--- kfir/FAQ 2002/08/09 14:27:04 1.1
+++ kfir/FAQ 2002/08/09 21:39:45 1.2
@@ -1,29 +1,261 @@
-Ad hoc FAQ, started by Bram Stolk
-Suggestions to: b.stolk at chello.nl
+// $Source: /cvs/linuxtv/kfir/FAQ,v $
+// $Revision: 1.2 $
+//
+// $Log: FAQ,v $
+// 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?
-A) Maybe there is no valid PAL/NTSC signal present.
- Check cables, and check input setting svideo/coax.
- You may need to reload the kfir module to change
- to/from coax.
+[FAQ for BMK kfir started by Frank Rosengart on the MPEG mailinglist.
+ 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]
-Q) What kind of streams are generated?
-A) For MPEG2, the default stream is composed as:
- I BB P BB P BB P BB P BB
+0. Meta info
+0.1. Where can I get an up to date version of this FAQ list?
-Q) Why does the build process fail for me?
-A) 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) # $(MX_OBJS)
+It is in linuxtv.org's CVS repository at linuxtv.org:/cvs/linuxtv in the file
+'kfir/FAQ'.
+
+
+1. General questions
+
+1.1. Supported cards
+
+There is only one card supported by the Kfir driver: The
+LinuxTV-Encoder-Card manufactured by BMK-Elektronik (Germany).
+The Hauppauge WinTV-PVR use the Kfir-1 chip but this card *is not
+supported* !
+The Kfir-2(a) chip mentioned on the Visiontech homepage *is not supported*.
+
+
+
+1.2. Supported mainboards :-)
+
+The are some known problems on mainboards with VIA chipsets.
+
+
+
+1.3. Buying the encoder card
+
+1.3.1. Where to order
+
+Go to http://linuxtv.org/mpeg2/kfir-bestell-en.html and fill out the
+form. You will contacted by the sales office of BMK-Elektronik. They
+will tell you how to pay and how they ship the board.
+
+
+
+1.3.2. Why did they told me a higher price?
+
+Maybe you contacted BMK directly and asked for an MPEG-2 encoder? They
+tell your their list price which is around 600$/EUR. This is the
+Windows-user's price :-)
+Please fill out the form http://linuxtv.org/mpeg2/kfir-bestell-en.html
+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?
+
+http://linuxtv.org/download/mpeg2/
+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
+ftp://ftp.visiontech-dml.com/pub/Win9x/KFir/KFirAppVersion4.23/KFirApp4-23_9x.zip
+Install it in MS-Windows 9x
+and then copy the Makefile http://linuxtv.org/download/mpeg2/Makefile to
+the kfir/driver/micro folder and change the value for your DOS partition
+Or get the files from http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~laird/Linux/KFir/MS_driver/
+
+
+
+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 > 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<<4)|horizontal_mode, cf. KfirCMD.h
+ e.g. vidsize=0x12 (=(KFIR_V_288<<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
+http://linuxtv.org/mailinglists/mpeg2/msg00148.html
+
+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 http://linuxtv.org/download/mbone/
+Usually:
+cat /dev/video0 | anyserver 226.23.23.23 5004 128
+receiver:
+mkfifo stream ; receiver 226.23.23.23 5004 > stream & 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.