From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-path: Received: from omr-m06.mx.aol.com ([64.12.143.80]:39660 "EHLO omr-m06.mx.aol.com" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1750764AbaH1OpH (ORCPT ); Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:45:07 -0400 Message-ID: <53FF406B.9040001@netscape.net> Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:44:59 +0100 From: Kaya Saman MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "P. van Gaans" , linux-media@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: Advice on DVB-S/S2 card and CAM support References: <53D58EDF.1090102@netscape.net> <53FEA63E.9020208@gmx.net> In-Reply-To: <53FEA63E.9020208@gmx.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: linux-media-owner@vger.kernel.org List-ID: On 08/28/2014 04:47 AM, P. van Gaans wrote: > On 07/28/2014 01:44 AM, Kaya Saman wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I'm wondering what the best solution for getting satellite working on >> Linux is? >> >> >> Currently I have a satellite box with CAM module branded by the >> Satellite TV provider we are with. >> >> >> As I am now migrating everything including TV through my HTPC >> environment I would also like to link the satellite box up to the HTPC >> too to take advantage of the PVR and streaming capabilities. >> >> >> I run XBMC as my frontend so I was looking into TV Headend to take care >> of PVR side of things. >> >> >> My greatest issue though is what is the best solution for getting the >> satellite system into the HTPC? >> >> >> After some research my first idea was to use a satellite tuner card; >> models are available for Hauppauge and other vendors so really it was >> about which was going to offer best compatibility with Linux? (distro is >> Arch Linux with 3.15 kernel) >> >> The model of card I was looking was from DVB-Sky: >> >> http://www.dvbsky.net/Products_S950C.html >> >> something like that, which has CAM module slot and is DVB-S/S2 >> compatible and claims to have drivers supported by the Linuxtv project. >> >> >> Or alternately going for something like this: >> >> http://www.dvbsky.net/Products_T9580.html >> >> as it has a combined DVB-T tuner, then using a USB card reader for the >> CAM "smart card". >> >> >> Has anyone used the cards above, what are the opinions relating to them? >> Also would they work with motorized dishes? >> >> >> Since I'm not sure if "all" CAM's are supported as apparently our >> satellite tv provider wanted to lock out other receivers so they force >> people to use their own product; >> >> my second idea was to perhaps use a capture card with RCA inputs. >> >> Something like this: >> >> http://www.c21video.com/viewcast/osprey-210.html >> >> perhaps or a Hauppauge HD-PVR mk I edition: >> >> which according to the wiki is supported. >> >> >> Looking forward to hearing advice. >> >> >> Thanks. >> >> >> Kaya >> -- >> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe >> linux-media" in >> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org >> More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html >> > > Hi Kaya, Hi, many thanks for the response! > > RCA inputs is probably the last thing you want. Less quality, more of > a pain to set up. Unfortunately I need the composite inputs due to a set-top box which is used to watch (non-English) sports with; and they are paid channels. The box is non-HD so only RCA (Phono) or SCART output. > > You may or may not be able to use that CAM - but even if it's > supported, a CAM has downsides. It generally only supports one channel > at a time - and surely not multiple channels from different > frequencies (if you have more tuners). And it's more expensive, both > the tuner (that needs a CI slot) and the CAM you need. Also, I'm not > sure if tvheadend nowadays supports a CAM - it used not to, but > support may have been added. > > The main downside of a phoenix-mode cardreader is that it's harder to > set up, but if you can find a guide for your provider it's generally > doable. It's cheaper, more flexible and allows for faster channel > switching. I doubt the provider will have a guide as they "claim" to want to lock everybody into their own set-top box - the non-HD one described above. > > As for a tuner, I personally suggest going for a USB-tuner. You never > know if you want to connect you tuner to a notebook or NAS or anything > in the future, with USB you're more flexible. If you do go for PCI-e, > Tevii appears to have some supported products that are also available. > > If you go for USB, support is somewhat problematic (problematic > because many supported tuners are no longer available in stores), > you'll have to see what's locally available. (perhaps also check > second-hand) Be careful, some devices have various revisions. Always > check http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hardware_Device_Information I did go this route eventually (since writing my initial post) :-) currently - though this was supposed to be my "last resort" route. I grabbed a Hauppauge WinTV PVR-1900 EU version. According to these guides: http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Pvrusb2 http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-HVR-1950 http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-HVR-1900 It is supported. I will need to write a separate posting for it though as I'm a little stuck with it. The BER is quite high and also I can't switch to the 'composite' input most of the time though on rare occasion it does work? The PCI/ or PCI-E card is still an option for me as it will go into a rather large HTPC case which I can also use as a server for distributed TV around the network. > > Very recently, Antti reviewed a patch from nibble.max to support the > DVBsky S960. (and presumably it's direct clones from Mystique) This is > a pretty cheap tuner that can still be found in shops. It would appear > that as soon as this patch gets merged, this device will be supported > if you compile v4l-dvb yourself, and in time support will make it into > the kernel. > > In any case, you want something with in-kernel support - something > that's only supported by s2-liplianin or vendor drivers (like many > dvbsky and TBS products) will only break in the long term. Only > exception to this is Sundtek, but I personally have mixed feelings > about closed source userspace drivers. I wouldn't recommend them > personally. In my research I got suggested the Digital Devices line of products: http://www.digitaldevices.de/ They are German so hopefully the quality will be extremely good and they all seem natively supported. > > Good luck, Many thanks. > > P. van Gaans Kaya