> -----Original Message----- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Chuck Mayfield > Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 5:55 PM > Cc: FlexRadio Reflector > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] First look at the FLEX-3000 production units > > I note that FRS is introducing new radios that have an IEEE > 1394 interface between the computer and the transceiver. > Will Linux drivers be developed? The current IEEE1394 driver > situation seems to me to be very difficult, if even possible, > to configure. In fact, I have not been able to get my FA-66 > to work with Ubuntu of any version. Wonder if FRS will > provide a suitable Linux driver? >
The problem is not peculiar to FRS. 1394 device driver support for Linux has always had "issues". It might be because of the proprietary nature of the whole 1394 "stack" (proprietary as in "must be licensed", not necessarily proprietary as in secret), particularly the various interface chips involved. Probably not real issues with the PHY layer, but when you start moving up the stack, there's a fair amount of intellectual property in those highly integrated chips. And, it's not just the link layer, it's also whatever you're actually trying to talk to (e.g. disk drive, video camera, audio interface, what have you), which has its own set of IP concerns. If you go to TI's website for instance, most of the (very sketchy) datasheets for parts that are on mobos or consumer adapters say something like "This product is for high-volume PC applications only. For a complete datasheet or more information contact supp...@ti.com" Parts like the tsb82aa2b have databooks, but they're not the necessarily the ones in cheap consumer gear. The Linux driver stack, I think, supports any of the OHCI style devices, which should cover the vast majority of modern systems. However, you then need a driver to talk to whatever's at the other end of the link (i.e. your adc or dac hardware), and that might be where the issues are. I think that there are hooks in jack that talk to the FA66 (from the FFADO folks, who are doing a fairly decent job). I'm pretty sure the dttsp-linux folks are successfully using the FA66, so there is a path to what you need. You might wander on over there and ask. Jim _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
