Archived:HOW TO Installing DVB
This page contains information to help an "end user" install a DVB device on his or her GNU/Linux system. NOTE: Some of the following steps are specific to debian-based distributions, however these instructions should still be helpful to uses of other distributions as a guide.
Required Software
Before starting, you'll need to have installed the following software:
- mercurial: needed to download the latest source from the Version System used by LinuxTV developers
- kernel-headers: needed for compiling the the driver
- compiling suite: tools for compiling and installing the driver
- make
- gcc
This guide does not include steps to accomplish the installation of the above software for all distributions.
Required Software: Ubuntu, Debian and Debian-based
On Ubuntu you can use the following command to install all the required software:
sudo apt-get install mercurial linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential gcc make
Obtain latest source
Now that we have all the software installed you should be able to download the latest source with the following command:
hg clone http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb
Let's assume that we have executed the command from the /usr/src directory, so we end up with /usr/src/v4l-dvb
Compiling the latest Driver
Let's go inside the directory that contains the previously downloaded driver. Continuing with our example, run the command:
cd /usr/src/v4l-dvb
or
cd v4l-dvb
Now we have just to compile the source with
make
If you run into any problems here, you can contact the developer by irc at:
- Server:irc.freenode.net
- Channels: #linuxtv #dvb
Obtain the firmware
To obtain the firmware needed by your device, you need to know the name and model.
Discovering the Device Name and Model
The device name and model is usually written on the device itself, on the box and/or in the manual, but you can also use the command:
lspci -v
if your device is connected by PCI, or
lsusb -v
if your device is connected by USB to discover such information.
Selecting the right firmware
Now that you know the details of your device, you can look at the list of the supported devices at:
There you can find which firmware you'll require.
Downloading and Installing the firmware
The firmware can be found on one of the following addresses:
- http://thadathil.net:8000/dvb/fw/
- http://thadathil.net:8000/dvb/fw/dvb-usb/
- http://linuxtv.org/downloads/firmware/
It must be downloaded to the directory used by your hotplug installation; that usually depends on the distribution that you're using. Directories often used are:
/lib/firmware/$(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