TBS6280

A dual DVB-T/DVB-T2 PCIe card from TurboSight.

The manufacturer officially supports Linux, and there is on-going development of their driver, although it is supplied as a binary blob.

There is also an open source driver for TBS 6280 developed by Luis Alves.

Overview/Features

• PCI-e x1
• Dual Tuner DVB-T/DVB-T2 card
• RF antenna pass-through
• IR Receiver
• Remote Controller

Components Used

• NXP SAA7160ET (PCI Express Based Audio And Video Bridge), driver is NOT included in linux kernel, you must compile a closed (proprietary) or open source driver above to use your TBS6280 card
• NXP (TDA) 18212/M (alias TDA18212HN with master) (Silicon Tuner for terrestrial and cable digital TV reception) X2, (driver included in linux kernel >= 3.0)
• SONY CXD2820R (demodulator LSI for "DVB-T2", compatible with three standards ("DVB-T2", "DVB-T" and "DVB-C") X2, (driver included in linux kernel >= 3.0)

Identification

Note : "Capabilities" information are only show if you use the root account, else you will have "Capabilities: <access denied>".

With working driver:

# lspci -v | grep --after-context=10 7160

04:00.0 Multimedia controller: Philips Semiconductors SAA7160 (rev 03)
       Subsystem: Device 6280:0011
       Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
       Memory at e0300000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
       Capabilities: [40] MSI: Enable- Count=1/32 Maskable- 64bit+
       Capabilities: [50] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
       Capabilities: [74] Power Management version 2
       Capabilities: [80] Vendor Specific Information: Len=50 <?>
       Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0000 Rev=0 Len=088 <?>
       Kernel driver in use: SAA716x TBS

If the driver is NOT yet installed or loaded, then output will instead be

# lspci -v | grep --after-context=10 7160

02:00.0 Multimedia controller: Philips Semiconductors Device 7160 (rev 03)
       Subsystem: Device 6280:0001
       Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
       Memory at e0300000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
       Capabilities: [40] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/5 Enable-
       Capabilities: [50] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
       Capabilities: [74] Power Management version 2
       Capabilities: [80] Vendor Specific Information <?>
       Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information <?>

The final line with "Kernel driver in use:" is missing because NO driver is loaded.

With lspci -vvvnn (and working drivers):

# lspci -vvvnn | grep --after-context=27 7160

 02:00.0 Multimedia controller: Philips Semiconductors Device 7160 (rev 03)
       Subsystem: Device 6280:0011
       Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
       Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
       Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 4 bytes
       Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
       Region 0: Memory at fda00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
       Capabilities: [40] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/5 Enable-
               Address: 0000000000000000  Data: 0000
       Capabilities: [50] Express (v1) Endpoint, MSI 00
               DevCap: MaxPayload 128 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <256ns, L1 <1us
                       ExtTag- AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE- FLReset-
               DevCtl: Report errors: Correctable- Non-Fatal- Fatal- Unsupported-
                       RlxdOrd+ ExtTag- PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop-
                       MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 128 bytes
               DevSta: CorrErr- UncorrErr- FatalErr- UnsuppReq- AuxPwr- TransPend-
               LnkCap: Port #1, Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, ASPM L0s L1, Latency L0 <4us, L1 <64us
                       ClockPM- Suprise- LLActRep- BwNot-
               LnkCtl: ASPM Disabled; RCB 128 bytes Disabled- Retrain- CommClk+
                       ExtSynch- ClockPM- AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
               LnkSta: Speed 2.5GT/s, Width x1, TrErr- Train- SlotClk- DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
       Capabilities: [74] Power Management version 2
               Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0+,D1+,D2+,D3hot-,D3cold-)
               Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
       Capabilities: [80] Vendor Specific Information <?>
       Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information <?>
       Kernel driver in use: SAA716x TBS
       Kernel modules: saa716x_tbs-dvb

Making it Work

See TBS driver installation

IRQ Issues

See TBS driver installation#IRQ_Issues

Sample kernel output

#dmesg | more

 SAA716x TBS 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
 SAA716x TBS 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
 DVB: registering adapter 0 frontend 0 (TurboSight TBS 62x0 DVBT/T2 frontend)...
 DVB: registering new adapter (SAA716x dvb adapter)
 DVB: registering adapter 1 frontend 0 (TurboSight TBS 62x0 DVBT/T2 frontend)...

With kernel 3.8.13.4 and Mageia Linux.

