Log from #neuros IRC channel

[05:39]

[g2]

[07:07]

mmm

Hello

AsGF2MX: hey

Hi nerochaiaro

hello

I thought it would be a little more active in here but it's awfully quiet :S. I don't normally use IRC but I've been wondering whether there's a problem with the latest firmware or my OSD :S

[08:11]

AsGF2MX: well, there are times when it's awfully active in here. it varies a lot

[08:11]

Oh

[08:11]

which problem do you have with the OSD ?

[08:12]

I grabbed the latest firmware, it works well except when I plug in the LAN cable. At which point if any video input is present, it will reboot. Without the LAN cable the video will show without issue.

[08:13]

and without the video input plugged in it will work ?

[08:13]

At least I can play mp3s over the network but any form of video will cause it to reboot. It's pretty confusing.

[08:14]

Yes

[08:14]

that's pretty weird. and you never had that issue before ?

[08:14]

It works but will not play any video over the LAN, I haven't tried off USB sticks yet.

[08:14]

ah, so it happens if you play video over network, not just if you plug in network cable

[08:15]

Actually I had an issue which was constant rebooting when the LAN was plugged (previous firmware) in but I hadn't had the time to look into it as I used the OSD for capture tasks.

[08:15]

Let me clarify:

[08:15]

- OSD reboots if any video in is connected to device WHILE lan is also connected

[08:16]

- OSD reboots if video is played over LAN

[08:17]

do you have a serial console attached that you can use to see what happens when it reboots ?

[08:17]

I haven't tried that

[08:18]

But I do not have a TV in the room with the PC :S

[08:18]

If it won't reboot when a TV is not connected, I can test it in the next 5 minutes

[08:18]

give it a shot, debug output over serial is pretty useful for finding out what happens. as it is, i don't have much clues from what you say, i'm sorry

[08:19]

Ok

[08:19]

Let me give it a shot, I'll be back in a few minutes

[08:19]

ok, i'll be around

[08:21]

I just ran into a slight problem, I don't have a null modem adapter / cable on me

[08:21]

wasn't one in the box ?

[08:22]

The one in the box is just a serial cable but it's male

[08:22]

i've got a female-female adapter too in the box

[08:22]

Strange...I didn't get one

[08:22]

Mine is a Gamma unit...is yours Gamma or Beta?

[08:23]

<keRa>

i have only a serial cable too

[08:24]

probably they used to put there only in older boxes

[08:24]

I just double checked my box, just a serial cable.

[08:24]

well sorry AsGF2MX, then you have to fetch one

[08:24]

Hmm

[08:24]

Is it possible to do it over LAN?

[08:24]

nope, it comes out only via serial

[08:24]

Ah

[08:25]

to make it possible to debug the box in all conditions

[08:25]

<keRa>

There is any tutorial for playing movies over LAN ?

[08:25]

<keRa>

i havent find any

[08:25]

You can mount a share using telnet

[08:26]

keRa: you using NFS or want to use a window share ?

[08:26]

then you can browse and play as you please...or you should be able to.

[08:26]

<keRa>

i have both

[08:27]

with NFS should be just as easy as AsGF2MX said. put the mount in a dir under /media and osdmain should be able to see it

[08:27]

strange, I am not seeing my messages

[08:27]

<keRa>

what is the login name for telnet ?

[08:27]

the web client can be fickle at times. try disconneting and reconnecting

[08:27]

keRa: root

[08:27]

no password

[08:27]

<keRa>

thanks

[08:28]

Back

[08:28]

For some reason after keRa's last message, none of mine got through

[08:28]

the curse of keRa ;)

[08:28]

Was it answered? Haha...

[08:29]

;)

[08:29]

<keRa>

:P

[08:29]

Not again :D

[08:30]

I can play mp3s on the LAN

[08:30]

but no videos...pity...by the way, whould be a good usb - serial adapter to buy?

[08:30]

<keRa>

�/media failed: No such file or directory

[08:31]

<keRa>

i need to make one in root ?

[08:31]

AsGF2MX: some are using these, but i can't comment as i don't

[08:31]

keRa: weird that you don't have one

[08:31]

Is the orange color name == private message?

[08:31]

<keRa>

can i update my OSD via telnet ?

[08:32]

AsGF2MX: no idea

[08:32]

keRa: update in which way ?

