Setting up a TV Card with DrakxTV

Abstract

This tool will configure your TV card tuner in order for you to watch television on your computer display.

First of all you should make sure your card is supported by Mandrakelinux by consulting the Hardware Compatibility page or the BTTV driver home page.

[Note]Note

Modern TV viewing programs have their own configuration and channel-scanning interface embedded. You only need to run DrakxTV if you plan to use xawtv with old TV cards based on the btxxx or saa71xx chips.

[Tip]Tip

Make sure your card is correctly connected to your antenna or cable, so that channel scanning runs properly.

Figure 2.5. Choosing the TV Card Model

Choosing the TV Card Model

When you first launch the tool, and if a TV card is detected, the main configuration dialog (Figure 2.5, “Choosing the TV Card Model”) will appear. Leave the default Auto-detect entries and press OK. If you notice afterward that your card was not properly configured, you can run DrakxTV again and select the proper card.

Figure 2.6. Choosing the TV Norm and Country

Choosing the TV Norm and Country

You simply need to inform DrakxTV about the norm used for the television signal you receive, and the country you're in. You also have to select the user who is going to use xawtv so that his configuration file is created.

After you press OK, DrakxTV will begin automatic channel scanning. And once this is done, your TV setup will be complete and you will be able to watch television through your computer, using xawtv. Other applications allowing to you watch TV under Mandrakelinux are kdetv, tvtime and zapping.