Mailing List Archive

On Friday 30 August 2002 03:27 pm, Preston A. Elder wrote:
> Hey,
>
> I'm trying to use MythTV on a setup using vesafb as the X driver (mainly
> because a native one doesnt exist for my vid card yet).
>
> I can use xawtv, but I have to provide the options -fb -nodga to be able to
> do it, which is probably whats screwing me up here.
>
> The error message I'm getting from MythTV tho, is rather bizarre:
>
> $ mythtv
> Probed: Television
> Probed: Composite1
> Probed: S-Video
> Probed: Composite3
> Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
> libavcodec: CPU flags: mmx mmxext 3dnow
> using rtjpeg
> strange error flushing buffer ...
> Couldn't find Xv support, exiting
>
> An X box pops up for a while, and dissapears again promptly. I have xv
> installed.

Doesn't really matter if you have it installed or not, it matters if support
exists for it, which, it doesn't look like -- run xvinfo and see.

> Incidentally, I tried running mythfrontend, just to check it out, however I
> couldnt click the mouse on it, my mouse cursor kept going BEHIND the window
> (and I noticed the window did not have any window decorations). I'll
> assume this is because its not ment to be run directly *grin*.

No, it's meant to be used with a keyboard, not a mouse. The mouse is
disappearing, not going behind the window.

Isaac

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Ahh, thanks (re. keyboard thing), however the main issue (that it doesnt
appear to startup mythtv) still remains ...

On Friday 30 August 2002 04:36 pm, Isaac Richards wrote:
> On Friday 30 August 2002 03:27 pm, Preston A. Elder wrote:
> > Hey,
> >
> > I'm trying to use MythTV on a setup using vesafb as the X driver (mainly
> > because a native one doesnt exist for my vid card yet).
> >
> > I can use xawtv, but I have to provide the options -fb -nodga to be able
> > to do it, which is probably whats screwing me up here.
> >
> > The error message I'm getting from MythTV tho, is rather bizarre:
> >
> > $ mythtv
> > Probed: Television
> > Probed: Composite1
> > Probed: S-Video
> > Probed: Composite3
> > Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
> > libavcodec: CPU flags: mmx mmxext 3dnow
> > using rtjpeg
> > strange error flushing buffer ...
> > Couldn't find Xv support, exiting
> >
> > An X box pops up for a while, and dissapears again promptly. I have xv
> > installed.
>
> Doesn't really matter if you have it installed or not, it matters if
> support exists for it, which, it doesn't look like -- run xvinfo and see.
>
> > Incidentally, I tried running mythfrontend, just to check it out, however
> > I couldnt click the mouse on it, my mouse cursor kept going BEHIND the
> > window (and I noticed the window did not have any window decorations).
> > I'll assume this is because its not ment to be run directly *grin*.
>
> No, it's meant to be used with a keyboard, not a mouse. The mouse is
> disappearing, not going behind the window.
>
> Isaac
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-dev mailing list
> mythtv-dev@snowman.net
> http://www.snowman.net/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-dev

- --
PreZ
Systems Administrator
GOTH.NET

Goth Code '98: tSKeba5qaSabsaaaGbaa75KAASWGuajmsvbieqcL4BaaLb3F4
nId5mefqmDjmmgm#haxthgzpj4GiysNkycSRGHabiabOkauNSW

GOTH.NET - http://www.goth.net
Free online resource for the gothic community.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQE9b+JjuULtzKdGMboRAgByAJ9sQYzvgyWz8N+MaNvmCPpBZoL0lACeIdR2
Ji1ymq6JuxJO/DivHYE6wOs=
=M32Z
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Oops, missed part of the email.

