[pvrusb2] Some install guidance on WinTV PVR2 USB

Mike Isely isely at isely.net
Thu Mar 21 08:47:49 CDT 2013


FYI, I tested a power brick here: Outside sheath is negative, inside is 
positive.  The same power brick is used for 29xxx, 24xxx, HVR-1950 and 
probably also HVR-1900 (I don't have the HVR-1900 but the pattern would 
fit).  The brick I have is rated with a universal 120 - 240 VAC input, 
6VDC output.  Unloaded, I measured 6.2VDC.  Very likely it's a switching 
regulator (way too light to be transformer based).

  -Mike


On Wed, 20 Mar 2013, Mike Isely wrote:

> 
> I will follow up with the correct polarity (by checking what I do have).
> 
> However if you already tried it "both" ways, then odds are likely that 
> you already "let the magic smoke out".  Low voltage digital logic 
> behaves very destructively if fed reversed power.  Generally if the 
> device in question expects "unregulated" power coming in and has its own 
> on-board regulator, then there's a *chance* it might survive reversed 
> power - because only the regulator will have been exposed to the 
> condition.  Or maybe just the regulator got fried which might be fixable 
> (especially if its a cheap little 7805 3-terminal linear device).
> 
> Given that the brick supplies 6V and the onboard logic there is probably 
> wanting 5V, then there very well may be an onboard regulator.
> 
>   -Mike
> 
> 
> On Wed, 20 Mar 2013, Lorne Shantz wrote:
> 
> > Thank you very much for the great reply. I just got done redoing the office floor and now I can't find the derned thing. One more question that I had was... I misplaced the power supply awhile back. I know it is 6 volts DC, but it doesn't indicate the polarity. I am going to assume that the center is + and the outside is -, since that is the way their new stuff is. Is that correct? I suppose I ruined it by trying it both ways, although no smoke, or any indication I smoked it. 
> > 
> > --- On Tue, 3/19/13, Mike Isely <isely at isely.net> wrote:
> > 
> > > From: Mike Isely <isely at isely.net>
> > > Subject: Re: [pvrusb2] Some install guidance on WinTV PVR2 USB
> > > To: "Communications nexus for pvrusb2 driver" <pvrusb2 at isely.net>
> > > Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 7:30 PM
> > > 
> > > Lorne:
> > > 
> > > These days the in-kernel pvrusb2 driver should work great
> > > without any 
> > > special setup beyond perhaps ensuring you have the firmware
> > > files 
> > > installed somewhere visible to udev.  Kernel 3.4.33 is
> > > reasonably new 
> > > and should "just work".  I imagine most distribution
> > > kernels probably 
> > > compile this driver for you, either into the kernel package
> > > itself or 
> > > maybe as a "media" package add-on.  If you searched
> > > /lib/modules 
> > > recursively, you should be able to find "pvrusb2.ko" in
> > > there.
> > > 
> > > Things I would check for:
> > > 
> > > 1. Ensure the pvrusb2 device's power brick is plugged in and
> > > the unit is 
> > > actually getting power.  If that isn't happening, then
> > > *nothing* else 
> > > will work.
> > > 
> > > 2. Even if the firmware files are not installed, the pvrusb2
> > > driver 
> > > should still attempt to attach to the hardware and you
> > > should see 
> > > corresponding messages in the kernel log (i.e. dmesg) -
> > > leading up to 
> > > the point where it gives up for lack of available
> > > firmware.  So if 
> > > you're not seeing any messages, then the lack of firmware is
> > > likely not 
> > > the issue.
> > > 
> > > 3. Even if the pvrusb2 driver itself were completely borked
> > > or otherwise 
> > > missing, you should still be able to see the hardware show
> > > up to the 
> > > kernel via either running the "usbview" tool or just "cat 
> > > /proc/bus/usb/devices".  If you can't see anything
> > > there that suggests 
> > > the presence of the pvrusb2 hardware, then the driver
> > > situation won't 
> > > matter at all.  (This would suggest the device is not
> > > getting power or 
> > > there is a communication issue between the PC and the
> > > device.)
> > > 
> > > If there is a suspicion about, say, a bad USB hub or USB
> > > cable, then I 
> > > would (obviously) try swapping around those parts.
> > > 
> > > If you have another PC (or laptop nearby), you can also try
> > > plugging the 
> > > device in there - if only to see if you get a reaction from
> > > the 
> > > operating system, e.g. if it were Windows you might be
> > > prompted to 
