TV Tuner Recommendations

[wolfen69]

i use the Hauppauge pvr150 without problems. copy the following if you decide to get one.

I get tv by:

sudo apt-get install ivtv-utils

open VLC player

File -> Open Capture Device -> PVR -> OK

then you can do (in terminal)

ivtv-tune -c25 (25 is channel number)

which changes the channel.

ivtv-tune -h

to see the options which control the card.


for a cool desktop tv remote,(so you dont have to use terminal to change channels) go to: http://tvremote.sourceforge.net/

remember to have java installed first. then you can right click: open with java.

to record tv:

cat /dev/video0 > /tmp/name_of_file.mpg

it will record whatever channel you are on. then ctrl-c to stop.

[Porpoise]

Alternatively, you can use v4l2 to control the card (I use these methods personally):

The device setting (usually) for Hauppauge PVR-150: /dev/video0:

v4l2-ctl --device=/dev/video0

Then the standard (I'm in europe-west/PAL):

v4l2-ctl --set-standard=pal

To select inputs:

v4l2-ctl --set-input=0    #for Tuner 1
v4l2-ctl --set-input=1    #S-Video 1
v4l2-ctl --set-input=2    #Composite 1
v4l2-ctl --set-input=3    #S-Video 2
v4l2-ctl --set-input=4    #Composite 2

If using the Tuner as input, then to select channels:

v4l2-ctl -f 711.250    #Frequency: 11380 (711.250000 MHz) (BBC 1)
v4l2-ctl -f 655.250    #Frequency: 10484 (655.250000 MHz) (BBC 2)
v4l2-ctl -f 631.250    #Frequency: 10100 (631.250000 MHz) (ITV 1)
v4l2-ctl -f 679.250    #Frequency: 10868 (679.250000 MHz) (CHA 4)

This method requires your default (PAL, SECAM, NTSC) and region settings to have previously been set (for which you can also use ivtv-tune as previously mentioned).
Further information and the various switches for v4l2-ctl can be found here: http://ivtvdriver.org/index.php/V4l2-ctl

Obviously, if you are in a different location/using a different system, you will need to use the relevant frequencies.

Then, the VLC command-line to record:

vlc pvr:// :pvr-device="/dev/video0" :pvr-radio-device="/dev/radio0" :pvr-norm=0 :pvr-frequency=-1 :pvr-bitrate=-1 --sout '#duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ts,dst="/home/steve/Desktop/raid-partition/DVCR/filename.mpg"}}'

Or, if you wish to view the stream whilst recording:

vlc pvr:// :pvr-device="/dev/video0" :pvr-radio-device="/dev/radio0" :pvr-norm=0 :pvr-frequency=-1 :pvr-bitrate=-1 --sout '#duplicate{dst=display,dst=std{access=file,mux=ts,dst="/home/steve/Desktop/raid-partition/DVCR/filename.mpg"}}'

This method allows you to use the same command for capture irrespective of input/channel settings - you can set the input/channel individually without having to mess about editing the VLC command-line each time.

There is also a utility called TV-Viewer available which gives you a GUI for TV Channel switching

Hope this might be of help to someone.