Your right, xvinfo shows:
X-Video Extension version 2.2
screen #0
no adaptors present

So, what can I do about it (as obviously, I am running X, and have an adaptor
to do everything else ;P)

On Friday 30 August 2002 05:23 pm, Preston A. Elder wrote:
> Ahh, thanks (re. keyboard thing), however the main issue (that it doesnt
> appear to startup mythtv) still remains ...
>
> On Friday 30 August 2002 04:36 pm, Isaac Richards wrote:
> > On Friday 30 August 2002 03:27 pm, Preston A. Elder wrote:
> > > Hey,
> > >
> > > I'm trying to use MythTV on a setup using vesafb as the X driver
> > > (mainly because a native one doesnt exist for my vid card yet).
> > >
> > > I can use xawtv, but I have to provide the options -fb -nodga to be
> > > able to do it, which is probably whats screwing me up here.
> > >
> > > The error message I'm getting from MythTV tho, is rather bizarre:
> > >
> > > $ mythtv
> > > Probed: Television
> > > Probed: Composite1
> > > Probed: S-Video
> > > Probed: Composite3
> > > Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
> > > libavcodec: CPU flags: mmx mmxext 3dnow
> > > using rtjpeg
> > > strange error flushing buffer ...
> > > Couldn't find Xv support, exiting
> > >
> > > An X box pops up for a while, and dissapears again promptly. I have xv
> > > installed.
> >
> > Doesn't really matter if you have it installed or not, it matters if
> > support exists for it, which, it doesn't look like -- run xvinfo and see.
> >
> > > Incidentally, I tried running mythfrontend, just to check it out,
> > > however I couldnt click the mouse on it, my mouse cursor kept going
> > > BEHIND the window (and I noticed the window did not have any window
> > > decorations). I'll assume this is because its not ment to be run
> > > directly *grin*.
> >
> > No, it's meant to be used with a keyboard, not a mouse. The mouse is
> > disappearing, not going behind the window.
> >
> > Isaac
> > _______________________________________________
> > mythtv-dev mailing list
> > mythtv-dev@snowman.net
> > http://www.snowman.net/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-dev

- --
PreZ
Systems Administrator
GOTH.NET

Goth Code '98: tSKeba5qaSabsaaaGbaa75KAASWGuajmsvbieqcL4BaaLb3F4
nId5mefqmDjmmgm#haxthgzpj4GiysNkycSRGHabiabOkauNSW

GOTH.NET - http://www.goth.net
Free online resource for the gothic community.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQE9b+LXuULtzKdGMboRAvvnAKCFBr4mDYSiITyWHSWKxJYV34Bh3gCggq4F
y9Wss2/MU4uC6pq0Tb5opwg=
=ZmNV
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

On Friday 30 August 2002 05:25 pm, Preston A. Elder wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> Oops, missed part of the email.
>
> Your right, xvinfo shows:
> X-Video Extension version 2.2
> screen #0
> no adaptors present
>
> So, what can I do about it (as obviously, I am running X, and have an
> adaptor to do everything else ;P)

Get a card that's supported.

Isaac

On Sat, 2002-08-31 at 05:27, Preston A. Elder wrote:

Hey I'm new to the list, I haven't had a chance to install Mythtv yet
but I'm going to get around to it later today, from the information on
the website this looks like the best visual linux pvr solution
available.

Although I haven't installed Mythtv yet I might be able to help with
some of your problems

> I'm trying to use MythTV on a setup using vesafb as the X driver (mainly
> because a native one doesnt exist for my vid card yet).

Don't you mean the vesa or svga X driver? The vesafb is the linux kernel
framebuffer driver and is totally seperate to X. At the moment the
primary use of the linux kernel framebuffer appears to be high
resolution consoles and embeded devices. To start X type
startx

or if that doesn't work try

X :0

if a display comes up with an X for the mouse cursor then X is installed
and working

> I can use xawtv, but I have to provide the options -fb -nodga to be able to do
> it, which is probably whats screwing me up here.

the -fb option tells xawtv to use the kernel frame buffer for output
instead of an X server.

