---
name: "rootv"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xawtv"
version: "3.107-4"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rootv"
---

# rootv(1)

display TV using the Xvideo extension

## NAME

rootv - display TV using the Xvideo extension

## SYNOPSIS

**rootv \[ options \]**

## DESCRIPTION

**rootv** puts a video to some window.  By default it creates its own window, but you can also ask it to use the root window (thus the name) or any other window. **rootv** needs the Xvideo extension.

**rootv** itself provides no way to control video/audio/tuner.  You can use v4lctl to do this.

## OPTIONS

**rootv** knows a number of command line options to modify the behaviour.

- **-help**

  Print a short description of all command line options.

- **-verbose**

  Be verbose.  That will dump some debug messages to stderr.

- **-root**

  Put the video onto the root window instead of creating a new window.

- **-id \<win\>**

  Put the video into the window \<win\> instead of creating a new window.

- **-station \<st\>**

  Tune station \<st\>.  This just calls v4lctl, which in turn will look up the station in your ~/.xawtv config file.

- **-no-mute**

  Don't toggle mute.  By default rootv will unmute the TV card when it starts and mute it on exit.  It does this using the XV\_MUTE attribute (if available).

- **-port \<n\>**

  Use Xvideo port \<n\>.  Try the -verbose switch if you want to know which ones are available.

- **-bg**

  Fork into background.

- **-wm**

  Print WindowMaker menu (set stations using v4lctl).

## SEE ALSO

[xawtv(1)](/xawtv/1.md), [fbtv(1)](/fbtv/1.md), [v4lctl(1)](/v4lctl/1.md)

## AUTHOR

Gerd Knorr \<kraxel@bytesex.org\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2000-2002 Gerd Knorr \<kraxel@bytesex.org\>

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.