I was little lazy this time unlike the last time and I was ready for with all the analog and digital paraphernalia to record all the World Cup Matches irrespective of who was playing who. I was expecting Sri-Lanka to win but wanted to record the Sanath, Brian Lara and Mavan in their last World Cup appearances.
There were hiccoughs in early stages when two matches were held on the same day, one game was not broadcast live due to broadcast rights. Anyway after some protest all the games were broadcast live and I recorded all the games with several TVs one with DVD recorder attached and some with VHS Video recorders and for digital recording an old capture card and a TV card in to other computers. The capture card and TV cards were not very effective but my analog DVD recorder did all the important work.
TV antenna were all over the place since the TV signals were very poor.
Everything went all right except the computer with the capture card went bust half way through the games, probably due to combination of factors which included inadequate RAM and poor power supply and BIOS virus (windows were a pain in the neck anyway).
Home was like a little studio for the entire period of world cup games.
But we were very unlucky and the rain interrupted the game when the players had a spirited start for the run chase. Unfortunately Mavan was not there to open but one who replaced was no match and the middle order caved in and we lost the match on Duckworth Lewis Formula.
This time I was not very keen supporting any team except perhaps New Zealand and South Africa but when both were eliminated and when we were emerging as a probable finalist, I came out of the hibernation and decided to record the final games.
Went and bought a TV card with no support for Linux and had to go back to windows for recording.
I got hold of a computer I used for testing Linux and installed windows and the TV Card and for three days I could not get the sound working. This was an old computer and I do not keep any windows drivers with me now and Linux automatically configures sound and codecs and there was no need for me to keep any drivers.
I went and bought a USB sound card and tried to link it with the TV card but could not. Actually the output from TV card could not be linked directly to the USB and without the internal audio codecs configured, the sound won't work.
Finally I got the OEM's name and went to the Internet and after about half an hour of search found a place to download several sound drivers and after another one hour got two drivers downloaded.
With a little bit of luck one driver was OK and I was able to configure the sounds and codecs and integrate with the TV Card and had a test recording of the replay of the semifinals with the New Zealand.
Thank god they had two to three rest days between the matches that I could do all this while going to work with some important meetings in between.
Otherwise, having paid for a card if I was not able to use it without all the windows drivers was not something I bargain for.
I will list the problems a Linux / Widows user has to go through.
1. The Chinese / Taiwan OEM guys of the TV Card (good one) did not provide drivers for Linux.
2. Microsoft guys do not have the ability to detect sound cards automatically of different OEM guys and one has to find the drivers.
3. If internet connection was not there one is not able to search for a driver. I did it with my Linux box.
4. I had a similar problem with a secondhand Laptop (Japanese) I bought for my son and I had to use a USB card to get the sounds while Linux automatically configures the sound. I could not get a driver through the internet since the Laptop was old (discontinued providing drivers for windows).
5. In spite of all the hype with new versions there is no coordination with OEM guys and operating systems.
So if you buy second hand computer make sure you have all the drivers and motherboard and driver CDs and OEM names for graphic and sound drivers before you pay cash even if you may save a lot on the bargain.
Like Sinhala language which was neglected by Sri-Lankan government as far as Linux operating systems are concerned the Sri-Lankan TV regulators have not provided the necessary frequencies and the systems (pal B) for Linux developers to work on.
Linux has the TVTime Viewer and without the frequencies and pal system information the Linux developers cannot accomplish any workable solution to my problem.
I hope by next world cup they will provide the technical information to a Linux Group that could coordinate with Debian to do the honours like they have done for Sinhala.
OEM guys also should do the same in future productions.
Why drivers only for Microsoft users.
It is unfair trade practice.
Only one more match and after the finals that I will format and erase windows anyway.
Edited on the 2nd of April.
Congratulation to Indian players especially the younger ones Gambir, Kholi and Raina who lifted the cup when Sachin and Shrwag were failing due to age.
Unlike Indian selectors Sri-Lankan selectors (for the final-sitting Mendis and Dihara on bench was unwelcome and mind you we did that to Mavan last time round) had done lot of mistakes which I have decided not to talk about in public and when politicians also get involved there is no transparency in Sri-Lankan cricket and politics.
I have lot to say about Sri-Lankan cricket and cricket in general but it is a waste of time and is like drumming or music to a deaf elephant. We won't change our corrupt ways. It is probably true for India too but with the win lot of things will be swept under the carpet.
You may now understand why a cricket frantic person like me was less than enthusiastic this time round-in fact for the past 2 years.
I.P.L is going to corrupt players and cricket and I won't be watching those games, anyway.
Be watchful young cricketers, it is not going to be the same with cricket with India lifting the cup and I.P.L guys making money, round the corner.
There will be many more burnt out cricketers at the end of this year.
There is a limit a sportsman / woman can do for a given time period and if s/he exceed the limits nothing a doctor or trainer can do.
