[mythtv-users] hauppauge pvr-150 IrBlaster

[Michael T. Dean]

Milos Prudek wrote:

>> I'm on those lists and all I can say is there's just some effort now to
>> capture the commands on the Windows side to try to reverse engineer 
>> it so
>> the simple answer is, not yet
>
> Reverse engineering is required? How can Hauppauge claim Linux 
> compatibility on their website if they fail to disclose technical 
> information to the Linux developer community and do not provide their 
> own Linux software?
>
> Honestly, I thought that Hauppauge collaborates with ivtv developers.

They do, but they don't make all the components in the cards.  
(Actually, they probably don't make any.)  Since every component in the 
card that's purchased by Hauppauge comes with its own NDA, Hauppauge 
can't tell Linux developers how to make the components work.

However--and here's why Hauppauge is considered very supportive of Linux 
developers--Hauppauge has actually gone to bat for us and will 
occasionally get explicit permission from the manufacturer of the 
component to answer specific questions posed to them.  To be able to ask 
the right questions requires research.  Basically, if we can figure out 
how something works, we don't have to bother Hauppauge and they don't 
have to bother the other company.  Since Hauppauge is not required to do 
this (i.e. look at many other manufacturers for proof), and since the 
component manufacturer isn't required to say yes, and since there's no 
guarantee how many questions we "get," this approach seems to be the 
most likely to benefit Linux users in the long run.

Mike