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version 1.1, 2002/08/09 14:27:04 version 1.2, 2002/08/09 21:39:45
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 Ad hoc FAQ, started by Bram Stolk  // $Source$
 Suggestions to: b.stolk at chello.nl  // $Revision$
   //
   // $Log$
   // Revision 1.2  2002/08/09 21:39:45  stolk
   // Added Frank Rosengart's FAQs from apr'02
   //
   
   
 Q) Why are my MPEG files 0 bytes long?  [FAQ for BMK kfir started by Frank Rosengart on the MPEG mailinglist.
 A) Maybe there is no valid PAL/NTSC signal present.   I've put it in cvs, and added questions 0.1 2.1.10 3.1.3 3.1.4 and 3.3.1 - Bram Stolk]
    Check cables, and check input setting svideo/coax.  
    You may need to reload the kfir module to change  
    to/from coax.  
   
   
 Q) What kind of streams are generated?  0. Meta info
 A) For MPEG2, the default stream is composed as:  
    I BB P BB P BB P BB P BB  
   
   0.1. Where can I get an up to date version of this FAQ list?
   
 Q) Why does the build process fail for me?  It is in linuxtv.org's CVS repository at linuxtv.org:/cvs/linuxtv in the file
 A) Maybe you already have i2c and v4l linux stuff in your kernel  'kfir/FAQ'.
    and on your system, which may interfere with the building  
    of the optional modules.  
    Uncomment the $(MX_OBJS) part in line 6 of driver/Makefile like this:  1. General questions
    obj-m        = $(M_OBJS) # $(MX_OBJS)  
   1.1. Supported cards
   
   There is only one card supported by the Kfir driver: The 
   LinuxTV-Encoder-Card manufactured by BMK-Elektronik (Germany).
   The Hauppauge WinTV-PVR use the Kfir-1 chip but this card *is not 
   supported* !
   The Kfir-2(a) chip mentioned on the Visiontech homepage *is not supported*.
   
   
   
   1.2. Supported mainboards :-)
   
   The are some known problems on mainboards with VIA chipsets.
   
   
   
   1.3. Buying the encoder card
   
   1.3.1. Where to order
   
   Go to <A  HREF="http://linuxtv.org/mpeg2/kfir-bestell-en.html">http://linuxtv.org/mpeg2/kfir-bestell-en.html</A> and fill out the 
   form. You will contacted by the sales office of BMK-Elektronik. They 
   will tell you how to pay and how they ship the board.
   
   
   
   1.3.2. Why did they told me a higher price?
   
   Maybe you contacted BMK directly and asked for an MPEG-2 encoder? They 
   tell your their list price which is around 600$/EUR. This is the 
   Windows-user's price :-)
   Please fill out the form <A  HREF="http://linuxtv.org/mpeg2/kfir-bestell-en.html">http://linuxtv.org/mpeg2/kfir-bestell-en.html</A> 
   for 'correct' price.
   
   
   
   1.3.3. Delivery time
   
   If it is very, very urgent(tm) then BMK can ship the card within 
   germany/europe(?) until the next day. But you'll be charged for extra 
   postage fees. [Can someone report how long it takes to China?]
   
   
   
   1.4. Language
   
   1.4.1 How do I pronounce KFir?
   I think like 'kay-fir'.
   
   ================================================================
   
   2. Installation
   
   2.1. The driver software
   
   2.1.1. Where can I download the driver?
   
   <A  HREF="http://linuxtv.org/download/mpeg2/">http://linuxtv.org/download/mpeg2/</A>
   Fetch the latest tar archive und unpack it.
   After that you will need the microcode. Convergence can not include this 
   nessesary code due to license/copyright issues.
   
   
   
   2.1.2. How do I use the cvs for the latest changes?
   
   cvs -d :pserver:anonymous@linuxtv.org:/cvs/linuxtv login
   When prompted for a password for anonymous, simply press the Enter key.
   
   cvs -d :pserver:anonymous@linuxtv.org:/cvs/linuxtv co kfir
   
   
   
   2.1.3. How do I obtain the microcode?
   
   Get 
   <A  HREF="ftp://ftp.visiontech-dml.com/pub/Win9x/KFir/KFirAppVersion4.23/KFirApp4-23_9x.zip">ftp://ftp.visiontech-dml.com/pub/Win9x/KFir/KFirAppVersion4.23/KFirApp4-23_9x.zip</A>
   Install it in MS-Windows 9x
   and then copy the Makefile <A  HREF="http://linuxtv.org/download/mpeg2/Makefile">http://linuxtv.org/download/mpeg2/Makefile</A> to 
   the kfir/driver/micro folder and change the value for your DOS partition
   Or get the files from <A  HREF="http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~laird/Linux/KFir/MS_driver/">http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~laird/Linux/KFir/MS_driver/</A>
   
   
   
   2.1.4. Is the microcode ok?
   
   If everything works fine: yes. Otherwise check the included MD5-sums 
   against what you extracted.
   
