(II) Bus -1 prefetchable memory range:
[0] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
(--) PCI: (1:7:0) unknown vendor (0x4444) unknown chipset (0x0016) rev 1, Mem @
0xdc000000/26
(--) PCI: (1:8:0) unknown vendor (0x4444) unknown chipset (0x0016) rev 1, Mem @
0xd8000000/26
(--) PCI:*(5:0:0) nVidia Corporation unknown chipset (0x0161) rev 161, Mem @ 0xf
a000000/24, 0xc0000000/28, 0xfb000000/24


bash: 2006-12-02: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# Could not initialize
bash: Could: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# open: Permission denied
bash: open:: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# ioctl JSIOCGAXES: Bad file descriptor
bash: ioctl: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# 2006-12-02 09:54:57.337 Registering MythDVD DVD Media
bash: 2006-12-02: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# 2006-12-02 09:54:57.3
bash: 2006-12-02: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# 2006-12-02 09:54:58.375 Registering MythMusic Media
bash: 2006-12-02: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# SIP listening on IP A
bash: SIP: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# SIP: Cannot register; proxy, username or p
bash: SIP:: command not found
bash: proxy,: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# 2006-12-02 09:54:58.9
bash: 2006-12-02: command not found
root@mythtv:/var/log# clear
root@mythtv:/var/log# Could not initialize
root@mythtv:/var/log# tail -200 /home/mythtv/.xsession-errors | more
Setting default value
Failed to load groupfile:
Failed to read: session.screen0.opaqueMove
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.autoRaise
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.clickRaises
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.decorateTransient
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.resizeMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.windowMenu
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.followModel
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.window.focus.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.window.unfocus.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menu.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuDelay
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuDelayClose
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.lineWidth
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.lineStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.joinStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.capStyle
Setting default value
BScreen::BScreen: managing screen 0 using visual 0x21, depth 24
Failed to read: session.ignoreBorder
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.forcePseudoTransparency
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.numLayers
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.updateDelayTime
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.tabPadding
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.focusTabMinWidth
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.appsFile
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.tabsAttachArea
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.useMod1
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.opaqueMove
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.autoRaise
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.clickRaises
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.decorateTransient
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.resizeMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.windowMenu
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.followModel
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.window.focus.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.window.unfocus.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menu.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuDelay
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuDelayClose
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.lineWidth
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.lineStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.joinStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.capStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.ignoreBorder
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.forcePseudoTransparency
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.numLayers
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.updateDelayTime
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.tabPadding
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.focusTabMinWidth
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.appsFile
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.tabsAttachArea
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.useMod1
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.opaqueMove
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.autoRaise
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.clickRaises
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.decorateTransient
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.resizeMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.windowMenu
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.followModel
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.window.focus.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.window.unfocus.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menu.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuDelay
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuDelayClose
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.menuMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.lineWidth
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.lineStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.joinStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.overlay.capStyle
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.slit.maxOver
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.slit.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.slit.layer
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.toolbar.maxOver
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.toolbar.visible
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.toolbar.alpha
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.toolbar.layer
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.toolbar.height
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.toolbar.tools
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.iconbar.mode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.iconbar.deiconifyMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.iconbar.wheelMode
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.iconbar.alignment
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.iconbar.iconWidth
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.iconbar.iconTextPadding
Setting default value
Failed to read: session.screen0.iconbar.usePixmap
Setting default value
2006-12-02 09:54:56.378 Using runtime prefix = /usr
2006-12-02 09:54:56.391 New DB connection, total: 1
2006-12-02 09:54:56.392 Connected to database 'mythconverg' at host: localhost
2006-12-02 09:54:56.393 Total desktop dim: 640x480, with 1 screen[s].
2006-12-02 09:54:56.405 Using screen 0, 640x480 at 0,0
2006-12-02 09:54:56.407 Current Schema Version: 1123
2006-12-02 09:54:56.408 mythfrontend version: 0.19.20060121-2 www.mythtv.org
2006-12-02 09:54:56.408 Enabled verbose msgs: important general
2006-12-02 09:54:56.903 lang0: eng
2006-12-02 09:54:56.903 lang: eng
2006-12-02 09:54:56.914 lang1: eng
2006-12-02 09:54:56.914 lang: eng
2006-12-02 09:54:56.971 Total desktop dim: 640x480, with 1 screen[s].
2006-12-02 09:54:56.972 Using screen 0, 640x480 at 0,0
2006-12-02 09:54:56.972 Switching to square mode (MythCenter)
2006-12-02 09:54:57.229 New DB connection, total: 2
2006-12-02 09:54:57.229 Connected to database 'mythconverg' at host: localhost
2006-12-02 09:54:57.282 Registering Internal as a media playback plugin.
Could not initialize /dev/input/js0
open: Permission denied
ioctl JSIOCGAXES: Bad file descriptor
2006-12-02 09:54:57.337 Registering MythDVD DVD Media Handler as a media handler
2006-12-02 09:54:57.337 Registering MythDVD VCD Media Handler as a media handler
2006-12-02 09:54:58.375 Registering MythMusic Media Handler as a media handler
SIP listening on IP Address 192.168.2.103:5060 NAT address 192.168.2.103
SIP: Cannot register; proxy, username or password not set
2006-12-02 09:54:58.919 Starting media monitor.
root@mythtv:/var/log#

