Blinking dashed lines at top during TV viewing (1 Viewer)

[Gatorfreak]

TV-Server Version: 1.0.0.0 RC1
MediaPortal Version: 1.0.0.0 RC1
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo Wide
Windows Version: Windows XP SP3
CPU Type: Athlon X2 3800+ 2.0GHz
HDD: 160GB and 300GB
Memory: 1GB
Motherboard: Asrock 939Dual-Sata2
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9600
Video Card Driver: Omega 3.8.442
Sound Card: USB Sound Blaster Live! 24bit External
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver: Sound blaster driver
1. TV Card: Hauppause HVR-1250
1. TV Card Type: ATSC
1. TV Card Driver: Hauppauge 1.25.25271.0
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: MPV Decoder 1.0.0.3
MPEG2 Audio Codec: Ffdshow
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: MCE
TV: Samsung DLP HDTV
TV - HTPC Connection: sub-D

Some TV shows/commercials have blinking, dashed lines at the very top edge of the screen. Sometimes they're at the bottom edge too. It rarely does it with HD shows.

Additional info: I'm only watching digital ATSC channels over the air. I'm watching with an HDTV that has a d-sub input which the HTPC is connected to. I'm under the assumption that I shouldn't need to mess with overscan stuff since my TV is displaying the exact pixels that my video card is set to (1920x1080).

 

[2BitSculptor]

That is the data band of the NTSC broadcast. You usually see it when the NTSC standard 4:3 frame is embedded in the 16:9 digital frame for ATSC broadcast. In a 4:3 aspect ATSC boadcast the top bands usually aren't seen. It's pretty common.

I'm hoping that the issue goes away after the U.S. analog switch-off occurs next year, but it may be there for a while longer, at least until the broadcaster convert to full digital content, rather than converting the analog content on the fly to fit to digital widescreen. I'm still using an anolog TV for my display, so I can squeeze out the "glitter" by adjusting the overscan in Setup.

Chuck

 

[Gatorfreak]

Thanks for the explanation. Glad it's not just me. Since I'm using a digital display, is there no way to adjust the screen for that stuff? Would be nice to be able to just zoom by 1% for 4:3 stuff and leave 16:9 as is.

 

[tourettes]

That is the data band of the NTSC broadcast. You usually see it when the NTSC standard 4:3 frame is embedded in the 16:9 digital frame for ATSC broadcast. In a 4:3 aspect ATSC boadcast the top bands usually aren't seen. It's pretty common.

I'm hoping that the issue goes away after the U.S. analog switch-off occurs next year, but it may be there for a while longer, at least until the broadcaster convert to full digital content, rather than converting the analog content on the fly to fit to digital widescreen. I'm still using an anolog TV for my display, so I can squeeze out the "glitter" by adjusting the overscan in Setup.

Unfortunately at least in Finland the analog to digital switch only made the case much worser. Maybe 15% of the time there is some nasty data band visible.

 

[2BitSculptor]

It surprises me that the broadcasters haven't figured out how to run the analog frame behind a mask. Many broadcasters already add a graphic on the sides of the 4:3 frame... how hard would it be to add a 3 or 4 pixel black line across the top?

Chuck

 

[tourettes]

It surprises me that the broadcasters haven't figured out how to run the analog frame behind a mask. Many broadcasters already add a graphic on the sides of the 4:3 frame... how hard would it be to add a 3 or 4 pixel black line across the top?

I guess they dont just care as majorty of users arent seeing those errors as most of TVs and settop boxes are having overscan.