Hi, I am running Fedora Core 4 with the 2.6.15-1831_FC4 kernel. I just recently installed a Hauppauge PVR-500 tuner card and installed ivtv via the instructions at Fedora Myth(TV)ology site. However, whenever I try to test it using "cat /dev/video0 > /tmp/test.mpg" all I get is snow. I made sure to change the channel to a known working channel via ivtv-tune, but it didn't make a difference. Can somebody please help me properly configure the tuner? Thanks.

--edit: I forgot to mention i'm running ivtv version 0.4.2-101.rhfc4.at, installed via yum. My /etc/modprobe.conf is the following added to it:

#ivtv (PVR-500)
alias char-major-81 ivtv
alias char-major-81-0 ivtv
alias char-major-81-1 ivtv
alias tveeprom tveeprom-ivtv
alias tuner tuner-ivtv
alias msp3400 msp3400-ivtv

Additionally running ivtvctl -I -d /dev/video gives me the error: "Option --input-detect is only valid for SAA7114/SAA7115 based cards", not sure if that helps.

When running mythbackend I get the following error messages as well (however I disregarded them since I couldn't get a picture normally):
Error getting inputs for the capturecard. Perhaps you have forgotten to bind video sources to your card's inputs?
Channel(/dev/video0): CheckChannel failed. Please verify channel '3' in the 'setup' Channel Editor.
Error getting inputs for the capturecard. Perhaps you have forgotten to bind video sources to your card's inputs?

I havent tried to use ivtv-tune to configure the channel number, however getting snow is a very good sign that the video card is working properly to capture video.

The mythbackend error I believe has to do with your configuriation in mythtvsetup where you configure a source to download the tv guide and the channel numbers, and bind this source to the Hauppauge tuner. Once you do this and run mythfilldatabase, you will be able to change channels in mythtv. If you have any questions about this aspect let me know.

Thanks for your help accessrichard. I redid the mythtv-setup and added my channel source to my tuner, which removed my mythbackend errors. Now when I change channels in mythtv it shows me a mini-program guide on the screen on what should be playing. Unfortunately I still get snow instead of a picture and audio. I made sure to check the signal on an actual tv to make sure I am receiving something and it does work. Is there something that needs to be tweaked on the tuner card to get it running?

Look in the syslog for a line like "START INIT IVTV" where a block of messages for the driver startup will follow, up to a "END INIT IVTV" entry. Look at those entries for any errors in the loading of the driver/firmware and also look for the line where it auto-detects the tuner type, I think it should be type=47.

randyding is probably more knowlegable about this than I am, however if there are no errors, I just ran mythtv-setup and another point of failure could be in the general settings, make sure the channel frequency table is correct.

Also, you probably already know about this log but I was not aware of a dedicated log file for mythtv on my Fedora box until a few weeks after I installed mythtv /var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log

Usually when I get snow I get sound so hopefully there will be something in the logs about this.

edit: mythtv .19 just came out and hopefully atrpms will have them available soon

The tuners on the card may not work because they may be Samsung tuners. You can try to use S-Video or composite to find out if the PVR card actually works.

Go to http://ivtvdriver.org

BTW, It is smarter to buy two Hauppauge PVR-250 instead of buying PVR-500 for the price of one PVR-250. It may take the ivtv developers a year or two to make the PVR-500 stable enough for operation.

Thanks. I grep /var/log/messages for ivtv and got the following output:

