DVB Tested: dvb-usb-it9135-02.fw and dvb-usb-rtl2832.ko

[FBnil]

Showdown between 2 small USB DBV's:

Device 1: ITE 9135 (10 euro)

New USB device found, idVendor=048d, idProduct=9135
[113007.244770] usb 4-1.1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
[113007.246336] usb 4-1.1.3: dvb_usb_af9035: prechip_version=83 chip_version=02 chip_type=9135
[113007.246775] usb 4-1.1.3: dvb_usb_v2: found a 'ITE 9135 Generic' in cold state
[113007.246808] usb 4-1.1.3: firmware: direct-loading firmware dvb-usb-it9135-02.fw

picture of the device

Device 2: Realtek RTL2832U (12 euro)

[113856.430489] usb 4-1.1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=2838
[113856.430494] usb 4-1.1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[113856.430496] usb 4-1.1.3: Product: RTL2838UHIDIR
[113856.430499] usb 4-1.1.3: Manufacturer: Realtek

picture of the device

for details about setup, see the wiki or this older article

Quick comparison. VLC, with TV (same channel, minimized to see Pandora System Info). screen at 75% intensity.

device 1 drain: -3780 mW
device 2 drain: -2880 mW

This also confirms me why the first device seems to get much hotter (too hot actually, it heats up the pandora too).
Both devices also has a click when changing from one to another channel, however, they do not have it on my Linux desktop, so it might be firmware/driver related. (also, I've upgraded the Pandora OS sinds the previous test)
quality is similar (although you have to look on a bigger screen to see any artifacts (for example, on the Pandora, you do not need to enable de-interlacing)). I might see more artifacts on the first device, but I am not sure. Audio is the same (is being streamed as MP3 at 160kbps)
Antenna on both are smaller than my previous device (1 cm). Also had to copy over the firmware for the ITE9135

winner: Realtek.

However, the Realtek at minimal brightness, -660mA in total, versus -638mA for the Velleman
dvb_usb_af9035 so... yeah...

tl;dl: both work., one uses 1000mW more than the other!

 

[Linux-SWAT]

Feel free to update :
http://pandorawiki.org/USB_compatibility_list#DVB.2FTNT.2FTDT

 

[FBnil]

Feel free to update :
http://pandorawiki.org/USB_compatibility_list#DVB.2FTNT.2FTDT

Done. Added 3 entries. Took one hour to gather the data (need to rmmod in between, just rebooted because: lazy)...

 

[FBnil]

Method to generate the information.

• before plugging it in, open a terminal, then clear the d-bus messages:

  dmesg -c

  on the Pyra this is:

  dmesg --clear

To list all loaded modules

lsmod

For each entry that you think is a relevant module, use the leftmost name as parameter for lsmod:

modinfo $name

A oneliner that shows all DVB related

lsmod |awk '{if(NR>1){print $1}}' | xargs modinfo | grep dvb | grep /lib | sort | uniq

You get a list of .ko (kernel object) or .fw (firmware)
note: modinfo is in /sbin/ which is not always in your PATH.

Device
name of the device, either from the box, or from dmesg, where it says "Product:"
Connector
Standard-A if it is a normal USB connector.
Supported standard
USB 1.1, 2.0 or USB 3.x
Current draw
Use the systeminfo application from _wb_, press B for battery view, then view your TV, then quickly swap to the application to see the value of Current: (mA). Substract from that value the Current while not in use (close application, remove the dongle but keep the USB-host enabled). You can add the idle value, as well as the difference between plugged in and not plugged in (while the USB-host stays enabled)
Suggested connection to Pandora
through USB hub if the device is USB 1.1, directly or through an adapter
Works on Pandora
yes or no
Module(s)
lsmod
Firmware
either the *.fw in the dmesg or using modinfo from the lsmod output
Additional comments
Anything that is remarkable.