I'm stuck on step #2 http://ivtvdriver.org/index.php/Firmware. Not sure which one to download, so I grabbed the latest...

Get the following error:


/usr/local/bin/ivtvfwextract.pl: Can't open /tmp/ivtvex.25168/hcwpvrp2.sys: No such file or directory

/usr/src/ivtv-0.7.2/utils/ivtvfwextract.pl: Can't open /tmp/ivtvex.24976/hcwpvrp2.sys: No such file or directory

Hey, I'm the friend of kpdillon who worked with him to try my 350 in his box. You really could tell that there was an improvement in definition and clarity of the picture when watching live tv and switching between my 350 and his 150's.

Just wanted to add that my 350's tuner reports as:
tveeprom 2-0050: tuner model is LG TAPE H001F MK3 (idx 68, type 47)

Quick side note - as someone who's only used the 350 TV-out to pipe the video to the TV, I was floored at how crystal clear playing a DVD looked on kpdillon's machine, which is using an nVidia 6200 s-video out for tv-out.

Well the second tuner type isn't set in either of those blocks of extracts, so you obviously missed the bit about how to fix your options settings in /etc/modprobe.conf several posts back, which is why you're still seeing:

on the second card. Fixing that might not affect the quality but it'd be a good idea anyway.

What are your capture resolutions and bitrates set at for the recording profile that you're using? Trying to get MPEG4 size recordings using a MPEG2 encoder is a recipe for crappy quality. Bumping the capture resolution without scaling up the bit rates appropriately is another way to get bad results. The default 480x480 profiles are OK, if you don't try to scale them too much (especially vertically!) on output.

What resolution are you playing back at? 800x600 might sound like it'd be better (Some pixels are good, so more pixels _must_ be better! Right?) but 640x480 will generally give you a far better picture on an SDTV. The scale up to match the output resolution followed by the scale back down to match the TV resolution will leave your picture looking washed out and fuzzy.

Finally some work with nvidia-settings can make quite a difference. The "flicker fx" settings make the picture fuzzier so dialing those back as far as you can will give you a much crisper image. Text crawls (try a news station like CNN/HNN/CNBC/...) are a good gauge of this. There are also some tweaks you can try using the ivtvctl and v4l2-ctl tools.

Nope, I didn't miss that comment, it just wasn't a priority for me. Having two tuners working is worthless if the picture quality isn't going to be good. Each 150 was tested and both displayed the same level of poor quality. I ended up RMA'ing the 150's. I ordered a 350 and will take it from there. If the picture is still bad after that I'll post back otherwise consider this issue closed by me at least. My only warning to those considering purchasing the PCI 150's for a myth system read through this thread - you may want to think twice about it. Spending a little extra money on the 350 might be worth it in the end.

P.S. I had already tried the other things you suggested and none of them helped. It should be interesting to see other's experience with the PCI 150's as time goes on.