MythTV - HVR-2250 installation problem

Sun Mar 28 17:32:10 EDT 2010

I apologize in advance for the long email, but I want to put all the
evidence in one place.

I have bought an Hauppauge HVR-2250 dual tuner card so I could
continue to record the programs Comcast is moving from analog to
digital.  However, I'm having trouble setting it up, and now my old
PVR-500 isn't working either.  The symptom is that when I select
"Watch TV", it displays the "Please wait...."  message for six
seconds, then returns to the menu.  I can no longer watch or record TV
with myth.

lspci finds my older PVR-500 and the new card:

  02:08.0 Multimedia video controller: Internext Compression Inc iTVC16 (CX23416) MPEG-2 Encoder (rev 01)
  	Subsystem: Hauppauge computer works Inc. Device e807
  	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 18
  	Memory at e8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
  	Capabilities: <access denied>
  	Kernel driver in use: ivtv
  	Kernel modules: ivtv

  02:09.0 Multimedia video controller: Internext Compression Inc iTVC16 (CX23416) MPEG-2 Encoder (rev 01)
  	Subsystem: Hauppauge computer works Inc. Device e817
  	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 19
  	Memory at e4000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
  	Capabilities: <access denied>
  	Kernel driver in use: ivtv
  	Kernel modules: ivtv

  05:00.0 Multimedia controller: Philips Semiconductors Device 7164 (rev 81)
  	Subsystem: Hauppauge computer works Inc. Device 8851
  	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
  	Memory at ef400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
  	Memory at ef000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
  	Capabilities: <access denied>
  	Kernel driver in use: saa7164
  	Kernel modules: saa7164

Following directions at

  http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-HVR-2200

I downloaded and installed firmware from

  http://www.steventoth.net/linux/hvr22xx/

and the developmental sa7164 driver using

  hg clone http://kernellabs.com/hg/~stoth/saa7164-dev/

I built and installed the module.  When I loaded it, it looked for a
newer version of the firmware, v4l-saa7164-1.0.3-3.fw, which I
downloaded from

  http://steventoth.net/linux/hvr22xx/firmwares/4038864/

The driver runs and recognizes the new card.  Here are the syslog
messages relevant to the two video cards:

