Archived:HOW TO Installing DVB
This page contain some information that let a "end user" be able to install the DVB device on it's own GNU/Linux systems. NOTE: Some of the following steps do not fit on some distro some, anyway you can still use the istruction as general procedure
Needed Software
Before start you'll need some software install on your systems that are:
- mercurial: need for download the latest source from the Version System used by LinuxTV developer
- kernel-headers: need for compiling the the driver
- compiling suite: all the software for compiling and installing the driver
- make
- gcc
This guide do not include all the step to accomplish for install the neeed software.
Needed Software: Ubuntu, Debian and Debian-like
On ubuntu you can use the following command to installa all the needed software:
sudo apt-get install mercurial linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential gcc make
Obtain latest source
Now that we have all the software installed you should be able to download the latest source with the following command
hg clone http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb
Let assumet that we have executed the command from the /usr/src directory so that we end up with /usr/src/v4l-dvb
Compiling the latest Driver
Let's go inside the directory that contain the just downloaded driver, continuing with our example means to run the command:
cd /usr/src/v4l-dvb
or
cd v4l-dvb
Now we have just to compile the source with
make
If get any trouble here you can contact the developer by irc at:
- Server:irc.freenode.net
- Channels: #linuxtv #dvb
Obtain the firmware
To obtain the firmware need by your device you need to know the name and model of the device.
Discovering the Device Name and Model
The device name and model are usually written on the device, on the box or/and the manual of the device itself, but you can also uso the command:
lspci -v
if your device is connected by PCI or
lsusb -v
if your device is connected by USB to discover such information.
Selecting right firmware
Now that you know which device is in your hands you can look at the list of the supported device at:
and there you can find which firmware is need by your device
Downloading and Installing the firmware
The firmware can be found on one of the folloing address:
- http://thadathil.net:8000/dvb/fw/
- http://thadathil.net:8000/dvb/fw/dvb-usb/
- http://linuxtv.org/downloads/firmware/
and must download on the directory used by you're hotplug, that usually depens on the distro that you're using but usually the directory are:
/lib/firmware/$(uname -r) [Ubuntu use that directoy one for each kernel installed] /lib/hotplug/firmware/ /lib/firmware
Installing driver
Now you have to install the driver and then connect the device to your pc. To install the driver you have to execute:
sudo make unload sudo make install
Connect the device now and then start you're prefered program for watching DVB like Kaffeine
Appendix A: Next Steps
Next step can be read at:
Appendix B: FAQ
Q: My device was working perfectly but now is not recongnized anymore?
A: Probably now you're using a different kernel so you have to install the driver again and ensure that the firmware is reached by hotplug system. Beacuse some distro(like Ubuntu) use a firmware directory for each kernel version installed
Q: My DVB device is recognized but I'm not able to use it?
A: You should check that the user that is trying to access DVB device have right to read and write on the /dev/dvb directory that contains all virtual file where each of them rappresent a DVB device discovered by your system
Q: I have download the firmware but no /dev/dvb are present on my system
A: Probably you're saved the firmware on directory that's used by the hotplug system for discovering the available firmware or the firmare is not readble by ALL the user.
Appendix C: Credits
This page is been created by:
- Stefano "Kismet" Lenzi