[mythtv-users] [SOLVED-ish] Thinking of moving on from MythTV ... I found the main problem, but still have 292e woes

[Simon Hobson]

Damian <myth at surr.co.uk> wrote:

>>> I vaguely recall that a firmware blob is required, usually provided in an ubuntu package
>>> 
>>> try this:
>>> 
>>> sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-nonfree linux-firmware
>>> 
>>> reboot or unplug replug the tuner and try again.
>>> 
>>> There will also be a line in dmesg if the tuner can’t find the firmware.
>>> 
>>> Andre
>>> 
>>> PS I do have a T292e, I was just being lazy with the e
>> This page gives details on the firmware required, and on what you
>> should be seeing in the logs:
>> 
>> https://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/PCTV_Systems_tripleStick_T2_(292e)
> 
> Stephen,
> 
> I've seen that page before, but didn't understand any of it! :-)
> 
> It seems to say that drivers are included with kernel 3.16 and I'm way above that.
> 
> Then it mentions firmware, but I have no idea if I should be touching that (and if so, how?) or leaving it alone as drivers etc should already be on my system.

Yes, you'll need firmware. In effect (as a simplification), the device is a small computer in it's own right, and needs to be loaded with software before it will work. Because the firmware is proprietary, it can't be included with "free" OSs* - so you have to go and get the file yourself.

* Depending on policies etc (particularly on the part of the device vendor), it may or may not be available in a "non free" section of the OS software repository. Typically the user must manually enable use of the non free section if they need stuff from it.