#dmesg | more

For IR remote control :

[   11.410478] IR NEC protocol handler initialized
[   11.660415] IR RC5(x) protocol handler initialized
[   11.701373] IR RC6 protocol handler initialized
[   11.943450] IR JVC protocol handler initialized
...
[   12.102224] IR Sony protocol handler initialized
[   12.165011] Registered IR keymap rc-tbs-nec
...
[   12.165085] input: saa716x IR (TurboSight TBS 6280) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.2/0000:04:00.0/rc/rc0/input5
[   12.165129] rc0: saa716x IR (TurboSight TBS 6280) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.2/0000:04:00.0/rc/rc0

For DBV-T TV :

[   11.952059] tbs6991se: module license 'TurboSight Proprietary: www.tbsdtv.com' taints kernel.
[   11.952061] Disabling lock debugging due to kernel taint
...
[   12.165164] DVB: registering new adapter (SAA716x dvb adapter)
...
[   14.115412] TurboSight TBS6280 DVB-T2 card MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
[   14.115417] DVB: registering adapter 0 frontend 0 (TurboSight TBS 62x0 DVBT/T2 frontend)...
[   14.115548] DVB: registering new adapter (SAA716x dvb adapter)
[   14.165439] TurboSight TBS6280 DVB-T2 card MAC=ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
[   14.165442] DVB: registering adapter 1 frontend 0 (TurboSight TBS 62x0 DVBT/T2 frontend)...

Linux kernel modules loaded

• DVB Tuner card part only

# lsmod

dvb_core              109885  2 saa716x_core,saa716x_tbs_dvb
saa716x_tbs_dvb        57909  0 
saa716x_core           50899  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb / 
tbs6982fe              22408  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb /
tbs6680fe              17791  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb /
tbs6923fe              22408  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb /
tbs6928se              17884  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb /
tbs6991fe              17785  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb /
tbs6618fe              17791  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb /
tbs6922fe              22478  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb /
tbs6928fe              17785  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb / 
stv090x                62235  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb / 
tbs62x0fe              23069  2 
---
i2c_core               40397  15 i2c_i801,saa716x_core,tbs6618fe,tbs6680fe,tbs62x0fe,tbs6922fe,tbs6923fe,tbs6928fe,tbs6928se,tbs6982fe,tbs6991fe,saa716x_tbs_dvb,i2c_algo_bit,stv090x,nvidia
i2c_algo_bit           13413  1 saa716x_tbs_dvb
i2c_i801               22443  0

--> only TBS proprietary modules used for NXP SAA7160ET (PCI Express Based Audio And Video Bridge), NXP (TDA) 18212/M (tuner) and SONY CXD2820R (demodulator) chips. No saa716x or tda18212 or cxd_2820r kernel modules.

• Only remote control by IRC for TV tuner card

# lsmod

rc_core                26884  10 ir_lirc_codec,ir_rc5_decoder,ir_nec_decoder,ir_sony_decoder,rc_tbs_nec,saa716x_tbs_dvb,ir_mce_kbd_decoder,ir_jvc_decoder,ir_rc6_decoder
ir_lirc_codec          12898  0 
lirc_dev               19166  1 ir_lirc_codec
ir_nec_decoder         12546  0  
rc_tbs_nec             12502  0 
ir_mce_kbd_decoder     12879  0 
ir_sony_decoder        12549  0 
ir_jvc_decoder         12546  0 
ir_rc6_decoder         12546  0 
ir_rc5_decoder         12546  0

Check that your tuner card works

1.Check that linux tool can find TV channels

• Use the scan command line. Others scan tools are available here.

If the file for terrestrial transmitters in your town is not in the /usr/share/dvb/dvb-t folder, then you can find file in scan-s2/dvb-t folder in the scan-s2.tar.bz2 that is in the tbs-linux-drivers_vRELEASE_NUMBER.zip file.
A list, not up to date, for french users is available here : doc.ubuntu-fr.org/tnt_frequences.
File for Paris - Eiffel Tower : use configuration at http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-media/msg45916.html or create an up to date /usr/share/dvb/dvb-t/fr-Paris file like this :

