Hauppauge PVR-500 snowy

ryedunn · 11-07-2006, 11:34 PM

Ever since installing my PVR-500 the picture has been viewable but snowy. Ive tried almost everything I can think of and looking for your advice.

Im running RH6 and ivtv-0.8.0

message log is as follows

Code:

Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv: no version for "struct_module" found: kernel tainted.
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  ==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  version 0.8.0 (tagged release) loading
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  Linux version: 2.6.18-1.2200.fc5smp SMP mod_unload 686 REGPARM 4KSTACKS gcc-4.1
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  In case of problems please include the debug info between
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines, along with
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  any module options, when mailing the ivtv-users mailinglist.
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:02:09.0[A] -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 209
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: eth0: VIA Rhine III at 0xfeaff400, 00:15:e9:80:b2:86, IRQ 209.
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: eth0: MII PHY found at address 1, status 0x786d advertising 05e1 Link 0021.
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:02:05.0[A] -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 217
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: skge 1.6 addr 0xfeaf8000 irq 217 chip Yukon rev 1
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: skge eth1: addr 00:0e:a6:23:38:21
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:02:03.0[A] -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 225
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ohci1394: fw-host0: OHCI-1394 1.0 (PCI): IRQ=[225]  MMIO=[feaff800-feafffff]  Max Packet=[2048]  IR/IT contexts=[4/8]
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Unknown card: vendor/device: 4444/0016
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0:               subsystem vendor/device: 0070/f7f7
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0:               cx23416 based
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Defaulting to Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 card
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Please mail the vendor/device and subsystem vendor/device IDs and what kind of
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: card you have to the ivtv-devel mailinglist (www.ivtvdriver.org)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Prefix your subject line with [UNKNOWN CARD].
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:03:08.0[A] -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 209
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: usb 3-2: USB disconnect, address 2
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: usb 3-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: usb 3-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: Hauppauge model 23552, rev D587, serial# 8897756
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: tuner model is Samsung TCPN 2121P30A (idx 87, type 70)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: second tuner model is Philips TEA5768HL FM Radio (idx 101, type 62)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 1-0050: has radio, has no IR remote
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: This is the second unit of a PVR500
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Correcting tveeprom data: no radio present on second unit
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tuner 1-0060: TEA5767 detected.
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tuner 1-0060: chip found @ 0xc0 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tuner 1-0060: type set to 62 (Philips TEA5767HN FM Radio)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tuner 1-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: cx25840 1-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: cx25840 1-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: wm8775 1-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Registered device video0 for encoder MPEG
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Registered device video32 for encoder YUV
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Registered device vbi0 for encoder VBI
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Registered device video24 for encoder PCM audio
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tuner 1-0061: type set to 70 (Samsung TCPN 2121P30A)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv0: Initialized WinTV PVR 500 (unit #2), card #0
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  ======================  NEXT CARD  ======================
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Unknown card: vendor/device: 4444/0016
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1:               subsystem vendor/device: 0070/f7f7
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1:               cx23416 based
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Defaulting to Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 card
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Please mail the vendor/device and subsystem vendor/device IDs and what kind of
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: card you have to the ivtv-devel mailinglist (www.ivtvdriver.org)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Prefix your subject line with [UNKNOWN CARD].
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:03:09.0[A] -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 217
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tuner 2-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: cx25840 2-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: cx25840 2-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: wm8775 2-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: Hauppauge model 23552, rev D587, serial# 8897756
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: tuner model is Samsung TCPN 2121P30A (idx 87, type 70)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: second tuner model is Philips TEA5768HL FM Radio (idx 101, type 62)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tveeprom 2-0050: has radio, has no IR remote
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: This is the second unit of a PVR500
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Correcting tveeprom data: no radio present on second unit
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Registered device video1 for encoder MPEG
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Registered device video33 for encoder YUV
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Registered device vbi1 for encoder VBI
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Registered device video25 for encoder PCM audio
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: tuner 2-0061: type set to 70 (Samsung TCPN 2121P30A)
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv1: Initialized WinTV PVR 500 (unit #2), card #1
Nov  7 21:48:43 empiricus kernel: ivtv:  ====================  END INIT IVTV  ====================

