Opinions - Where are the DVB-T2 PC tuners?

[carlosp_uk]

Great, enjoy it. Let us know how you get on once you're up and running. What will you be using for playback/recording?

I'm using 7MC (Windows 7 Media Center) and, so far, have had absolutely no problems - running very well. The first time I tried to re-do my tuner setup, it didn't detect any TV channels, had to repeat the process twice more, but it eventually decided to play well after a reboot.

No guide data for BBC HD channel yet -- I'd rather not clog up my HTPC with even more background tasks so I'm holding off on the XMLTV-based solution right now, in the hope that the MS-provided Guide data will catch up soon.

carlosp_uk, if the link you got was public, you could post it for others to benefit from...

Sorry, should have said - the drivers are available at the blackgold site:
http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT31...gories/Support

[Funkstar]

No guide data for BBC HD channel yet -- I'd rather not clog up my HTPC with even more background tasks so I'm holding off on the XMLTV-based solution right now, in the hope that the MS-provided Guide data will catch up soon.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think MS provide the guide data, it's all pulled out of the DVB stream received over the air, what you need is the BBC to update their systems to broadcast the EPG data for BBC HD. I'm guessing there is a good reason they don't do this already.

[Skinleech]

DVB Viewer picks up the EPG data just fine so there's some sort of issue between 7MC/MS and the streams. And when I set mine up there was no data for any HD channels, not just BBC.

I've hardly had time to actually watch or record anything so far. I'm hoping Videoredo have a New Year Sale so I can update my old mpeg2 license to h.264 for a cheapness, but it's not looking likely.

[Steve]

EPG data is transmitted via EIT, but I think WMC uses a few rules to parse it that other apps might not, or perhaps MS is just a bit tardy in updating its filters.

[Skinleech]

FYI the fix for the BBC HD EPG I posted in post 79 works fine - tried it last night finally.

http://forums.hexus.net/2022758-post79.html

[baius]

FYI the fix for the BBC HD EPG I posted in post 79 works fine - tried it last night finally.

http://forums.hexus.net/2022758-post79.html

Skinleech, they wouldn't allow your sort on WikiPedia. Self-referencing, don't you know? ;-)

carlosp_uk, thanks for re-finding the link and putting it onto this thread. I think I sounded a bit snappy in my post. My apologies. I was honestly just offering a humble suggestion.

I've been reading the recent posts, and it seems like Microsoft need to offer a rollup pack to assist with DVB-T2. I'm sure they're aware of the need, and "getting 'round" to it...

[chrisw]

@Steve - I don't know if you noticed on another forum (not sure if it is okay to post the link, so I haven't) there is a thread titled:

"DVB-T2 cards available yet? " where a poster (Roboraver74) says they were told by PCTV support, when they asked about Linux support for the T2-290e, that:

"its in the pipeline and will be available shortly after release as the linuxtv.org dev's are writing the drivers"

Seems to directly contradict the non availability of developers that you found. The only reason I mention it, is that it possibly indicates that PCTV may be willing to cooperate with you if you need help with the driver.

[Steve]

Thanks Chris. I spotted that a few days ago and became extremely confused. However since then I've spoken to a PCTV representative. There is some additional effort going into developing the drivers, the full details of which I don't know, but I have an idea of how they're going about it. However they currently do not know when they would be made available. In the meantime, the company has encouraged me to continue my work.

And so I will

[chrisw]

...
And so I will

Good to hear I thought, perhaps naively, that PCTV might have offered to make your task easier by providing you with things like the data specs. that you are having to sniff from USB. Anyway, thank you for writing the driver.

Looks like we may be a choice of Linux drivers for the 290e! and a choice of DVB-T2 cards that work with Linux - if the thread in the MythTV users mailing list titled "How many people in the UK would buy a DVB-T2 PCI-E with working drivers?" is genuine. Interestingly "charliemyth" in that thread emailed Blackgold about Linux drivers for the BGT3620 and "was told that they will not have Linux drivers for the BGT3620 until late Q1 2011." - news to me because I was not expecting Blackgold to provide any Linux drivers.

So we have:

• PCTV 290e USB - with two sets of Linux drivers in development
• Blackgold BGT3600 PCI-E - Linux drivers "late Q1 2011"
• Possible dual DVB-T2 PCI-E card with Linux driver from "unknown"

[Steve]

That's interesting. The question, though, will be just how "open" the company released drivers are?

Getting specs is difficult, because, for example, Sony insist you sign an NDA with them before you can see the full datasheet of, say, their DVB-T2 demodulator.

[Skinleech]

Anyone having recording issues at present?

I've just done a re-install due to a new HDD arriving, and am now having a load of issues. Tuesday night all I got was random errors in 7MC about drivers not be ing available, or critical components no longer functioning or that the recording space was full (65gb available on one drive, 1.6tb on another). This meant I coudn't watch or record TV.

Last night was maginally better, with live TV working fine, and recordings seemed to initiate, but whilst recording I couldn't actually watch the channel live (another error message) and the end recording was corrupted (got about 10 mins of unwatchable footage from a 55min recording).

I gave DVBViewer a quick try also, same issue - stream appears to have recorded, but all I got was 10 mins damaged footage. This is all on BBC-HD, I've not had time to try any other channels as yet. The Digital Lifestyle is repoting some issues with the card and it losing one tuner's ability to pick up channels but at present I can't tell if my issue is related to this, a driver issue or something to do with the fresh install.

Very annoying as I missed both broadcasts of Outcasts, was unable to record Civilisation and didn't manage to get the 00:20 re-run of Madagascar after seeing 1/2 of it live at 8pm.

http://thedigitallifestyle.com/cs/td...ner-issue.aspx

[Steve]

Check http://ukfree.tv to see if there's any transmitter maintenance in your area.

[Skinleech]

Check http://ukfree.tv to see if there's any transmitter maintenance in your area.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that site - no reported issues though. Will need to do a test record of the other channels tonight to see what happens.

[Steve]

Looks like Geniatech has a receiver on the way. Slightly odd design. Needs external power too o_O.

Linux support for the CXD2820 is still a way off. However the nanoStick T2 can now be sort of recognised...ish in Linux. So that's kind of good news, plus I'm feeling quite smug about even making it this far...

[Funkstar]

Yeah, and odd design, the external power is probably because of the RF loop output.

[Steve]

Yeah I figured it was to amplify the signal for the loop. Hopefully it's not noisy.