Is there a status for the HVR-2250 Linux driver?

[zachtib]

I'm wanting to build a dedicated mythbox, but with the case and board I selected, I'd be limited to just one PCIe 1x slot. I found the Hauppage HVR-2250 which is a dual-tuner PCIe 1x card, but on hauppage.com, they simply list Linux support as "under development." does anyone know anything else about the status of getting this card working under linux?

[AndyW]

I was about to post the same question!

I am about to start my first HTPC build, running Fedora 9 / MythTV. I am looking to receive just DVB-T and would like the "watch one, record the other" option. I would also like to be able to receive and capture analog video - e.g. legacy VHS tapes, hidden cam in nesting box.

My first thought was the Hauppauge Nova-T 500 (dual DVB-T tuners, no need for h/w MPEG as video is already digital) with a capture card for the analog. Then I saw the HVR-2200 which appears ideal - dual hybrid analog/digital tuners, h/w MPEG-2 encoder + FM radio. Only problem is no Linux drivers! It looks like 2 x HVR-1200 (single analog/digital tuner + h/w MPEG-2) would give me the same, but lacks FM and is nowhere near as neat.

According to the linuxtv DVB wiki (http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Ha...WinTV-HVR-2200) the problem is with the NXP SAA7164E chip - this is being worked on but no new info has been posted since April.

Does anyone have any idea if/when a driver will be available? If it is foreseeable I will hold off getting the HVR-2200 (hard to obtain in UK anyway) and use the ancient WinTV Go! salvaged from the skip at work - analog only and s/w encoding. If it is never going to happen - well I will look at the alt. configs.

Is there anything "ordinary" people can do to assist the development effort? I have considerable IT experience, but unfortunately not in hardware device driver programming...

Andrew

[JRoque]

Hi. Status here: http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php...&printable=yes

How about if each of us pitch in $20 to motivate Steve on working nights and weekends too?

Perhaps it might help to have a show of hands here of folks that already bought the card and are waiting for the driver (me) or those who are waiting for the driver before buying it. We can then send the thread link to Steve / Hauppauge and take out our pleading mats.

Whacha think?

JR

[Randall]

I am definitely interested in getting this card to work with Linux. It would be nice to get another update from Steve soon.

[AndyW]

I am in the "waiting for driver before I buy" camp, though as the card is difficult to obtain in UK I don't have much choice. However a reseller here has some available now - should I take the plunge and buy or not?!

[JRoque]

Well, not good news. From the Linux-DVB mailing list, Steve replies on Dec 18, 2008:

=================
> I was wondering how the development on the HVR2250 was coming along. A
> mythtv wiki page shows:

No progress, the development is on ice for the time being.

- Steve
=================


I'm now (sadly) gearing up for a Windows setup where the card is supported. I'll keep this in mind for my next tuner card purchase.

JR

[ryansasteroid]

This is the only thing that I am waiting for before I switch my htpc over to Linux.

[AndyW]

There are some more updates in the Linux-DVB mailing list:-
[linux-dvb] HVR 2250 Status
[linux-dvb] HVR2250 / HVR2200 / SAA7164 status

Maybe it would help if there was a poll on potential user numbers for a 2200/2250 driver? I'll see if I can set one up...

Andrew

[JoeJ]

One technician told me that their OEMs want Windows 7 support, so that's why there's been no progress on the Linux driver.

Since I purchased my two cards directly from Hauppauge, I demanded and recieved an RMA number for a refund.

If anyone else purchased directly, I suggest doing to same. Let's send them a message that we're valid customers too.

[robolo]

As of 2/19/2009 the software engineer who is developing the linux driver for Hauppaugge HVR-2250 has set up a web-blog to gauge interest in the driver development and as a place to keep the community up to date on driver development. His name is Steve Toth. Interestingly, he does not get paid by Hauppauge to do the driver development for linux. Please check out the link here: Steventoth.net. With enough support I'm sure we can get him to restart development of the driver.