# Paris - France - various DVB-T transmitters / differents DVB-T (TNT) emetteurs 
# contributed by / contribution par : Alexis de Lattre <alexis@xxxxxxxxxx>
#
# updated by/mis a jour par : Yannick, date: 05/2016
# 
# Ile-de-France french DVB-T transmitters list / liste des emetteurs DVB-T(TNT) d'Ile de France : 
# http://www.recevoirlatnt.fr/fileadmin/contenu/Passage_TNT_HD/liste_des_canaux_en_IDF_au_5_avril_2016_v2.1.pdf
# Chaines dans chaque multiplexe :
# http://www.recevoirlatnt.fr/fileadmin/contenu/Passage_TNT_HD/Doc_technique_B700_-_Phase_0_-_IDF_V2.0.pdf
# Matching channel number with channel Frequency / Correspondance entre les canaux TNT et leurs fréquences de diffusion : 
# http://www.recevoirlatnt.fr/fileadmin/contenu/Passage_TNT_HD/TNT_HD_-_recherche_manuelle_des_chaines.pdf
#
# All french DVB-T transmitters list / liste des emetteurs DVB-T(TNT) de France : 
# Allez a http://pros.toutelatnt.fr/pros/profil/antennistes-revendeurs, 
# selectionnez votre region sur la carte, en bas de la nouvelle page, 
# cliquez sur le lien "Telechargez la liste des emetteurs et des frequences", 
# un fichier PDF vous indique alors le numero de canal pour chaque multiplex ou groupe de chaines de l emetteur de votre region.
# Si vous ne connaissez pas le nom de la commune de votre emetteur, passez par http://www.matnt.tdf.fr/ 
#
# All french DVB-T channels / toutes les chaines de la TNT en France
# http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision_num%C3%A9rique_terrestre_en_France#Offre_des_cha.C3.AEnes_de_la_TNT
#
# City                       R1 R2 R3 R4 R6 R7 R15 
# Paris - Tour Eiffel      : 35 25 22 30 32 42 28 
# 
# T freq bw fec_hi fec_lo mod transmission-mode guard-interval hierarchy
# T frequence bande_passante fec_hi fec_lo type_modulation mode_transmission intervalle_de_garde hierarchie
#
# R1 - Canal 35 -  Groupe GR1 A (France 2 HD, France 4 HD, France Ô), Groupe GR 1 (France 3-Paris Ile de France), Groupe R1 TFL (BFM Business Paris HD)
T 586166000 8MHz 3/4 NONE QAM64 8k 1/8 NONE
#
# R2 - Canal 25 - Groupe NTN (D8, BFM TV, I-Télé, D17, Gulli)
T 506166000 8MHz 2/3 NONE QAM64 8k 1/32 NONE
#
# R3 - Canal 22 - Groupe CNH (Canal+, Canal+ Cinéma, Canal+ Sport, LCI, Paris Premiere, Planète+, ?, ?, ?, DATASYSTEM R7, ?)
T 482166000 8MHz 2/3 NONE QAM64 8k 1/32 NONE
#
# R4 - Canal 30 - Groupe Multi4 (M6, W9, Arte, France5, 6ter)
T 546166000 8MHz 2/3 NONE QAM64 8k 1/32 NONE 
#
# R5 - Plus utiliser depuis le 05/04/2016 - Canal 28 reattribuer au R15
#
# R6 - Canal 32 - Groupe SMR6 (TF1, NRJ 12, TMC, NT1, LCP-Public Senat)
T 562166000 8MHz 2/3 NONE QAM64 8k 1/32 NONE
#
# R7 - Canal 42 - Groupe MHD7 (HD1, Cherie 25, L equipe 21, RMC Decouverte, Numero 23) 
T 642166000 8MHz 3/4 NONE QAM64 8k 1/32 NONE
#
# R8 - Plus utiliser depuis le 05/04/2016 - Canal 58 plus utiliser
#
# R15 - Canal 28 - chaînes locales uniquement sur emetteur Paris - Tour Eiffel 
# Groupe Multi-7 (Canal 31, IDF1, France 24 Canal 34)  
T 530166000 8MHz 2/3 NONE QAM64 8k 1/32 NONE
#
# first french experimental DVB-T2 broadcasting / experimentation de diffusion en DVB-T2
# uniquement sur emetteur Paris - Tour Eiffel 
# Canaux de test nommes Test UHD1 et Test UHD2 (3840x2160 à 50 images/s) (audio en EAC-3 et video en HEVC (H.265))
# Necessite vlc >= 2.1.1 et vlc compiler avec support du AAC et H265 (verif par vlc --list en ligne de commande), 
# plus un PC puissant avec un processeur intel core i7 4 coeurs pour decoder la video en Ultra HD (UHD)
# http://www.journaldulapin.com/2014/06/07/recevoir-la-tnt-ultra-hd-sur-un-pc-sous-windows/
T 514166000 8MHz 3/4 NONE QAM64 8k 1/8 NONE

• Other tools here at Testing your DVB device

2.Check that you can listen/see audio/video stream for your TV channel

With Me TV

• Importing TV channels configuration in Me TV

Example with terrestrial transmitters in Paris (France) (with root account)

cd
scan /usr/share/dvb/dvb-t/fr-Paris > channels.conf
cp channels.conf /home/your_user_account

(with user account)

launch Me TV
menu View > Channels > Add , and open the file channels.conf in /home/your_user_account

With vlc

• Importing TV channels configuration in VLC

Example with terrestrial transmitters in Paris (France) (with root account)

cd
scan /usr/share/dvb/dvb-t/fr-Paris > channels.conf
cp channels.conf /home/your_user_account

(with user account)

Now open up VLC. 
Media (File) > Open a File (Quick Open File). Browse to channels.conf in /home/your_user_account and open. Live TV should now start playing. To see a list of channels to switch between, go to View > Playlist.

3.Recording TV channel stream

Record TV audio/video stream with vlc

1) Choose the folder for the recording files : How can I change the folder where VLC stores its streams?
2) Enable the "Advanced controls" to get the button with red dot (recording button) : How to stream and record media in VLC / secondth part : Recording

Create a recording script

Create a recording script

External Links

• Driver download page
• TBS Official Support forum for 6280 card
• TBS6280 Product page at buydvb.net (USA) with online purchase. Not widely available online.
• TBS6280 Product page at amazon.fr (France) with online purchase. Not widely available online.
• TBS6280 Product page at amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom) with online purchase. Not widely available online.
• TBS Worldwide Distributors - Find the good distributor for your country and the good website to buy your TBS TV card