==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
ivtv: version 0.4.2 (tagged release) loading
ivtv: Linux version: 2.6.15-1.1831_FC4 686 REGPARM 4KSTACKS gcc-4.0
ivtv: In case of problems please include the debug info between
ivtv: the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines, along with
ivtv: any module options, when mailing the ivtv-users mailinglist.
ivtv0: Autodetected WinTV PVR 150 card (cx23416 based)
ivtv0: Failed to load module tveeprom
ivtv0 warning: i2c client addr: 0x50 not found for command 0x0!
ivtv0: Error -19 reading Hauppauge eeprom.
ivtv0: Possible causes: the tveeprom module was not loaded, or
ivtv0: the eeprom kernel module was loaded before the tveeprom module.
ivtv0: Failed to load module tuner
cx25840 1-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=cx25840, addr=44]
wm8775 1-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=wm8775, addr=1b]
ivtv0: Could not detect tuner standard, defaulting to NTSC.
ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02040024
ivtv0 warning: Encoder Firmware can be buggy, use version 0x02040011 or 0x02050032.
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0 warning: i2c client addr: 0x00 not found for command 0x40085618!
ivtv0 warning: i2c client addr: 0x00 not found for command 0x402c5639!
ivtv0: Initialized WinTV PVR 150, card #0
ivtv: ====================== NEXT CARD ======================
ivtv1: Autodetected WinTV PVR 150 card (cx23416 based)
cx25840 2-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
ivtv1: i2c attach to card #1 ok [client=cx25840, addr=44]
wm8775 2-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
ivtv1: i2c attach to card #1 ok [client=wm8775, addr=1b]
ivtv1: Failed to load module tveeprom
ivtv1 warning: i2c client addr: 0x50 not found for command 0x0!
ivtv1: Error -19 reading Hauppauge eeprom.
ivtv1: Possible causes: the tveeprom module was not loaded, or
ivtv1: the eeprom kernel module was loaded before the tveeprom module.
ivtv1: Failed to load module tuner
ivtv1: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
ivtv1: Encoder revision: 0x02040024
ivtv1 warning: Encoder Firmware can be buggy, use version 0x02040011 or 0x02050032.
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv1 warning: i2c client addr: 0x00 not found for command 0x40085618!
ivtv1 warning: i2c client addr: 0x00 not found for command 0x402c5639!
ivtv1: Initialized WinTV PVR 150, card #1
ivtv: ==================== END INIT IVTV ====================

It seems as if the tveeprom and tuner module are not being loaded. When I try to modprobe both of them i get an error saying tveeprom_ivtv and tuner_ivtv not found. I tried doing yum upgrade ivtv, ivtv-kmdl-$KVER, and ivtv-firmware-audio but it states that there is nothing to upgrade. Am I missing something that I need to install?

Also I tried the RCA inputs, however I couldn't get a picture. I changed the input via ivtvctl -p command (tried 0-4, apparently it doesn't go higher than that) but all I get is a black screen for 1-4 and the snow for 0.

It is detecting the card as a PVR-150 which is not correct. You will need to specify PVR-500 by passing an option to ivtv. Type '/sbin/modinfo ivtv' and look for the card option. Next download the v4l-cx25840.fw and place it in /lib/modules. Move or delete /lib/modules/v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw. Power down the computer and power it up. It should use the correct firmware upon boot up.

I tried doing the firmware modification you suggested, however it simply led to ivtv failing completely. /dev/video0 and video1 did not exist anymore. It seemed pretty persistent on looking for v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw

Additionally doing "modprobe cardtype=6" doesn't change the ivtv output (on /var/log/messages) either since the cardtype for PVR-150 and PVR-500 is the same, this could be because the PVR-500 is simply two PVR-150 on one board I believe.

Did I misunderstand your instructions and do something wrong? At this point I restored the firmware files temp moved and still have the same static/snow problem.

You can try to specify ivtv_dfw=/lib/modules/v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw while loading ivtv module. I suggest reading through the ivtv web site because I do not know how Fedora setup the rpm file for ivtv.

Just an update, I yum removed all the ivtv modules and recompiled them from source following the howto at http://ivtvdriver.org/index.php/Howto. I tested the card and this time was able to get an input from the component input (don't have S-Video to test that). Unfortunately I still have the snow on the tuner input (I assume that's the tuner input 'cos on the others I just get blank screen) for both video0 and video1. Btw, do I need to specify v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw as you stated in your last reply Electro? It seems as if it is loading alright, however the modules tuner, tveeprom and tda9887 are still not loading.

