Grainy [or no] video on new installation (1 Viewer)

[quiller]

MediaPortal Version: 0.2.0.0
MediaPortal Skin:
Windows Version: Windows XP Pro SP2 w/ xplite
CPU Type: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (1.8ghz)
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint-T 500gb (x2)
Memory: 1GB Geil (x2)
Motherboard: Abit ATX Pro K8T800
Motherboard Chipset: VIA
Motherboard Bios:
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9550
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card:
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppage PVR-500
1. TV Card Type: analog
1. TV Card Driver: 2.0.43.24103
2. TV Card: Hauppage PVR-150
2. TV Card Type: analog
2. TV Card Driver: 2.0.43.24103
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: InterVideo NonCSS Video Decoder from Hauppage
MPEG2 Audio Codec: InterVideo NonCSS Audio Decoder from Hauppage
Satelite/CableTV Provider: TimeWarner Nebraska
HTPC Case: Antec Sonata
Cooling:
Power Supply: TruePower 380 watt ATX12V
Remote: Pronto Pro TSU7000
TV: Apex 36" CRT
TV - HTPC Connection: S-Video

First off: I'm only 45 minutes into installing MediaPortal for the first time! Although I had some frustration to begin with, I'm now able to see (some) channels on the PVR-500 (the PVR-150 isn't connected yet). The audio on every channel is wonderful, but the video is either complete static (in autotune; these channels weren't saved) or grainy. Only one channel below 23 was selected in autotune, but even the upper-level channels have sub-par quality. (Note: It's watchable, but grainy; not so bad I want to turn off the TV, but bad enough that it makes no sense to watch on MP instead of my STB.)

I imagine this is a common problem, but unfortunately the forums have proven to be a dangerous place to search (unless you know the right verbage, I imagine). Is this most likely a bad connection (from the wall to the tuner), or might a codec upgrade/replacement give me a sharper image? For the record, the only video codec that appears to work is the one provided by Hauppage.

On a completely unrelated note: I've tried to find out the process of plugging a STB into my PVR-150. We subscribe to some upper-tier digital programming, so I need to use the STB as a tuner and send the signal to the 150's tuner. That much I understand, but how do I get MediaPortal to control the STB, or is that even possible?

Completely unrelated note #2: Neither of the tuner cards came with an IR receiver, but I am planning on using my Pronto to control this system. Can somebody recommend a good, reliable option for this task? I'd prefer it to be USB, as my case is limited on PCI room, but that's not a requirement...

(Ignore the second two questions if need be, I can always start new threads. By far my biggest concern is improving from grainy -> excellent.)

 

[FlipGer]

Hi,

1) Yes it seems to be the connection between wall and PVR-500. How is the reception with the WinTV software? Also make sure you set the correct input source (antenna / cable).
Configure->Television->Capture Cards->Edit (PVR-500a/b)->Autotune

Also check if the correct frequencies are saved for the channels.
Configure->Television->Channels->Edit

And you may change the video / audio codecs to MPV / MPA. These are much better than those from hauppauge.

U1) Try searching for Direct TV / IR-Blaster / STB. Its possible to add and control external channels / boxes.

U2) No hint here than search for remote on the forums.

HTH,
Flip.

 

[quiller]

Yes it seems to be the connection between wall and PVR-500.

This seemed the most likely, considering the quality of the audio. I'll replace the cable and see if that helps.

How is the reception with the WinTV software?

The WinTV software is horrible; it won't autoscan any channels, nor does it pick up channels I program manually. In fact, when I try to program in ESPN, WinTV doesn't even let me use the frequency that MediaPortal reports. (The number is 283.50, which is higher than WinTV allows.)

Also make sure you set the correct input source (antenna / cable).

Lower channels on antenna, even if they are all coming through a cable connection? It doesn't seem to matter, though, since the lower channels don't come in regardless of if I set it to antenna or cable.

