[mythtv-users] DCT-6200 Firewire issue

[Steve Adeff]

On Wednesday 30 November 2005 12:13, David Rudder wrote:
> Hi,
> I know this is a linux1394 issue, but I posted to the mailing list and
> have gotten no response.  I was wondering if anyone here has seen this
> problem and maybe can help me out.  TIA.  Here's my email to linux1394:
>
> I'm trying to setup a MythTV to record from my Motorola DCT 6412.  I
> have read through all the documentation and the emails on the various
> lists. I am seeing some of the same problems as others, but the
> work-around isn't working for me.  They say to use plugctl to setup a
> broadcast connection and use broadcast within mythtv.  I have not been
> able to receive video through broadcast.
>
> Basically, I can setup a p2p connection and use test-mpeg to download
> video.  It works some of the time.  The mailing lists say about 50%.
> I'm seeing about 33%, but I think that's a quibble and not really
> significant.
>
> But, I can't for the life of me get broadcast connections working.
>
> I have a Texas Instruments firewire card.  I used it in another computer
> to download video from a Sony TRV-120 video camera with Kino.  Made some
> really cute videos of my kids :)  So, I know the card works.  Here's the
> lspci:
> 00:08.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments TSB12LV26 IEEE-1394
> Controller (Link)
>
> I have a Motorola DCT 6412 connected via firewire to the host computer.
> Here's plugreport:
> Host Adapter 0
> ==============
>
> Node 0 GUID 0x00309526b0022369
> ------------------------------
> libiec61883 error: error reading oMPR
> libiec61883 error: error reading iMPR
>
> Node 1 GUID 0x00152ffffed1547e
> ------------------------------
> oMPR n_plugs=1, data_rate=2, bcast_channel=63
> oPCR[0] online=1, bcast_connection=0, n_p2p_connections=2
>         channel=0, data_rate=2, overhead_id=0, payload=376
> iMPR n_plugs=0, data_rate=2
>
>
> Here's the output from test-mpeg with a p2p connection:
>
> # test-mpeg2 -r 1 foo.ts
> libiec61883 warning: Overlayed connection on channel 0.
> You may need to manually set the channel on the receiving node.
> Starting to receive
> done.
> # ls -l foo.ts
> -rw-r--r--  1 root root 1136460 Nov 28 12:33 foo.ts
>
> As I said, this works about 1/3 of the time.  Playing it with mplayer
> works fine, every time I get any video at all.  I never get corrupted
> video.  It's either works or doesn't work.
>
>
> I haven't been able to find out for sure how to use test-mpeg with a
> bcast connection.  I think I just supply a bad node.  Like so:
> # plugctl -p 0 -n 1 oPCR\[0\].channel=63
> # plugctl -p 0 -n 1 oPCR\[0\].bcast_connection=1
> # test-mpeg2 -r boogabooga foo.ts
> libiec61883 warning: No plugs exist on either node; using default
> broadcast channel 63.
> Starting to receive
> done.
> # ls -l foo.ts
> -rw-r--r--  1 root root 0 Nov 28 12:36 foo.ts
>
>
> Now, to get MythTV to work, everyone says to use a bcast connection.
> Can someone tell me how to get the bcast connection working?  Am I doing
> something wrong?  Is my test-mpeg run correct?  Is my 1394 card hosed?
>
> Thanks,
> Dave

some boxes uses p2p instead of broadband, some boxes have one port set for p2p 
and one port set to broadband. the people that say to use bcast don't really 
know what they're talking about. if you have the ability, then yes, use it, 
if not, p2p is fine.

the type of connection matters not, my box uses p2p without issue. I'm waiting 
for a compatible firewire card arrive in the mail from newegg before I hook 
it up to MythTV, but when testing with my laptop's built-in firewire I got 
100% channel changes correct and no record issues with test-mpeg. I wrote a 
script that would change the channel +1 run test-mpeg and if data was 
received write the channel and "ok" in a text file. This was so I could 
quickly figure out what channels were 5C'd for me, through the whole script I 
didn't run into a channel change error. I then played around with it (in awe 
that it actually worked of course) and again had no issues. all through p2p.

-- 
Steve