[pvrusb2] Some install guidance on WinTV PVR2 USB

[Lorne Shantz]

The only advice I could give, is have you tried XBMC? I spent so many hours on MythTV that I hate to think of it. Finally got it working and never liked it. Just always a fight it seemed. The XBMC while I've not spent any time on it to speak of, looks like a much easier setup. 

--- On Wed, 3/20/13, Matt Farmer <notjimcarrey at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Matt Farmer <notjimcarrey at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pvrusb2] Some install guidance on WinTV PVR2 USB
> To: "Communications nexus for pvrusb2 driver" <pvrusb2 at isely.net>
> Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 9:17 AM
> Speaking of the HVR-1950, how do I
> get MythTV to search for channels using
> this card? I've had issues getting most software to tune
> analog channels
> with it since it uses an MPEG2 decoder.
> 
> 
> On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 7:00 AM, Mike Isely <isely at isely.net>
> wrote:
> 
> >
> > Lorne:
> >
> > These days the in-kernel pvrusb2 driver should work
> great without any
> > special setup beyond perhaps ensuring you have the
> firmware files
> > installed somewhere visible to udev.  Kernel
> 3.4.33 is reasonably new
> > and should "just work".  I imagine most
> distribution kernels probably
> > compile this driver for you, either into the kernel
> package itself or
> > maybe as a "media" package add-on.  If you
> searched /lib/modules
> > recursively, you should be able to find "pvrusb2.ko" in
> there.
> >
> > Things I would check for:
> >
> > 1. Ensure the pvrusb2 device's power brick is plugged
> in and the unit is
> > actually getting power.  If that isn't happening,
> then *nothing* else
> > will work.
> >
> > 2. Even if the firmware files are not installed, the
> pvrusb2 driver
> > should still attempt to attach to the hardware and you
> should see
> > corresponding messages in the kernel log (i.e. dmesg) -
> leading up to
> > the point where it gives up for lack of available
> firmware.  So if
> > you're not seeing any messages, then the lack of
> firmware is likely not
> > the issue.
> >
> > 3. Even if the pvrusb2 driver itself were completely
> borked or otherwise
> > missing, you should still be able to see the hardware
> show up to the
> > kernel via either running the "usbview" tool or just
> "cat
> > /proc/bus/usb/devices".  If you can't see anything
> there that suggests
> > the presence of the pvrusb2 hardware, then the driver
> situation won't
> > matter at all.  (This would suggest the device is
> not getting power or
> > there is a communication issue between the PC and the
> device.)
> >
> > If there is a suspicion about, say, a bad USB hub or
> USB cable, then I
> > would (obviously) try swapping around those parts.
> >
> > If you have another PC (or laptop nearby), you can also
> try plugging the
> > device in there - if only to see if you get a reaction
> from the
> > operating system, e.g. if it were Windows you might be
> prompted to
> > install drivers or if it were Linux you could notice
> the appearance of
> > the hardware in your dmesg output.  Such a thing
> would at least tell you
> > that the hardware is not dead.  If none of that
> produces a reaction,
> > then I'd probably re-examine step #1 above a lot more
> closely.  If you
> > have a voltmeter nearby then for example I'd check that
> you're getting 6
> > volts at the DC plug end...
> >
> > I have one laptop here that - with particular (older)
> kernel versions -
> > has trouble recognizing the presence of the old (first
> generation) 29xxx
> > model series.  It's a really bizarre thing,
> requiring a specific
> > combination of computer, kernel version, and a 29xxx
> model.  I've never
> > been able to track down why this is, except to suspect
> that the FX2 boot
> > firmware in that model series has a quirk that is
> upsetting the USB
> > stack for a particular type of USB host controller
> combined with a
> > particular kernel version.
> >
> > Hope that helps...
> >
> >   -Mike
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 18 Mar 2013, Lorne Shantz wrote:
> >
> > > I had a it running a few years back until a system
> rebuild. I gave up
> > because I couldn't remember how I had it working and
> just went with a PCI
> > card. Well now I'm using a newer MB, that does not have
> any PCI slots. I
> > really need to get this running.
> > >
> > >
> > > Kernel image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.4.33-2.24-desktop
> > >
> > > Initrd image: /boot/initrd-3.4.33-2.24-desktop
> > >
> > > Root device: /dev/sdb1 (mounted on / as ext4)
> > >
> > > Resume device:
> >
> /dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD20EADS-32S2B0_WD-WCAVY3847719-part3
> > >
> > > (/dev/sdb3)
> > >
> > > modprobe: Module hid_generic not found.
> > >
> > > WARNING: no dependencies for kernel module
> 'hid-generic' found.
> > >
> > > Kernel Modules: thermal_sys thermal processor fan
> pata_marvell ata_piix
> > >
> > > ata_generic scsi_transport_sas libsas isci scsi_dh
> scsi_dh_hp_sw
> > scsi_dh_rdac
> > >
> > > scsi_dh_emc scsi_dh_alua xhci-hcd hid-logitech-dj
> > >
> > > Firmware: isci/isci_firmware.bin
> isci/isci_firmware.bin
> > >
> > > Features: acpi plymouth block usb resume.userspace
> resume.kernel
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The pvrusb2.ko file is in
> >
> /lib/modules/3.4.33-2.24-desktop/kernel/drivers/media/video/pvrusb2/pvrusb2.ko
> > >
> > >
> > > I have compiled the kernel as I believe you have
> instructed.
> > >
> > >
> > > dmesg shows:
> > >
> > > [ 315.904957] Linux video capture interface:
> v2.00
> > >
> > > [ 315.955716] usbcore: registered new interface
> driver em28xx
> > >
> > >
> > > No video0 or video1.
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm not sure that the above is even the WinTV PVR2
> USB device. I guess I
> > could remove it and reboot, however, if memory serves,
> > >
> > > back a couple of years ago I did have it running,
> it would pop up a
> > message that was more clear when it was detected.
> > >
> > >
> > > Later.... I removed the device and rebooted.
> Nothing indicating video. I
> > plugged it back in, and still nothing.
> > >
> > >
> > > The only thing I can figure, is somehow the driver
> is not compiled
> > correctly.
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > pvrusb2 mailing list
> > > pvrusb2 at isely.net
> > > http://www.isely.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pvrusb2
> > >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Mike Isely
> > isely @ isely (dot) net
> > PGP: 03 54 43 4D 75 E5 CC 92 71 16 01 E2 B5 F5 C1 E8
> > _______________________________________________
> > pvrusb2 mailing list
> > pvrusb2 at isely.net
> > http://www.isely.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pvrusb2
> >
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