[mythtv-users] Hauppauge HD-PVR trials and tribulations.

Mike Perkins mikep at randomtraveller.org.uk
Sun Dec 21 11:53:16 UTC 2014


On 21/12/14 09:24, Gary Buhrmaster wrote:
> On Sun, Dec 21, 2014 at 7:34 AM, georgia_tech_swagger
> <georgia.tech.swagger at gmail.com> wrote:
>> ...  I can't believe pcHDTV or somebody else hasn't
>> bothered to create a GOOD fully open source component and/or HDMI capture
>> card for PVR purposes yet.
>
> To paraphrase James Carville, it is the drivers,
> stupid.
>
> You are acknowledging that sometimes the
> HD-PVR (and the driver) is really the victim of
> the USB-bug-of-the-release issue.  You really can
> not blame the device or driver for USB flakiness
> in the kernel.
>
> Regardless, until/unless Hauppauge steps up and
> not only funds, but provides the various errata, the
> drivers are always going to be playing catch-up.
> That they work reasonable well much of the time
> is a testament to a few driver devs willingness to
> invest their own time.  But that is really not a
> sustainable approach for longer term support.
> And Hauppauge's HD-PVR2 and HD-PVR Rocket
> could also be supported if Hauppauge funded
> drivers for them, and that too would only require
> them to pay for the drivers, not even design an
> entirely new device.
>
> I think the conclusion I reach from that is that
> Hauppauge does not believe that there is a
> sufficient demand for the hardware from the
> Linux community that even just paying for a
> Linux driver is cost justified.  It seems likely
> that a completely new device, as you would
> like, would have the same lack of projected ROI.
> So I am not at all surprised that pcHDTV (nor
> anyone else) is not jumping in to the market.
>
> I should also mention that if money is no
> object, there are (or at least were, I do not
> follow the market that closely at this point)
> some bigger ticket alternatives used in the
> video production space.  Most were Windows
> or Mac targeted, but I think Linux drivers were
> available for a few at one point, but they were
> all proprietary licensed drivers (and I have no
> idea if they were V4L/DVB compliant).
>
When the HD-PVRs came out I was somewhat surprised to find that they were USB 
devices, unlike the HD-Homeruns. I don't know what additional problems Hauppauge 
would have faced by making HD-PVRs Ethernet devices, but it sure would have 
saved everybody else a few.

-- 

Mike Perkins



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