[08:32]

your name is showing in orange color now...how'd you do that

[08:32]

now it's black

[08:32]

AsGF2MX: i prependend your name with : when writing

[08:32]

<keRa>

firmwaer

[08:32]

<keRa>

ware

[08:32]

keRa, go to forums.neurostechnology.com and see my last post

[08:33]

keRa: i suggest you do it with a media card and reboot. it's the most safe option in my opinion

[08:33]

<keRa>

okay

[08:33]

^^^ the way I've been doing it as well

[08:33]

keRa: as for the /media thing, it should be there already. try plugging in a media card and seeing if hotplug created /media after a couple seconds

[08:34]

<keRa>

the automatic update is updated my OSD to osd-3.25-0.23.upk but its not the latest

[08:34]

[08:34]

<keRa>

okay, itry

[08:34]

keRa: i never used automatic update, i'm not sure how it works actually

[08:35]

ok this is the second time :S

[08:35]

AsGF2MX: use a real irc client, then ;)

[08:35]

<keRa>

:)

[08:40]

AsGF2MX: no, seriously, get a real irc client

[08:40]

<AsGF2MX_>

I got one

[08:40]

<AsGF2MX_>

X chat

[08:40]

great

[08:40]

<AsGF2MX_>

That's why I didn't try to come back in :D

[08:41]

i feared you were about to say "i got a real one: bitchx", then i would've had to slap you ;)

[08:42]

<AsGF2MX_>

Lol

[08:42]

<AsGF2MX_>

Nah

[08:42]

<AsGF2MX_>

I'm just wondering where the user list is on this one though :$

[08:44]

<keRa`>

i have plugged in a usb stick, but still not have /media dir

[08:44]

<AsGF2MX_>

Strange

[08:45]

keRa: do you have /mnt ?

[08:45]

<AsGF2MX_>

I had that happen with one memory key...a no name one

[08:45]

<keRa`>

yes

[08:45]

but that is probably read only if you're not using an nfs-mounted rootfs

[08:46]

/mnt/tmpfs/media is there ?

[08:46]

<keRa`>

just tmpfs

[08:46]

make media in there then

[08:46]

<keRa`>

/mnt/tmpfs # ls

[08:46]

<keRa`>

osd.tmp startup.txt tmp var

[08:47]

on my OSD /media is a symlink to /mnt/tmpfs/media

[08:51]

<AsGF2MX_>

hmm

[08:52]

<AsGF2MX_>

I was just wondering, if my OSD is indeed defective, what will happen then? I have been keen on getting involved in its coding and stuff for a while now but as I've been a little busy, I didn't do it :S

[08:53]

AsGF2MX_: well, you can ask for a replacement. if it's defective you have all the warranty right to that

[08:53]

especially if you're in the US that will be easy

[08:53]

<AsGF2MX_>

Oh, as I'm in the UK, I hope it isn't going to be messy

[08:54]

heh, it's gonna cost you the fee to send it back. but please first check with that serial cable, might save you lots of hassle

[08:54]

<AsGF2MX_>

I am currently looking at amazon to see if I get one

[08:55]

probably your local electronics store will be an easier bet, no ?

[08:55]

<AsGF2MX_>

I have got bluetooth on this machine but doing it wireless is probably a bad idea as the initial lag will be there.

[08:55]

<AsGF2MX_>

You're right

[08:55]

these female-female adaptors are pretty common

[08:56]

<AsGF2MX_>

The thing is I have got two PCs (mine is a laptop, the desktop in question isn't actually mine)

[08:56]

<AsGF2MX_>

I have got no serial port on my laptop

[08:57]

check with someone who uses a serial-usb which model works well. can't help you there as i use actual serial

[08:57]

<AsGF2MX_>

And although it's easier to run to the store and pick it up, I am at home today, babysitting (for a lack of better word), my cousins for at least another 2 or 3 hours.

[08:57]

<AsGF2MX_>

Question: does the serial use all signals or just RX/TX and no handshake?

[08:58]

not sure about that

[08:58]

if you have an idea how to check, i can do that

[08:59]

<AsGF2MX_>

Are you using windows?

[08:59]

linux

[08:59]

<AsGF2MX_>

Do you have the client settings?

[08:59]

can check them, yes

[08:59]

<AsGF2MX_>

I think that will have the answer

[09:00]

<AsGF2MX_>

^^^ Did you say, curse of keRa? ;)

[09:00]

AsGF2MX_: terminal emu: VT102, status line is: enabled

[09:01]

<AsGF2MX_>

status line is just a prompt if I'm not mistaken...

