MythTV, Freevo, and other Linux TIVO-likes

technobard · 08-22-2003, 01:25 PM

Anyone have any personal experience with PVR functionality (TIVO-like) under Linux? I have a Linux box acting as a webserver, etc. with a lot of idle time on it's hands. I'm moving it to be within a few feet of my TV, so....

Any info would be appreciated.

EscapeCharacter · 08-22-2003, 04:54 PM

first of all you would need a video card that has video-in outlets, most likely the ati all in wonders(since they are most supported). and then you would need something like xawtv and thats pretty much it.

redhead · 08-22-2003, 10:30 PM

Remember to activate the bttv module in the kernel This is a thread, where I tried to explain it to someone.

bdl · 08-23-2003, 07:14 AM

I can give you some advice on setting up the capture card, but am not familiar with the other apps. From what I've seen, the WinTV tuner / capture card is a good deal, supported with the BTTV driver, and around $50. or less.

I've got a dedicated system here with 3 composite capture cards hooked up to 3 seperate security cameras (yes, one of them is an x10 camera =) ) that works pretty nicely capturing and streaming video in realtime, along with capturing snapshots when something moves in the cameras area. All three cards use the BTTV driver. I'm using the cheapo DVD capture cards by AverMedia. available at newegg.com for around $42.

First, read the thread that redhead posted above, that tells you how to enable all the right modules in the kernel. Then, depending on your distro and how modules are loaded (I use debian), you want to use this config:

/etc/modules.conf

Code:

# I2C module options
alias char-major-89 i2c-dev
options i2c-core i2c_debug=1
options i2c-algo-bit bit_test=1

## video
alias char-major-81 videodev
alias char-major-81-0 bttv
options bttv    card=0 radio=0 tuner=4 pll=0

/etc/modules (or /etc/rc.modules, etc)

Code:

## load these modules in this order
## makes life easier
videodev
i2c-dev
i2c-core
i2c-algo-bit
bttv

Reason for the config above is so that the bttv driver doesn't hang. Now, with the WinTV tuner card, you'll need to change the parameters for your card, specifically the 'card' 'radio' 'tuner' options. These can be found in the linux Documentation/video4linux/bttv/ CARDLIST and Cards. There you will (probably) find the card you're using, and all the correct option parms for it.

Once everything is loaded up you can create a ~/.xawtvrc file, something like this and try out xawtv for testing purposes:

Code:

[global]
freqtab = us-cable
pixsize = 320x240
jpeg-quality = 75

[defaults]
input = Television 
norm = ntsc
capture = grabdisplay

Obviously change for your area or your specific needs. That should work fine in the US. Hope this gives you some insight, I know it took me awhile to get it all straightened out.

technobard · 08-23-2003, 10:22 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm finishing up a machine I just built for my wife. My next project is to do the PVR thing. Your info should give me a headstart.

teknomage1 · 02-23-2005, 11:14 AM

I built a mythtv box from a 450Mhz pentium III with a haupage PVR-350 and 512 megs of RAM. I got a cheap nividia Geforce2 card to do video out as well. I found it wasn't quite up to watching television live, but it does quite well as time shifting device.

EDIT: Definitely do NOT get an ATI all-in-wonder. It's support in linux is poor to none, and it's just not worth the hassle.

Kernel_Killer · 03-04-2005, 10:05 PM

Quote:

EDIT: Definitely do NOT get an ATI all-in-wonder. It's support in linux is poor to none, and it's just not worth the hassle.

They aren't bad if you have one to use or get it for free. The GATOS drivers are actually really easy to install (one `tar xvzf`), but the horrible thing about it is that you are limited to XawTV or the TV app from the GATOS project. Needless to say, I agree with Technomage. If you can get something other than one, by all means get it.