[mythtv-users] NTSC USB tuners: which ones are out there?

[Devin Heitmueller]

On Thu, Mar 26, 2015 at 7:16 AM, Saul <jaglover at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Mar 2015 23:22:55 -0500 (CDT)
> James Miller <gajs-f0el at dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
>
>> Now that I'm partway up and running with my "new and improved MythTV
>> system," I've realized I made a mistake in purchasing tuner hardware.
>> Maybe I'll post in greater detail about that later. But for now I
>> just want to ask what there is out there in the way of functional,
>> MythTV-compatible, NTSC-capable USB tuners? I've so far run across
>> the AverMedia Hybrid Volar (H826)--which seems not to be supported
>> under newer kernels--and the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950--which seems
>> currently to be supported but which often gets confused with the
>> WinTV-HVR-1955, which is not supported.
>>
>> Can anyone comment on one or other of these USB tuners or their
>> NTSC-tuning capabilities? Are there other NTSC USB tuners I've
>> overlooked and that might work as well or better than those? Thanks.
>
> I think I saw your post on Gentoo forums. You did not enable all
> drivers for your tuner, so it is not working.
> Or you got it working and you do not like it?

What's likely happening is there were multiple versions of the H826
stick, some of which were supported, and others not.  As for the
1950/1955, James is correct.  The 1950 is currently supported and the
newer variant (the 1955) is not yet supported.  To make matters worse,
even if you order a 1950 you might actually receive a 1955 instead
(depending on whether the vendor has depleted all of the older 1950
inventory).

The 1950 is a better choice for MythTV users because is has an onboard
hardware encoder for analog.  This reduces the risk of A/V sync issues
and generally is easier to get up and running under Myth (which
traditionally was targeted at hardware with onboard encoders such as
the PVR-[123]50 boards).

Options are limited in terms of ATSC hybrid devices which are both
supported under Linux and readily available.  Your best bet is
probably to see if you can get one of the older devices from
Hauppauge.  You can always call their sales office and tell them
explicitly that you need one of the older models because you need
Linux support, and they'll likely oblige.

Devin

-- 
Devin J. Heitmueller - Kernel Labs
http://www.kernellabs.com