I'm new to MythTV, very little linux experience. I've been searching around the fourms for fixes, but haven't had any luck.

Hardware:
Albatron KM18G PRO 2.0 motherboard
CPU AMD 2500 /333 ATHLON XP BARTON
TV TUNER HAUPAUGE|WINTV-PVR 250 PCI
DDR 256MB|DDR400
80GB HD
DVD/CD drive

What's working: DVD player, weather, news, channel guide, games.

What's not working: Watch TV
I select it, the screen goes black for like 10 seconds, and returns to the menu.

I've recompiled the IVTV, and copied the msp3400.o file.

I've added these lines to the /etc/modules.conf file:
(found these off mythtv.org site)
alias char-major-81 videodev
alias char-major-81-0 ivtv
alias char-major-61 lirc_i2c
options ivtv debug=1
options tuner type=2
options msp3400 once=1 simple=1
add below ivtv msp3400 saa7115 tuner
add above ivtv lirc_dev lirc_i2c
----
I also tried tuner type=39.

Somehow the mythtv-setup ran before all I did all these, and I added a second pvr-250 card thinking I would need one for the SVHS-in and tuner. Wrong. How do i go back into the mythtv-setup and delete the card? When I was in the setup, I couldn't figure out how to delete the card after I realized I don't need two cards. Now, I don't know how to go back into setup and once I'm there, i can't delete it. :\

What log files (please include paths) should I look at? Which should I post?

I didn't add any channels during setup, do I have to? Can't I just use the ones that were downloaded from the zap2 site? How do I go back unto setup to add channels. I would have tried that, but I can't. I tried <ctrl-alt-f1>, logged in as root, and tried mythtv-setup but it responded that gdm is already running.

I also installed the nVidia drivers for my display, but I haven't had any problems on the output. I can watch DVD discs, etc.

I appreciate any help, pointers, links to other threads. Thanks.

*Warning I am a newb so take this with a shaker of salt*

esc out of mythtv and exit out to fdm.
Using the mouse, start xterm
try mythtv-setup from there.......

Cant really help with the rest yet......

when you run mythtv-setup it will ask you if you want to clear capture card settings... default answer is no.. you want YES. then resetup all your card stuff.

note: i doubt this will help but just throwing it out there.. doesnt card type = -1 autochose card.. at least in the newer ivtv it is. even if i am remebering right, auto doesnt always work that well

also make sure that you do the section of setup where you assign the card to a video source. I think it's section 4.

If you still have problems you should look in /var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log for problems, and you can run mythfrontend from an xterm session try livetv once it fails exit back out and see what is in the xterm.

_________________
Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

Okay, after chatting with Xsecrets and cesman online last night, I fixed my pvr-250 problem. I wanted to post the fix for everyone.

The box of my pvr-250 card says model 980. However, the links to the pvr-250 980 model all had the chipset refering to type id 82 (or 83 - I don't have access to my PVR box right now). Anyways, mine was showing up as type 85.

I downloaded the latest ivtv here. I'm using ivtv-0.1.10-pre2-ck106u.tgz. The 106g didn't work, but the 106u did.

Steps: (modified from http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2230)

(log as room from something like <ctrl><alt><f1>

Pre:
1) lspci -v | less
Look for your pvr-250 card. Should say unknown device 4009 or 0016. Make sure it says type 85 (or 83 or 82). Whatever number you see here, you'll put this in the card=## reference..

Lets get started:

1) cd /usr/src
2) tar xvfj linux-2.4.25-chw.tar.bz2
3) cd /usr/local/lib/ivtv/
4) mv driver/ driver.old
5) Download the ivtv 106u version to something like /usr/local/src/
6) Extract it (tar zxvf ivtv-0.1.10-pre2-ck106u.tgz)
6) go inside the ivtv download folder you just untar'd
7) copy the driver folder cp -a driver/ /usr/local/lib/ivtv/
8) cd /usr/local/lib/ivtv/driver/
9) make clean
10) make install
11) if you get a warning, about deleting the msp3400.0 file, do it...or just rename it with something like:
mv /lib/modules/2.4.25-chw/kernel/drivers/media/video/msp3400.o
/lib/modules/2.4.25-chw/kernel/drivers/media/video/msp3400.o.old
12) vi /etc/mythtv/modules/ivtv
- I forget the actual contents. But it's something like (i'll try to edit this post tonight after I look it up).
alias char-major-81 videodev
alias char-major-61 lirc_i2c
options ivtv card=85 type=39
options tuner type=39
options msp3400 once=1 simple=1
add below ivtv msp3400 saa7115 tuner
add above ivtv lirc_dev lirc_i2c