[09:01]

AsGF2MX_: and line params are 115200 8N1

[09:02]

where 8 is data, 1 is stop bits and N is parity (no)

[09:02]

<keRa>

the serial cable is only used for debug ?

[09:03]

<AsGF2MX_>

VT102 is just the software side. Well that's what I was looking for.

that i know, yes

that was for keRa

AsGF2MX_: ok

<AsGF2MX_>

115200 baud, 8 data bits and 1 stop bits...no flow control

[09:03]

<keRa>

great :)

[09:03]

AsGF2MX_: if parity = flow control, then that is correct

[09:04]

<AsGF2MX_>

No parity is something else

[09:04]

<AsGF2MX_>

To help with error checking

[09:04]

then where did you find out that there is no flow control ?

[09:04]

<AsGF2MX_>

You did not mention any

[09:04]

<AsGF2MX_>

So I am assuming default is off

[09:04]

because there was no setting for that, though

[09:05]

<AsGF2MX_>

These params are passed at the command line correct?

[09:05]

<AsGF2MX_>

I mean, what software are you using?

[09:05]

minicom

[09:06]

no, they are set in a config screen

[09:06]

<AsGF2MX_>

Let me get that...I just hope it won't throw a fit cause there is no serial on this PC

[09:06]

AsGF2MX_: are you on linux too, i assume

[09:06]

<AsGF2MX_>

This machine is on Ubuntu

[09:06]

<AsGF2MX_>

Yep

[09:07]

<AsGF2MX_>

Minicom seems to be a terminal app...let's see

[09:08]

<AsGF2MX_>

In minicom, bring up the config menu and the serial port settings

[09:09]

<AsGF2MX_>

There's Hardware and Software flow control...anything turned on?

[09:09]

i don't see serial port settings

[09:10]

<AsGF2MX_>

ctrl + A then press O

[09:10]

which letter is it ?

[09:10]

<AsGF2MX_>

One sec

[09:10]

ok, i see it

[09:10]

<AsGF2MX_>

F and G

[09:10]

there is no flow control of any kind

[09:10]

nor hardware neither software

[09:10]

both are "no"

[09:11]

<AsGF2MX_>

That's what I thought

[09:11]

<AsGF2MX_>

Because the plug going into the OSD is only 3 pins

[09:11]

<AsGF2MX_>

Just RX/TX and a ground pin

[09:11]

ok. i've learned something new today :)

[09:13]

<AsGF2MX_>

I'm glad, I asked this because it's probably a bit easier for me to make a cable if I wanted to :)

[09:13]

less pins

[09:13]

<AsGF2MX_>

It's a 3 wire serial (3rd is ground)

[09:13]

<AsGF2MX_>

less pins and easier to capture data too

[09:14]

still won't help you with no serial port on the laptop

[09:15]

<AsGF2MX_>

True but as I'm not familiar with those USB serial adapters as well, it's just worth noting that they have to have the ability to set the flow control options

[09:16]

<AsGF2MX_>

I didn't notice any threads about USB serial adapters so I'm just being wearly

[09:17]

<AsGF2MX_>

*weary

[09:17]

i know for certain that people here use them, although i cannot recall who exactly

[09:18]

<AsGF2MX_>

Hmm

[09:20]

<AsGF2MX_>

Funny thing is I see so many but of varying prices

[09:23]

<AsGF2MX_>

There is another thing

[09:23]

<AsGF2MX_>

Linux drivers :S

[09:29]

<AsGF2MX_>

Is the lunch with Gao meeting supposed to be on in about an hour and a half?

[09:29]

where did you see that ?

[09:30]

<AsGF2MX_>

ODNT

[09:30]

Time is fixed on Saturday, January 20, 2007 at 5:00 PM Rome time

[09:30]

www.timeanddate.com

[09:30]

<AsGF2MX_>

That's the same as GMT isn't it?

[09:30]

<AsGF2MX_>

Looking

[09:31]

no, rome is gmt+1

[09:31]

<AsGF2MX_>

Actually it's in 1/2 hr then

[09:31]

<AsGF2MX_>

Should be interesting

[09:31]

hopefully folks will remember about it

[09:32]

<AsGF2MX_>

Has there been a drop in attendance?

[09:33]

well, the european time zone meeting usually is less crowded. my comment is because last time it appears Gao was asleep and it was cancelled ;)

[09:33]

<AsGF2MX_>

Also if Gao is in China, it would be ... midnight there?