  saa7164 driver loaded
  ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC8] enabled at IRQ 16
    alloc irq_desc for 16 on node -1
    alloc kstat_irqs on node -1
  saa7164 0000:05:00.0: PCI INT A -> Link[APC8] -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
  CORE saa7164[0]: subsystem: 0070:8851, board: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR2250 [card=7,autodetected]
  saa7164[0]/0: found at 0000:05:00.0, rev: 129, irq: 16, latency: 0, mmio: 0xef400000
  saa7164 0000:05:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
  Linux video capture interface: v2.00
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() no first image
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() Waiting for firmware upload (v4l-saa7164-1.0.3-3.fw)
  saa7164 0000:05:00.0: firmware: requesting v4l-saa7164-1.0.3-3.fw
  ivtv: Start initialization, version 1.4.1
  ivtv0: Initializing card 0
  ivtv0: Autodetected Hauppauge card (cx23416 based)
  ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC3] enabled at IRQ 18
    alloc irq_desc for 18 on node -1
    alloc kstat_irqs on node -1
  ivtv 0000:02:08.0: PCI INT A -> Link[APC3] -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
  ivtv0: Unreasonably low latency timer, setting to 64 (was 32)
  tveeprom 2-0050: Hauppauge model 23552, rev E587, serial# 9865756
  tveeprom 2-0050: tuner model is Samsung TCPN 2121P30A (idx 87, type 70)
  tveeprom 2-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
  tveeprom 2-0050: second tuner model is Philips TEA5768HL FM Radio (idx 101, type 62)
  tveeprom 2-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
  tveeprom 2-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
  tveeprom 2-0050: has radio
  ivtv0: Autodetected WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1)
  cx25840 2-0044: cx25843-24 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
  tuner 2-0060: chip found @ 0xc0 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
  tea5767 2-0060: type set to Philips TEA5767HN FM Radio
  tuner 2-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
  HDA Intel 0000:00:09.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
  ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [AAZA] enabled at IRQ 22
  HDA Intel 0000:00:09.0: PCI INT A -> Link[AAZA] -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 22
  HDA Intel 0000:00:09.0: setting latency timer to 64
  wm8775 2-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #0)
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() firmware read 4038864 bytes.
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() firmware loaded.
  Firmware file header part 1:
   .FirmwareSize = 0x0
   .BSLSize = 0x0
   .Reserved = 0x3da0d
   .Version = 0x3
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() SecBootLoader.FileSize = 4038864
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() FirmwareSize = 0x1fd6
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() BSLSize = 0x0
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() Reserved = 0x0
  saa7164_downloadfirmware() Version = 0x1d1c
  tuner-simple 2-0061: creating new instance
  tuner-simple 2-0061: type set to 70 (Samsung TCPN 2121P30A)
  IRQ 18/ivtv0: IRQF_DISABLED is not guaranteed on shared IRQs
  ivtv0: Registered device video0 for encoder MPG (4096 kB)
  ivtv0: Registered device video32 for encoder YUV (2048 kB)
  ivtv0: Registered device vbi0 for encoder VBI (1024 kB)
  ivtv0: Registered device video24 for encoder PCM (320 kB)
  ivtv0: Registered device radio0 for encoder radio
  ivtv0: Initialized card: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1)
  ivtv1: Initializing card 1
  ivtv1: Autodetected Hauppauge card (cx23416 based)
  ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APC4] enabled at IRQ 19
    alloc irq_desc for 19 on node -1
    alloc kstat_irqs on node -1
  ivtv 0000:02:09.0: PCI INT A -> Link[APC4] -> GSI 19 (level, low) -> IRQ 19
  ivtv1: Unreasonably low latency timer, setting to 64 (was 32)
  tveeprom 3-0050: Hauppauge model 23552, rev E587, serial# 9865756
  tveeprom 3-0050: tuner model is Samsung TCPN 2121P30A (idx 87, type 70)
  tveeprom 3-0050: TV standards NTSC(M) (eeprom 0x08)
  tveeprom 3-0050: second tuner model is Philips TEA5768HL FM Radio (idx 101, type 62)
  tveeprom 3-0050: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
  tveeprom 3-0050: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
  tveeprom 3-0050: has radio
  ivtv1: Correcting tveeprom data: no radio present on second unit
  ivtv1: Autodetected WinTV PVR 500 (unit #2)
  cx25840 3-0044: cx25843-24 found @ 0x88 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
  tuner 3-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
  wm8775 3-001b: chip found @ 0x36 (ivtv i2c driver #1)
  tuner-simple 3-0061: creating new instance
  tuner-simple 3-0061: type set to 70 (Samsung TCPN 2121P30A)
  IRQ 19/ivtv1: IRQF_DISABLED is not guaranteed on shared IRQs
  ivtv1: Registered device video1 for encoder MPG (4096 kB)
  ivtv1: Registered device video33 for encoder YUV (2048 kB)
  ivtv1: Registered device vbi1 for encoder VBI (1024 kB)
  ivtv1: Registered device video25 for encoder PCM (320 kB)
  ivtv1: Initialized card: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #2)
  ivtv: End initialization
  ivtv 0000:02:08.0: firmware: requesting v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw
  ivtv 0000:02:09.0: firmware: requesting v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw
  ivtv0: Loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (376836 bytes)
  ivtv1: Loaded v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw firmware (376836 bytes)
  ivtv0: Encoder revision: 0x02060039
  ivtv1: Encoder revision: 0x02060039
  cx25840 2-0044: firmware: requesting v4l-cx25840.fw
  cx25840 3-0044: firmware: requesting v4l-cx25840.fw
  cx25840 3-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
  cx25840 2-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
  saa7164_downloadimage() Image downloaded, booting...
  saa7164_downloadimage() Image booted successfully.
  starting firmware download(2)
  saa7164_downloadimage() Image downloaded, booting...
  saa7164_downloadimage() Image booted successfully.
  firmware download complete.
  tveeprom 4-0000: Hauppauge model 88061, rev C4F2, serial# 7048176
  tveeprom 4-0000: MAC address is 00:0d:fe:6b:8b:f0
  tveeprom 4-0000: tuner model is NXP 18271C2_716x (idx 152, type 4)
  tveeprom 4-0000: TV standards NTSC(M) ATSC/DVB Digital (eeprom 0x88)
  tveeprom 4-0000: audio processor is SAA7164 (idx 43)
  tveeprom 4-0000: decoder processor is SAA7164 (idx 40)
  tveeprom 4-0000: has radio, has IR receiver, has no IR transmitter
  saa7164[0]: Hauppauge eeprom: model=88061
  tda18271 5-0060: creating new instance
  TDA18271HD/C2 detected @ 5-0060
  DVB: registering new adapter (saa7164)
  DVB: registering adapter 0 frontend 0 (Samsung S5H1411 QAM/8VSB Frontend)...
  tda18271 6-0060: creating new instance
  TDA18271HD/C2 detected @ 6-0060
  tda18271: performing RF tracking filter calibration
  tda18271: RF tracking filter calibration complete
  DVB: registering new adapter (saa7164)
  DVB: registering adapter 1 frontend 0 (Samsung S5H1411 QAM/8VSB Frontend)...
  ...
  DVB: adapter 1 frontend 0 frequency 861000000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  DVB: adapter 1 frontend 0 frequency 867000000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  DVB: adapter 1 frontend 0 frequency 873000000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  DVB: adapter 1 frontend 0 frequency 879000000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  DVB: adapter 1 frontend 0 frequency 885000000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  ...
  DVB: adapter 1 frontend 0 frequency 44750000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  DVB: adapter 1 frontend 0 frequency 50750000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  ...
  DVB: adapter 0 frontend 0 frequency 861000000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  DVB: adapter 0 frontend 0 frequency 867000000 out of range (54000000..858000000)
  ...
  DVB: adapter 0 frontend 0 frequency 50750000 out of range (54000000..858000000)