13) update-modules
14) depmod
15) reboot. Do <ctrl><alt><f1> and log back in as root.
16) lsmod | grep ivtv
You should see about three lines. If so, goto step 19. IF you don't, do "modprobe ivtv | less"
Carefully look for any errors. Take your time and go line-by line. Look for anything that says undefined, or unknown. Look for type 85 card. Maybe unknown id's of 0016, 4009, etc. I can't stress this enough. Carefully read that output line by line.
17) lsmod | grep ivtv
18) If you see three lines, your good to go Goto step 19
19) Flip back to mythtv <Ctrl-alt-f7>. Try the tuner. If it works.
20) Reboot regardless if it worked or not.
21) If it worked before rebooting, and now it doesn't add a line to
/etc/modules with a line "ivtv" by itself. I'm not sure of the placement yet. I have mine on the bottom. I get a few warnings on boot, but it works. Can maybe move this up some.
22) If never worked before that reboot. Sorry, i don't know. I'm a noobie.
Some suggestions: Try an ivtv driver later than 106u - that was the driver released the day i setup my box. It appears a new driver is released every day.


I never had any audio problems since I've recompiled ivtv because my card never worked. This should fix any pvr-250 audio issues.


Lessons learned:
1) Don't update /etc/modules.conf as update-modules will over write it.
2) mysettopbox.tv forums-> search is your friend
3) Google is another friend
4) Reinstalling MythTV many times is frustrating, but when things blow up, you gota do it
5) To setup TV Composite out on nvidia drivers:
as root:
install-nvidia<tab>
inside /etc/X11/ (or was that /usr/X11/ ??
cp XF86Config-4 XF86Config-4.mine
cp XF86Config-4.nvidiasample (or whatever it's names XF86Config-4
vi !$ (last argument of previous command) - XF86Config-4
Look for "TVOut" Change the SVHS statement to Composite (do a google search for more details).
I had to change my overscan from 0.8 to 0.5, but your milage may vary.
6) Having my DVD player right next to my HD causes to much heat which results on media read problems. Put some space between the player and harddrive if possible. My microATX case allows for multiple drives, so that's handy, and it all blends in with my media center - it looks like a laser disc player.

I hope that helps people. If this works for you, send donations to the creators of ivtv, knoppmyth, or mythtv. :-) Hoping people will find this thread to get their KnoppMyth box up and running in under an hour following these steps!

I have 3 PCI slots...How many pvr-250's can I run? Hope to find out some day.

-Tazzy

I am having a problem with my TV card as well, a PVR 250 model 980. The screen is fulll of static even when then the cable is not plugged into the card. This forum has been helpful for some things but I have yet to see my particular problem posted and YES I have searched the forums. Everything but the TV works. I have tried changing the inputs as suggested on another post and I get nothing. I think I will reninstall and start over from scratch unless somebody can help me. I am a newbie so I don't know how to download and install things in linux.

MEGA 651
Celeron 2.4
80 GB HD
250 MB Ram
AC 97 codec
Integrated Video (generic)
SiS chipset
PVR 250 Model 980

I just wanted to say thanks to Tazzytazzy for an excellent post. I have had a PVR-250 for about a year. I started dabling with Knoppmyth and Myth n July with a WINTV FM card. However I decided to take the plunge with my PVR-250 last week. I realized that the IVTV drivers are the key to making the PVR-250 work right out of the box with Knoppmyth. I have a PVR-250 Model 980. Lspci -v | less says that is an unknown device 4009. So I loaded up Knoppmyth R4v4.1 on my system and then followed that exact steps below

1) cd /usr/src
2) tar xvfj linux-2.4.25-chw.tar.bz2
3) cd /usr/local/lib/ivtv/
4) mv driver/ driver.old
5) Download the ivtv 106u version to something like /usr/local/src/
6) Extract it (tar zxvf ivtv-0.1.10-pre2-ck106u.tgz)
6) go inside the ivtv download folder you just untar'd
7) copy the driver folder cp -a driver/ /usr/local/lib/ivtv/
cd /usr/local/lib/ivtv/driver/
9) make clean
10) make install
11) if you get a warning, about deleting the msp3400.0 file, do it...or just rename it with something like:
mv /lib/modules/2.4.25-chw/kernel/drivers/media/video/msp3400.o
/lib/modules/2.4.25-chw/kernel/drivers/media/video/msp3400.o.old
12) vi /etc/mythtv/modules/ivtv
- I forget the actual contents. But it's something like (i'll try to edit this post tonight after I look it up).
alias char-major-81 videodev
alias char-major-61 lirc_i2c
options ivtv card=85 type=39
options tuner type=39
options msp3400 once=1 simple=1
add below ivtv msp3400 saa7115 tuner
add above ivtv lirc_dev lirc_i2c

