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Date:      Wed, 06 May 1998 20:36:31 -0700 (PDT)
From:      Donald Burr <dburr@POBoxes.com>
To:        Stan Brown <stanb@awod.com>
Cc:        (Free BSD Multimedia List) <freebsd-multimedia@FreeBSD.ORG>
Subject:   RE: How to identify compatabile TV cards?
Message-ID:  <XFMail.980506203631.dburr@POBoxes.com>
In-Reply-To: <199805070100.SAA02354@hub.freebsd.org>

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My secret spy satellite informs me that on 07-May-98, Stan Brown wrote:
> 
>       The local Fly By Night computer patrs store has come up with a
batch of
>       TV cards.
> 
>       I would like to know how to tell if the are going to be compatible
with
>       FreeBSD/ These people *don't* give you money back under any
>       circumstances.
> 
>       I looked at one today, it has 2 Cirus Logic chips on it, and what
is
>       obviously a tuner, and a few othe misc. parts. Does this sound
right?

Look for a big (about i486-sized) chip with "Bt848" written on it.  This
is the BrookTree Bt848 video capture chip, and is the *only* chipset
compatible with the FreeBSD driver.  To my knowledge, there are no Bt848
look-alikes or compatibles.

Looks to me like these cards won't work for you.  Best to avoid them.

>       Failing this, what is the best place (read cheapest) to order one
of
>       these?

I believe you can find these at all the major mail-order houses, including
PC Connection, Micro Warehouse, etc.  You should also check the mail order
places like http://www.necx.com/ and http://www.computerESP.com/, etc.

The brands you are looking for (that are compatible with the FreeBSD
driver) include Hauppauge WinCast/TV (there is a version both with and
without FM radio).  The Miro pcTV also works and is well-liked.  I found a
really cheap (no-name brand) card called "TViewer" at a computer show for
$70, and it works beautifully.  The ATI All-in-Wonder contains a Bt848
tuner, but it is *NOT* compatible with the Bt848 driver -- this is because
the Bt848 is sitting behind the ATI Rage bus, instead of directly on the
PCI bus.
- ---
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