> The error message I'm getting from MythTV tho, is rather bizarre:
>
> $ mythtv
> Probed: Television
> Probed: Composite1
> Probed: S-Video
> Probed: Composite3
> Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
> libavcodec: CPU flags: mmx mmxext 3dnow
> using rtjpeg
> strange error flushing buffer ...
> Couldn't find Xv support, exiting
>
> An X box pops up for a while, and dissapears again promptly. I have xv
> installed.
>
> Incidentally, I tried running mythfrontend, just to check it out, however I
> couldnt click the mouse on it, my mouse cursor kept going BEHIND the window
> (and I noticed the window did not have any window decorations). I'll assume
> this is because its not ment to be run directly *grin*.

Im not sure about this part as I haven't run mythtv yet but it looks
like your card doesn't have Xv support but your X server does run (the
'X box' comes up and so does the frontend). Xv is the XVideo extension
for XFree86, i think it only comes with versions 4.02 and later, what
version of XFree are you running? Also what card are you using? All the
cards I've used have supported the XVideo extension and from the looks
of the above output you seem to be running an athalon pc which probably
means you've got a fairly modern card

hth

--
----------------------------------------------------
:: Myles Byrne | myles.byrnewebservices.com :.
----------------------------------------------------

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hey,

On Saturday 31 August 2002 03:41 am, Myles Byrne wrote:
> Don't you mean the vesa or svga X driver? The vesafb is the linux kernel
> framebuffer driver and is totally seperate to X. At the moment the
> primary use of the linux kernel framebuffer appears to be high
> resolution consoles and embeded devices. To start X type
> startx
Heh, I use the fbdev X driver (which uses the kernel vesafb driver). I am
already in X, and quite nicely (1280x1024x16), but right now, my vid card is
not supported natively by X (its a Matrox Parhelia, and Matrox hasnt released
their native driver for it yet). This means I'm relegated to using either the
vesa, or the framebuffer driver. The vesa driver screws up the console when
I return to it from X, so I went with the framebuffer device. It works well,
however xvinfo tells me I dont have a vid card.

> > I can use xawtv, but I have to provide the options -fb -nodga to be able
> > to do it, which is probably whats screwing me up here.
> the -fb option tells xawtv to use the kernel frame buffer for output
> instead of an X server.
I'm also wondering if its possible that this kind of option could be added to
mythtv (hell, yank it directly from xawtv if necessary!), it would be a
worthwhile endeavour, as there are quite a few people out there who use the
fbdev driver for X.

> Im not sure about this part as I haven't run mythtv yet but it looks
> like your card doesn't have Xv support but your X server does run (the
> 'X box' comes up and so does the frontend). Xv is the XVideo extension
> for XFree86, i think it only comes with versions 4.02 and later, what
> version of XFree are you running? Also what card are you using? All the
> cards I've used have supported the XVideo extension and from the looks
> of the above output you seem to be running an athalon pc which probably
> means you've got a fairly modern card
I'm running XFree86 4.2.0 :)

Aparently the framebuffer support tho, does not support the XVideo extension
(I'm not sure if the 'vesa' driver does tho, that might be enough to make me
say 'damn the console, I'll use the vesa driver' if it supports XV
extensions, does anyone know if it does?).

Thanks,

- --
PreZ
Systems Administrator
GOTH.NET

Goth Code '98: tSKeba5qaSabsaaaGbaa75KAASWGuajmsvbieqcL4BaaLb3F4
nId5mefqmDjmmgm#haxthgzpj4GiysNkycSRGHabiabOkauNSW

GOTH.NET - http://www.goth.net
Free online resource for the gothic community.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQE9cHkpuULtzKdGMboRAnfsAJ0XRKW/DnGSbPqhxw2vFx/h6yYmYwCcCTkk
3VQV8VSW4og+h/j52w5HrFs=
=0Etu
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

