Differences 6922, 6921, 6920 and Linux drivers

[joschhh]

First:
It would be very helpfull if someone from TBS could explain in a few words the difference between the 6922, 6921 and 6920.
I hope of course for an answer that explains the reason for example to choose a different chip here or change a layout there... cause it is not very helpfull to only know that the 6920 has NXP chips and the 6922 from Phillips. Maybe also an explaination of the advanages or disadvantages...

Second:
I understood that the linux drivers for the 6922 and 6921 are closed source, so will this be forever the case? Is there no chip on the market with open sources drivers (maybe only some firmware files to copy into linux os) which is worth to be part of a DVB-S2 PCIE card? I am asking this cause due to many new kernel releases, one would always need to recompile the drivers for the new kernel. I would of course love to have them already in the kernel as open source. Or at least a DKMS.
BTW, is it really necessary to compile all the media/dvb drivers and firmwares to only get ONE card like the 6922 running?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[SergioDanielG]

While we wait a full answer, take a look of this "Comparisons for TBS 6920,TBS 6921 and TBS 6922" http://www.tbsdtv.com/blog/comparison-o ... s6922.html

Best regards

[joschhh]

Nice, thanks for this, but hope for a little more detail.

Anyway i also hope for an answer on the second part of my initial post.

[crazycat]

6920 use open-source CX24116 demod driver (but all control performed by on-chip 8051-style controller with vendor firmare)
6921 use binary demod driver for TDA10071 (based on CX24116, with some new capabilities and also on-chip 8051-style controler). In current V4L sources available open-source driver for TDA10071 (also used in Pinnacle 460e, compact USB device with NXP Empia USB-bridge). But all control performed by vendor firmware (extracted form Pinnacle 460e windows driver).
6922 use binary tuner/demod driver for AV2011/TMAX2100 tuner/demod.

PCI-E bridges drivers all open-source (CX23885 for 6920, 6921 and SAA7160 for 6922)