[DEV][DEAD] DVB USB stick support for Live TV - Gen8 Android Development

ATTENTION
This project is currently dead, for more information have a look at http://code.google.com/p/archos-gen8-dvb/
SUCCESSOR IS ONLINE, check it out at http://github.com/chrulri/droidtv
-- old content:
As the Archos 101IT has a full size USB port, why shouldn't we plug a dvb-t stick in and watch tv? (without internet!)
For more information see Roadmap
Any comments / suggestions?
Testers:
chulri: A101IT + Hauppauge WinTV-NOVA-T-Stick
raminator: A32IT + TerraTec Cinergy T USB XE
cajl: A101IT, A70IT, A32IT + ???
fullthrottleenergy: A70IT + Hauppauge WinTV HVR-950Q
MGUS: A??IT + "bunch of different dvb-t and a dvb-s2 stick"
usrname: A101IT + TerraTec Cinergy T USB XE
bkortleven: A101IT + Pinnacle PCTV 73e
Onliner09: A101IT + TerraTec Cinergy T USB XE (Rev.2)
andbroe: A???IT + TerraTec Cinergy Piranha
Kashban: A101IT + Terratec Cinergy T USB XXS
godashram: A???IT + Hauppauge WinTV HVR-950Q
umberto.sulla: A101IT + AVerMedia AVerTV Volar Black HD (A850)
Links:
Download List: http://code.google.com/p/archos-gen8-dvb/downloads/list
code.google.com: http://code.google.com/p/archos-gen8-dvb/
kernel source: https://gitorious.org/~chrulri/archos-dvb-gen8-kernel
linuxtv.org dvb-t usb device list: http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-T_USB_Devices#DVB-T_USB_Devices
howto set up your own archos gen8 build environment: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=891056
Videos:
A101IT + DVB-T (archos-gen8-dvb release v0.6)
UrukDroid 0.6 with LiveTV and DVB-T
UrukDroid 0.7RC1 with LiveTV and DVBT TV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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i would volunteer to test it on my A32IT (have dvb-t stick and USB-adapter)

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thank you!
raminator said:
(have dvb-t stick and USB-adapter)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which one do you have?

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me too
on Archos 10.1, 7.0 and 4.3

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chulri said:
thank you!
which one do you have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
terratec cynergy xte or something like that...4 years old

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After analyzing the archos froyo source package I've found out that they already have a package for the linuxtv-dvb-apps project but disabled it This makes building a lot easier, as I don't have to write my own configs and makefiles
I updated it to the newest HEAD checkout of linuxtv-dvb-apps and then I've wrote some script which make the build process so much easier (unpack one tar archive, copy the froyo release package into same folder and run a script..)
I'm currently testing the build process and try to minimalize it (for fixing and upgrading, in the end I only have to build it once)
edit: update in OP

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would a micro usb host cable work to connect a hauppage 950q? Not sure if there's enough power.
edit: talking about the a70

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I don't know if power could be an issue at all.
Is the HVR-950Q supported by linux kernel?

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you can count me as a tester...
have a bunch of different dvb-t sticks and a dvb-s2 usb and have some experience in LinuxTV especially with vdr.

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very interesting. would like to test with my A101IT and Cinergy Hybrid T XE.

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got my dvb-t (hauppauge nova-t) stick yesterday, works great with windows AND linux (ubuntu 10.10). looking forward to next steps in a few days.
btw: great solution for (possible) perm root: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=880321

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I wasn't able to sleep so I kept working
built dvb kernel modules and wrote a script doing all the insmod stuff
copied firmware for my dvb tuner
baaam! device gets recognized!!!!
crossbuilt w_scan
YAY! Now I can scan for channels and I finally have found all of them!

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hi guys, it's me again
still not sleeping (3:55 AM local time) ...
here is my first package (so far only dvb-t drivers) for some early pre-alpha testers:
install SDE
install custom kernel+initramfs from dogmaphobia: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=880321
copy content of zip file to internal storage or sd card, don't forget to disconnect usb
boot SDE (rooted android)
start terminal -> run "su"
run "sh .../setup_dvb-core.sh"
run "sh .../load_xxx.sh" (create your custom script if you need another module than me)
plug in dvb-t stick
check "dmesg" if your device got recognized (don't forget firmware if needed!)
run "w_scan -ft -c$$ -X > channels.conf" where $$ is your country code (CH for switzerland for example, see w_scan help)
check channels.conf if all channels got recognized
post feedback in this thread (!!)
package download: --obsolete--

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I just donated you a 10.
Even though I can't test as I don't have SDE installed yet, I wanted to say thanks for all your efforts for this! It is always ppl like you who make our devices worth a lot more for us with functions I didn't even think of when I bought it.
THANK YOU! Keep up the amazing pace!
/schaze

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Volunteering too.
Archos 101, latest froyo updates, pctv usb 73e which works on recent linux kernel
Would looooove to see this working. Thanks

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@schaze thank YOU very much, I appreciate this!
@bkortleven great! I'm currently working on a first TV app so we can see for the very first time if it is really working.

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omg.. I start loving sleepless nights
another little step for mankind but a big step for this project
explanation:
after writing several bash scripts, I got an easy cross build environment for maybe any kind of source code.. so I managed to cross compile tzap (and szap / czap) for tuning and guess what...... IT'S WORKING!
here is a short recording (# cat /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0 > test2.ts) of swiss television. recorded using an A101IT and Hauppauge Nova-T stick
http://www.mediafire.com/?1artz78aarly34g
PS: a new package for testing will be released soon, v01 has a huge bug because of how it mounts /lib/firmware .. don't use it

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Amazing work man! Looking forward to this, do you think it might work on my Archos 70 Internet Tablet ? or does it need more power than the 70 can give out? (might be able to do it anyway with a powered hub)

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Thanks. I don't know, are there any hardware differences between A101IT and A70IT?

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UPDATE:
v02 is available
Download
+ = new in this version
dvb-t usb driver kernel modules
setup: setup dvb_usb core driver and install dvb utils
+ loadmod: shell script for easy firmware and kernel module load (only insmod -> no modprobe on this system)
+ rmmods: shell script for unloading kernel modules
+ ..zap: zapping utility
w_scan: scanning utility
HowTo use:
install sde and permroot by dogmaphobia (read this)
boot rooted android
copy content of zip file to internal storage ( e.g. /mnt/storage/dvb )
run terminal
Code:
# su
# sh
# cd /mnt/storage/dvb
# sh setup
# sh loadmod mod/<KERNEL_MODULE>.ko
plug in dvb-t usb stick
# w_scan -ft -c<COUNTRY_CODE> -X > channels.conf
# tzap -c channels.conf -rSp "<CHANNEL_NAME>" &
# cat /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0 > test.ts
cancel with ctrl+c after some seconds or minutes
# killall tzap
[# sh rmmods] (optional)
# exit
now you should have some recording of your selected channel under /mnt/storage/dvb
copy it to your computer and watch it with VLC or some other video player
Don't forget to report your issues or success here! Thanks in advance!