Tvheadend

Here's what you need to know:

Do you run one or more TBS PCIe cards under Linux? Check your IRQs…
https://freetoairamerica.wordpress.com/2014/11/08/do-you-run-one-or-more-tbs-pcie-cards-under-linux-check-your-irqs/

You may find a few more helpful hints about TBS cards in another article on that same site:

The never final, always subject to revision article on how to build a Satellite TV PVR distribution system using Tvheadend
https://freetoairamerica.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/the-never-final-always-subject-to-revision-article-on-how-to-build-a-satellite-tv-pvr-distribution-system-using-tvheadend/

@Chris Beasley
in bios/uefi disable all unused devices, com ports, audio card, printer port, usb3 ports etc.
Some mobos when activate "pnp os" support set devices to irq over 19.
HP mobo's also need manual set of IRQ in bios (not recommended brand)
See if your distro use irqbalance.

Thanks for the replies. I've moved the drivers to the open source version created by ljalves, but I've now got the problem of the firmware not loading. I've copied the CX24117 firmware in to /lib/firmware/ but its still saying this error when I use dmesg | grep firmware

[ 49.339986] cx23885 0000:05:00.0: firmware, attempted to load /lib/firmware/dvb-fe-cx24117.fw, but failed with error -22
[ 49.339988] cx23885 0000:05:00.0: Direct firmware load for dvb-fe-cx24117.fw failed with error -22
[ 49.339991] i2c i2c-4: cx24117_firmware_ondemand: No firmware uploaded (timeout or file not found?)

This is repeated for the 1st PCIe tuner too in slot 04.

dmesg | grep frontend indicates the drivers are installed

[ 34.749842] cx23885: cx23885_dvb_register() allocating 1 frontend(s)
[ 34.751362] i2c i2c-1: cx24117: Attaching frontend 0
[ 34.751366] cx23885 0000:04:00.0: DVB: registering adapter 0 frontend 0 (Conexant CX24117/CX24132)...
[ 34.751662] cx23885: cx23885_dvb_register() allocating 1 frontend(s)
[ 34.751666] i2c i2c-1: cx24117: Attaching frontend 1
[ 34.751668] cx23885 0000:04:00.0: DVB: registering adapter 1 frontend 0 (Conexant CX24117/CX24132)...
[ 37.523159] cx23885: cx23885_dvb_register() allocating 1 frontend(s)
[ 37.523169] i2c i2c-4: cx24117: Attaching frontend 0
[ 37.523173] cx23885 0000:05:00.0: DVB: registering adapter 2 frontend 0 (Conexant CX24117/CX24132)...
[ 37.523497] cx23885: cx23885_dvb_register() allocating 1 frontend(s)

It then tries to attach the device but then I get the firmware error.

Any particular pointers would be good!

Thanks,

Chris

hello
not sure but you can try with this firmware
wget https://github.com/OpenELEC/dvb-firmware/blob/master/firmware/dvb-fe-cx24117.fw /lib/firmware/

So I'm really struggling with these cards. I've used both the open source and TBS propriety versions. I've found where to set my KU 10750 LNB up, yet I'm still getting unable to scan errors on in the log. I really am not sure how to get this going!

Anyone else running TBS 6981s?

I have a supermicro tower server with two TBS6981
but use https://www.tbsiptv.com/download/common/tbs-linux-drivers_v170330.zip
and also share same IRQ

cat /proc/interrupts
           CPU0       CPU1       CPU2       CPU3       CPU4       CPU5       CPU6       CPU7
16:          0          0          0  923357554          0          0          0          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   cx23885[0], cx23885[1]

Thanks Saen

Yes, that is the same output I get, but I can't get a damn signal from them, or at least consistently getting them to work.
What is the Supermicro motherboard? I've got a couple of the X8 class in my esxi cluster, I'm just using this Dell R310 as a standalone unit at the moment.

These cards work well in Windows (Server and desktop editions) but for some reason I can't make them work in linux.

