If you have a STB -> s-video connection: How do you get a good picture?

[Spragleknas]

... or is it even possible?

(See "My system" if any interest)

I have tried so many things (codecs, drivers and plying with FFDShow), but
one thing that never gets good is the quality when there is are "fast moving objects" like football (!!!).

Currently using nVidia PureVideo (latest, I believe) and fast moving pictures still suck. Anybody that has a magic solution to this? Willing to spend money on HW (or codecs) if it will help.

[mrkaras]

what is the update rate of your LCD TV? that could cause some blurring problems with fast motion. otherwise, you could skip the STB and get another TV tuner card (or does your STB do something special?)

[Spragleknas]

Thanks for replying!

Unfortunately I have a IP-TV solution, so no way to skip the STB.

My LCD is connected through DVI, resolution 1080P/60Hz. I am playing pal material - is this the issue?

The HDMI supports 50 Hz - would this solve my problem?

[b00sfuk]

If I understand you right I think I have a similar setup. i.e.:

STB (Sky Digibox PAL) -(svideo)-> PVR150 -(VGA)-> 17"LCDTv

I have no problems with football or any deinterlacing issues and in fact think I get a great picture. I also use the NVidia decoder (using 7600GS AGP car), so special settings.

[Spragleknas]

Thanks, b00sfuk. Good to know it is possible to achieve a good PQ using STB/s-video.

My setting is:
STB (Kreatel - PAL) ---s-video---> PVR350-----DVI-D---> 42" LCD

Gfx: 6200 AGP - using nVidia PureVideo w/o HW-decoding (no good here).

A couple of questions:
- What quality s-video cable do you use
- What resolution and refresh rate do you use
- and what do you mean by the following: "I also use the NVidia decoder (using 7600GS AGP car), so special settings."

[b00sfuk]

- What quality s-video cable do you use
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...=35920&doy=4m8
but I don't think it makes much difference

- What resolution and refresh rate do you use
1280x768 60hz

- and what do you mean by the following: "I also use the NVidia decoder (using 7600GS AGP car), so special settings."
Typo, meant "so NO special settings". I use Automatic in deinterlacing though.

[Spragleknas]

*Update*

Found this:
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/per...ead.aspx#69665

Now that your settings will save you can use GraphEdit to make some changes. Using GraphEdit, go to: Graph > Insert Filters > Multiplexer Devices > Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Encoder and Insert Filter. Then right click on the filter and select properties. Under the "Hauppauge ECP Video" tab change the Bitrate Average to "6000", the Peak to "12000" and P Spacing to "1". Then under the "Dynamic Noise Reduction" tab i changed the "Temporal Static Level" to 0. Try changing this to something between 0 and 3, so see what looks best for your system.

You can also adjust the sharpness of you Hauppauge WinTV card, although i find the default setting is fine. With the current drivers the default settings is 4.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\hcwPP2\DriverData]
"HcwSharpness"= "4" note* the default setting may be different.

Okay one more setting, search through your registry for "DefAvgBitRate". Increasing the Decimal value for this registry setting seems to make a big difference in picture quality. The default settings is something like "20000000", try settings this value to "85000000" or even higher. I've actually set this value to as high as "850000000" count the zeros, and the picture quality got significantly better. I suggest trying to find the highest value your computer will handle without any problems.

I hope this helps some of you out there. I can now watch Live TV and Recordings on a 57" HDTV without any noticeable loss of quality. Here's a screenshot.][/url]
Seems good. Anybody else getting better PQ with this?

I currently can't get HW-acceleration to work (stutters like hell), so I have to do SW-decoding ATM.

[kalinium1]

Before u buy anything, be sure that the computer is set to 50hz. if u watch pal, there's no way u can get a good smooth picture, using 60hz output.
I bought a new LCD because the old one didn't support 50hz (in native resoultion) through the HDMI....
so:
1. 50hz output from computer
2. A TV set that supports 50hz digital input, in native resolution. The native resolution is very important. 1:1 pixel mapping is necessary for good picutre, so your set will not scale the picture again.

[Spragleknas]

I have 1:1, but my LCD only supports 60Hz via DVI. 50 Hz is supported via HDMI.

Mostly annoyed that hardware DXVA does not work. I found that it was causing massive frame drop.

Found this: http://nvtweak.laptopvideo2go.com/ - that gives me more options in PV.

[kalinium1]

If u can try connecting through HDMI, and your set is able to get native resolution in 50hz, my guess is that you'll be very surprised from how much better it looks.

Another thing, there's a little utility called "Hauppauge_tweaker" that allows you to modify all those registry values. You change, save, and restart.