/etc/modprobe.conf has the following entries
#ivtv modules setup
alias char-major-81 videodev
alias char-major-81-0 ivtv
alias char-major-81-1 ivtv
#IR setup
alias char-major-61 lirc_serial

ll /dev/video?
crw------- 1 mythtv root 81, 0 Nov 7 21:48 /dev/video0
crw------- 1 mythtv root 81, 1 Nov 7 21:48 /dev/video1

/sbin/lspci -v
03:08.0 Multimedia video controller: Internext Compression Inc iTVC16 (CX23416) MPEG-2 Encoder (rev 01)
Subsystem: Hauppauge computer works Inc. Unknown device f7f7
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 209
Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2

03:09.0 Multimedia video controller: Internext Compression Inc iTVC16 (CX23416) MPEG-2 Encoder (rev 01)
Subsystem: Hauppauge computer works Inc. Unknown device f7f7
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 217
Memory at ec000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2

any suggestion are greatly appreciated
The GNUbie

tredegar · 11-08-2006, 03:48 AM

Well, at least you have a picture! Congratulations - I gave up on ivtv a year ago, maybe it is better now?

Whilst I was trying to get it to work, I did hear that some tuner cards need a good signal strength to work properly (that's to say they are not as sensitive as the tuners in you TV VCR) - so you could try a better aerial / "antenna" or buy yourself a signal-booster at RadioShack or equivalent.

HTH

ryedunn · 11-08-2006, 07:12 AM

already tried a signal booster, same picture.

Electro · 11-08-2006, 05:26 PM

Probably it detected the wrong tuner model. Try using the composite (RCA) or S-Video inputs. If it still gives you snow, then it is ivtv setup.

I think ivtv 0.8 is only for kernel version 2.6.18. If it is Red Hat 6 use ivtv version 0.3 or just use a lot more recent distribution. Red Hat 6 is very, very, very, very, very, very, very OLD.

ryedunn · 11-11-2006, 11:10 AM

Not on RH6,sorry it must have been late.

uname -a
Linux domain.com 2.6.18-1.2200.fc5smp #1 SMP Sat Oct 14 17:15:35 EDT 2006 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

Im not sure how to use the RCA or S-Video input but Im sure theres documentation out there that will help.

Electro · 11-11-2006, 05:31 PM

Use ivtvctl to set the inputs.

Example:
Assuming /dev/video0 is one of the cards of PVR-500.
S-Video) ivtvctl -d /dev/video0 -p 1
Composte) ivtvctl -d /dev/video0 -p 5

Use mplayer or xine to test the video capture. Specify the file as /dev/video0 or /dev/video1. Of course, you will need a source to get any video.

I have a PVR-250, so you have to do trial and error to get the correct inputs.

randyding · 11-11-2006, 06:57 PM

I use the 350 model here, before I got my card I researched which cards the ivtv driver supported. At that time, it stated in the documentation that the 500 model definitely was not supported.

MasterC · 11-14-2006, 09:06 PM

PVR-500s work and are supported by IVTV. Be sure you are using the latest, it contains a possible fix for some of the people having problems described as "snow" for some people. Your other option is to RMA the device until you get one of the older tuner types (the newer Samsung tuners are a bit smaller, the board itself is the same size). The RMA option is a terrible one, mostly because it's actually not a bad card, but rather the IVTV driver hasn't completely figured out where the problem exists with those specific tuners; though the fix did help a ton of people. So, as noted above, get the newest version (http://ivtvdriver.org) to make sure it doesn't fix the problem.

FWIW, I build DVRs using the Samsung tuners all the time and, as long as I use the right driver/kernel combo, the picture is great. I use 0.80 and gentoo-sources 2.6.18 (currently -r2).

I might just be one of the lucky ones and keep getting lucky every time I get another card, some people say the new driver version (which you are running) didn't fix their problem.

Good luck!

