No problem with the kernel detecting it but initially there was with kde. The info centre didn’t show it on the usb bus. Mysteriously that aspect is working now including reconnecting if it’s unplugged and plugged back in. Initially I don’t think that the kernel was picking up when it was removed and put back in again but that might be just my impression from using the same socket.
Dmesg
4415.995283] usb 2-4.3: dvb_usb_v2: rc.query() failed=-71
4416.093886] usb 2-4.3: USB disconnect, device number 4
4416.195037] usb 2-4.3: dvb_usb_v2: 'Realtek RTL2832U reference design' successfully deinitialized and disconnected
4601.061578] usb 1-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 5 using ehci-pci
4601.166138] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=2838
4601.166141] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
4601.166143] usb 1-1.3: Product: RTL2838UHIDIR
4601.166144] usb 1-1.3: Manufacturer: Realtek
4601.166145] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 00000001
4601.173338] usb 1-1.3: dvb_usb_v2: found a 'Realtek RTL2832U reference design' in warm state
4601.204801] usb 1-1.3: dvb_usb_v2: will pass the complete MPEG2 transport stream to the software demuxer
4601.204812] DVB: registering new adapter (Realtek RTL2832U reference design)
4601.209180] i2c i2c-1: Added multiplexed i2c bus 2
4601.209183] rtl2832 1-0010: Realtek RTL2832 successfully attached
4601.209189] usb 1-1.3: DVB: registering adapter 0 frontend 0 (Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T))...
4601.220880] i2c i2c-2: fc0012: Fitipower FC0012 successfully identified
4601.222047] rtl2832_sdr rtl2832_sdr.1.auto: Registered as swradio0
4601.222048] rtl2832_sdr rtl2832_sdr.1.auto: Realtek RTL2832 SDR attached
4601.222060] rtl2832_sdr rtl2832_sdr.1.auto: SDR API is still slightly experimental and functionality changes may follow
4601.236980] Registered IR keymap rc-empty
4601.237068] input: Realtek RTL2832U reference design as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.3/rc/rc0/input21
4601.237125] rc0: Realtek RTL2832U reference design as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.3/rc/rc0
4601.237206] input: MCE IR Keyboard/Mouse (dvb_usb_rtl28xxu) as /devices/virtual/input/input22
4601.237322] rc rc0: lirc_dev: driver ir-lirc-codec (dvb_usb_rtl28xxu) registered at minor = 0
4601.237324] usb 1-1.3: dvb_usb_v2: schedule remote query interval to 200 msecs
4601.245533] usb 1-1.3: dvb_usb_v2: 'Realtek RTL2832U reference design' successfully initialized and connected
ir-keytable
dhcppc0:/home/john # ir-keytable
Found /sys/class/rc/rc0/ (/dev/input/event14) with:
Driver dvb_usb_rtl28xxu, table rc-empty
Supported protocols: unknown other lirc rc-5 jvc sony nec sanyo mce-kbd rc-6 sharp xmp
Enabled protocols: unknown lirc
Name: Realtek RTL2832U reference desig
bus: 3, vendor/product: 0bda:2838, version: 0x0100
Repeat delay = 500 ms, repeat period = 125 ms
Then comes the problem when I get to the ‘ir-keytable -s rc0 -t’ stage in the link. Use the remote control and nothing is detected. I’ve checked that the remote is transmitting via a mobile phone camera so it definitely is transmitting. On this particular stick which is velvety black there are no obvious signs of where the ir is picked up so assume it’s via some of the vent holes and have tried all.
In order to see if it’s a problem with the actual part I did something that I find distasteful. Tried it in a win 10 laptop. I hate the initial screen. Got rid of that to get to the desktop and plugged the thing in. Machine went bong bong and did nothing. Ok put the driver disk in. Nothing happened. Used file browser and clicked the icon for the cd and the install popped up.