--edit: I recompile the ivtv source making the modification it specifies in for Samsung tuners (which apparently PVR-500 has) and now I don't get the same errors in /var/log/messages however I still get snow. Here is what my new dmesg looks like:

ivtv: ==================== START INIT IVTV ====================
ivtv: version 0.4.2 (tagged release) loading
ivtv: Linux version: 2.6.15-1.1831_FC4 686 REGPARM 4KSTACKS gcc-4.0
ivtv: In case of problems please include the debug info between
ivtv: the START INIT IVTV and END INIT IVTV lines, along with
ivtv: any module options, when mailing the ivtv-users mailinglist.
ivtv0: Autodetected WinTV PVR 150 card (cx23416 based)
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:04:08.0[A] -> Link [LNKE] -> GSI 10 (level, low) -> IRQ 10
tveeprom: Second (radio) tuner idx 101
tveeprom: ivtv version
tveeprom: Hauppauge: model = 23552, rev = D487, serial# = 8921500
tveeprom: tuner = Samsung TCPN 2121P30A (idx = 87, type = 68)
tveeprom: tuner fmt = NTSC(M) (eeprom = 0x08, v4l2 = 0x00001000)
tveeprom: audio processor = CX25843 (type = 25)
tveeprom: decoder processor = CX25843 (type = 1e)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=tveeprom, addr=50]
ivtv0: This is the first unit of a PVR500
tuner (ivtv): chip found at addr 0xc0 i2c-bus ivtv i2c driver #0
TEA5767 detected.
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=(tuner unset), addr=60]
tuner: type set to 62 (Philips TEA5767HN FM Radio) by autodetect
type set to 62 (Philips TEA5767HN FM Radio)
tuner (ivtv): chip found at addr 0xc2 i2c-bus ivtv i2c driver #0
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=(tuner unset), addr=61]
cx25840 0-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
cx25840 0-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (14264 bytes)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=cx25840, addr=44]
wm8775 0-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
ivtv0: i2c attach to card #0 ok [client=wm8775, addr=1b]
ivtv0: Detected a TEA5767 radio tuner. Enabling radio support.
ivtv0: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv0: Create encoder radio stream
tuner: type set to 68 (Samsung TCPN 2121P30A) by ivtv i2c driver #0
ivtv0: Initialized WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1), card #0
ivtv: ====================== NEXT CARD ======================
ivtv1: Autodetected WinTV PVR 150 card (cx23416 based)
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:04:09.0[A] -> Link [LNKF] -> GSI 10 (level, low) -> IRQ 10
tveeprom: Second (radio) tuner idx 101
tveeprom: ivtv version
tveeprom: Hauppauge: model = 23552, rev = D487, serial# = 8921500
tveeprom: tuner = Samsung TCPN 2121P30A (idx = 87, type = 68)
tveeprom: tuner fmt = NTSC(M) (eeprom = 0x08, v4l2 = 0x00001000)
tveeprom: audio processor = CX25843 (type = 25)
tveeprom: decoder processor = CX25843 (type = 1e)
ivtv1: i2c attach to card #1 ok [client=tveeprom, addr=50]
tuner (ivtv): chip found at addr 0xc2 i2c-bus ivtv i2c driver #1
ivtv1: i2c attach to card #1 ok [client=(tuner unset), addr=61]
cx25840 1-0044: cx25843-23 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
cx25840 1-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (14264 bytes)
ivtv1: i2c attach to card #1 ok [client=cx25840, addr=44]
wm8775 1-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
ivtv1: i2c attach to card #1 ok [client=wm8775, addr=1b]
ivtv1: This is the first unit of a PVR500
ivtv1: loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (262144 bytes)
ivtv1: Encoder revision: 0x02050032
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder MPEG stream: 128 x 32768 buffers (4096KB total)
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder YUV stream: 194 x 10800 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder VBI stream: 120 x 17472 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv1: Allocate DMA encoder PCM audio stream: 455 x 4608 buffers (2048KB total)
ivtv1: Create encoder radio stream
tuner: type set to 68 (Samsung TCPN 2121P30A) by ivtv i2c driver #1
ivtv1: Initialized WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1), card #1
ivtv: ==================== END INIT IVTV ====================

You need to use cx25840ctl instead of ivtvctl to change channels and adjust other settings.

cx25840ctl seems to be a register dump prog, the help option doesn't seem to list anything related to changing channels/source. Did you mean to refer to a diff prog/util?

I am sorry it is ivtv. The problem about the tuner. You will have to try different tuners until the one that works. I had to do that for my PVR-250. While loading ivtv module include the tuner option. If you went through the list and you do not see any video, use composite or S-Video until the ivtv developers include better support.