Thread: How I got my EZCap 646 DVB-T USB TV Tuner up

* heads up. wrote long time ago , taz has given me heads in post #2, , thank them it. instructions install driver without problem. instructions in post obsolete , no longer work disregard. driver in kernel , work 'out of box'. testing 14.04 @ moment , still need taz's instructions rtl2838 still not part of kernel or recognised.

luck future travellers.

disclaimer & intro:

i running old hybrid of desktop; ubuntu studio xubuntu , ubuntu desktops added (among other things). no fresh install since 8.04 lts (i hit upgrade button 10.04 lts year ago). yea, that's right. it’s confusing in there. add spice confusion, i’m using kernel version 2.6.38-15-generic, think 11.04. during process of getting ezcap 646 (dvb-t, dab/dab+) usb tuner , running used xfce4 desktop environment.

point being have unusual setup , lot of things installed a/v might not have, if you’re missing software along way may need dig , install things. thread not that; simple, straight line of steps should (theoretically) work ezcap (and other devices) working me-tv (and other softwares). condensed version of took me, dvb virgin, 3 days of research , experimentation.

news don’t need banging specs happening. i’m using 12 year old box running pentium 4, 3ghz hyperthreading processor 1gb of ram , can watch tv (hd fantastic), while surfing net , having openoffice open. need do. haven’t pushed envelope not curious.

ezcap work ‘out-of-the-box’ newer releases of ubuntu, in case, if you’re using newer 10.04 lts, there may nothing see here driver may in kernel. driver install explanation ezcap applies device realtek rtl2832u chip. remainder of post applied tuner.

* update: driver device (and many others) not in 12.04 lts using , needed install manually.

*

first up, if getting signal aerial on roof , need cover distance computer, attempt use 1 complete, reliable cable computer rather few shorter ones cobbled together; more cable joins, less chance of reliable outcome, time wasted finding weak link.

have rooftop aerial cable two-way aerial splitter (cheap , readily available), 1 side of splitter pvr/tv setup in living area, other using 10 metre cable signal tv tuner in studio.

1/ driver:
without usb tuner in, install driver using method (thanks joel stanley.):

code:

$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic  $ git clone http://jms.id.au/~shenki/git/rtl2832u  $ cd rtl2832u  $ make  $ sudo make modules_install

once complete, reboot , once @ desktop, open terminal, plug dongle in, , enter:

code:

        dmesg

... hit ‘return’. looking similar this:

code:

[  188.114557] dvb: registering new adapter (rtl2832u dvb-t usb device)
    
[  188.115238] dvb: registering adapter 1 frontend 0 (realtek rtl2832 dvb-t  rtl2836 dtmb)...
    
[  188.115331] dvb-usb: rtl2832u dvb-t usb device initialized , connected.

... near end of output. if don’t see driver not installed or installed incorrectly (or joel’s pulled link).


[* there alternatives. haven't tried these yet intend , add later, deviate path of thread @ own risk. please post results of experimentation these 2 options. first may getting dab+ up, i've had no success with:

http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ezcap_dvb_t_stick

... , 1 need spend bit of time trying nut out i'm supposed do. looks need install modified 3.0.0 kernel:

https://github.com/ambrosa/dvb-realt..._kernel-3.0.0/

* update: have installed driver in 12.04 lts. dongle recognised.

... story ...]


2/ player:

i tried lots of players (vlc, xine, gxine, freevo, mplayer, tvtime (but couldn’t work out how play tv via dongle tvtime!)) settled me-tv. if you’re running 10.04 lts, can battle away old version (as did) or can install me-tv repository here , save headache (and me-tv version updates/upgrades when released).

* update: using xine now. config seems run smoother , prefer interface. have no idea how use pvr; me-tv easy that.

the newer version of me-tv has auto-scan create channel list (or whatever there no 'channels.conf' file created can find); other players use channels.conf file placed in folder (a channels.conf file inside /.xine instance). in fact, players don’t auto-scan (most), channels.conf appears way of getting them scan (enlighten if know more). here link have chance of finding scan file use dvb-apps scan or w_scan:

http://linuxtv.org/hg/dvb-apps/file/...til/scan/dvb-t

installing 'x_scan' package 'dvb-apps' scan , create channels.conf file location process refused register channels, though finding them, when tried it.

if want dig one, or write one, syntax file name is, say, au-adelaide, 'au’=australia , 'adelaide’=town. way found 1 search for: ‘channels.conf australia’. found few. suggest try same tack , luck it. (you find older version of me-tv has 'scan file' can work , stations there new channels missing , obsolete when digital takes on shortly in aus.)

3/ launch me-tv>view>devices (mine /dev/dvb/adapter1/frontend0). now, output dmesg when plugged dongle in gave important info:

code:

[  188.115238] dvb: registering adapter 1 frontend 0 (realtek rtl2832 dvb-t  rtl2836 dtmb)...

what find in me-tv’s ‘devices’ should match device info dmesg when plugged dongle in, bolded in message above .

if all's going plan, head channels>add>auto-scan. should give indication of how many channels it’s found (0/35 instance) , list of channels add when finishes. if doesn’t, there’s amiss. if so, run me-tv terminal with:

code:

me-tv

... , check terminal errors while doing scan. error output, start digging clues.

if pick list of channels (give time, can take awhile) wait finish click ‘add’ , should set.

me, auto-scan worked beautifully , picked channels didn’t know had hope it's easy you.

next, tweak bit improve reception or driver , find right combination config. have nvidia graphics card (old!) in machine , have opengl set best quality in nvidia config gui while using opengl driver in me-tv , xine.

*

salient points:

* if using cable aerial @ distance, try , use 1 long, checked cable; no joiners. save time knowing you’re working point a;
* once have aerial dongle, plug in computer , check dmesg acknowledgement;
* once have dongle recognised, install tv viewer , try station. before this, either going need auto-scan using me-tv or manual scan using app create channels.conf file. check dongle operational , capable of scanning use me-tv auto-scan, if end using app. confirm dongle operational, , running;

* go in stages , don’t let bleed each other. first, card up. second, install , tweak viewer.

*

that’s it. hope helps , running, or @ least off blocks dvb-dom. enjoy ride!

[hopefully there progress on dab+ , linux in near future. if has clues i'm ears i've had no luck.]

heya! thought i'd give (and others who've come across thread) heads up. drivers ezcap part of official linuxtv build, makes our lives lot easier. need is:

git clone git://linuxtv.org/media_build.git
cd media_build
./build
sudo make install

hope helpful. came across thread in day when trying baby working. update can same else.

official site:
http://git.linuxtv.org/media_build.git

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