TV Quality Issues

[csleech]

Hello all... I am new to the whole HTPC scene and stumbled upon this GREAT product! However I am running into some issues... Please read below and bare with me; again I am new to all the HTPC stuff...

Area: Media Portal TV Tuner
MP Version: MP 0.2.0.0
Skin: BC Blue (I think its that one)
Windows Version: XP Home SP2
CPU Type: Sempron +3100 (OC to 2.2ghz)
Memory: 1GB DDR PC3200 (PNY Brand)
Motherboard Chipset: EPoX EP-8KDA3+
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
Video Card Driver: Not Positive (At Work; will update as soon as I can)
Video Card Resolution: 1280x1024
Video Render Type: VMR9
Video Codec Type & Version: Tried all of them included as well as ATI & nVidia MPEG & Intervideo
Audio Codec Type & Version: Tried all of thm included as well as ffdshow and nVidia and Intervideo
TV Card: WinTV-PVR-500
TV Card Type: Hardware
TV Card Driver: Not Positive (At Work; will update as soon as I can)

Synopsis: The problem I am running into is that no matter what video encoder I use, the quality of my TV is horrible. I have direct analog cable hooked up to my TV (Syntax Olevia 32" LCD) and the quality is good for the most part and I am comparing this to the quality of the TV through Media Portal. The quality through media portal is choppy, and looks like a VHS that has been played to many times or is has a dirty reading head in the player. Also the aduio sounds really funny; it sounds delayed and like it has an echo. I have tried messing with all the settings and still no luck getting it to work any better.

I have used Beyond TV in the past with this same computer setup and card (only difference was XP Pro instead) and the TV quality was a lot better and the sound was dead on...

I think that I have some setting not configured properly or whatever. I am hoping you all can help!

Thanks in advance and thanks for making such a kick A@@ product!

[Vibey8]

1. Check to see whether the TV card driver is compatible.
2. Sometimes it helps to switch everything off: Computer, speaker system, etc. and start afresh. It helped sort out my sound, which was absent after setting up Mediaportal.

Question: I still cannot maximise my TV screen. How is this done?

[csleech]

I will check the driver tonight. as for swithcing everything off; I have done that multiple times. I have been trying for several days to correct this issue.

[FlipGer]

Hi,

first of all you should look for the latest TV card driver.

Then you should also check the bitrate settings of your card for video and audio.

MP should control the video bitrate settings:
Configure->Television->Capture Cards->Edit->Quality
Check "Use Quality control"

If this does not work, you can uncheck this option and use an external program to set the bitrate. Like the Hauppauge Tweak Tool.

HTH, Flip.

[csleech]

I have update to the latest ATI driver (Catalyst 6.6) and to the latest TV card offered from Happauge.

I installed Happaug WinTV app and tried the TV quality on that. The quality is "ok". It is not what it was previously when I used Beyond TV. The quality did improve through MP and looks a lot closer to the direct analog that runs to the TV.

I have played with all the quality settings per your suggestion. Is there anything else that I can try? Thanks!!!