[mythtv-users] Mythtv frontend directly to framebuffer (without X)?

[Aurelien Marchand]

Michael T. Dean wrote:

> Aurelien Marchand wrote:
>
> >
> > c) I want to use my T20 thinkpad laptop (its screen is dead, but I
> > have an LCD attached to it and an S-video port out) as a frontend. It
> > is a 750 MHz with 192 MB of RAM. I have used it to watch DVDs under X
> > when I used XFree's X server but now that I use Xorg's X server, the
> > XV extension doesn't work (even though it says in my log that it
> > loaded fine). I am thus forced to use the framebuffer directly to have
> > decent speed when I playback a DVD. (if you need to know, if I play a
> > DVD on my X session, I have a blue window where the video should
> > appear in).
>
> Sounds like you're using Xv and using dual output.  Most video drivers
> can only create an Xv drawable on one screen, so the other screen gets
> the Xv color key.  So, do you have X configured to use multiple screens
> (i.e. the dead laptop screen and the S-video output or the LCD and the
> S-Video or the LCD and the dead laptop screen)?
>
> Mike
>
Actually, I think you are right on. The T20 has a key combo using the Fn 
key to select where the video should output to. There are 3 options: 
built-in LCD, external monitor or both. Since my external monitor is 
showing the image, it may be possible it is setup for option "both". I 
will try tonight to see if that would help it at all. I have compiled 
and installed s3switch on my laptop to enable the S-video out, but there 
too I don't think Xv works. I have heard of issues with Xv on S-video 
with the Savage chipset, but I don't think I am using a Savage2000.

Also, when I setup my X resolution to 800x600 or 640x480, there is 
almost no slowdown or choppiness on the output, even without Xv. So I 
might not need it at all.

And just a note for people needing for information on TV out with a 
Thinkpad running Mandrake 10.1: you need to compile and install 
s3switch, then reboot and do not run a framebuffer at boot. Select 
linux-nofb during the lilo prompt. Then verify the configuration of your 
X server so that it supports 800x600 or 640x480 and using the krandr 
tray, select one of those modes. Then with s3switch you will be able to 
output to tv with the command: "s3switch tv"

If the output is messed up, garbled, ant-like, weird, not right, looking 
as if it was on a bad frequence, then check again that there is no 
framebuffer (/dev/fb0 should NOT exist).

Enjoy!
Aurelien