The last part is apparently from the channel scans.

I note that ivtv registers several devices (video0, video1, video32,
radio0, etc.), but the saa7164 messages don't mention any devices.

I installed a new 4:1 splitter so I could feed the two cards and the
cable box.  (I checked it by connecting the cable box to each of the
four outputs in turn - all work fine.)

I tried to test the tuner setup without using mythtv, using the procedure here:
  http://parker1.co.uk/mythtv_dvb.php

My channel scan generated many warnings:

  scan /usr/share/dvb/atsc/us-Cable-Standard-center-frequencies-QAM256 | tee /tmp/channels.conf
  scanning /usr/share/dvb/atsc/us-Cable-Standard-center-frequencies-QAM256
  using '/dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0' and '/dev/dvb/adapter0/demux0'
  …
  >>> tune to: 111025000:QAM_256
  WARNING: filter timeout pid 0×1ffb
  >>> tune to: 117025000:QAM_256
  WARNING: >>> tuning failed!!!
  >>> tune to: 117025000:QAM_256 (tuning failed)
  WARNING: >>> tuning failed!!!
  >>> tune to: 651000000:QAM_256
  WARNING: filter timeout pid 0×1ffb
  …

The procedure suggests the command

  mplayer dvb://Film4

  "Instead of Film4, you can play any of the channels defined in your
  channels.conf."

I got a channel file, with obscure entries like this:

  [0004]:777000000:QAM_256:2305:2304:4
  [0005]:777000000:QAM_256:2177:2176:5
  [0003]:783000000:QAM_256:0:2113:3
  [0005]:783000000:QAM_256:0:2177:5
  [0006]:783000000:QAM_256:0:2241:6

I don't know whether the scan worked, or how I should construct the
URL for mplayer.  My attempts all fail like this:

  # mplayer dvb://[0002]:477000000:QAM_256:2112:2113:2
  MPlayer SVN-r29237-4.4.1 (C) 2000-2009 MPlayer Team
  mplayer: could not open config files /root/.lircrc and /etc/lirc//lirc/lircrc
  mplayer: No such file or directory
  Failed to read LIRC config file ~/.lircrc.

  Playing dvb://[0002]:477000000:QAM_256:2112:2113:2.
  Option stream url: This URL doesn’t have a port part.

  DVBIN: no such channel -Y΄0002″

  Failed to open dvb://[0002]:477000000:QAM_256:2112:2113:2.

