[mythtv-users] PVR350 TV out on FC6 (Fedora Core 6) (and MythDora 4???)

[Dan Klosterman]

I followed Jarod's guide for installing MythTV on Fedora Core 6, but ran 
into a few problems with getting the PVR350 TV out to work.  After finding 
clues at various websites, I thought I would combine my PVR350 notes into 
one location.  I think that these notes also apply to MythDora 4 (BUT I'm 
not sure that you can get MythDora 4 working with PVR350 out until they 
release the kernel SRPM!!!!!)

Symptoms during various parts of the process

    * Audio is good, but a large black rectangle covering most of the screen 
or a blank screen when playing recorded programs.
    * Picture plays with no black rectangle, but the video is jumpy (or 
plays at a fast speed) and the audio is distorted (plays at a fast speed, 
sounds like Donald Duck or the Chipmunks)  Seems to only occur with new 
recordings, old recordings that were recorded when things were working 
played fine.

For the "Audio is good, but a large black rectangle covering most of the 
screen or a blank screen when playing recorded programs." problem, this one 
is pretty simple to fix.  In your /etc/modprobe.conf file, add the following 
line after your "install ivtv /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install ivtv; 
/sbin/modprobe ivtv-fb" line:

options ivtv-fb osd_compat=1


Now to fix the slightly difficult problem (just video, distorted audio on 
new recordings:)
I believe that this problem has crept in in some of the latest kernels and 
video4linux packages (July 2007).  I think initially this was not a problem 
with the FC6 kernels and video4linux.  The problem is that video4linux is 
only necessary to get the saa7127.ko  kernel module, but the other 
video4linux components affect ivtv (I think).  So the solution is to remove 
the video4linux package and compile your own saa7127.ko kernel module from 
source (don't worry, its pretty cookie-cutter, thats to this posting 
(http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/ivtv/users/35059)).  Commands are 
marked with a ~ (remove when running!)

    * As Jarod's guide says, you must install ivtv_xdriver package.
    * Make sure that you have enough of the build components installed to be 
able to compile the kernel module.  I believe that installing 
Development->Development Libraries and Development->Development Tools in 
Fedora's Add Remove Programs would suffice.
    * If you have video4linux-kmdl-$KVER package installed, you will need to 
remove it (~yum erase video4linux-kmdl-$KVER).  NOTE: if you have been using 
the PVR350 out to see X, this will now break after rebooting.  You may need 
to use your video card and a monitor to complete the step if you are not 
comfortable at the command line.  BACKUP your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file!!
    * Make sure you have the kernel-devel and kernel-headers package 
installed  (~yum install kernel-devel-$KVER and ~yum install 
kernel-headers-$KVER).  You must also install the SRPM of the kernel!!!!  
There may be an easier way to install the SRPM, but I went to the Fedora 
mirrors and manually downloaded the file for the kernel 
(kernel-$KVER.src.rpm ,such as kernel-2.6.20-1.2962.fc6.src.rpm)  Install 
this SRPM by running    ~rpm -ivh kernel-2.6.20-1.2962.fc6.src.rpm
    * Prepare the kernel source by running (may need to install rpm-build 
package if not already installed??)->
           ~rpmbuild -bp --target=i686 /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/kernel-2.6.spec
    * Change to following directory->
        ~cd /usr/src/redhat/BUILD/kernel-2.6.20/linux-2.6.20.i686
    * Update the current config->       ~make oldconfig
    * Edit current config with menu based program->
      ~make menuconfig
      enter:
      Device Drivers
      enter:
      Multimedia devices
      enter:
      Video Capture Adapters
      select:
      [*] Autoselect pertinent encoders/decoders and other
      helper chips
      remove asterisk, hit <SPACE>
      [ ] Autoselect pertinent encoders/decoders and other
      helper chips
      enter:
      Encoders/decoders and other helper chips
      select:
      < > Philips SAA7127/9 digital video encoders (NEW)
      set 'M', hit <SPACE>
      <M> Philips SAA7127/9 digital video encoders
      Exit and Save
    * Verify->
      ~grep -i saa7127 .config
      Should show CONFIG_VIDEO_SAA7127=m
    * build saa7127.ko kernel module->
      ~make drivers/media/video/ && make M=drivers/media/video
    * copy saa7127.ko module into kernel module tree (substitute your kernel 
version in /lib/modules/$KVER/kernel/drivers/media/video/ )->
      ~cp drivers/media/video/saa7127.ko 
/lib/modules/2.6.20-1.2962.fc6/kernel/drivers/media/video/
    * re/create a list of module dependencies->
      ~depmod
    * engage modules script by creating the script file:  
/etc/sysconfig/modules/udev-ivtv_lirc.modules
      The script should have the following in it:->
      #!/bin/sh
      for i in i2c_dev ivtv lirc_dev lirc_i2c ivtv-fb;do
      modprobe $i >/dev/null 2>&1
      done
      #EOF
    * Make the preceding script executable->
      ~chmod a+x /etc/sysconfig/modules/udev-ivtv_lirc.modules

You should now make sure your xorg.conf file is correct for the 350 tv-out 
and shutdown the computer.  Keep the power off for 30 seconds to let the 
registers clear in the PVR350, then start the computer.  At this point, 
things should start working.  (Don't forgert to enable the PVR350 out in 
MythFrontend->Utilities/Setup-> Setup ->TV Settings->Playback->(Enter though 
4 screens) -> Use the PVR-350's TV out / MPEG decoder).

Good luck!

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