Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

yodermk · 2015-08-08 21:24:54

So I first bought a Hauppauge 2250, which is said to be one of the best cards you can get for TV capture in Linux, only to find out that it came as a 2255, which is not yet supported. Apparently there is a driver in development and has been for several months but who knows when it will be released.

Then I bought an HVR-950, which is also said to work pretty well. It's a USB dongle for digital TV reception. Unfortunately, I can't get it to work for the life of me. It identifies as a 980 in lsusb but that seems to be consistent with what others see.
I've copied the firmware into /lib/firmware as noted in http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/H … TV-HVR-950

I have linuxtv-dvb-apps installed and at one point, last I tried a few months ago, I did get a scan of channels into ~/.mplayer/channels.conf. It is incomplete but there's at least something there. At that time I got *something* via mplayer, but I'm not quite sure now how I did it. While it was something, the quality was pretty poor.

Now...

$ mplayer dvb://
MPlayer SVN-r37379 (C) 2000-2015 MPlayer Team
210 audio & 441 video codecs
do_connect: could not connect to socket
connect: No such file or directory
Failed to open LIRC support. You will not be able to use your remote control.

Playing dvb://.
dvb_tune Freq: 485000000


Exiting... (End of file)

I've gone through other documentation on the dvb-apps package, but everything I could find seemed cryptic, incomplete, and/or inconsistent with what's actually installed on my system.

Ultimately I want to run MythTV, but I just need to make sure I have a working capture card first.

Do I have to buy a THIRD card? That would tick me off (I'm already pretty upset at Hauppauge for changing the 2250 without changing the advertised model number) but I could be talked into it if I could just get it to work without more fuss. Can you name a specific product that absolutely will work with little trouble?

Any other tips on troubleshooting this stuff would be fantastic. Thanks!

Last edited by yodermk (2015-08-08 21:48:57)

jasonwryan · 2015-08-08 21:38:24

Please edit your thread title to a) reference your actual issue (the card model would be helpful) and remove the useless emoticon:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fo … ow_to_post

Gusar · 2015-08-08 21:49:55

What does the channels.conf look like, does it have a lot of "AUTO" in there? I found out mplayer doesn't really like that, it needs everything set precisely. For example, I needed to change FEC_AUTO to FEC_3_4. Similar for everything else - qam, transmission_mode, guard_interval... But don't ask me how I figured out which settings I need . Just google around for a channels.conf for your region.

yodermk · 2015-08-08 21:51:51

Ok done but it's admittedly kind of general. At this point I've been scrambling so much that it's hard to get too specific with a question. Would just like to hear from someone who uses this stuff right now about what they did.

The info in the Arch Wiki on this topic also seems somewhat out of date, which is uncharacteristic of its normally excellent nature. I'd be willing to help with cleanup if I can get it figured out myself ....

yodermk · 2015-08-08 21:57:54

Seems legit.

[micah@pizza ~]$ cat .mplayer/channels.conf 
KHCE TV - TBN:485000000:VSB_8:49:52+53+52+53:3
Church Channel:485000000:VSB_8:65:68+68:4
JUCE:485000000:VSB_8:81:84+84:5
Enlace:485000000:VSB_8:97:100+100:6
SOAC:485000000:VSB_8:113:116+116:7
KNIC-DT:497000000:VSB_8:49:52+53+52:1
Univision San Antonio:497000000:VSB_8:65:68+68:2
ESCAPE:497000000:VSB_8:81:84+84:3
ION:545000000:VSB_8:49:52+52:3
qubo:545000000:VSB_8:65:68+69+68+69:4
IONLife:545000000:VSB_8:81:84+84:5
Shop:545000000:VSB_8:97:100+100:6
QVC:545000000:VSB_8:672:116+116:7
HSN:545000000:VSB_8:129:132+132:8
KABB-HD:569000000:VSB_8:49:52+53+52+53:3
COUNTRY:569000000:VSB_8:65:68+68:4
KMYS-HD:581000000:VSB_8:49:52+53+52+53:3
MundoFX:581000000:VSB_8:65:68+68:4
KENS_HD:623000000:VSB_8:49:52+53+52+53:3
ESTV:623000000:VSB_8:65:68+68:4
Justice:623000000:VSB_8:81:84+84:5
KWEX-DT:635000000:VSB_8:49:52+52:1
GetTV  :635000000:VSB_8:65:68+68:2
KWEX DT 41.3 GRIT:635000000:VSB_8:81:84+84:3

But this does not represent every OTA station in my area.

