Installing DVB-T dongle software in Ubuntu

StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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I've recently bought one of these I've installed it on a windows machine but now wish to install it on my computer that runs Ubuntu 12.04.

Trouble is, in the year or so I've had this Linux disto, I've only ever been able to install any software via the 'Software Centre' or via 'Wine' if it's a piece of windows software. I have never been successful after downloading software from a site then trying to install via any other way including the Terminal.

I've copied and pasted command line etc after going on Linux forums but no joy.

Anyways - back to the dongle. I've found this but, true to form, the first bit of code I've entered results in 'Command not found',

Sorry if I'm beiing a bit thick but if someone is able to 'hold my hand' through the install process, I would be grateful. :o

Comments

  • 1saintly1saintly Posts: 4,197
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    Have you actually tried just plugging it in and seeing if Ubuntu finds it?

    Have you installed (from the software ctr) a program to run youre programs on/in?

    eg
    http://kaffeine.kde.org/
    http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
    http://xbmc.org/
    http://www.mythtv.org/
  • StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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    1saintly wrote: »
    Have you actually tried just plugging it in and seeing if Ubuntu finds it?

    Have you installed (from the software ctr) a program to run youre programs on/in?

    eg
    http://kaffeine.kde.org/
    http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
    http://xbmc.org/
    http://www.mythtv.org/

    Thanks for the reply.

    Ubuntu did nothing when the dongle was inserted! :cry:

    Tried VLC & MythTV & and another - name escapes me at the mo - but they all say they cannot find a DVB device. I assume a driver needs installing.

    BTW, I did try things with Wine but couldn't go down that route!
  • Alan FAlan F Posts: 1,043
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    Try reading here ..

    http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/RealTek_RTL2832U

    good luck !!!!!!
  • RoushRoush Posts: 4,366
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    Alan F wrote: »
    Try reading here ..

    http://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/RealTek_RTL2832U

    good luck !!!!!!

    To expand on this a bit - you need to download the source code for a suitable driver and compile it on your own system. (This is a common situation for Linux.)

    There's step-by-step instructions here for a driver that is known to work with Ubuntu 12.04: http://linbay.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/hassle-almost-free-rtl2832u-linux.html
  • StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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    Roush wrote: »
    To expand on this a bit - you need to download the source code for a suitable driver and compile it on your own system. (This is a common situation for Linux.)

    There's step-by-step instructions here for a driver that is known to work with Ubuntu 12.04: http://linbay.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/hassle-almost-free-rtl2832u-linux.html

    Mmmmmmm, Tried that site last night - though must admit I was quite tired. I'll give it another go.

    Just for clarity: Do I try all those instuctions, one after the other and in the case below - all at once or a line at a time?

    $ cd DVB-Realtek-RTL2832U-2.2.2-10tuner-mod_kernel-3.0.0/RTL2832-2.2.2_kernel-3.0.0/
    $ vi Makefile (to make sure variable INCLUDE_EXTRA_DVB matches your kernel version)
    $ make clean
    $ make
    $ sudo make install
    $ sudo modprobe dvb_usb_rtl2832u

    Thanks
  • 1saintly1saintly Posts: 4,197
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    The other problem is the OP seems to have bought a unbranded one, that isnt suported.
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DVB-T-USB-TV-RTL-SDR-FM-DAB-Radio-Tuner-Receiver-Stick-Realtek-RTL2832U-R820T-/281085665032?
    http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-T_USB_Devices

    Unlike a 'Pinnacle' Hauppauge etc or a kworld.

    The Genius uses the same chipset as the OPs
    http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Genius_TVGo_DVB-T03
    and seems to work ok.
  • StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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    StereRowe wrote: »
    Mmmmmmm, Tried that site last night - though must admit I was quite tired. I'll give it another go.

    Just for clarity: Do I try all those instuctions, one after the other and in the case below - all at once or a line at a time?

    $ cd DVB-Realtek-RTL2832U-2.2.2-10tuner-mod_kernel-3.0.0/RTL2832-2.2.2_kernel-3.0.0/
    $ vi Makefile (to make sure variable INCLUDE_EXTRA_DVB matches your kernel version)
    $ make clean
    $ make
    $ sudo make install
    $ sudo modprobe dvb_usb_rtl2832u

    Thanks

    Stuck here - tells me to chose which file to include. How do I do that?