That is the advice of a doctor (who was a sportsman in his days who still has niggling stiffness due to injuries sustained when young) who love sports and hate injured players whatever the game they play when young.
There were hiccoughs in early stages when two matches were held on the same day, one game was not broadcast live due to broadcast rights. Anyway after some protest all the games were broadcast live and I recorded all the games with several TVs one with DVD recorder attached and some with VHS Video recorders and for digital recording an old capture card and a TV card in to other computers. The capture card and TV cards were not very effective but my analog DVD recorder did all the important work.
TV antenna were all over the place since the TV signals were very poor.
Everything went all right except the computer with the capture card went bust half way through the games, probably due to combination of factors which included inadequate RAM and poor power supply and BIOS virus (windows were a pain in the neck anyway).
Home was like a little studio for the entire period of world cup games.
But we were very unlucky and the rain interrupted the game when the players had a spirited start for the run chase. Unfortunately Mavan was not there to open but one who replaced was no match and the middle order caved in and we lost the match on Duckworth Lewis Formula.
This time I was not very keen supporting any team except perhaps New Zealand and South Africa but when both were eliminated and when we were emerging as a probable finalist, I came out of the hibernation and decided to record the final games.
Went and bought a TV card with no support for Linux and had to go back to windows for recording.
I got hold of a computer I used for testing Linux and installed windows and the TV Card and for three days I could not get the sound working. This was an old computer and I do not keep any windows drivers with me now and Linux automatically configures sound and codecs and there was no need for me to keep any drivers.
I went and bought a USB sound card and tried to link it with the TV card but could not. Actually the output from TV card could not be linked directly to the USB and without the internal audio codecs configured, the sound won't work.
Finally I got the OEM's name and went to the Internet and after about half an hour of search found a place to download several sound drivers and after another one hour got two drivers downloaded.
With a little bit of luck one driver was OK and I was able to configure the sounds and codecs and integrate with the TV Card and had a test recording of the replay of the semifinals with the New Zealand.
Thank god they had two to three rest days between the matches that I could do all this while going to work with some important meetings in between.
Otherwise, having paid for a card if I was not able to use it without all the windows drivers was not something I bargain for.
I will list the problems a Linux / Widows user has to go through.
1. The Chinese / Taiwan OEM guys of the TV Card (good one) did not provide drivers for Linux.
2. Microsoft guys do not have the ability to detect sound cards automatically of different OEM guys and one has to find the drivers.
3. If internet connection was not there one is not able to search for a driver. I did it with my Linux box.
4. I had a similar problem with a secondhand Laptop (Japanese) I bought for my son and I had to use a USB card to get the sounds while Linux automatically configures the sound. I could not get a driver through the internet since the Laptop was old (discontinued providing drivers for windows).
5. In spite of all the hype with new versions there is no coordination with OEM guys and operating systems.
So if you buy second hand computer make sure you have all the drivers and motherboard and driver CDs and OEM names for graphic and sound drivers before you pay cash even if you may save a lot on the bargain.
Like Sinhala language which was neglected by Sri-Lankan government as far as Linux operating systems are concerned the Sri-Lankan TV regulators have not provided the necessary frequencies and the systems (pal B) for Linux developers to work on.
Linux has the TVTime Viewer and without the frequencies and pal system information the Linux developers cannot accomplish any workable solution to my problem.
I hope by next world cup they will provide the technical information to a Linux Group that could coordinate with Debian to do the honours like they have done for Sinhala.
OEM guys also should do the same in future productions.
Why drivers only for Microsoft users.
It is unfair trade practice.
Only one more match and after the finals that I will format and erase windows anyway.
Edited on the 2nd of April.
Congratulation to Indian players especially the younger ones Gambir, Kholi and Raina who lifted the cup when Sachin and Shrwag were failing due to age.
Unlike Indian selectors Sri-Lankan selectors (for the final-sitting Mendis and Dihara on bench was unwelcome and mind you we did that to Mavan last time round) had done lot of mistakes which I have decided not to talk about in public and when politicians also get involved there is no transparency in Sri-Lankan cricket and politics.
I have lot to say about Sri-Lankan cricket and cricket in general but it is a waste of time and is like drumming or music to a deaf elephant. We won't change our corrupt ways. It is probably true for India too but with the win lot of things will be swept under the carpet.
You may now understand why a cricket frantic person like me was less than enthusiastic this time round-in fact for the past 2 years.
I.P.L is going to corrupt players and cricket and I won't be watching those games, anyway.
Be watchful young cricketers, it is not going to be the same with cricket with India lifting the cup and I.P.L guys making money, round the corner.
There will be many more burnt out cricketers at the end of this year.
There is a limit a sportsman / woman can do for a given time period and if s/he exceed the limits nothing a doctor or trainer can do.
That is the advice of a doctor (who was a sportsman in his days who still has niggling stiffness due to injuries sustained when young) who love sports and hate injured players whatever the game they play when young.
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