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Installation of a USB-DVBT Stick
One way to watch television on a computer is through DVBT (there are other ways, f.e. through internet; advantages of DVBT are a wider range of channels, higher quality and you are able to record).
Example: Avermedia AverTV Digi Volar EX
Prerequisites
You need:
- a running system (in this case obviously Debian or Debian-based)
- a DVBT-antenna (many buildings have one on their roof and a connection in one or more rooms, you can purchase an indoor antenna as well, but be sure you are able to receive a DVBT signal indoors in your area)
- a DVBT device to connect the antenna to the computer
- possibly an adaptor cable to connect the DVBT device to the antenna cable
- possibly an extension cable
- an internet connection might be useful
System Requirements
Before purchasing the device be sure your system fulfills the minimum requirements and is supported by Linux. In this case the requirements are
- a system clock with about 2 Ghz
- 512 MB RAM
- USB 2.0
- Kernel 2.6.28
- a Soundcard comes in handy.
The Avermedia AverTV Digi Volar EX stick is supported by Linux (see details on the respective packaging or website, a list of supported USB-DVBT Sticks you may find here: http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-T_USB_Devices ).
What kind of USB do I have?
Issue the command "lsusb" on the commandline. The output should look like this:
user@system:~$ lsusb Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
In this case we have both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 slots
1.1 or 2.0?
To figure out which USB slot is 1.1 and which 2.0 put a USB device of your choice into a USB slot and issue the commnad "lsusb" again. Now the output should look a little different. Here an example:
user@system:~$ lsusb Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 001 Device 002: ID 090c:6000 Silicon Motion, Inc. - Taiwan (formerly Feiya Technology Corp.) SD/SDHC Card Reader (SG365 / FlexiDrive XC+) Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
We have a Card Reader connected to Bus 001 which is a USB 2.0 slot.
Installing the USB-DVBT Stick
Put your USB-DVBT Stick in the USB 2.0 slot. You can check if your system recognizes your USB-DVBT Stick with lsusb. If it does, the output should look like this:
user@system:~$ lsusb Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 001 Device 002: ID 07ca:a815 AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. AVerTV DVB-T Volar X (A815) Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Squeeze and Wheezy
In the case of the Avermedia AverTV Digi Volar EX Stick download the firmware for the card (in this case: dvb-usb-af9015.fw) and copy it to the directory /lib/firmware (probably as superuser through root, su or even better through sudo). If not yet done, connect the stick to a DVBT antenna. Reboot your system. To find channels and be able to watch them you might want to install a digital television viewer (f.e. Me TV). Be sure, you have enough space on your hard drive, if you want to record. For one hour you need app. 1-1.5 GB (depending on how much advertisement suprisingly up to 2 GB). Start Me-TV, select your region, press start to find channels and enjoy.
See also
?Driver