Chris

Chris Beasley wrote:

Thanks Saen

Yes, that is the same output I get, but I can't get a damn signal from them, or at least consistently getting them to work.
What is the Supermicro motherboard? I've got a couple of the X8 class in my esxi cluster, I'm just using this Dell R310 as a standalone unit at the moment.

These cards work well in Windows (Server and desktop editions) but for some reason I can't make them work in linux.

Chris

TBS Drivers are same as Intel drivers

Supermicro X8SIL
Xeon       X3440

I use TBS 6981, but one in Debian 9 with this drivers https://github.com/crazycat69/linux_media

I attached mine firmware try with this drivers and mine firmware.

Work good, but you must know this is one of most bad card i have with worse tunner and crappy drivers, util open source where work good, but is still worse.

My firmware is different

I use from Luis Alves open source firmware to try both

modinfo cx24117

modinfo cx24117
filename:       /lib/modules/4.9.0-0.bpo.2-amd64/kernel/drivers/media/dvb-frontends/cx24117.ko
firmware:       dvb-fe-cx24117.fw
version:        1.1
license:        GPL
author:         Luis Alves ([email protected])
description:    DVB Frontend module for Conexant cx24117/cx24132 hardware

Do not make mistake, module and firmware is different things.
Combination of both is equal to MS Windows driver.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm still struggling with this. I've got Alves' modules install along with the firmware working and no errors but no matter what LNB setting I activate, i can't get it to tune to Optus D1 and do an actual scan of the satellite for all transponders, let alone search for particular networks!

What is the best way to look in to what the tuners are doing?

dmesg | grep frontend and dmesg | grep firmware show no issues.

Chris

@saen acro yes, you are right, i small confused yes, module and firmware are different things, but mine firmware seem me different from your by size of file @Chris Beasley to try mine and your.

@Chris Beasley man, you are from New Zealand i guess, because i don't know wtf is 'Optus D1' , but quick search say this is name of Satellite in New Zealand, but you must give more info, we don't know this is sat position.

Next again quick search in google say me, standart in this sattelite use Circular, but this thing you must know , you live in this region.

try read this i hope help you: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=181178
https://tvheadend.org/boards/5/topics/3503
https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=99325

Hi Peter

Yes, living in NZ... I was trying to avoid specifics at this stage while I deal with the tuners themselves.

Our LNBs are a single 10750Mhz and normally in MediaPortal (or others that I can find to enter LNB details) I'll go:

Lo - 10750
high - 10750
switch -0

and this will work... How do I edit LNB details directly rather than using the pre-existing versions as I haven't found that ability yet!

Chris

From reading from geekzone.co.nz from post they say for working must LNBs settings must be:

Lo - 10750
high - 10750
switch - 10750

this options have in THV in 4.3 and 4.2 version

in Adapter setting in Tunner must set in 'Satellite config:' Advanced (non-universal LNBs, rotors, etc.)
after in Advanced (non-universal LNBs, rotors, etc tree must set in 'Orbital positions:' set how sat postion will use if one set 1 or more .. and 'Save'
after in tree in adapter will open 'Postions' number how number set in 'Orbital positions:' when go to Postions #1 you will see settings with 'LNB type:' chose 'Ku 10750 (Hi-Band)' if not work try with Ku 10700 (Australia)

I've been using these options but they're not appearing to work, sometimes the sharp LNBs suffer from drift due to the climate here and require a manual change, does TVH allow for over-riding any of these default values with custom entered ones?

If there is a some specific setting for LNB.
an you use Windows its easy to test with Progdvb

Optus D1
Operating Band: Ku FSS
Downlink Frequencies: 12.25 - 12.75 GHz
Number of Transponders: Ku-Band: 16 @ 150 W, 8 @ 44 W (New Zealand only)
Bandwidth: 54 MHz Ku-Band
Polarisation: Linear

I see some recomendation to switch 10750 to 11300
http://www.wikihow.com/Install-a-Monoblock-Lnb

But as Peter say we are from opposite side on Earth and just guessing.