[09:33]

more or less

[09:34]

<AsGF2MX_>

A bit sad cause I used to live in Macau a few years back and I've already forgotten the time gap 7 during DST and 8 during the rest of year:$

[09:34]

yeah, 7 hours gap

[09:35]

what is weird for me is that all china has the same time zone

[09:36]

<AsGF2MX_>

I noticed that too but I thought near its East and West borders there is that "time line" somewhere?

[09:36]

according to this, no: www.worldtimezone.com

[09:37]

<keRa>

where do i get apps for OSD ?

[09:38]

<AsGF2MX_>

bookmarked

[09:38]

<AsGF2MX_>

Are there any in particular keRa?

[09:38]

keRa: which apps ?

[09:39]

<keRa>

i just read somewhere

[09:39]

<AsGF2MX_>

: perhaps the date line thing has to do with the curvature of the earth?

[09:39]

<keRa>

eg network time

[09:40]

AsGF2MX: i think time zones are perfectly arbitrary

[09:41]

keRa: in general you have to build them yourself, at this point

[09:41]

keRa: in the future we will have a package manager and hopefully a repository of binaries

[09:41]

<keRa>

okay

[09:42]

:nerochiaro: agreed about the timezone, which package manager are you planning to use?

[09:42]

not decided yet. there were talks about ipkg

[09:44]

but suggestions are welcome

[09:44]

<keRa>

ir blaster is working with a normal VCR ?

[09:45]

I can't get the blaster to work as it seems to say that the commands are not identical

[09:46]

nerochiaro: that should be interesting, reusable packages from the likes of the NSLU2?

[09:46]

AsGF2MX: well, might be possible, yes

[09:48]

AsGF2MX, are you trying to use the IR blaster?

[09:48]

JoeBorn: Yes I tried to use it earlier today

[09:49]

and it didn't work

[09:49]

?

[09:49]

JoeBorn: Trying to program it resulted in it capturing the signals then saying the two signals weren't identical

[09:50]

I'm just curious whether it's capturing the IR code or whether it's recording and replaying the signal somehow :S

[09:50]

I wasn't able to get it to work, AFAIK, no one's been able to get it to work, but your issue is new, if you don't mind it would be great if you'd enter it in bugzilla

[09:50]

Is my issue different?

[09:51]

If my issue is different, I will gladly put in an entry

[09:52]

well, I talked to Gao about this, it's somewhere in between the two options you suggested

[09:52]

In between?

[09:52]

it has some intellegence to figure out something about the patterns, but apparantly, it's not so standard that it can just capture a simple number

[09:52]

Oh

[09:53]

But I take it the implementation goal is to get that number at the end

[09:53]

well, I guess the length of the pulses is not a set standard, different remotes operate a different data frequencies (I'm making up terms here) or something like that

[09:54]

well, you can ask Gao about that when he gets here, my personal gut is that we need to implement a database of remote codes as well.

[09:54]

i have to ask him about some stuff about the remote as well when he gets around

[09:55]

It looks like an interesting task, I might have to take a look into it.

[09:55]

But isn't there any such thing used in MythTV or Freevo?

[09:55]

Something we might just port rather than write from scratch?

[09:56]

AsGF2MX: does they have blasters ?

[09:56]

No but I do recall most of these have plugins for these blasters

[09:57]

AsGF2MX, absolutely, its a porting effort.

[09:57]

it seems to use lirc for remotes and blasters

[09:57]

I think that's the one

[09:58]

well, any help on that would be much appreciated, no one's currently working on that.

[09:58]

But lirc is supposed to be a stand alone app, which has plugins for MythTV. So, plug away?

[09:58]

what does lirc read ?

[09:58]

Hmm

[09:59]

JoeBorn: I would like to have a go at it but I am no pro, I can do C/C++ and I am happy with hardware programming

[10:00]

nerochiaro: I have to check the specifics but I think they just capture the signal and get a hex value which is the IR code

[10:00]

the signal from where ?

[10:00]

that is the problem

[10:00]

from your original remote

[10:00]

yes, but how ?

[10:01]

Using one of those IR blaster type devices

[10:01]

Those usually have the capability to transmit and also receive

[10:01]

JoeBorn: the script work okay?