Not having any immediate luck finding other channels.conf files for San Antonio. But I'm not sure that is the actual problem. Even "mplayer dvb://KENS_HD" (that's one of the main stations here and it's listed in my channels.conf) doesn't work.

yodermk · 2015-08-08 22:13:14

whoa.... just re-generated the channel list (last time was a couple months ago).

w_scan -ft -c US -X -R N -O N > channels.conf

and now mplayer dvb:// seems to work! With fairly high quality! Last time it was pretty flaky at best.

BUT ... the channel list is different than the one I got before, still not including everything.

yodermk · 2015-08-08 22:16:20

current channels.conf:

KNIC-DT:497000000:VSB_8:49:52:1
Univision San Antonio:497000000:VSB_8:65:68:2
ESCAPE:497000000:VSB_8:81:84:3
ION:545000000:VSB_8:49:52:3
qubo:545000000:VSB_8:65:68:4
IONLife:545000000:VSB_8:81:84:5
Shop:545000000:VSB_8:97:100:6
QVC:545000000:VSB_8:672:116:7
HSN:545000000:VSB_8:129:132:8
KMYS-HD:581000000:VSB_8:49:52:3
MundoFX:581000000:VSB_8:65:68:4
KVDA-DT:617000000:VSB_8:49:52:3
Telemundo's Exitos TV:617000000:VSB_8:65:68:4
COZI Television:617000000:VSB_8:81:84:5
WOAI-DT:677000000:VSB_8:49:52:3
ANT TV:677000000:VSB_8:65:68:4

Playing the default Univision seems to work absolutely perfectly. Playing WOAI-DT - also another major station, sometimes doesn't work at all and sometimes craps out with chunky audio/video.

And KENS isn't in this list at all.

Last edited by yodermk (2015-08-08 22:16:38)

yodermk · 2015-08-08 22:21:51

with that maybe you can say it's an antenna problem but I have what I think is a pretty good indoor antenna and it works pretty well feeding input directly into a VCR.

Gusar · 2015-08-08 22:27:29

That conf file looks completely different from what I have here. Must be a DVB-T (Europe) vs ATSC (America) thing. I had no idea the files are so different, the DVB-T config has tons more settings.

Yeah, antenna problem is exactly what I'd say. The only way I get any signal here is putting the antenna at the top of the kitchen window. It's why I nowadays watch analog cable with an old-school CRT TV . Do you have Windows installed? Then you could check if it isn't maybe a driver problem. Does each scan provide the same list?

Last edited by Gusar (2015-08-08 22:28:42)

fphillips · 2015-10-07 02:58:12

@yodermk
There is support in linux-4.2 for the 2255, although it doesn't include analog. Look into getting Schedules Direct since you're in the US. It's the way to go for listings. BTW, I'm in Austin and I've been recording OTA on Arch/MythTV with one or more 2250s since 2009.

yodermk · 2015-10-07 23:01:41

Oh sweet thanks I will check into that again!

yodermk · 2015-10-10 21:59:03

Whee! I have mplayer working on some channels with the 2255!

The w_scan did not pick up many channels though, including NONE of the big networks. Not sure what's up with that.

I have a decent indoor antenna that picks them up very well in the other room connected to the DVD/VCR as input. Maybe something wrong with this room?

fphillips · 2015-10-10 23:44:39

Have you tried the -t option (tuning timeout)?

Check this https://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
You won't be able to pick up more than what is in the green area at the top of the list (if the transmitters are in different directions it will be even less).

yodermk · 2015-10-11 02:04:03

The timeout didn't help. I did manage to get CBS and NBC with another change. Sometimes they come in pretty well and sometimes they are choppy. All three main networks - those and ABC - are well in the green area of that chart. And like I said, this same antenna got them fine when on a VCR device. But that's a different room. Maybe I do need to look into a better antenna, though mine has lots of good reviews.

yodermk · 2015-11-01 23:15:17

I guess I'm an official doofus - I've had a rooftop antenna this whole time and didn't even know it. Recently found the cable that goes to it and hooked it up.

Still not really satisfactory. Hooked it up to the 2255 in my desktop PC and the 950 USB stick on my Fedora laptop. In neither case did w_scan find all the major network channels, even with a high timeout (30). Playing dvb:// with mplayer was pretty jerky and somewhat unusable on the desktop and mildly jerky on the laptop. Hooking it up to the VCR device works fine.