  Exiting… (End of file)

To configure MythTV, I've been trying to follow the directions here:
  http://ubuntu-virginia.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=7344302

Navigating
  Applications | System | MythTV Backend Setup | Capture Cards | (New capture card)

my options are as follows:

        Card Type: Analog V4L capture card                
     Video Device: /dev/video0   
      Probed Info: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1) [ivtv]  
       VBI Device: /dev/vbi0

        Card Type: MJPEG capture card (Matrox G200, DC10) 
     Video Device: /dev/video0   
      Probed Info: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1) [ivtv]  
       VBI Device: /dev/vbi0

        Card Type: IVTV MPEG-2 encoder card               
     Video Device: /dev/video0   
      Probed Info: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1) [ivtv]  
       VBI Device: (none)

        Card Type: H.264 encoder card (HD-PVR)
      Probed Info: failed to open

        Card type: DVB DTV capture card (v3.x)
DVB Device Number: /dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0
      Frontend ID: Samsung S5H1411 QAM/
          Subtype: ATSC

        Card type: FireWire cable box
      Description: (none)

        Card type: USB MPEG-4 encoder box (Plextor ConvertX, etc)
     Video device: /dev/video0
      Probed info: WinTV PVR 500 (unit #1) [ivtv]
       VBI device: /dev/vbi0

        Card type: HDHomeRun DTV tuner box
      Description: (none)

        Card type: Network Recorder
          M3U URL: http://mafreebox.freebox.fr/freeboxtv/playlist.m3u

None of these mention the HVR-2250, Internext, or saa7164.

I set up four "cards", I assume the first two are the HVR-2250, and
the other two are the PVR-500:
  DVB:/dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0
  DVB:/dev/dvb/adapter1/frontend0
  V4L:/dev/video0
  V4L:/dev/video1

For video sources, I set up:
  Video source name: Comcast
  Listings grabber: North America (SchedulesDirect.org)(Internal)
  Direct Data Lineup: Comcast-Cable--03062-NH28421:-
  Channel frequency table: us-cable

Input connections:
  DVB:/dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0(DVBInput) -> Comcast
  DVB:/dev/dvb/adapter1/frontend0(DVBInput) -> Comcast
  V4L:/dev/video0(Tuner 1) -> Comcast
  V4L:/dev/video1(Tuner 1) -> Comcast
  MJPEG:/dev/video0(Tuner 1) -> Comcast
  MJPEG:/dev/video0(Tuner 1) -> Comcast
  MPEG:/dev/video0(Tuner 1) -> Comcast
  MPEG:/dev/video1(Tuner 1) -> Comcast

For the DVB connections, I configured for "us-cable"
frequencies, and "scan for channels" took ten minutes or so.  There
were many warnings about conflicting channels.  I accepted their
suggested channel numbers.

The V4L entries didn't offer "scan for channels".  

The MJPEG screens offered scanning, but failed with the message
"Failed to open the card".

For the MPEG entries, it started scanning, displaying

  Updated Channel us-cable 2
  ...
  Updated Channel us-cable 23

but at that point, with the progress bar at "5%", it froze.
Eventually I found I could navigate "back" to the previous screen,
restart the scan, and it would get a little further (even though the
progress bar never got beyond "5%").  However, when I eventually chose
"finish", it would crash (i.e. it would immediately run
mythfilldatabase and restart the backend).

I reviewed the channel listing, and found it had assigned channel
numbers and names for many channels I recognize, including regular and
HD versions of the broadcast stations.  Apparently the scan found
something.

After finishing, mythfilldatabase ran apparently successfully.

I then restarted mythtv-backend and mythtv-frontend.  The program
guide shows the programs for regular channels, but for HD channels all
programs are "Unknown (Unknown)".

HOWEVER: When I select "Watch TV", it only displays the "Please
wait...."  message for six seconds, then returns to the menu.  And
when I tried to record something, I got a message "recording failed".
So I can't actually watch or record any programs.

--update--
The failure to scan for analog channels is a known bug

  https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mythtv/+bug/478048

It's fixed in the latest developmental sources, which I downloaded from

  https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mythtv/0.23.0+fixes23820-0ubuntu1

built and installed. The "scan" button now works, but finds no
additional channels.  (I notice a regression: In myth-frontend, one
item in each menu is supposed to be highlighted, but it's actually
hidden.  The blank space moves with the up and down arrows.  Annoying,
but I can live with it.)

I still can't actually watch or record any programs.  
I'd appreciate any suggestions.

BTW does Comcast use QAM-256 modulation?

            - Jim Van Zandt