USB TV Card

[c_f_v]

Hi everyone. I'm new on Linux and I found this great site reading a group of news. I have a question: I have a USB 2.0 TV card and I want to know if someone knows how to make it work under Linux. I've tried with Mandriva and KUbuntu, but they don't detect the card. Any suggestion? Thanks very much for the help!

[colo]

To get any valueable output, you need to provide us with useable input first ;)

I suggest you boot up a recent version of a GNU/Linux LiveCD (a Ubuntu Edgy Eft Release Candidate for example), stick in your card, open a terminal, run `lsusb` there, and paste its output here. Then we might be able to tell you if and possibly how you'll be able to get it to work. :)

Cheers, and have fun! :)

[Michael]

Hi everyone. I'm new on Linux and I found this great site reading a group of news. I have a question: I have a USB 2.0 TV card and I want to know if someone knows how to make it work under Linux. I've tried with Mandriva and KUbuntu, but they don't detect the card. Any suggestion? Thanks very much for the help!

Welcome to the forums.

We first need to know what the USB TV unit actually is, since there are many popular chipsets. What is the manufacturer and model of your USB TV card? Like colo said, providing the output of lsusb would also be helpful.

[c_f_v]

Thanks for your answer!
The card is a Compro Action Mate USB 2.0. I've just downloaded the Ubuntu suggested, and tonight at home, I'll run the command "lsusb" as you mentioned.
Thanks!

[Michael]

From a quick search it looks like it might be the saa7134 based. The kernel module is included with recent 2.6 kernels, so you may want to try modprobe'ing saa7134 and then dmesg | grep "saa713". If you need help or have additional questions, just post. I have lots of experience with the saa7134.

[c_f_v]

:eek: Great! To be honest, I'm not a Linux expert. Could you be more explicit about the steps that I have to perform?.
Thanks in advance.

[Michael]

For Ubuntu it should be something like this... With the TV card connected, boot up Ubuntu Edgy Eft into GNOME.

In the terminal enter:

sudo modprobe saa7134

then

dmesg | grep "saa"

and post the output...

[c_f_v]

Hi!. I'm here again.
I'm very happy because the Ubuntu appears to recognize the card!.

See lsusb output

cfv@cfv-laptop:~$ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 004: ID 0930:6533 Toshiba Corp. 512M USB Stick
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 185b:3000 Compro
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 0a5c:201e Broadcom Corp.
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

and....

cfv@cfv-laptop:~$ sudo modprobe saa7134
Password:
cfv@cfv-laptop:~$ dmesg|grep "saa"
[17179726.548000] saa7130/34: v4l2 driver version 0.2.14 loaded
[17179726.580000] saa7134 ALSA driver for DMA sound loaded
[17179726.580000] saa7134 ALSA: no saa7134 cards found

so, now? What do you suggest? What app can I use to watch tv?
Thanks very much for your help!!

[Michael]

Actually, it didn't exactly find it:

[17179726.580000] saa7134 ALSA: no saa7134 cards found

Try

sudo modprobe saa7123 i2c_scan=1

Otherwise your USB tuner may actually not be the saa7134 Chipset.

[c_f_v]

:(
That´s too bad!

sudo modprobe saa7134 ic2_scan=1

result: FATAL: error inserting saa7134 (/lib/modules/2.6.17-10-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa7134.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
FATAL: Error running install command for saa7134.

[Michael]

Oops! Meant 7134 :)

[c_f_v]

ok!.

sudo modprobe saa7134 ic2_scan=1

result

FATAL: Error inserting saa7134 (/lib/modules/2.6.17-10-generic/kernel/drivers/media/video/saa7134/saa7134.ko):
Unkown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
FATAL: Error running install command for saa7134

[Michael]

Wow, okay, something must be wrong with my keyboard this morning ;)

saa7134 i2c_scan=1

[c_f_v]

:D
Ok, Same situación.

cfv@cfv-laptop:~$ sudo modprobe saa7134 i2c_scan=1
Password:
cfv@cfv-laptop:~$ dmesg|grep "saa"
[17179766.964000] saa7130/34: v4l2 driver version 0.2.14 loaded
[17179766.992000] saa7134 ALSA driver for DMA sound loaded
[17179766.999200] saa7134 ALSA: no saa7134 cards found

[Michael]

Can you provide the output of:

lsusb -v

Thanks, it's a matter now of figuring out what tuner you really have.