[10:02]

well, I know that Myth has a list of codes for supporting serial and IR blaster, so you can choose from a list too, which is better

[10:02]

srobertson, I'll send it now

[10:02]

AsGF2MX: the fact is that as far as i know on the osd we have a dedicated programmable chip that handles all the IR stuff, and talks to the arm via i2c

[10:02]

Oh

[10:03]

wait a sec, i'll fish you a link

[10:03]

JoeBorn: A known list can be built at a later stage

[10:03]

nerochiaro: you beat me to the question, i2c bus, I haven't worked on that yet but I can have a look

[10:04]

AsGF2MX: it's not hard to use, but the problem is that the chip does already all the decoding, so lirc won't have any purpose

[10:04]

Oh

[10:04]

If the chip does the decoding then I take it the software on the chip needs work?

[10:05]

I am a little unsure of what you mean by decode; to what extent?

[10:05]

Is there a part number for that chip?

[10:06]

MSP430

[10:06]

I think it's a TI chip

[10:06]

AsGF2MX: MSP430. i know for IR input it just sends to the ARM discrete key codes

[10:06]

AsGF2MX: so it does basically all the decoding

[10:06]

Sounds like a microcontroller

[10:06]

Joeborn: indeed it's from TI

[10:07]

AsGF2MX: read both these posts carefully please: tinyurl.com and tinyurl.com

[10:07]

nerochiaro: so the data coming out of this and into the arm is...ok, let me have a look

[10:08]

AsGF2MX: the chip puts decoded key codes on the i2c bus and the arm reads them and uses them

[10:08]

got it

[10:09]

Ok, so instead of using the arm's built in IR, you're using a seperate chip...let me continue reading

[10:09]

welcome swoag!

[10:09]

<swoag>

hi, all

[10:09]

Hi swoag

[10:10]

<swoag>

hi, AsGF2MX, have we met? ;-)

[10:10]

<swoag>

anyway, a quick update first,

[10:10]

afraid not, my second time on IRC to be honest :$

[10:10]

AsGF2MX: yes, a separate chip. there is also a possibility of bypassing it, it seems, but please do read both posts fully first

[10:11]

<swoag>

oh, you guys are on something now?

nerochiaro: reading

swoag: no, go ahead

I'll listen first

swoag: AsGF2MX is doing some reading :)

[10:11]

Go ahead swoag

[10:11]

<swoag>

ok

[10:12]

<swoag>

a lot of changes under the way, some of them are due to small changes;-)

[10:12]

<swoag>

we've merged in latest vendor release (again), next release will have better codec quality.

[10:13]

<Inc>

bi time meeting

[10:13]

<Inc>

*big

[10:13]

<Inc>

sounds serious

[10:13]

<swoag>

lots of logic being redesigned/fixed, especially the recording settings, playback/fwd/rwd controls

[10:14]

<swoag>

figured out a most stupid mistake (mgao's fault on this), forgot to turn off kernel debug for release, which have caused all kind of codec quality issues.

[10:15]

^^^ which release is that?

[10:15]

AsGF2MX: the proprietary codecs and support stuff we license from Ingenient.

[10:15]

* swoag is sure everyone knows who mgao is... ;-(

[10:16]

First time attending the meeting so apologies if I was expected to wait till the end

[10:16]

oh, sorry, read that against the wrong instance of the word release

[10:16]

srobertson: noticed that

[10:16]

<swoag>

AsGF2MX, never mind, free style meeting here, always.

[10:17]

<swoag>

the stuff discussed here will be in next release, usually every Tuesday.

[10:17]

<swoag>

continues,

[10:17]

Oh

[10:17]

please do

[10:18]

<swoag>

various GUI logic optimization/fix to speed up GUI response.

[10:18]

<swoag>

Now the problems (which may hold the next release a little bit),

[10:19]

<swoag>

- seeing new stability issue after bring in latest codec system, since it has quite a few API changes down to the plugin layer.

[10:19]

<swoag>

- new fwd/rwd/slow playback/frame by frame mode has some issues.

[10:21]

<swoag>

before I forgot, a build-helper script is not in place to ease the entire osdmain app build process.

[10:21]

<swoag>

*now

[10:21]

<swoag>

continue with problems,

[10:22]

<swoag>

irrtc split hasn't been completed,

[10:23]

<swoag>

porting to manufacture side hasn't been done and the biggest problem so far is, by bringing in the input system, GUI response slows down quite significantly, to be investigated.

[10:23]

<swoag>

the new RAM Save patch has been recalled due to a Nano-X support problem, to be investigated.

[10:24]

"porting to manufacture side" << do you mean the msp430 re-programming ?

[10:24]

<swoag>

XP Samba support is still an open issue.

[10:24]

<swoag>

nope.

[10:24]