It comes with a tv application so started that up. Then comes the catch - have to register and tucked away in the detail pay for it to activate it. Not even a trial run. The registration wouldn’t accept the serial number anyway. Big problem really because there is a fair chance that it wont work very well with the aerial that comes with it. It might manage fm radio, it might even manage dab etc but having to pay to find out in my book just isn’t on.
It’s going to have to go back to the seller.
That just leaves the question if any one knows of one that is currently for sale in the UK that can work with Linux. It seems to be an odd area that needs an additional driver for the kernel but these get updated as the kernel changes. The people who seem to have made use of them seem to be running rather old kernels.
:’(Some time wasted due to way out of date info on the web - even from LinuxTV.
It turns out that the kernel support that has been provided for some time doesn’t need the remote control. An application called w_scan is used to drive the chip directly and generate a channel list suitable for several applications. There is a decent run down here
Found by googling for a key map for the chip set as I clearly couldn’t produce one myself.
Results have been mixed. W_scan isn’t in the official repo only in unsupported. I downloaded one and it wouldn’t detect any and seemed to be locked into running as root which is a bit awkward if the intent is to use vlc for the player. Downloaded another and it did detect channels and they would play but drop out problems most of the time. Tried another and it didn’t detect anything so went back to the one that did and that didn’t detect anything. I’d be inclined to put this down to the useless aerial that comes with just about all of these types plus the aether at the time when I tried it.
They all did detect a signal except the first one but not good enough to put in the channel list. One odd aspect is that when I did get some the code reported duplicate transponders on different frequencies so dropped them completely. I feel that’s bad news really as we have had tv’s pick up two sources of a tv channel and it’s probably better to let the user pick the best one especially with down market kit like a usb stick. I( have heard though that the sticks with this chip are pretty good.
The repo that did produce results was home:Sauerland. My current one is home:mnhauke:vdr. As I double installed via a name change I’m going to clean up and try another. In this case though going on the file list it won’t make any difference.rotfl!
The easiest option on w_scan may be to download the source and compile. It just needs ./configure and make, No need for make install so no repo complications. It can then be run via ./w_scan from where it’s compiled or where ever it’s put.
The current version from source looks to be the same as software search - the hardware repo. Might be me but I could only run that one as root. A user can run the one from source.
I’ll bet every one was waiting for a solution for this problem.
:’(Still some disappointment. My main aim was dab radio. The channels I would listen to are also on the television frequencies but as these are much higher than dab are going to be tricky to receive properly especially indoors.
What I seem to have missed is that w_scan is purely TV and so far I can’t see any way of getting it to scan the dab radio channels and it’s questionable if the channel file it produces would be suitable for available players any way. From memory vlc can play just sound. Util’s such as play wouldn’t be so suitable due to the lack of a play list.
Looking around for linux dab and so far I haven’t really found anything that looks neat and simple. What I have seen may not be intended to make use of the current kernel support for the chip set.
This leaves me wondering if anyone knows of a linux dab set up that can be used ?
It looks like it can be compiled on OpenSuse but the lack of a devel file for libfaad could well be a problem as that is usually needed for the headers it provides. >:( A problem I have had before. Not sure why this happens from time to time. The devel file should be there.
However it also needs rtl-sdr which can be downloaded but looks to be a kernel driver to replace the one that is usually loaded. Odd really as the current kernel driver seems to support sdr as it’s called and the same set up can support TV as well. It seems that the dab driver can’t and blacklists the other one.
As seen here it registers for both dab and sdr (software defined radio)
3.723232] rtl2832_sdr rtl2832_sdr.1.auto: Realtek RTL2832 SDR attached
3.723233] rtl2832_sdr rtl2832_sdr.1.auto: SDR API is still slightly experimental and functionality changes may follow
3.724794] scsi 9:0:0:1: Direct-Access Generic- SM/xD-Picture 1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0 CCS
3.724896] sd 9:0:0:1: Attached scsi generic sg6 type 0
3.729787] Registered IR keymap rc-empty
3.729838] input: Realtek RTL2832U reference design as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb3/3-1/3-1.3/rc/rc0/input11
3.729867] rc0: Realtek RTL2832U reference design as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb3/3-1/3-1.3/rc/rc0
3.731171] usb 3-1.3: dvb_usb_v2: schedule remote query interval to 200 msecs
3.733793] scsi 9:0:0:2: Direct-Access Generic- SD/MMC 1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0 CCS
3.733901] sd 9:0:0:2: Attached scsi generic sg7 type 0
3.739304] usb 3-1.3: dvb_usb_v2: 'Realtek RTL2832U reference design' successfully initialized and connected
The sdr aspect went in some time ago but no apps seem to use it. :X However the app did get updated to qt5.