[c_f_v]

Sure!
Result lsusb -v (compro section only 1/2)

Bus 005 Device 002: ID 185b:3000 Compro
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x185b Compro
idProduct 0x3000
bcdDevice 1.00
iManufacturer 1
iProduct 5
iSerial 2
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 267
bNumInterfaces 3
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0x80
(Bus Powered)
MaxPower 500mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 3
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 5
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0009 1x 9 bytes
bInterval 4
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 1
Transfer Type Isochronous
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0000 1x 0 bytes
bInterval 1
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x84 EP 4 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 4
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 1
bNumEndpoints 3
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 5
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0009 1x 9 bytes
bInterval 4
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 1
Transfer Type Isochronous
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0400 1x 0 bytes
bInterval 1
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x84 EP 4 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 4
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 2
bNumEndpoints 3
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 5
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0009 1x 9 bytes
bInterval 4
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 1
Transfer Type Isochronous
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0c00 2x 0 bytes
bInterval 1
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x84 EP 4 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 4
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 3
bNumEndpoints 3
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 5
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0009 1x 9 bytes
bInterval 4
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 1
Transfer Type Isochronous
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x1358 3x 856 bytes
bInterval 1
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x84 EP 4 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 4
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 4
bNumEndpoints 3
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 5
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0009 1x 9 bytes
bInterval 4
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 1
Transfer Type Isochronous
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x1400 3x 0 bytes
bInterval 1
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x84 EP 4 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 4

[c_f_v]

[QUOTE=c_f_v;1782]Sure!
Result lsusb -v (compro section only 2/2)

Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 1
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 0
bInterfaceClass 1 Audio
bInterfaceSubClass 1 Control Device
bInterfaceProtocol 0
iInterface 4
AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 36
bDescriptorSubtype 1 (HEADER)
bcdADC 1.00
wTotalLength 38
bInCollection 1
baInterfaceNr( 0) 2
AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
bLength 12
bDescriptorType 36
bDescriptorSubtype 2 (INPUT_TERMINAL)
bTerminalID 17
wTerminalType 0x0201 Microphone
bAssocTerminal 0
bNrChannels 2
wChannelConfig 0x0003
Left Front (L)
Right Front (R)
iChannelNames 0
iTerminal 0
AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
bLength 8
bDescriptorType 36
bDescriptorSubtype 6 (FEATURE_UNIT)
bUnitID 18
bSourceID 17
bControlSize 1
bmaControls( 0) 0x03
Mute
Volume
iFeature 0
AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 36
bDescriptorSubtype 3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL)
bTerminalID 19
wTerminalType 0x0101 USB Streaming
bAssocTerminal 0
bSourceID 18
iTerminal 0
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 2
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 1
bInterfaceClass 1 Audio
bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming
bInterfaceProtocol 0
iInterface 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
bmAttributes 1
Transfer Type Isochronous
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0000 1x 0 bytes
bInterval 4
bRefresh 0
bSynchAddress 0
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 2
bAlternateSetting 1
bNumEndpoints 1
bInterfaceClass 1 Audio
bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming
bInterfaceProtocol 0
iInterface 0
AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 36
bDescriptorSubtype 1 (AS_GENERAL)
bTerminalLink 19
bDelay 1 frames
wFormatTag 1 PCM
AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
bLength 11
bDescriptorType 36
bDescriptorSubtype 2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
bFormatType 1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
bNrChannels 2
bSubframeSize 2
bBitResolution 16
bSamFreqType 1 Discrete
tSamFreq[ 0] 48000
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
bmAttributes 1
Transfer Type Isochronous
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x00c8 1x 200 bytes
bInterval 4
bRefresh 0
bSynchAddress 0
AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 37
bDescriptorSubtype 1 (EP_GENERAL)
bmAttributes 0x00
bLockDelayUnits 0 Undefined
wLockDelay 0 Undefined

[Michael]

Sorry about the delay. The card you mentioned doesn't seem to be widely used, or at least the Chipset isn't mentioned anywhere that I have seen yet. If you have used the device under Windows, does the Chipset show up in any of the driver documentation or device manager?

[c_f_v]

Sorry for the delay. I was out of the city. The card is working fine under win xp. I will read the docs and let you know if I can find any information about the chipset.

Regards