Unless I'm doing something really wrong, it seems as though the Linux DVB system isn't cutting it. Maybe I still need to order one of those OTA DVR appliances, even though I wanted to do it all on my Linux box.

teckk · 2015-11-02 22:45:56

linuxtv-dvb-apps comes with a little signal strength utility called femon.
Check your signal strength for each channel. If it's under 75 to 80%, some channels won't play well.
You can also zap the device and play/record the device.

Here's a script.

#! /usr/bin/env bash

#dvb:// tuner-player. Requires dvb-apps and one of mplayer, mpv or ffplay.

while :; do
    clear
    PS3="
Enter channel number :"
    chans=$(cut -d ":" -f1 < $HOME/.mplayer/channels.conf)
    echo "		  	
Select channel then adjust antenna for 75% or better signal 
quality while watching signal meter. Press (enter) to play 
that channel once good signal is acquired.					  	
During play press (q) to quit station, (f) for fullscreen.					 	
-----------------------------------------------------------
Select a channel.   Ctrl C to exit.
"
    select opt in $chans; do
        azap -r -c $HOME/.mplayer/channels.conf $opt > /dev/null &
		      disown
		      femon -H | cut -d "|" -f2 &
		      disown
		      read
		      pkill femon
		      clear
		      echo "Wait I'm tuning it."
		      mplayer -cache 2048 -cache-min 80 /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0 &> /dev/null
		      #mpv /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0 &> /dev/null
		      #ffplay &> /dev/null - < /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0 
		      pkill azap
        break
    done
done

yodermk · 2015-11-26 03:00:00

Hi,

Thanks for this .... but in the above script, in the azap command, I get:

ERROR: error while parsing modulation (syntax error)

and from the fenom command I get:

Problem retrieving frontend information: Resource temporarily unavailable
 signal   0%

I do have a channels.conf file, and when I play something with mplayer, it's pretty much unusable right now..... audio is fine but video is pretty much still. My computer is plenty powerful (i7 with 16GB RAM)....

Edit: univision seems to come in perfectly.....
I think everything fluctuates based on time of day or conditions or whatever.....

Last edited by yodermk (2015-11-26 03:05:09)

teckk · 2015-11-26 21:31:13

You'll need a good antenna hooked to the device, aimed at the tv transmitter, getting a good signal level. Don't guess at it, see what the signal levels are for the station that you are trying to play. That's what that script does, allows you to move the antenna to get a good signal before you try and play a channel.

I'll give you some more info if any of this helps you.

Part of my ~/.mplayer/channels.conf

WSEC1:479028615:8VSB:49:52:1
WSEC2:479028615:8VSB:65:68:2
WSEC3:479028615:8VSB:81:84:3

To test the signal strength:
In one terminal

azap -r -c $HOME/.mplayer/channels.conf WSEC2
using '/dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0' and '/dev/dvb/adapter0/demux0'
Version: 5.10    FE_CAN { ATSC + DVB-C (B) }
tuning to 479028615 Hz
video pid 0x0041, audio pid 0x0044
status 01 | signal 0000 | snr 7ffc | ber 00000000 | unc 00000000 | 
status 1f | signal db6d | snr 012c | ber 00000000 | unc 00000000 | FE_HAS_LOCK

In another terminal

femon -H
FE: Samsung S5H1411 QAM/8VSB Frontend (ATSC)
status SCVYL | signal  85% | snr   0% | ber 0 | unc 0 | FE_HAS_LOCK
status SCVYL | signal  85% | snr   0% | ber 0 | unc 0 | FE_HAS_LOCK
status SCVYL | signal  85% | snr   0% | ber 0 | unc 0 | FE_HAS_LOCK

With the antenna cable unplugged

femon -H
FE: Samsung S5H1411 QAM/8VSB Frontend (ATSC)
Problem retrieving frontend information: Invalid argument
status S     | signal  35% | snr   0% | ber 0 | unc 0 | 
Problem retrieving frontend information: Invalid argument
status S     | signal  35% | snr   0% | ber 0 | unc 0 |

With good signal the channel can be player with:

mplayer dvb://WSEC2

mpv −−dvbin−file=$HOME/.mplayer/channels.conf dvb://WSEC2

Or in one terminal

azap -r -c $HOME/.mplayer/channels.conf WSEC2

second terminal

ffplay /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0

Dump to file with:

cat /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0 > file.ts

or

rtcwake -m mem -t $(date +%s -d 'tomorrow 0300') &&
...recording script here....