> > > install drivers or if it were Linux you could notice the
> > > appearance of 
> > > the hardware in your dmesg output.  Such a thing would
> > > at least tell you 
> > > that the hardware is not dead.  If none of that
> > > produces a reaction, 
> > > then I'd probably re-examine step #1 above a lot more
> > > closely.  If you 
> > > have a voltmeter nearby then for example I'd check that
> > > you're getting 6 
> > > volts at the DC plug end...
> > > 
> > > I have one laptop here that - with particular (older) kernel
> > > versions - 
> > > has trouble recognizing the presence of the old (first
> > > generation) 29xxx 
> > > model series.  It's a really bizarre thing, requiring a
> > > specific 
> > > combination of computer, kernel version, and a 29xxx
> > > model.  I've never 
> > > been able to track down why this is, except to suspect that
> > > the FX2 boot 
> > > firmware in that model series has a quirk that is upsetting
> > > the USB 
> > > stack for a particular type of USB host controller combined
> > > with a 
> > > particular kernel version.
> > > 
> > > Hope that helps...
> > > 
> > >   -Mike
> > > 
> > > 
> > > On Mon, 18 Mar 2013, Lorne Shantz wrote:
> > > 
> > > > I had a it running a few years back until a system
> > > rebuild. I gave up because I couldn't remember how I had it
> > > working and just went with a PCI card. Well now I'm using a
> > > newer MB, that does not have any PCI slots. I really need to
> > > get this running.
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Kernel image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.4.33-2.24-desktop
> > > > 
> > > > Initrd image: /boot/initrd-3.4.33-2.24-desktop
> > > > 
> > > > Root device: /dev/sdb1 (mounted on / as ext4)
> > > > 
> > > > Resume device:
> > > /dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD20EADS-32S2B0_WD-WCAVY3847719-part3
> > > > 
> > > > (/dev/sdb3)
> > > > 
> > > > modprobe: Module hid_generic not found.
> > > > 
> > > > WARNING: no dependencies for kernel module
> > > 'hid-generic' found.
> > > > 
> > > > Kernel Modules: thermal_sys thermal processor fan
> > > pata_marvell ata_piix
> > > > 
> > > > ata_generic scsi_transport_sas libsas isci scsi_dh
> > > scsi_dh_hp_sw scsi_dh_rdac
> > > > 
> > > > scsi_dh_emc scsi_dh_alua xhci-hcd hid-logitech-dj
> > > > 
> > > > Firmware: isci/isci_firmware.bin
> > > isci/isci_firmware.bin
> > > > 
> > > > Features: acpi plymouth block usb resume.userspace
> > > resume.kernel
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > The pvrusb2.ko file is in
> > > /lib/modules/3.4.33-2.24-desktop/kernel/drivers/media/video/pvrusb2/pvrusb2.ko
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > I have compiled the kernel as I believe you have
> > > instructed.
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > dmesg shows:
> > > > 
> > > > [ 315.904957] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
> > > > 
> > > > [ 315.955716] usbcore: registered new interface driver
> > > em28xx
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > No video0 or video1.
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > I'm not sure that the above is even the WinTV PVR2 USB
> > > device. I guess I could remove it and reboot, however, if
> > > memory serves,
> > > > 
> > > > back a couple of years ago I did have it running, it
> > > would pop up a message that was more clear when it was
> > > detected.
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Later.... I removed the device and rebooted. Nothing
> > > indicating video. I plugged it back in, and still nothing.
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > The only thing I can figure, is somehow the driver is
> > > not compiled correctly. 
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > pvrusb2 mailing list
> > > > pvrusb2 at isely.net
> > > > http://www.isely.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pvrusb2
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > -- 
> > > 
> > > Mike Isely
> > > isely @ isely (dot) net
> > > PGP: 03 54 43 4D 75 E5 CC 92 71 16 01 E2 B5 F5 C1 E8
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > pvrusb2 mailing list
> > > pvrusb2 at isely.net
> > > http://www.isely.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pvrusb2
> > > 
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> > 
> 
> 

-- 

Mike Isely
isely @ isely (dot) net
PGP: 03 54 43 4D 75 E5 CC 92 71 16 01 E2 B5 F5 C1 E8


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