Linux TV

[ASAT]

I'm trying to record live TV from cable TV with the RT-AC56U Asuswrt-Merlin and Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950. Apparently, there is some support for this unit ==> http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_USB_Devices

Has anyone tried this to know what kernel modules or USB firmware is needed?

When I plug in the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950 to the USB 2.0 port of the RT-AC56U, my syslog shows:

/tmp/syslog.log

Jun 14 09:03:36 kernel: usb 2-2: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
Jun 14 09:03:36 kernel: option 2-2:1.0: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
Jun 14 09:03:36 kernel: usb 2-2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0

 

[ASAT]

I verified that my cable TV tuner works with Linux Mint before I plugged it into the router.

/var/log/syslog

Jun 14 14:18:04 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4722.580571] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 5 using ehci_hcd
Jun 14 14:18:05 rebecca-vm mtp-probe: checking bus 1, device 5: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:11.0/0000:02:03.0/usb1/1-1"
Jun 14 14:18:05 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4723.377320] pvrusb2: Hardware description: WinTV HVR-1950 Model 751xx
Jun 14 14:18:05 rebecca-vm mtp-probe: bus: 1, device: 5 was not an MTP device
Jun 14 14:18:06 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4724.591621] pvrusb2: Device microcontroller firmware (re)loaded; it should now reset and reconnect.
Jun 14 14:18:07 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4725.077496] usb 1-1: USB disconnect, device number 5
Jun 14 14:18:07 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4725.077610] pvrusb2: Device being rendered inoperable
Jun 14 14:18:09 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4727.598215] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 6 using ehci_hcd
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm mtp-probe: checking bus 1, device 6: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:11.0/0000:02:03.0/usb1/1-1"
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.423478] pvrusb2: Hardware description: WinTV HVR-1950 Model 751xx
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm mtp-probe: bus: 1, device: 6 was not an MTP device
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.501601] pvrusb2: Binding ir_rx_z8f0811_haup to i2c address 0x71.
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.501765] pvrusb2: Binding ir_tx_z8f0811_haup to i2c address 0x70.
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.565163] cx25840 0-0044: cx25843-24 found @ 0x88 (pvrusb2_a)
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.798565] pvrusb2: Attached sub-driver cx25840
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.806651] i2c-core: driver [tuner] using legacy suspend method
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.806655] i2c-core: driver [tuner] using legacy resume method
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.861033] tuner 0-0042: Tuner -1 found with type(s) Radio TV.
Jun 14 14:18:10 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4728.861046] pvrusb2: Attached sub-driver tuner
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.535634] cx25840 0-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861946] tveeprom 0-00a2: Hauppauge model 75111, rev E1F5, serial# xxxxxxx
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861950] tveeprom 0-00a2: MAC address is xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861975] tveeprom 0-00a2: tuner model is NXP 18271C2 (idx 155, type 54)
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861978] tveeprom 0-00a2: TV standards NTSC(M) ATSC/DVB Digital (eeprom 0x88)
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861980] tveeprom 0-00a2: audio processor is CX25843 (idx 37)
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861982] tveeprom 0-00a2: decoder processor is CX25843 (idx 30)
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861984] tveeprom 0-00a2: has radio, has IR receiver, has IR transmitter
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.861990] pvrusb2: Supported video standard(s) reported available in hardware: PAL-M/N/Nc;NTSC-M/Mj/Mk;ATSC-8VSB/16VSB
Jun 14 14:18:14 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862014] pvrusb2: Mapping standards mask=0x300b700 (PAL-M/N/Nc;NTSC-M/Mj/Mk;ATSC-8VSB/16VSB)
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862017] pvrusb2: Setting up 6 unique standard(s)
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862020] pvrusb2: Set up standard idx=0 name=PAL-M
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862022] pvrusb2: Set up standard idx=1 name=PAL-N
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862024] pvrusb2: Set up standard idx=2 name=PAL-Nc
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862026] pvrusb2: Set up standard idx=3 name=NTSC-M
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862028] pvrusb2: Set up standard idx=4 name=NTSC-Mj
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862030] pvrusb2: Set up standard idx=5 name=NTSC-Mk
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862032] pvrusb2: Initial video standard (determined by device type): NTSC-M
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.862066] pvrusb2: Device initialization completed successfully.
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.867520] pvrusb2: registered device video0 [mpeg]
Jun 14 14:18:15 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4732.867561] DVB: registering new adapter (pvrusb2-dvb)
Jun 14 14:18:17 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4735.666452] cx25840 0-0044: loaded v4l-cx25840.fw firmware (16382 bytes)
Jun 14 14:18:17 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4736.018505] tda829x 0-0042: setting tuner address to 60
Jun 14 14:18:18 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4736.261712] tda18271 0-0060: creating new instance
Jun 14 14:18:18 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4736.312976] TDA18271HD/C2 detected @ 0-0060
Jun 14 14:18:19 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4737.663537] tda18271: performing RF tracking filter calibration
Jun 14 14:18:37 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4755.894752] tda18271: RF tracking filter calibration complete
Jun 14 14:18:37 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4755.964647] tda829x 0-0042: type set to tda8295+18271
Jun 14 14:18:45 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4763.374783] cx25840 0-0044: 0x0000 is not a valid video input!
Jun 14 14:18:45 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4763.904329] DVB: registering adapter 0 frontend 0 (Samsung S5H1411 QAM/8VSB Frontend)...
Jun 14 14:18:45 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4763.909008] tda829x 0-0042: type set to tda8295
Jun 14 14:18:45 rebecca-vm kernel: [ 4763.989099] tda18271 0-0060: attaching existing instance

So I recompiled the Asuswrt-Merlin 378.54_2 firmware with I2C and Video4Linux features enabled in the kernel, for RT-AC56U.

