Two TV Tuner Cards

[Barry_IA]

Synopsis: Computer won't detect second TV Tuner card in PCIe x16 slot.


Details: Have an IBM/Lenovo ThinkCentre M51 (8141KNB) which I want to use for a PVR (Personal Video Recorder). Installed two Hauppauge HVR-2250 TV Tuner cards -- these are PCIe. Either one in the 1x PCIe slot is detected but the one in the x16 slot is not. (Physically swapped the cards in the event one was DOA.)

The video configuration in the BIOS needs to be set for IGD; if set to PCI or PEG the machine won't boot: beeps 4-2-3-3, which I finally figured out was 4 beeps for video error and 2-3-3 for system board error. This was with the original BIOS (10.29.04); flashed it the other day to the 02.01.08 version -- second tuner still not detected and quite frankly didn't do any further testing (didn't change video configuration in the BIOS).

OS is Mythbuntu, though will consider switching to another version of MythTV.


So, the big question is, how do I get the second tuner working?


TIA!

 

[MomoCC]

Hi Barry_IA, welcome! I'm not really familiar with Mythbuntu, but I'm assuming that the OS can't/won't support more than one video card/input, since it would cause conflicts? Or am I mistaken, and Mythbuntu actually supports multiple video inputs?

 

[Barry_IA]

Hi MomoCC!

Mythbuntu is the dedicated TV Viewing OS based on Ubuntu, which is part of Linux.

AFAIK, yes, Mythbuntu will support multiple TV Tuner cards -- went back and checked to be certain: Section 1.1 of the installation manual: "You may install multiple video capture cards...." Good point, though: you had me thinking I may have overlooked the obvious!

 

[Barry_IA]

Hi Folks!

Looks like the problem is either in the motherboard or the BIOS -- not sure which but not fixable. Steve Toth (created the Linux driver for the HVR-22xx-series cards) replied he had seen similar issues in some Dell motherboards. Jared at Hauppauge Tech Support replied "We have seen this issue on some systems the manufacturers reserve the x16 slot for a graphics card only and you cannot install another type of card into the slot."

So, for those of us desiring more than one tuner card using PCIe slots better be certain the motherboard has multiple x1 slots if don't want to roll the dice to see if the x16 slot will work.

The current "Plan B" is to get a Hauppauge HVR-1600, which is PCI, and has dual tuners, but one is analog-only and the other is digital only. Models 01199 and 01178 have the IR Blaster. Three digital tuners is better than two!

 

[tinker_n]

Hi all
running debian lenny with dtv2000h and dtv1000s

researching that now, so far I have found I need to edit the /etc/modules file with something like cx8800 card=61,63 depending
what number the card is, seems the cards.txt file in "src" will tell me but i am still looking

dmesg

gives me this with the above settings so I think I need to change it to 43,61

[ 8.861384] tuner' 0-0043: chip found @ 0x86 (cx88[0])
[ 8.884704] tda9887 0-0043: creating new instance
[ 8.884707] tda9887 0-0043: tda988[5/6/7] found
[ 8.888677] tuner' 0-0061: chip found @ 0xc2 (cx88[0])
[ 8.889622] tuner' 0-0063: chip found @ 0xc6 (cx88[0])
[ 8.989687] tuner-simple 0-0061: creating new instance
[ 8.989691] tuner-simple 0-0061: type set to 63 (Philips FMD1216ME MK3 Hybrid Tuner)

still tinkering

Tinker

 

[Guest]

The problem is that the older 2250 cards do not support PCIe 2.0 which would cause the behavior you're seeing. The card would be recognized in a x1 slot but not in the x16 slot. Many vendors, not just tv tuner makers have this problem. I had this problem with the 2250. I called Hauppauge and then sent me a card with a newer chipset that is PCIe 2.0 compatible.