Also check if the correct frequencies are saved for the channels.
Configure->Television->Channels->Edit

How do I know what the "correct" frequencies are supposed to be? Do they change by region/provider or is there a list somewhere?

 

[wishywashy]

I have read on other forums there are "issues" with some PVR 500's. Try removeing it and useing the 150 to see if you have the same results.

Here is one example:
http://www.htpcnews.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=25091

 

[FlipGer]

Hi,

How do I know what the "correct" frequencies are supposed to be? Do they change by region/provider or is there a list somewhere?

They differ from region / provider. Usually your provider should have a list on his homepage.

HTH,
Flip.

 

[wishywashy]

Hi,

How do I know what the "correct" frequencies are supposed to be? Do they change by region/provider or is there a list somewhere?

They differ from region / provider. Usually your provider should have a list on his homepage.

HTH,
Flip.

In my experience, US cable providers are pretty void of any channel information. You can usually get antenna frequencies though.

 

[quiller]

I narrowed the grainy-image problem down to interference, and it appears to have been located before the computer. Inserting a powered line amplifier before a splitter has greatly reduced the graininess, but not completely. It's watchable, but switching between my STB and MP, the grainy quality is obvious. Note that the PVR-150 works flawlessly, although it does seem to use way more CPU and memory than it needs to.

Before getting to the final step (IR blaster/receiver and remote), one more problem: almost every time I access the TV Guide while watching live TV (haven't set up timeshifting yet), MP crashes: the video freezes, audio continues, and nothing short of CTRL+F4 has an effect. Could this be due to the skin (X-Mas 2006)?

Here's the content from error.log:

12/16/2006 8:15:53 PM SKIN: Missing skin\X-Mas2005\TVMiniGuide.xml
12/16/2006 8:15:53 PM SKIN: Missing skin\X-Mas2005\videoOverlayTop.xml
12/16/2006 8:16:05 PM Command:MediaPortal.TV.Recording.StartRadioCommand failed reason:All tuners are busy time:15.625 msec
12/16/2006 8:16:08 PM Command:MediaPortal.TV.Recording.StartRadioCommand failed reason:All tuners are busy time:0 msec
12/16/2006 8:16:13 PM Command:MediaPortal.TV.Recording.StartRadioCommand failed reason:All tuners are busy time:0 msec
12/16/2006 8:16:21 PM GUIWindow:OnWindowLoaded id:6 ex:Object of type 'MediaPortal.GUI.Library.GUISelectButtonControl' cannot be converted to type 'MediaPortal.GUI.Library.GUIButtonControl'. at System.RuntimeType.CheckValue(Object value, Binder binder, CultureInfo culture, BindingFlags invokeAttr)
at System.Reflection.RtFieldInfo.InternalSetValue(Object obj, Object value, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, CultureInfo culture, Boolean doVisibilityCheck, Boolean doCheckConsistency)
at System.Reflection.RtFieldInfo.SetValue(Object obj, Object value, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, CultureInfo culture)
at MediaPortal.GUI.Library.GUIWindow.OnWindowLoaded() MediaPortal.GUI.TV.GUITVHome
12/16/2006 8:16:21 PM GUIWindow:OnWindowLoaded id:7 ex:Object of type 'MediaPortal.GUI.Library.GUISelectButtonControl' cannot be converted to type 'MediaPortal.GUI.Library.GUIButtonControl'. at System.RuntimeType.CheckValue(Object value, Binder binder, CultureInfo culture, BindingFlags invokeAttr)
at System.Reflection.RtFieldInfo.InternalSetValue(Object obj, Object value, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, CultureInfo culture, Boolean doVisibilityCheck, Boolean doCheckConsistency)
at System.Reflection.RtFieldInfo.SetValue(Object obj, Object value, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, CultureInfo culture)
at MediaPortal.GUI.Library.GUIWindow.OnWindowLoaded() MediaPortal.GUI.TV.GUITVHome