Using Freecom DVB-T (freeview) USB2 stick on Linux

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These instructions are for the UK only and are followed at your own risk.

I recently ordered a Freecom DVB-T (freeview) USB2 stick. Getting it working on Windows XP was fairly easy but for Linux you have to find the firmware file yourself.

Note: lsusb gives "Bus 003 Device 004: ID 14aa:0225 AVerMedia (again) or C&E" for this device under Ubuntu.

Note that the firmware file (dvb-usb-wt220u-fc03.fw) should have MD5 hash 381add05f30c95d56edd23a19467372c.

On OpenSUSE 10.3 and higher

wget http://home.arcor.de/efocht/dvb-usb-wt220u-fc03.fw
sudo cp dvb-usb-wt220u-fc03.fw /lib/firmware/

sudo apt-get install kaffeine

On Ubuntu 7.04 and higher

wget http://home.arcor.de/efocht/dvb-usb-wt220u-fc03.fw
sudo cp dvb-usb-wt220u-fc03.fw /lib/firmware/$(uname -r)/

sudo apt-get install kaffeine

You can even use "AUTO" in Kaffeine rather than having to configuring the frequency as in 6.06.

In Ubuntu 6.06

Plug in the USB stick then enter these commands to the terminal: 

sudo apt-get install dvb-utils mercurial build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
hg clone http://linuxtv.org/hg/v4l-dvb
cd v4l-dvb
hg update -C 4501
make
sudo make install

# if you aren't using the same adaptor as me omit the next 2 lines
wget http://thadathil.net:8000/dvb/fw/dvb-usb/dvb-usb-wt220u-fc03.fw
sudo cp dvb-usb-wt220u-fc03.fw /lib/firmware/$(uname -r)/

sudo reboot

Note: the hg update -C ensures that you use a version of v4l-dvb that I know works (some later revisions do not work for me). At your own peril, omit it and so use the latest version.
Your USB stick's LED should be amber upon restart meaning it's working but not tuned in.

I'm using Kaffeine as my player. You can install it using apt-get:

 
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install kaffeine
 

Now, open Kaffeine. 

 
kaffeine
 

It should detect you have DVB and copy some files into your home directory. Now close Kaffeine. Then you need to find the name of the transmitter nearest to you using WolfBane. I'll assume you are closest to Rowridge. 

 
cd ~/.kde/share/apps/kaffeine/dvb-t/
cp uk-Rowridge uk-OriginalRowridge
nano uk-Rowridge
 

Round the frequency to 3 significant figures, e.g.

# Rowridge, Isle of Wight
# T freq bw fec_hi fec_lo mod transmission-mode guard-interval hierarchy
T 490000000 8MHz 3/4 NONE QAM16 2k 1/32 NONE

Now start kaffeine again, select uk-Rowridge (if that's your transmitter) and tell it to scan for channels. Add the channels it finds, close the scanning window and pick a channel. Your USB stick's LED should be green.
And that's all there is to it.

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