[mythtv-users] getting blank recordings

mythtv at codepoets.ca mythtv at codepoets.ca
Mon Jun 28 10:50:22 EDT 2004


> mythtv at codepoets.ca wrote:
>
>>>I still can't get mythtv to do any recording.  It still just records a
>>>blank screen with no sound.  I can watch TV, but then sometimes it will
>>> go
>>>blank if I switch to something else (check the weather, watch a video,
>>>etc..) and go back.  The TV comes back once I reboot.
>>>
>>>This is my setup:
>>>P3-800
>>>PVR250
>>>512 MB RAM
>>>3 hard drives - 1 for main system + space for recordings, 1 for d/l'ed
>>>movies, 1 for recordings (about 120 gigs)
>>>
>>>I set up the machine using Jarod's guide.  I'm running the latest
>>> versions
>>>of all packages via and apt-get dist-upgrade.  MythTV is running version
>>>0.15.1.
>>>
>>>I can get a capture working doing this: cat /dev/video0 >
>>>/tmp/test_capture.mpg.  Like I said, TV works some of the time.  Not
>>>always.  If I reboot it, the screen comes back up.
>>>
>>>Having dug a little deeper - I get this error in /var/log/messsages:
>>>
>>>Jun 26 11:27:17 localhost insmod:
>>>/lib/modules/2.4.22-1.2188.nptl_48.rhfc1.at/kernel/drivers/media/video/bttv.o:
>>>init_module: No such device
>>>Jun 26 11:27:17 localhost insmod: Hint: insmod errors can be caused by
>>>incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters.
>>>You may find more information in syslog or the output from dmesg
>>>Jun 26 11:27:17 localhost insmod:
>>>/lib/modules/2.4.22-1.2188.nptl_48.rhfc1.at/kernel/drivers/media/video/bttv.o:
>>>insmod bttv failed
>>>Jun 26 11:27:17 localhost modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module rivatv
>>>Jun 26 11:27:17 localhost kernel: lirc_i2c: chip found @ 0x18 (Hauppauge
>>>IR)
>>>Jun 26 11:27:17 localhost kernel: lirc_dev:
>>>lirc_register_plugin:sample_rate: 10
>>>Jun 26 11:27:17 localhost kernel: blk: queue c0410f40, I/O limit 4095Mb
>>>(mask 0xffffffff)
>>>
>>>I'm not sure why it's trying to load the bttv module, when bttv isn't
>>>mentioned in my modules.conf file.  Should that be there?
>>>
>>>This is my modules.conf:
>>>
>>># default path
>>>path[toplevel]=/lib/modules/`uname -r`
>>>alias eth0 8139too
>>>alias usb-controller usb-uhci
>>>
>>>alias char-major-61 lirc_i2c
>>>
>>># nvidia kernel module
>>>alias char-major-195 nvidia-1.0-4363
>>>
>>># ALSA portion
>>>alias char-major-116 snd
>>>alias snd-card-0 snd-emu10k1
>>># OSS/Free compatability portion
>>>alias char-major-14 soundcore
>>>alias sound-slot-0 snd-emu10k1
>>># Sound card #1
>>>alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
>>>alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
>>>alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
>>>alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
>>>alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss
>>>
>>># ivtv modules setup
>>>alias char-major-81 videodev
>>>alias char-major-81-0 ivtv
>>>options ivtv ivtv_debug=1 mpg_buffers=90
>>>options tuner type=2 # NTSC tuner
>>>options msp3400 once=1 simple=1
>>>add below ivtv msp3400 saa7115 tuner
>>>add above ivtv lirc_dev lirc_i2c
>>>
>>>
>>>If I run the test_ioctl I get this output:
>>>
>>>[root at localhost log]# /usr/bin/test_ioctl -a
>>>ioctl: IVTV_IOC_G_CODEC
>>>Codec parameters
>>>aspect      : 2
>>>audio       : 0x00e9
>>>bframes     : 3
>>>bitrate_mode: 0
>>>bitrate     : 8000000
>>>bitrate_peak: 16000000
>>>dnr_mode    : 0
>>>dnr_spatial : 0
>>>dnr_temporal: 0
>>>dnr_type    : 0
>>>framerate   : 0
>>>framespergop: 15
>>>gop_closure : 0
>>>pulldown    : 0
>>>stream_type : 0
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_G_FMT
>>>        Type   : Video Capture
>>>        Width  : 720
>>>        Height : 480
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_QUERYCAP
>>>        Driver name   : ivtv
>>>        Card type     : Vanilla iTVC15 card
>>>        Bus info      : 0
>>>        Driver version: 265
>>>        Capabilities  : 0x01030001
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUMINPUT
>>>        Name    : Composite 0
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : Composite 1
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : Composite 2
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : Composite 3
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : Tuner 0
>>>        Type    : 0x00000001
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000000
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : Composite 4
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : S-Video 0
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : S-Video 1
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : S-Video 2
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>        Name    : S-Video 3
>>>        Type    : 0x00000002
>>>        Audioset: 0x00000001
>>>        Tuner   : 0x00000000
>>>        Standard: 0x            3000 ( NTSC )
>>>        Status  : 0
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_G_INPUT
>>>Input = 4
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_G_FREQUENCY
>>>Frequency = 0
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUMSTD
>>>        ID          : 0x            3000
>>>        Name        : NTSC
>>>        Frame period: 1001/30000
>>>        Frame lines : 525
>>>        ID          : 0x              FF
>>>        Name        : PAL
>>>        Frame period: 1/25
>>>        Frame lines : 625
>>>        ID          : 0x          7F0000
>>>        Name        : SECAM
>>>        Frame period: 1/25
>>>        Frame lines : 625
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_G_STD
>>>Standard = 0x00003000
>>>ioctl: VIDIOC_QUERYCTRL
>>>Brightness = 128
>>>Contrast = 64
>>>Saturation = 64
>>>Hue = 0
>>>Volume = 59343
>>>Mute = 0
>>>
>>>Thanks again for any help you can give me!
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>mythtv-users mailing list
>>>mythtv-users at mythtv.org
>>>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>I did a complete re-install over the weekend - updated the kernel to the
>>newest version (2.4.22-1.2194.nptl_50.rhfc1.at) and updated all my kernel
>>modules.  I'm still getting the same problems.  I'm really not sure what
>>I'm doing wrong or where to even start finding out!  Can anyone help?
>>
>>Thanks again,
>>Jeff
>>
>>

Hi Tony -

> Jeff,
>
> Did you use Jarod's guide during the install? If so, what were your
> results when you did the part involving using "test_ioctl" to set your
> tv  card and then testing with the "cat /dev/video0 > test.mpg"?
> Did you get a valid mpg file then? If so, it would seem that MythTV
> isn't keeping the "test_ioctl" settings for you (I think it's supposed
> to, but I've heard that it doesn't always do so).

I followed Jarod's guide through the install.  I did find that the
test_ioctl wasn't keeping it's settings.  I ended up putting them in my
rc.local file.  For some reason, when I record shows, those settings
aren't seen at all.  I can get a valid mpg file when I do the cat
/dev/video0 > test.mpg test.  It's definitly a weird problem.

Why would the settings not save?  Can I re-run the settings every now and
then?  Would that even help?

> If you haven't used Jarod's guide (http://www.wilsonet.com/mythtv/) you
> might try again with it. It's the most straightforward, step-by-step,
> darned near foolproof guide to installing and setting up Mythtv that
> I've seen or heard of.
>
> --Tony
>
>
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