From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-path: Received: from mx1.redhat.com (mx1.redhat.com [172.16.48.31]) by int-mx1.corp.redhat.com (8.13.1/8.13.1) with ESMTP id n33Fa62f031559 for ; Fri, 3 Apr 2009 11:36:06 -0400 Received: from node01.cambriumhosting.nl (node01.cambriumhosting.nl [217.19.16.162]) by mx1.redhat.com (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id n33FYaAT010273 for ; Fri, 3 Apr 2009 11:34:37 -0400 Message-ID: <49D62CBB.7070800@powercraft.nl> Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:35:23 +0200 From: Jelle de Jong MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Devin Heitmueller References: <49D610CC.6070405@powercraft.nl> <412bdbff0904030747s3d1e956al168cc75b0208a3f0@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <412bdbff0904030747s3d1e956al168cc75b0208a3f0@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: video4linux-list@redhat.com Subject: Re: request list of usb dvb-t devices that work with vanilla 2.6.29 kernel List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: video4linux-list-bounces@redhat.com Errors-To: video4linux-list-bounces@redhat.com List-ID: Devin Heitmueller wrote: > On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 9:36 AM, Jelle de Jong wrote: >> Hello everybody, >> >> I have been trying for years now to get support for usb based devices >> that makes it possible to watch FTA dvb-t channels in Europa. >> >> I have bought more then 6 devices already and none of them work with the >> stock vanilla kernel (or with fedora, debian kernel packages) >> >> I had hopes for the em28xx drivers, and spent a lots of time in the last >> years to Markus Rechberger. I made documentation did testing, compiled >> packages, did a lot of mailing and irc chats, etcetera. >> >> I always hoped the code and work would be merged back with the official >> upstream kernel code so all this work would not be needed anymore and the >> devices will all just work with the new kernel releases. >> >> I spent time sending emails and talking to developers to see how we could >> help Markus get his code back into the kernel. >> >> But the situation is just sick, and there are real attitude issues on >> both sides. >> >> I have gave up my hopes on getting a good healthy development process for >> the em28xx project. I am kind of said about this, because I don't give up >> easy and currently slowly feels that the em28xx project maybe hurting the >> free software community more then its doing good... >> >> I now need new devices that do not need the em28xx code, I gave up hopes >> on getting analog and dvb-t to work with one usb hybrid devices, so I am >> going for a dvb-t only device. >> >> Can somebody help me provide a list of devices that i can buy in stores >> and that are supported in the 2.6.29 stock kernel or have high >> possibilities to get full support in the future. >> >> I would also like to point out I need a feature that allows scanning the >> signal strength of a dvd-t channel so I can create an fully automated FTA >> signal scanning systems that removes weaker supplicated channels. >> >> Best regards, (but kind of disappointed) >> >> Jelle de Jong > > Hello Jelle, > > I see an email like this every few months, and it continues to sadden > me. I'm not going to write yet another email casting blame on whose > fault it is. But let's look at what today's problems are and what > would need to happen going forward. > > First off, the problem is not really the em28xx driver itself anymore. > The in-kernel driver itself is relatively mature and capable of > handling new devices provided a new device profile is created in > em28xx-cards.c. I've pushed something like 45 patches in in the last > year, and Mauro has pushed many more. Empia has provided datasheets > for em2860/em2880 and em2874, and the driver is pretty feature > complete. Support for a variety of new devices has been added in the > last year. > > So what is the problem today? Why do your devices not work? > > I believe the answer is a combination of two problems: > > 1. A lack of driver support for Micronas demodulators - this is a > sticky issue. The Micronas demodulator is overly complicated relative > to other demods, and there hasn't been an interest in investing the > time to reverse engineer it (not when there are so many alternatives > available that are much easier to program). My efforts to get > Micronas to allow me to release the reference driver code failed out > of concern for "trade secrets and intellectual property concerns". > The only reason those devices work in the mcentral.de tree is because > he continues to redistribute their source code without a license. If > we had a proper license, I would be more than willing to merge this > into the mainline. With Empia using Micronas more and more in their > newer reference designs, we should expect to see more products that > fall into this category. > > 2. A lack of interest on the part of developers with access to DVB-T. > While support for ATSC based em28xx devices has grown considerably in > the last year, there doesn't seem to be any developers with DVB-T who > are interested in doing the work. Many of the devices in question > could be made to work with relatively little effort, but a developer > needs to do the work to add the device profile (including the GPIOs) > and iron out any integration bugs. There haven't been any developers > with both the hardware and access to DVB-T interested in stepping up > to the task. > > With this being a volunteer organization, there isn't really any well > to compel developers to work on devices they don't have any interest > in. > > In my case personally, I am highly familiar with the em28xx family of > devices, but I don't have access to any of the products in question or > a DVB-T signal to test with (which is why I focus on the em28xx based > ATSC and analog products). > > Regards, > > Devin > Thanks for the quick response, I am aware of the situation and the specifics of the Micronas case. I talked with Marcus several times about ways to handle this to make the driver available for the gpl compliant upstream kernel. I can also confirm that the analog part of most of my em28xx devices do work, so currently I am recommending customers two buy two usb devices one for analog and one for dvb-t. If you want I can sent you an em28xx device with dvb-t and analog i got tree of those lying around here. Best regards, Jelle de Jong -- video4linux-list mailing list Unsubscribe mailto:video4linux-list-request@redhat.com?subject=unsubscribe https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/video4linux-list