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

[Fred Firestine]

On 7/29/07, Dan Klosterman <dkloster at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 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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This looks pretty similar to the torture I went through some months
back with the same setup. Thanks for the summary! Hopefully it will
help others down the line.

Fred