---
name: "aatv"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "aatv"
version: "0.3-4"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/aatv"
---

# aatv(1)

a program to watch TV in a text-based console

## NAME

aatv - a program to watch TV in a text-based console

## SYNOPSIS

**aatv** \[*options*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**aatv** is a small program which allows you to watch TV in a text-based console, i.e. in a virtual console or in an xterm.

If you just want to see what it does, and don't want to mess with frequencies just tune your TV card, with [**xawtv**(1)](/xawtv/1.md) for example, and then launch aatv. When aatv starts, it keeps the frequency the card is tuned on. You might have to change the video mode (to PAL, NTSC or SECAM) in the config file.

**Keys:**

**q** Quit the program.\
 **c** Switch from TV to composite, or from composite to TV.\
 **s** Change video mode (PAL, SECAM, NTSC).\
 **v** Flip image.\
 **b** Show the frequency, you may then press enter or type a new value.

**AA image controls:**

**f** Turn ON/OFF fast rendering.\
 **a** No dithering.\
 **e** Dithering mode 1.\
 **r** Dithering mode 2.

**p** Show the contrast value, you may then press enter or type a new value.\
 **m** Decreases the contrast.\
 **!** Increases the contrast.

**'o', 'l', ':':** Do the same with brightness.

**Tuner image controls:**

**'i', 'k', ';':** Contrast.\
 **'u', 'j', ',':** Brightness.\
 **'y', 'h', 'n':** Whiteness.

## OPTIONS

A summary of options is included below.\
 For a complete description type **aatv** **-help**.

**-help** Show summary of options.

- **-driver**

  Select driver. Available drivers: linux, slang, X11, stdout and stderr.

- **-kbddriver**

  Select keyboard driver. Available drivers: slang, X11 and stdin.

- **-mousedriver**

  Select mouse driver. Available drivers: X11, gpm and dos.

- **-width**

  Set width.

- **-height**

  Set height.

- **-minwidth**

  Set minimum width.

- **-minheight**

  Set minimum height.

- **-maxwidth**

  Set maximum width.

- **-maxheight**

  Set maximum height.

- **-recwidth**

  Set recommended width.

- **-recheight**

  Set recommended height.

- **-dim**

  Enable usage of dim (half bright) attribute.

- **-bold**

  Enable usage of bold (double bright) attribute.

- **-reverse**

  Enable usage of reverse attribute.

- **-normal**

  Enable usage of normal attribute.

- **-boldfont**

  Enable usage of boldfont attribute.

- **-no\<attr\>**

  Disable an attribute (e.g. -nobold).

- **-extended**

  Use all 256 characters.

- **-eight**

  Use eight bit ASCII.

- **-font \<font\>**

  Select font. This option is used on hardware where aalib is unable to determine the current font. Available fonts: vga8, vga9, mda14, vga14, X8x13, X8x16, X8x13bold, vgagl8 and line.

- **-inverse**

  Enable inverse rendering.

- **-noinverse**

  Disable inverse rendering.

- **-bright \<val\>**

  Set brightness (0-255).

- **-contrast \<val\>**

  Set contrast (0-255).

- **-gamma \<val\>**

  Set gamma correction value (0-1).

- **-nodither**

  Disable dithering.

- **-floyd\_steinberg**

  Floyd Steinberg dithering.

- **-error\_distribution**

  Error distribution dithering.

- **-random \<val\>**

  Set random dithering value (0-inf).

- **-dimmul \<val\>**

  Multiply factor for dim attribute (5.3).

- **-boldmul \<val\>**

  Multiply factor for bold attribute (2.7).

## FILES

- The per-user configfile of

  - \~/.aatv

  **aatv**.

- /etc/aatv.conf

  The system-wide **aatv** configfile. It's used if no *~/.aatv* is found.

## BUGS

Please report any bugs you find to Mike Jagdis \<jaggy@purplet.demon.co.uk\>.

## LICENCE

**aatv** is covered by the GNU General Public License (GPL).

## SEE ALSO

[**xawtv**(1)](/xawtv/1.md), [**fbtv**(1)](/fbtv/1.md).

## AUTHOR

Florent de Lamotte \<florent@lamotte.as\>.

This manual page was written by Uwe Hermann \<uh1763@hermann-uwe.de\>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).

The **OPTIONS** section of this manpage was ripped from the [**bb**(1)](/bb/1.md) manpage by Michael Bramer \<grisu@debian.org\> and was slightly improved by Uwe Hermann \<uh1763@hermann-uwe.de\>.