After plugging in the usb tuner

dmesg | tail
[825771.436793] rc0: IR-receiver inside an USB DVB receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.1/usb2/2-10/rc/rc0
[825771.437029] dvb-usb: schedule remote query interval to 50 msecs.
[825771.437038] dvb-usb: Pinnacle PCTV HD USB Stick successfully initialized and connected.
[825771.437205] usbcore: registered new interface driver dvb_usb_dib0700
[825798.007888] xc5000: Firmware dvb-fe-xc5000-1.6.114.fw loaded and running.
[826074.635926] xc5000: Firmware dvb-fe-xc5000-1.6.114.fw loaded and running.
[826159.090322] xc5000: Firmware dvb-fe-xc5000-1.6.114.fw loaded and running.
[826439.942718] forcedeth 0000:00:07.0 eth0: MSI enabled
[826574.244467] xc5000: Firmware dvb-fe-xc5000-1.6.114.fw loaded and running.
[826677.570630] xc5000: Firmware dvb-fe-xc5000-1.6.114.fw loaded and running.

dvdb-apps and mplayer/ffplay/mpv work fine for mpeg2-ac3 atsc television streams if your firmware is working

And lastly, here is a list of ATSC center frequencies for a scan.

# US ATSC center frequencies, use if in doubt

A  57028615 8VSB
A  63028615 8VSB
A  69028615 8VSB
A  79028615 8VSB
A  85028615 8VSB
A 177028615 8VSB
A 183028615 8VSB
A 189028615 8VSB
A 195028615 8VSB
A 201028615 8VSB
A 207028615 8VSB
A 213028615 8VSB
A 473028615 8VSB
A 479028615 8VSB
A 485028615 8VSB
A 491028615 8VSB
A 497028615 8VSB
A 503028615 8VSB
A 509028615 8VSB
A 515028615 8VSB
A 521028615 8VSB
A 527028615 8VSB
A 533028615 8VSB
A 539028615 8VSB
A 545028615 8VSB
A 551028615 8VSB
A 557028615 8VSB
A 563028615 8VSB
A 569028615 8VSB
A 575028615 8VSB
A 581028615 8VSB
A 587028615 8VSB
A 593028615 8VSB
A 599028615 8VSB
A 605028615 8VSB
A 611028615 8VSB
A 617028615 8VSB
A 623028615 8VSB
A 629028615 8VSB
A 635028615 8VSB
A 641028615 8VSB
A 647028615 8VSB
A 653028615 8VSB
A 659028615 8VSB
A 665028615 8VSB
A 671028615 8VSB
A 677028615 8VSB
A 683028615 8VSB
A 689028615 8VSB
A 695028615 8VSB
A 701028615 8VSB
A 707028615 8VSB
A 713028615 8VSB
A 719028615 8VSB
A 725028615 8VSB
A 731028615 8VSB
A 737028615 8VSB
A 743028615 8VSB
A 749028615 8VSB
A 755028615 8VSB
A 761028615 8VSB
A 767028615 8VSB
A 773028615 8VSB
A 779028615 8VSB
A 785028615 8VSB
A 791028615 8VSB
A 797028615 8VSB
A 803028615 8VSB

yodermk · 2015-11-27 02:11:43

Good info, thanks... but it is hooked up to a rooftop antenna. And using mplayer I can get at least one channel near flawlessly. But the script does the same thing when I run it on that channel.

When I get a chance I'll try it on the Fedora laptop and see if there's a difference.

Would still be nice to figure it out, but I just ordered a Tivo Roamio to solve the problem...

Arch Linux

#1 2015-08-08 21:24:54

Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#2 2015-08-08 21:38:24

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#3 2015-08-08 21:49:55

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#4 2015-08-08 21:51:51

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#5 2015-08-08 21:57:54

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#6 2015-08-08 22:13:14

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#7 2015-08-08 22:16:20

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#8 2015-08-08 22:21:51

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#9 2015-08-08 22:27:29

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#10 2015-10-07 02:58:12

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#11 2015-10-07 23:01:41

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#12 2015-10-10 21:59:03

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#13 2015-10-10 23:44:39

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#14 2015-10-11 02:04:03

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#15 2015-11-01 23:15:17

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#16 2015-11-02 22:45:56

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#17 2015-11-26 03:00:00

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#18 2015-11-26 21:31:13

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

#19 2015-11-27 02:11:43

Re: Getting TV tuning to work - Hauppauge HVR-950 - tips?

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