Why the grainy picture?

Martin B · 2006-12-18, 03:16

I know this isnt really a MP issue, but why is it that the picture when i watch livetv og tv-recordings is so grainy compared to when i watch tv directly on my tv?

I have cable tv and the picture on the tlly is great, but when i watch tv from MP or any other tuner program the picture gets a bit unsharp, edgy and grainy, not much but claerly not as good as the tv directly from the tv-tuner.

Is it because the tv-tuner card in my pc is not as good as the tuner in th tv, or is the th tv-engine in MP (and other programs) that causes this?

I have tried almost everything : other video decoder, other sreen res and hertz, changed the win reg db. But whatever i doits still the same picture. And dont et me wrong the picture is ok, just not as good as the tv-picture. And this ofcourse makes me watch tv on the tv instead of through MP, wich is a shame..

Will the picture get better when the new MP tv-engine is released or do i have to go out and buy a DVB-C tuner before i get a better picture?

Cheers,
Martin.

ps. i still love MP :-)

mrkaras · 2006-12-18, 04:50

How have you got your signal getting from your computer to your TV, ther may be problems there. I thought a RCA cable should work OK (untill i got something better) but it was awfull. I am now using a VGA cable ant tha is OK but I am hoping it will get better when I get a digital interface. Also concider wether your graphics card would be causing issues.

Martin B · 2006-12-18, 11:34

Hi Mrkaras.

Im using a dvi>hdmi cabel to connect the pc to my telly, so i guess that should be ok. My gfz card is an onboard nvidia 6150. Shouldnt that be ok?

The picture is crystal clear if i watch fx. an divx movie or dvd's.

Taipan · 2006-12-18, 12:24

I think you will find that the poor picture quality is due to the setup of your Hauppauge PVR150 - there have been many threads/posts on this topic - try doing a search and I am sure you will find the answer.

geov · 2006-12-18, 13:01

I had the same problem with my PVR500 until I installed the latest drivers for both my Graphics and PVR card. Now I have a clear picture...almost as good as going directly to the TV.

Cheers
GeoV

eggz2004 · 2006-12-18, 13:11

Hi Martin, same issue here, and it looks like we have almost the same hardware...
Could you please post a image of yout tV just to compare with mine??

Thanks

quiller · 2006-12-18, 21:17

Actually, it might not be a hardware/MP issue at all. I just finished a whole train of nightmares related to a grainy/snowy image: the signal was fine on my STB, but snowy on the PVR-500 tuners (and, oddly enough, perfectly fine for awhile on a PVR-150). The issue here had to do with the signal strength--I knew nothing about the topic, but my roommate is an installer for Dish, so he cleared it up.

Short version: Stay away from splitters, but if you have to use one make sure any unused outs are capped. Every time coax is split, the signal loses about 3.5dB, which directly relates to the snowy image. You can use a inline amplifier (RadioShack or any home-entertainment store will carry them) to boost a weak signal, but beware that you can also boost it too much. This might be a PVR-500-only issue, but it's worth noting.

Long version: Coming soon, hopefully in enough detail to be of use in the wiki, and for other cards besides Hauppage.

2006-12-18, 03:16	#1 (permalink)
Martin B Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Why the grainy picture? I know this isnt really a MP issue, but why is it that the picture when i watch livetv og tv-recordings is so grainy compared to when i watch tv directly on my tv? I have cable tv and the picture on the tlly is great, but when i watch tv from MP or any other tuner program the picture gets a bit unsharp, edgy and grainy, not much but claerly not as good as the tv directly from the tv-tuner. Is it because the tv-tuner card in my pc is not as good as the tuner in th tv, or is the th tv-engine in MP (and other programs) that causes this? I have tried almost everything : other video decoder, other sreen res and hertz, changed the win reg db. But whatever i doits still the same picture. And dont et me wrong the picture is ok, just not as good as the tv-picture. And this ofcourse makes me watch tv on the tv instead of through MP, wich is a shame.. Will the picture get better when the new MP tv-engine is released or do i have to go out and buy a DVB-C tuner before i get a better picture? Cheers, Martin. ps. i still love MP :-)

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2006-12-18, 04:50	#2 (permalink)
mrkaras Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 358 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	How have you got your signal getting from your computer to your TV, ther may be problems there. I thought a RCA cable should work OK (untill i got something better) but it was awfull. I am now using a VGA cable ant tha is OK but I am hoping it will get better when I get a digital interface. Also concider wether your graphics card would be causing issues.

2006-12-18, 11:34	#3 (permalink)
Martin B Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Hi Mrkaras. Im using a dvi>hdmi cabel to connect the pc to my telly, so i guess that should be ok. My gfz card is an onboard nvidia 6150. Shouldnt that be ok? The picture is crystal clear if i watch fx. an divx movie or dvd's.

2006-12-18, 12:24	#4 (permalink)
Taipan Portal Tester Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,948 Thanks: 4 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts Country: My System	I think you will find that the poor picture quality is due to the setup of your Hauppauge PVR150 - there have been many threads/posts on this topic - try doing a search and I am sure you will find the answer.

2006-12-18, 13:01	#5 (permalink)
geov Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cape Town Age: 36 Posts: 460 Thanks: 6 Thanked 18 Times in 15 Posts Country: My System	I had the same problem with my PVR500 until I installed the latest drivers for both my Graphics and PVR card. Now I have a clear picture...almost as good as going directly to the TV. Cheers GeoV

2006-12-18, 13:11	#6 (permalink)
eggz2004 Portal Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	Hi Martin, same issue here, and it looks like we have almost the same hardware... Could you please post a image of yout tV just to compare with mine?? Thanks

2006-12-18, 21:17	#7 (permalink)
quiller Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nebraska Age: 23 Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	Actually, it might not be a hardware/MP issue at all. I just finished a whole train of nightmares related to a grainy/snowy image: the signal was fine on my STB, but snowy on the PVR-500 tuners (and, oddly enough, perfectly fine for awhile on a PVR-150). The issue here had to do with the signal strength--I knew nothing about the topic, but my roommate is an installer for Dish, so he cleared it up. Short version: Stay away from splitters, but if you have to use one make sure any unused outs are capped. Every time coax is split, the signal loses about 3.5dB, which directly relates to the snowy image. You can use a inline amplifier (RadioShack or any home-entertainment store will carry them) to boost a weak signal, but beware that you can also boost it too much. This might be a PVR-500-only issue, but it's worth noting. Long version: Coming soon, hopefully in enough detail to be of use in the wiki, and for other cards besides Hauppage.