Best TV skin?? (1 Viewer)

[ktjensen]

I run my MediaPortal on my desktop, but eventually I switch to my external TV (my video card can switch to drive my TV - as most video cards can).

I am running in 800x600 resolution for both my desktop, and my TV.

What is the best skin for using with a TV? I can not seem to read most of the menus on my TV when I use the standard skin.

Is anyone developing a skin that will work well on a regular TV?

 

[CHli]

Tip : First you should switch to PAL or NTSC resolution for you TV output.

 

[ktjensen]

There is no PAL or NTSC resolution selection page in the settings of MP for a skin, or for any other setting. Is there something I have not found yet (week 2 - living with MP) for an improved display skin to a television?

On my video card in my computer, I can reduce the resolution to 800 x 600 video card composite video output, and connect to my television (my television has composite input). The video card is outputing NTSC and it looks okay. I can read the menus, but the menus are all very small type.

Many video cards can output composite video. I would have thought this would be a significant requirement with MP.

 

[quiller]

How large is your TV, and is it CRT or LCD? I use BlueTwo (well, a modified version, but the same core) on a 32" CRT, and the menus are fine. From more than 10 feet away they get a little small, and I've actually gone through the XML files and increased a lot of font sizes.

Check your video card settings, ATI and nVidia normally include custom resolutions in their panels. For example, I set ATI Catalyst to force 740x576 (or whatever NTSC is).

 

[ktjensen]

How large is your TV, and is it CRT or LCD? I use BlueTwo (well, a modified version, but the same core) on a 32" CRT, and the menus are fine. From more than 10 feet away they get a little small, and I've actually gone through the XML files and increased a lot of font sizes.

Check your video card settings, ATI and nVidia normally include custom resolutions in their panels. For example, I set ATI Catalyst to force 740x576 (or whatever NTSC is).

NTSC is a resolution of 320x240 I believe. That is television. I will look at my ATI Catalyst card settings to see if I can force it smaller.

I have also been told (separate discussion) to go in and edit the BlueTwo XML settings file (under the skins directory) to change the font sizes. That bothers me as it is like editing the registry, but I can do it. Just need to make sure I do not mess things up. Can you tell me what you set for an optimal font size on your screen resolution? I think I have the hardware similar to yours, and I can match what you have.

 

[quiller]

I have my TV set at 720x576, mostly because any smaller and the skin(s) look plain awful. At that resolution, though, most readable text (i.e. guide, program description, etc.) on various interfaces is font14 or higher.

Stay tuned in the next few days. Even though my modifications aren't complete, I'm going to release what I have modified so far. Most of the changes are centered only in the MyTV section, since that is what I use the most and (in my opinion) what was most in need of improvement.

 

[ktjensen]

I kept my 800x600 size, and increased all fonts to size 14 or better with the SIMPLIFY skin. It looks great!!

 

[HrOlsen]

Please release what you have so far quiller

Hi quiller,
I am struggling with my MediaPortal on a regular TV where all text is very hard to read from 10 ft away.
Please release what you have with larger fonts and I will be happy to test it.
(I have sent you a personal mail with my direct email address)
Thanks in advance
/Olsen

 

[gxtracker]

Tip : First you should switch to PAL or NTSC resolution for you TV output.

You should not set your HTPC output to be PAL or NTSC resolution. The problem is that computer monitors use square pixels and analog televisions do not. on an analog TV the pixels are taller than they are wider.

The whole goal to getting the best picture quality is to get the aspect ratio equal on your source (HTPC) and destination. (TV)

NTSC Televisions are 4:3 (1.33)
HDTV Televisions are 16:9 (1.77)

800x600 is a 1.33 aspect ratio
720x480 (NTSC) is a 1.5 aspect ratio
720x576 (PAL) is a 1.25 aspect ratio

So leave your HTPC at 800x600, and just increase the font size in the skins XML file, or do like ktjensen did. That will give you the most readable picture quality without stretching the shape of the image.

 

[cheezey]

Read this for bigger font sizes.