~/asuswrt-merlin/release/src-rt-6.x.4708/linux/linux-2.6.36/config_base.6a

CONFIG_I2C=y
CONFIG_MEDIA_SUPPORT=y
CONFIG_VIDEO_DEV=y

Then I obtained the device firmwares for my cable TV tuner and copy them to /lib/firmware on the router. These can be extracted from the Windows device drivers using a script. Or, some Linux distributions already have included them. My Linux Mint already has them.

v4l-cx231xx-avcore-01.fw
v4l-cx23418-apu.fw
v4l-cx23418-cpu.fw
v4l-cx23418-dig.fw
v4l-cx2341x-dec.fw
v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw
v4l-cx23885-avcore-01.fw
v4l-cx23885-enc.fw
v4l-cx25840.fw
v4l-pvrusb2-24xxx-01.fw
v4l-pvrusb2-29xxx-01.fw
v4l-pvrusb2-73xxx-01.fw

Now the kernel recognizes my unit plugged into the USB 2.0 port, but it cannot load the firmware from /lib/firmware on the router.

/tmp/syslog.log

Jun 15 14:16:34 kernel: usb 2-2: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
Jun 15 14:16:34 kernel: pvrusb2: Hardware description: WinTV HVR-1950 Model 751xx
Jun 15 14:16:35 kernel: pvrusb2: request_firmware fatal error with code=-22
Jun 15 14:16:35 kernel: pvrusb2: Failure uploading firmware1
Jun 15 14:16:35 kernel: pvrusb2: Device initialization was not successful.
Jun 15 14:16:35 kernel: pvrusb2: ***WARNING*** pvrusb2 device hardware appears to be jammed and I can't clear it.
Jun 15 14:16:35 kernel: pvrusb2: You might need to power cycle the pvrusb2 device in order to recover.

So now I will recompile the kernel with debugging turned on, for the pvrusb2 kernel module. We will see...

CONFIG_VIDEO_PVRUSB2_DEBUGIFC=y

 

[ASAT]

My Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950 is now recognized by the RT-AC56U router. Had to enable I2C, Video4Linux and Extra Firmware option in the firmware kernel build. I also disabled some USB serial modules that may or may not have been causing issues.

I've attached my entire "config_base.6a" file to show all the changes needed for the Asuswrt-Merlin firmware to recognize my specific TV device: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950. Here's a summary of these changes:

~/asuswrt-merlin/release/src-rt-6.x.4708/linux/linux-2.6.36/config_base.6a

CONFIG_I2C=y
CONFIG_MEDIA_SUPPORT=y
CONFIG_VIDEO_DEV=y
CONFIG_VIDEO_PVRUSB2_DEBUGIFC=y
CONFIG_FW_LOADER=y
CONFIG_FIRMWARE_IN_KERNEL=y
CONFIG_EXTRA_FIRMWARE="v4l-pvrusb2-73xxx-01.fw v4l-cx25840.fw v4l-cx2341x-enc.fw"
CONFIG_EXTRA_FIRMWARE_DIR="~/firmware/"
CONFIG_USB_SERIAL=n
CONFIG_USB_SERIAL_GENERIC=n
CONFIG_USB_SERIAL_SIERRAWIRELESS=n
CONFIG_USB_SERIAL_WWAN=n
CONFIG_USB_SERIAL_OPTION=n

I had to include the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950 device firmware inside the router firmware build. So it doesn't need to be copied to /lib/firmware now. I couldn't get it to work any other way.

And needed to copy three new kernel modules to the router /jffs/bin/. Everything else is compiled into the router firmware. The extra kernel modules in the build are located here:

~/asuswrt-merlin/release/src/router/arm-uclibc/extras/

tveeprom.ko
tuner.ko
pvrusb2.ko

Here's the load order of the three new kernel modules. There's more modules than this, but they're compiled into the kernel. Initially, I wanted everything to be externally portable kernel modules outside the firmware. When that failed, I compiled everything into the firmware to make it work. Except for these ones:

insmod /jffs/bin/tveeprom
insmod /jffs/bin/tuner
insmod /jffs/bin/pvrusb2

This website has helpful to learn how to extract firmware from Windows drivers. The process of hot-swapping a device from Windows to Linux without power cycling, then sucking out the loaded firmware actually works.
http://www.isely.net/pvrusb2/setup.html#Firmware

Now, on to figure out the Tvheadend piece...

 

[timevacuum]

Did you ever get this setup figured out?

I'm still trying to get a tvheadend running properly on an AC68U but I can't seem to get to the webUI.

I've got Entware-NG on asuswrt-merlin 380.65 but while TH starts, I cannot get to the webUI? Just a blank white loading page in the browser until I kill TH and then the browser immediately reponds with "Unable to Connect".

More detail here:
https://tvheadend.org/boards/5/topics/24972

 

[sfx2000]

Some folks have been using RPi2/3 with the Happague USB tuner sticks - and VLC on the desktop to watch and control the stream...

Here's one -- http://dwellertech.blogspot.com/2013/05/raspberry-pi-and-hd-pvr.html

 

[sfx2000]

And another...

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/support/linux.html

 

[timevacuum]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I had considered the RB Pi 3 but I figured that instead of adding another always on device it would be nice to just use the router. My NAS is an original Infrant - Ready NAS so its a bit long in the tooth for TH. Also, I'd rather brick a router if it came to that as I have a spare in the closet.

What is frustrating is that I know TH is trying to do something because when I try for the webUI, the browser behaviour changes between TH running and and not running. I am just not skilled enough to figure our why.

Any other suggestions on why the webUI is blocked?