   
   
   2.1.5. My machine locks.
   
   Don't panic. It's normal :-)
   Possible reasons are:
   - the microcode is not where it has to be
   - you have USB drivers loaded: disable modules and kernel drivers
   - you have found a strange timing problem known to appear on VIA 
   chipsets: try another mainboard or computer
   
   
   
   2.1.6. I get no output (filesize is zero)
   
   I did 'cat /dev/video0 &gt; foobar.mpg' and foobar.mpg has zero bytes, even 
   after several seconds.
   
   Please check:
   [ ] I am root
   [ ] The harddisk is not even close to be full
   [ ] I have connected the right video input with a known to be correct 
   video signal
   [ ] I know that there is a difference between PAL and NTSC
   [ ] /dev/video0 ist the Kfir card because I use neither a BTTV nor DVB card
   [ ] I did only 'make insmod' and didn't pass any additional parameters 
   to the driver
   [ ] The microcode is where it has to be; there are no errors while 
   loading the kfir.o
   
   
   
   
   2.1.7. What options can I pass to the driver?
   
   loaded=1      - Altera is already loaded with microcode, so donīt do it 
   again
                   (reloading takes time and can lock your machine!)
   
   vidinmode    - vidimode=0  for PAL, 1 for NTSC, 2 for SECAM (default PAL)
   
   vidoutmode   - vidoutmode=0 for NTSC, 1 for PAL (default PAL)
   
   vidsize      - vidsize=(vertical_mode&lt;&lt;4)|horizontal_mode,  cf. KfirCMD.h
                   e.g. vidsize=0x12 (=(KFIR_V_288&lt;&lt;4)|KFIR_H_352)
                  (0x12 is CIF, quarter of PAL, 0x26 for PAL, default is fullsize)
   
   vidrate      - video bitrate (4500000 for 4.5 Mbit/s)
   
   vidinput     - vidinput=0 for composite (default), vidinput=1 for 
   S-Video Y/C
   
   mpeg1mode    - mpeg1mode=1 for MPEG1
   
   streamtype   - streamtype=0..7 default is 3
      0: AUDIO_ES
      1: VIDEO_ES
      2: A_V_ES
      3: PROGRAM
      4: TRANSPORT
      5: PACKET_VES
      6: PACKET_AES
      7: KFIR_SYSTEM
   
   sndfreq      - sndfreq=0..7 default is 7
      (Values in kHz)
      0: 5_5125 = 0,
      1: 8_0000 = 1,
      2: 11_025 = 2,
      3: 16_000 = 3,
      4: 22_050 = 4,
      5: 32_000 = 5,
      6: 44_100 = 6,
      7: 48_000 = 7
   
   
   2.1.8 Can I encode MPEG-1
   
   Please follow the mailinglist thread 
   <A  HREF="http://linuxtv.org/mailinglists/mpeg2/msg00148.html">http://linuxtv.org/mailinglists/mpeg2/msg00148.html</A>
   
   2.1.9 Which kernel version should I use?
   
   Use 2.4.x
   
   
   2.1.10 Why does the build process fail for me?
   
   Maybe you already have i2c and v4l linux stuff in your kernel
   and on your system, which may interfere with the building
   of the optional modules.
   Uncomment the $(MX_OBJS) part in line 6 of driver/Makefile like this:
   obj-m        = $(M_OBJS) # $(MX_OBJS)
   
   
   
   ================================================================
   
   3. Technical details
   
   3.1 Working with the encoded MPEG-2 material
   
   3.1.1 What client is recommended?
   
   I recommend
   vlc (www.videolan.org)
   dvdview (see freshmeat.net)
   hardware: the Siemens/Technotrend/Hauppauge DVB-S card with LinuxTV drivers.
   
   
   3.1.2 How do I multicast my favourite DVB channel in my LAN?
   
   see our multicast tools in <A  HREF="http://linuxtv.org/download/mbone/">http://linuxtv.org/download/mbone/</A>
   Usually:
   cat /dev/video0 | anyserver 226.23.23.23 5004 128
   receiver:
   mkfifo stream ; receiver 226.23.23.23 5004 &gt; stream &amp; vlc stream
   
   
   3.1.3 What kind of streams are generated?
   
   For MPEG2, the default stream is composed as:
   I BB P BB P BB P BB P BB
   
   
   3.1.4 How can I edit the mpeg streams?
   
   Kees Cook's GOPChop is an excellent choice.
   See http://outflux.net/unix/software/GOPchop/
   GOPChop works just fine with kfir generated streams.
   
   
   
   
   
   3.2. Picture qualitity
   
   
   3.3. other measurements
   
   3.3.1 What is the encoding latency?
   
   At default settings, I've meassured it to be appr one third of a second. (Bram Stolk)
   
   
   3.4. general hints for encoding
   
   
 Q) How can I edit the mpeg streams?  
 A) Kees Cook's GOPChop is an excellent choice.  
    See http://outflux.net/unix/software/GOPchop/  
    GOPChop works just fine with kfir generated streams.  
   
Removed from v.1.1  
changed lines
  Added in v.1.2

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