[mythtvnz] WinTV Nova S - won't tune

[Glenn Ramsey]

On 25/07/12 08:03, Johan Schuld wrote:
> Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 20:25:44 +1200 From: Glenn Ramsey <gr at componic.co.nz
> <mailto:gr at componic.co.nz>>
>
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know if there is any special configuration required to get the
> Hauppauge WInTv Nova S plus to work? On my machine the card is found and all
> the right modules seem to be loaded but it won't tune, using mythtv or
> Stephen W's dvbtune script. There shouldn't be anything wrong with the dish
> or cable because a freeview receiver and the other card I have in the machine
> both work OK[1].
>
> The machine is running Mythbuntu 12.04 with kernel 3.2.0-26.
>
> Ideas?
>
> Glenn
>
> [1] actually the other card (TeVii s480) doesn't quite work OK, which is why
> I bought the second card, but it does tune. Only one of the tuners works
> reliably, the other often fails to start or tune or record. I found some
> references to others having the same problem.
>
>
> A few things that could cause the problem, you don't give much details so
> will give you a quick run-down with the risk of suggesting things you have
> already tried or done.
>
> I assume you have downloaded the Nova-S firmware from the net somewhere and
> put it in the firmware folder (from memoy /lib/firmware)? These generally
> don't come with the distros as it's Haupauge propriatry. Maybe different with
> Mythbuntu though.

I didn't find any reference to firmware needed for this card. Does it require that?
<http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-NOVA-S-Plus>

> Do you split the coax? Remember that this will affect the signal strenght. If
> in doubt unplug from your old card and just plug it in to the Nova-S.

Yes, it is split, and also looped from the setop box. I figured that since the
TeVii card can tune then the signal would be strong enough, but I suppose I
should try without anything else on the cable.

> I've spent hours with this card before until I realised I simply did not have
>  the right amount of 0's at the end of one of the frequencies. Easy to miss
> as there are so many.

I'm assuming that the tuning parameters are the same for both cards.

>
> What is not working with the other card?

The issue with the TeVii S480 is that the second tuner "crashes" when you try to
use it simultaneously with the first one. Someone described a similar issue 
somewhere in this thread (forum is in German):
<http://www.vdr-portal.de/board16-video-disk-recorder/board85-hdtv-dvb-s2/102390-tevii-s480-dual-sat-pcie-installation-und-technische-infos>

Also using the remote causes the driver to stop working after a few keypresses.

> If it's reception issues, it might still be the dish being misaligned or
> something in front of it. The TeVII card might just pick up the signal, and
> the Nova-S might just not although I would not expect this. Settop boxes seem
> to be able to work with less signal strenght somehow...

> Does dmesg list the card als installed? anything in /var/log/messages or
> myth's logs?

Yes, dmesg shows that all the appropriate modules are being loaded.

Thanks for your help, I'll try those things above and have closer look at the logs.

Glenn