@Chris in every forum they say with setting of LNB:
Lo - 10750
high - 10750
switch - 10750

with this setting work, this setting for TVH are 'Ku 10750 (Hi-Band)' ,but you now say me i test don't work ,but in previus post say setting:
Lo - 10750
high - 10750
switch -0

where is same, again will not work now say me "suffer from drift due to the climate here" , ohh man change LNB with normal good working LNB and try again, , you say me due climate and what you want to say me in every hour you must change LNB setting :D, and every information from you must get hard and guess what you have and what setting must use, every post information from you must be with Divination.

When want 'custom' setting of LNB change code here: https://github.com/tvheadend/tvheadend/blob/master/src/input/mpegts/linuxdvb/linuxdvb_lnb.c#L212-L408 and set what you want for you UFO LNB.

Note:

Change this:

{
      .ld_type    = "Ku 10750 (Hi-Band)",
      .ld_tune    = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_tune,
      },
      .lnb_freq   = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_freq,
      .lnb_match  = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_match,
      .lnb_band   = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_band,
      .lnb_pol    = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_pol,
    },
    .lnb_low    = 10750000,
    .lnb_high   = 10750000,
    .lnb_switch = 10750000,
  },

with your UFo setting how you see "Ku 10750 (Hi-Band)" use
.lnb_low = 10750000,
.lnb_high = 10750000,
.lnb_switch = 10750000,

three ssetting of LNB use 10750, change with your Ufo setting and compile TVH.

When have recomendation this setting also have in TVH and they say: "Ku 11300" and "Ku 11300 (Hi-Band)"

how can see from code:

{ {
      .ld_type    = "Ku 11300",
      .ld_tune    = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_tune,
      },
      .lnb_freq   = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_freq,
      .lnb_match  = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_match,
      .lnb_band   = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_band,
      .lnb_pol    = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_pol,
    },
    .lnb_low    = 11300000,
    .lnb_high   = 0,
    .lnb_switch = 0,
  },
  {
    { {
      .ld_type    = "Ku 11300 (Hi-Band)",
      .ld_tune    = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_tune,
      },
      .lnb_freq   = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_freq,
      .lnb_match  = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_match,
      .lnb_band   = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_band,
      .lnb_pol    = linuxdvb_lnb_standard_pol,
    },
    .lnb_low    = 11300000,
    .lnb_high   = 11300000,
    .lnb_switch = 11300000,
  }

Thanks for the comments and advice so far, it appears that something broke with my tuners/tvh and I got it to scan after setting it back to ku 10750 again, which previously had refused to scan. So, I now only have two tuners showing in TVH, card 1 tuner 1 and card 2 tuner 1, the second tuners on each card are gone in TVH despite being ok within Linux.

Everything scanned fine, assigned the OpenTV data, populated channel numbers, EPG etc. and now actually plays without stuttering or drop outs on my work laptop via wireless for testing. Will have to see where the other two tuners have gone, but its intriguing that no matter what I did when all four where showing it struggled to do anything yet, now with two gone, it works fine...

I think this confirms that I will likely move to SAT>IP and drop these damn cards, and virtualise the entire system so I can reduce my server count from 5 to 4!

I'll probably keep posting here for advice if I struggle to get the tuners working again!

Cheers

Chris

Usually second tuner of card is deaf one and not work well with S2 transponders.

What do you mean 'deaf'? The TBS cards are dual tuners per card, not shared...

it have problem with same transponder signal level same on both tuner of card,

on attached picture #0 is other card TechnoTrend TT-budget S2-1600

So I'm not sure why that would be a problem. Until recently I was running these cards in windows and all four tuners where found by mediaportal and could tune independently... I've left MP for a number of reasons, predominately being that the plugin used for Sky New Zealand was a poor coding job and doesn't work properly now and I think TVH has a lot of benefits.

Anyway, I've attached some pictures of the tuners now. AS before Tuners #0 and #2 are working fine and can stream the channels, but tuners #1 and 3 are missing from within TVH. In the linux cmd line, they are all registered and present... When the tuners where NOT working, all four where registered and available to TVH, but now only two are registered with TVH it all works fine...

Are the TBS cards that bad within Linux? As before, I feel that moving to Sat>IP will have more benefit than these damn things!