    1saintly. I'll check out you link shortly.
  • StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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    StereRowe wrote: »
    Stuck here - tells me to chose which file to include. How do I do that?

    1saintly. I'll check out you link shortly.

    Anyone? Tremendous feeling of da javu here. As per my OP - never seem to get stuff installed!!:confused:
  • StigStig Posts: 12,446
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    StereRowe wrote: »
    Anyone? Tremendous feeling of da javu here. As per my OP - never seem to get stuff installed!!:confused:

    You can't install Windows software in Linux. End of.
  • emptyboxemptybox Posts: 13,917
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    Unfortunately this is one of the areas that Linux falls down against Windows.
    If something doesn't immediately work (i.e. the drivers are inbuilt), then you have an awful lot of work to do to get it to work. :(
    You can't just download the relevant drivers and point Device Manager towards them, like you can in Windows.

    Perhaps I'm a little bit jaded because I've never had any success getting TV cards to work in Linux.
    I even bought a Pinnacle card because I thought it was on the list of devices that were supposed to work, and right enough it was the only one I have that Linux actually recognized as a TV card, but no program that I tried would scan any channels for some reason.
  • Alan FAlan F Posts: 1,043
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    Ubuntu Forums are currently down following a security breach but when they come up again try posting your question there.

    If you cannot find someone there who can give you a solution then you probably need to give up.
  • StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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    Stig wrote: »
    You can't install Windows software in Linux. End of.

    Curious comment - and unhelpful.

    I'm not trying to install Windows software - I'm after the Linux drivers.

    However, further to your comment, I have several Window installations on my Linux system - via the Wine emulator.
  • StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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    Alan F wrote: »
    Ubuntu Forums are currently down following a security breach but when they come up again try posting your question there.

    If you cannot find someone there who can give you a solution then you probably need to give up.

    Perhaps I've been unlucky but the advice on the Linux forums often assumes quite a good knowledge of Linux in the first place and if you ask for clarification on a point you often hit a blank. Post No 8 in this thread (Though not a Linux forum of course) is, perhaps, a good example. The trail often runs cold.

    I may give up but I'm a stubborn so & so.

    Thanks
  • StereRoweStereRowe Posts: 1,305
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    emptybox wrote: »
    Unfortunately this is one of the areas that Linux falls down against Windows.
    If something doesn't immediately work (i.e. the drivers are inbuilt), then you have an awful lot of work to do to get it to work. :(
    You can't just download the relevant drivers and point Device Manager towards them, like you can in Windows.

    Perhaps I'm a little bit jaded because I've never had any success getting TV cards to work in Linux.
    I even bought a Pinnacle card because I thought it was on the list of devices that were supposed to work, and right enough it was the only one I have that Linux actually recognized as a TV card, but no program that I tried would scan any channels for some reason.

    I agree with all this.

    Linux can truly shine in other areas however. I put in a sound card that Noah had threw out and it automatically recognised it, installed everything and it works like a dream. Windows wouldn't entertain it.

    Looks like from your post however that I may be struggling on this occasion.
  • emptyboxemptybox Posts: 13,917
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    StereRowe wrote: »
    I agree with all this.

    Linux can truly shine in other areas however. I put in a sound card that Noah had threw out and it automatically recognised it, installed everything and it works like a dream. Windows wouldn't entertain it.

    Looks like from your post however that I may be struggling on this occasion.

    Sounds like you are more willing to faff about that I am, so you might get further. :D

    I don't mind doing a certain amount in the terminal, but I've never tried to compile a driver from scratch. Mainly because you would be copying and pasting from someone who supposedly knew what they were doing. But if something went wrong you could be left floundering (as you mentioned above).

    But I know what you mean about older hardware. I've got an old Dell desktop that has a Creative Soundblaster sound card in it that hasn't worked in Windows since XP, but the latest Linuxes (albeit with a lightweight DE), work with it fine.
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