[mythtv-users] firewire trouble on SA 4240HDC

[Kirk Haines]

I am trying to setup a Scientific Atlanta 4240HDC over a firewire
connection.  My cable vendor here in Oklahoma City is Cox
Communications.  The 4240 shows up in plugreport, but have only seen
failure with firewire_tester.  Despite that I continued with setting
up mythtv.  Once I had the backend up and running, I started the
frontend to see if by some chance I could get a signal.  Unfortunately
all I got was a blank screen with "(L__) Partial Lock" below the
channel and program title (on all tested channels: SD networks, HD
networks, SD cable, HD cable).  However, it appears to be changing
channels correctly on the 4240.  I have tried using P2P as well as
broadcast, different connection speeds, different protocols (Generic,
4200HD, and 4250HDC still let me change channels), but to no avail.  I
receive messages from mythbackend that I have not received any data
from the firewire connection in X msec.

So now I am stuck with knowing the firewire works (since it changes
the channel), and that the firewire doesn't work (since it gives me no
video).  I can only speculate that I am having a protocol problem
somewhere.

I tried to follow the procedures outlined in the webpages below to
setup this system.

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Installing_MythTV_on_Fedora

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/FireWire

I started with a Fedora 8 LiveCD to install since this machine doesn't
have a DVD drive.  The firewall and SELinux are disabled.  Also, no
extra video drivers or audio was setup (this machine is only to be a
backend once it is up and running).  As bizarre as it sounded, I
followed the instructions about blacklisting the newer (kernel
2.6.22+) firewire modules.  I am currently running the backend
manually as root in an effort to avoid any permission issues at this
point.

I have been using MythTV for about 3 years with analog cable and have
enjoyed it immensely.  I am not looking forward to the prospect of
going to some $20/mo. 'service' that Cox provides.  Any assistance
would be greatly appreciated.