On Sat, 2002-08-31 at 18:07, Preston A. Elder wrote:
> Heh, I use the fbdev X driver (which uses the kernel vesafb driver). I am
> already in X, and quite nicely (1280x1024x16), but right now, my vid card is
> not supported natively by X (its a Matrox Parhelia, and Matrox hasnt released
> their native driver for it yet). This means I'm relegated to using either the
> vesa, or the framebuffer driver. The vesa driver screws up the console when
> I return to it from X, so I went with the framebuffer device. It works well,
> however xvinfo tells me I dont have a vid card.
>

xvinfo is not telling you that there is no vid card, it is saying that
your video card does not have any Xv (Xvideo) extensions. Xvideo is an X
extension which provides a layer to deal with things commonly done when
working with video such as overlays, scaling, colour conversion etc. To
do this the driver for your card must support these activities. You do
not have a driver that supports these features. When matrox produces a
driver for your card you will *probably* have these features. Matrox
have produced open source drivers for previous cards, however they have
not provide source code (or specifications) for their TV-out chips. In
fact they have not supported TV-out even in binary form in any card
after the g400. There are a few bits of code around to provide
solutions for TV-OUT on more recent matrox cards, but there are usually
tradeoffs with these solutions as they have been done by reverse
engineering the tv-out chip and lots of the registers involved are still
a mystery. ATI cards are in a similary situation, ATI will not realease
TV-OUT specifications and reverse engineering is a long and error prone
process. NVidia appear to have decent binary only drivers for tv-out
but the quality of the output is said to be not up to what can be
achieved on the Matrox and ATI cards.

[ SNIP ]
>
> Aparently the framebuffer support tho, does not support the XVideo extension
> (I'm not sure if the 'vesa' driver does tho, that might be enough to make me
> say 'damn the console, I'll use the vesa driver' if it supports XV
> extensions, does anyone know if it does?).
>

No it doesn't. There are a few solutions to your problem.
1) Get a better supported card is probably the easiest. Given that
you've purchased a Parhelia, I figure money probably isn't an object ;-)

2) Either write yourself or beg someone else to write fallback code for
MythTV which provides software replacement code for the Xv hardware
accelated features where Xv is not available. You'll need a faster CPU
to achieve the same quality results an Xv supported card would get if
you go this direction.

3) Wait for matrox to release drivers and hope that Xv (and Tv-OUT is
supported).

4) Write drivers for your Parhelia.


In terms of 2) I'm considering adding DirectFB support to mythtv
(DirectFB has some tv-out stuff for the g400 (my card) that none of the
other g400 tv-out solutions have right now). DirectFB support would
allow mythtv to work with any card support by a framebuffer device
(including vesafb). I've just started thinking about this and I'm not
sure it will match in well with mythtv, but if it does don't expect
anything in the very near future on this.

Richard.

On Saturday 31 August 2002 08:18 am, Richard Jones wrote:
> In terms of 2) I'm considering adding DirectFB support to mythtv
> (DirectFB has some tv-out stuff for the g400 (my card) that none of the
> other g400 tv-out solutions have right now). DirectFB support would
> allow mythtv to work with any card support by a framebuffer device
> (including vesafb). I've just started thinking about this and I'm not
> sure it will match in well with mythtv, but if it does don't expect
> anything in the very near future on this.

That might be interesting -- doesn't the QT/Embedded stuff support DirectFB?
Might not be too difficult to get the entire UI working. Haven't looked at
QT/E at all, except to ponder borrowing a Zaurus to write a little 2 way
'remote control' app for everything..

Additionally, it wouldn't be all that hard to add in other video output
modes.. main thing's going to be the scaling, unless the resolution can be
changed to match the video size.

Isaac

On Sat, 2002-08-31 at 23:38, Isaac Richards wrote:

> That might be interesting -- doesn't the QT/Embedded stuff support DirectFB?
> Might not be too difficult to get the entire UI working. Haven't looked at
> QT/E at all, except to ponder borrowing a Zaurus to write a little 2 way
> 'remote control' app for everything..

From what I've read QT embedded uses the linux framebuffer but not DirectFB but I think someones working on it

----------------------------------------------------
:: Myles Byrne | myles.byrnewebservices.com :.
----------------------------------------------------