Linux.com Article DB: Using Your Brooktree Chipset TV Card in Linux

Upgrade Xfree86 and create Video Devices

If everything goes to plan we're almost there. If you are using a S3 Trio 64 chipset video card (like my ASUS) then it is also recommended that you upgrade to Xfree86 4.0 (do this anyway). You can get the new version of XFree86 (4.03) from http://xfree86.org. When downloading XFree86 download the script Xinstall.sh from /linux-libc5/ first. This will tell you which distribution to download. $ cd [XFree86 download directory] # sh Xinstall.sh -check

It will tell you your running Linux, kernel 2.4.4 on an i586 or something similar and then indicate which distribution you should download. In my case it was linux-glibc21. The files FILES will tell you which files you need, because you don't need them all! Follow the documentation to install XFree86.

Video Devices

Next we need to create video devices in our /dev directory and add options to modules.conf for the bttv modules.

$ cd /usr/src/linux/Documentation/v4l/bttv/ # ./MAKEDEV

This will create quite a number of v4l devices. Now we need to edit modules.conf to add our bttv options. $ kwrite Modules.conf & # kwrite /etc/modules.conf &

Copy the lines from the example to the real thing. You might want to add some comments so this section is easily identifiable later. In your terminal type:

$ cat CARDLIST |more This produces a list of cards and tuners supported by bttv. Write down the numbers of the possible cards (there should be just one) and possible tuners (there could be a few possibilities if you don't know).

On the line that says:

options bttv card=1 radio=1

change it to:

options bttv card=[card no] radio=[1/0] tuner=[tuner no]

in my case:

## Fly Video 98 FM ## options bttv card=56 radio=1 tuner=5

Here is my modules.conf:

alias eth0 ne2k-pci alias sound sb alias midi opl3 options opl3 io=0x388 options sb io=0x240 irq=10 dma=1 mpu_io=0x330 # i2c alias char-major-89 i2c-dev options i2c-core i2c_debug=1 options i2c-algo-bit bit_test=1 # bttv alias char-major-81 videodev alias char-major-81-0 bttv alias char-major-81-64 bttv ##radio loader alias char-major-81-224 bttv ## teletext loader options bttv card=56 radio=1 tuner=5 options tuner debug=1

Save and exit then check the module dependencies:

# /sbin/depmod -a

If you have chosen a wrong value then you may have to fiddle around till you get it right. Go to a terminal (no in X, X is not very verbose when dealing with modules)

# /sbin/modprobe bttv

You should receive a screen of data informing you of the events taking place and that everything happened successfully. It may inform you that overlaying has been disabled, take note of this.

Originally Published: Monday, 18 June 2001	Author: Dave Madeley
Published to: develop_articles/Development Articles	Page: 2/4 - [Printable]
Using Your Brooktree Chipset TV Card in Linux This week Linux.com contributor Dave Madeley looks at what it takes to watch TV on your Linux box equipped with a TV capture card. We take a look at kernel compilation, video devices and configuration. Finally Dave takes a look at some applications you can use to watch TV, listen to the radio or even check out Teletext.

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Upgrade Xfree86 and create Video Devices If everything goes to plan we're almost there. If you are using a S3 Trio 64 chipset video card (like my ASUS) then it is also recommended that you upgrade to Xfree86 4.0 (do this anyway). You can get the new version of XFree86 (4.03) from http://xfree86.org. When downloading XFree86 download the script Xinstall.sh from /linux-libc5/ first. This will tell you which distribution to download. `$ cd [XFree86 download directory] # sh Xinstall.sh -check` It will tell you your running Linux, kernel 2.4.4 on an i586 or something similar and then indicate which distribution you should download. In my case it was linux-glibc21. The files FILES will tell you which files you need, because you don't need them all! Follow the documentation to install XFree86. Video Devices Next we need to create video devices in our /dev directory and add options to modules.conf for the bttv modules. `$ cd /usr/src/linux/Documentation/v4l/bttv/ # ./MAKEDEV` This will create quite a number of v4l devices. Now we need to edit modules.conf to add our bttv options. `$ kwrite Modules.conf & # kwrite /etc/modules.conf &` Copy the lines from the example to the real thing. You might want to add some comments so this section is easily identifiable later. In your terminal type: `$ cat CARDLIST \|more` This produces a list of cards and tuners supported by bttv. Write down the numbers of the possible cards (there should be just one) and possible tuners (there could be a few possibilities if you don't know). On the line that says: `options bttv card=1 radio=1` change it to: `options bttv card=[card no] radio=[1/0] tuner=[tuner no]` in my case: `## Fly Video 98 FM ## options bttv card=56 radio=1 tuner=5` Here is my modules.conf: `alias eth0 ne2k-pci alias sound sb alias midi opl3 options opl3 io=0x388 options sb io=0x240 irq=10 dma=1 mpu_io=0x330 # i2c alias char-major-89 i2c-dev options i2c-core i2c_debug=1 options i2c-algo-bit bit_test=1 # bttv alias char-major-81 videodev alias char-major-81-0 bttv alias char-major-81-64 bttv ##radio loader alias char-major-81-224 bttv ## teletext loader options bttv card=56 radio=1 tuner=5 options tuner debug=1` Save and exit then check the module dependencies: `# /sbin/depmod -a` If you have chosen a wrong value then you may have to fiddle around till you get it right. Go to a terminal (no in X, X is not very verbose when dealing with modules) `# /sbin/modprobe bttv` You should receive a screen of data informing you of the events taking place and that everything happened successfully. It may inform you that overlaying has been disabled, take note of this.
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