Cool

ryedunn · 11-22-2006, 09:07 PM

Although its embarassing, maybe someone else can learn from my mistake.

The PVR has two coax input connectors.. I think the first one (top) is for FM and the bottom is for TV. When I disconnected the top connection and used the bottom only it worked like a charm. The picture isnt crystal clear but its at 95%. Im hoping some tweaking will give me the same picture I see when going directly into the TV. My ATI video drives are not correct and dont have gfx output (I know this isnt necessary but I read somewhere that some options work better when the 3D drivers are working properly) I just read that new drivers have been released ( http://www.linuxhardware.org/article.../08/22/1445244 ) and I do have some questions about that but thats another post.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

MasterC · 11-22-2006, 11:46 PM

Excellent. That is correct, the top is for FM only, the internal splitter is how you get 2 Coax inputs from 1 cable.

Good luck with the ATI thing.

Cool

ryedunn · 12-03-2006, 09:51 PM

Message has been deleted

Crito · 12-25-2006, 06:06 PM

Anyone else using the PVR-500 with FC6? Was really hoping it'd be as painless to setup as my old Hauppauge 401 card was with FC4.

Looks like original poster is using version with Philips chip, which is supposed to work better than revision B with Samsung's. Or that's what I gathered from reviews at newegg anyway: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815116628

ryedunn · 12-25-2006, 09:51 PM

the quote from newegg was pretty close
"And I mean the quality was unbearable. Reminds me of rabbit ear antenna reception 20 years ago." Its not quite that bad, but I wouldnt think of viewing TV with it just record only and then its just not fun to watch. I dont think the chip matters, they both suck. Nothing better thank knowing you just pissed away $150

poweredbydodge · 12-25-2006, 11:35 PM

fc6 was nothing but a nightmare for me -- i went so far as to degrade back to fc5 on all my machines. i just thank god that i didn't migrate the server before i noticed all the problems. random gui crashes, random cpu usage spikes, and loads of kernel errors. why? i have no idea at all. all i can think is that i got fc6 about 2 days after it was released. maybe it was just 'buggy' in its early weeks. who knows.

either way -- fc5 has been out a LONG time. it's stable as stable gets for such a type of OS (a development platform).

that being said, i too have made the "FM versus TV" input mixup. it's common.

)

currently i'm having great success with a very cheap video capture card.

Asus 7133FM -- which is nothing more than a Philips 7133/4 chipset... it works natively with v4l2 support (although is sometimes called "7135", which i can only interpret as being 7130,7131,7133/4,7135 support all under one name). Video quality is phenomenal (for television). That being said, it will still never look as good as straight up TV (if TV even looks good -- its subjective). I'm encoding at about 500 x 400 (roughly - i forget the actual x16 height/width) and at only 1800 frames per minute. It looks as good as old VCR tape recordings did. So I'm not going to complain. If I was running anything faster than a f****** oldschool Duron, I'd be able to encode at 'real life' attributes, and be somewhere around VCD quality or a little better. I've done it for a minute - it fills the buffer and goes nuts,but the output quality is crazy good.

I bought the card about 4 years ago for something like 30 bucks. They're dirt cheap. If you have a high horsepower rig, you could run 3 or 4 of these things all day long with no problems whatesoever. Although I will note that you have to sample the audio at 32000 (opposed to 44.1k) and then resample in the lavc output. otherwise you end up with audio / video sync issues after about half an hour of encoding. sometimes less.

Currently I'm using Oxine as a HTPC frontend for Xine -- and I'm crazy happy with the results. The box runs 24 - 7 all the time and it records via mencoder command line on a crontab job schedule. additional 'one time' recordings (like football games or whatever) are added via ssh login. the 40 gig hard drive is plenty - as shows are recorded on the local hard drive and then transferred, upon completion, to my server on the local network.

Crito · 12-26-2006, 12:03 AM

FWIW I think you just got a bad card ryedunn. Seems to be a high percentage of RMAs with these. Which also explains the "white box" deal at newegg; they're probably factory refurbished.