the disgruntled Linux surgeon

As if I didn't have enough USB gadgets sticking out of my laptop already, I just traded the two extra RAM modules I had for a Twinhan starbox USB DVB-S device. Clearly a winning bargain, thanks Nabil; you're the best.

Connecting it for the first time to a stock hardy kernel it got recognized but complained about firmware. For some reason this was not easily available, but eventually I found it. I'll attach it here, stick it in /lib/firmware and you're all set. Here's what the kernel should say if everything is kosher :


dvb-usb: found a 'TwinhanDTV StarBox DVB-S USB2.0 (VP7021)' in cold state, will try to load a firmware
dvb-usb: dwnloading firmware from file 'dvb-usb-vp702x-02.fw'
dvb-usb: found a 'TwinhanDTV StarBox DVB-S USB2.0 (VP7021)' in warm state.
dvb-usb: will pass the complete MPEG2 transport stream to the software demuxer.
DVB: registering new adapter (TwinhanDTV StarBox DVB-S USB2.0 (VP7021))
dvb-usb: MAC address: 00:08:ca:15:6e:86
vp702x: system string: USB702X
DVB: registering frontend 0 (Twinhan DST-like frontend (VP7021/VP7020) DVB-S)...
input: IR-receiver inside an USB DVB receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:0b.1/usb2/2-6/input/input13
dvb-usb: schedule remote query interval to 400 msecs.
dvb-usb: TwinhanDTV StarBox DVB-S USB2.0 (VP7021) successfully initialized and connected.


It shows up in lsusb with a useless name :


13d3:3207 IMC Networks


I am also attaching an initial tuning file and ready channels.conf for nilesat because it is not always easy to get them.

* Here's how I generated the channels.conf ( make sure you have dvb-utils installed )


scan Nilesat101+102-7.0W > channels.cof


* I am currently using mplayer to watch DVB, clumsy but it works.


cp channels.conf ~/.mplayer/
mplayer dvb://"channel name"


I still need to play with the remote control and see if it works.