I ran w_scan again last night. Loads of stations detected this time but signal quality not good enough to use even the radio channels in the TV bands. Console output also differed which may be due to using a compiled version.
With a RTL2832U USB-device you have to look for Software Defined Radio or SDR,
if you want to use it as a FM or DAB radio or even as a very universal HAM radio receiver.
Called from a console with “sdr-j-dabreceiver”, you have to choose the right (depending on your location) frequency band
and let search for DAB channels first.
Then you can choose one station from the list of found stations.
Thanks for the links. I’m a bit put off the current applications that are about because they all seem to involve replacing the standard kernel driver with another that is dedicated to dab. The kernel driver was updated some time ago to add sdr so I am trying to find out if anyone has done any work on a receiver that uses this. TV seems to be well covered, dab left behind.
;)In the mean time I have tried a home made aerial. It is an improvement on the one that comes with the dongle. It’s based on this design
but rescaled for circa 650mhz so the active part is 207mm long with the braid left on for 92mm and a 2 turn coil with a bore of about 25mm… It works best placed very close to a wall but seems to be giving best results at around 618mhz. If not close to a wall people walking around interfere too much. It’s currently giving several more or less clean TV and radio channels on a 618mhz mux. No good at all on the BBC 650mhz mux. These frequencies are so high predictability is likely to be rather low.
I’ve found an aerial that works but having a bit of a problem with w_scan that looks to be due to some channels not transmitting all day. It detects them by name but as there isn’t a tv transmission drops them from the play list it outputs so I thought I would try the dvb-tools way assuming that they are compatible with the current kernel driver for the chip.
First problem when I tried to scan was a device busy message. I had seen an error output from the beta version of vlc stating something about not being able to turn a timer off in another thread*. I rebooted and the scan error message has changed to this now
john@dhcppc1:~> dvbv5-scan /usr/share/dvb/dvb-t/uk-SuttonColdfield -o zap | tee ~/channels.conf
ERROR key/value without a channel group while parsing line 1 of /usr/share/dvb/dvb-t/uk-SuttonColdfield
Looking a bit further v5 needs different files and uk transmitters are not included in the ones that come with opensuse.
Other disto’s seem to use scan but the syntax I have seen doesn’t seem to function in the same way as opensuse and I can’t make much sense of the man entry for scan for this application.
Maybe opensuse uses a differently named version of scan ???
dvbscan /usr/share/dvb/dvb-t/uk-SuttonColdfield -o zap | tee ~/channels.conf
dvbscan is found in dvb, dvb-tools contains the V5 versions. There are various scans in dvb.
The channels.conf file can be directly used by vlc so there seems to be no need to use the type of file that w_scan produces for it.
Unlike w_scan the channel list looks to be complete irrespective of a current transmission. Most of these are waste of time anyway really, Adult this and that but some aren’t.
However I have a feeling that the opensuse transmitting station file isn’t up to date. One station’s reception is poor now and it’s on an offset multiplexer frequency which is in the transmitter file… w_scan found it on a frequency that wasn’t offset. The station file looks to be very similar to the wiki entry for sutton coldfield. All of the mux’s there transmit exactly the same power so all stations should be as good as each other. Out of interest the power levels are a lot lower than analogue was.
The .conf file is a lot easier to edit to change the station order and I suppose I can try setting frequencies that w_scan found. It just scans the lot as I used it.
No HD TV so far though so not sure if that is possible.
I’ll bet every one was waiting for a solution for this problem.