13) update-modules
14) depmod
15) reboot. Do <ctrl><alt><f1> and log back in as root.
16) lsmod | grep ivtv
You should see about three lines. If so, goto step 19. IF you don't, do "modprobe ivtv | less"
Carefully look for any errors. Take your time and go line-by line. Look for anything that says undefined, or unknown. Look for type 85 card. Maybe unknown id's of 0016, 4009, etc. I can't stress this enough. Carefully read that output line by line.
17) lsmod | grep ivtv
18) If you see three lines, your good to go Goto step 19
19) Flip back to mythtv <Ctrl-alt-f7>. Try the tuner. If it works.
20) Reboot regardless if it worked or not.
21) If it worked before rebooting, and now it doesn't add a line to
/etc/modules with a line "ivtv" by itself. I'm not sure of the placement yet. I have mine on the bottom. I get a few warnings on boot, but it works. Can maybe move this up some.
22) If never worked before that reboot. Sorry, i don't know. I'm a noobie.
Some suggestions: Try an ivtv driver later than 106u - that was the driver released the day i setup my box. It appears a new driver is released every day.


My PVR-250 works great!!!!

Thanks to

Tazzytazzy, Xsecrets, and cesman

I had the exact problem and i followed the howto in this section exactly. It did start working! only it does crash every 20 min or so.. I was wondering if people are using ivtv ivtv-0.1.10-pre2-ck106u, and having no stability problems?? I tried the newest one as of this post, forgot the name of it. it playes video but the sound is VERY messed up causeing the video to even stutter. damn.. i wish i could use .1.9 =(

did you try 100z?

_________________
Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

gr8nash:

Looking at the hardware end of it. For the PVR-250 Model 980

Lspci -v says

02.09.0 Multimedia video controller Internext Compression Inc: Unknown
device 016 (rev 01). Subsystem: Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc: Unknown device 4009

In my case onboard sound will not work in Linux so I disabled it in bios and bought a $15 sound card at Comp USA.

Lspci -v says

02.04.0 Multimedia Audio controller C-media Electronics Inc CM8738 (rev 10)

On the software end I use

Knoppmyth R4v4.1 (automatic install)
Ivtv-0.1.10-pre2-ck106u.tgz

I chose to run R4v4.1 because I was hoping that it would be stable. First, tried RVv5 but had problems that were frustrating like the CD player did not work so I decided to go back to something older. This is kind of a double edged sword so to speak. Stability is also important to me...

My sound works fine

Xsecrets: No i havnt tried 100z. i will try that today.

RacerX: The sounds works fine on ivtv-0.1.10-pre2-ck106u, just not yesterdays build.. 115..or whatever.

I do have a question, i have an older pvr250 that just works with knoppmyth using the stock .1.9 drivers. I want to take this problem NEW pvr250 and add it to my working great system.. do i just install .1.10pre2-X and add:


Twice???? what do i change inthe install instruction above to get two cards using the drivers instead of 1???

gr8nash:

You bring up two points in your last post

First, on the hardware level you have two PVR-250 cards (one old and one new). The problem child is the new one I gather.

I know there are several revisions of the tuners in the PVR-250. It may help you to try and isolate the new card to keep it seperate from the one that works. Then try and add the old one in when you got the problem child to work.

Check the ivtv output from dmesg and see what Tuner Type your new PVR-250 has..

Second in regards to a solution to make both work.

http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2138

has a good suggestion to get them both going

Also I did a test of R4V5 (0.16) and the sound works straight out of the box with having to recompile IVTV.

I hope this helps

RacerX

My other pvr250 works perfect with R4v5 without recompile.. I had to recompile ivtv on R4V4.

My new pvr250 does NOT work on R4v5 without newer IVTV drivers.. or patched .1.9 IVTV drivers. In other words it only showes snow until you patch it. and not all IVTV drivers work.. the NEWEST of the new have SEVERE sound and video problems. going back a few weeks fixed em all

When I do lspci -v | less, I get the following:

02:02.0 Multimedia video controller: Internext Compression Inc: Unknown device 0016 (rev 01)
Subsystem: Hauppauge computer works Inc.: Unknown device 4009
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11
Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2

I don't see the type 82/83/85 anywhere...am I missing something?

Generally speaking it really does not matter if you have the type number. All you have to do is follow the instructions on Recompiling IVTV and you should be OK.

Hope this helps