WinV-dbx Model 401

…Installing the hardware, the aforementioned Hauppauge WinTV-dbx Model 401 video card. For less than $100 and the monthly cable bill, I have TV on my desktop! But oh boy, installing hardware in Linux. What a topic. Installing hardware varies from distro to computer to administrator due to the way the kernel is configured. Distributions tend to use lots of modules (think of a module as a driver) to allow for new hardware to be installed and recognized. This cuts down on the size of the kernel (operating system) and allows for more hardware “compatibility” (for some reading on modules, click here. This is so that when you, using a distro-provided kernel, install a new card such as a fairly popular network card, the hardware is available to use - because the distro previously compiled the kernel for you and most likely added lots of hardware support as modules.

I, on the other hand, am only familiar with my way - compiling my own kernel. Using my hardware inventory, my kernel is tuned to the specs of my hardware resulting in an operating system that is specific to my machine, but that is a topic for another day. Anyway, to install the WinTV card, I added support for Video for Linux, the BT848 chipset via the BT848 Video for Linux, and I2C bit banging support. After the recompile was complete I had support for the card as verified by the boot up messages. Then it was on to some googling to find out how to configure the card to make it useful, which is how I stumbled across xawtv and tvtime. Gosh, I’m outta breath just thinking about that!

Yes, it can be tough installing things in Linux and there is no simple “this is how it is done?” about it. However, I am convinced that much of the frustration simply comes from re-learning. Linux has a different way of doing things. Not easier, but, well, better, I suppose, in a way, once you learn, maybe. It is just a matter of sticking with it and learning. Once learned, switching between screens to watch TV, checking your e-mail, and typing up a document is just another day in front the computer. Well, with less rebooting. Anyway, I’d like to hear from anyone who might have this card up and running - what distro you use, what you had to do to install and configure the card, and what programs you use with it.