New Installation, Poor TV quality (1 Viewer)

[pmbsa]

Hi, I have recently returned to using MP after a long time away. I appear to be having issues with the TV quality which is seriously affecting
my GAF (which is pretty much key to getting to keep my installation! )

I have a headless MP tv server running with a couple of Hauppauge HVR-1900 USB2 cards (onboard mpeg2). I have them connected up to a couple of sat receivers using the composite
connectors (so everything analog really, nothing clever). I have everything working nicely, external channel change, XMLTV guide all works perfectly.
On the client side, I have a base model mac mini connected up to my HDTV (40 inch over HDMI). I have installed the latest NVidia Purevision codecs (last time I used MP those where considered prett good codecs but I dont know anymore) and I have the TV settings set to use those. The problem I have is the general quality of the TV picture. I have tearing and colour bluring and pretty much any other issue going on you can imagine (aside fro stuttering, there is no problem there). I have messed with the Deinterlacing settings alot trying to improve things but nothing seems to help. I have also used the default codecs for MP without much success as well. I am hoping somebody might be able to point me to some tips to try to improve things, I am not sure if there is anything I am missing on the server side which might help (I have set the cards to use High quality streams with the Hauppauge settings as well).

Aside from the TV, the video quality is all good (using the same codecs). I am able to play my ISO images and .mkv's and all sorts without a problem, in fact the picture quality is really really good)

Any advice would be appreciated, like I said I would be loathed to have to give my new toy but without a quality TV picture my chances are pretty slim.

thanks
Paul

 

[mm1352000]

Hi Paul

I don't have any experience with the NVidia codecs but most people seem to use SAF these days. Personally I prefer Cyberlink codecs...

Okay, so the first thing I would say is check that the tuners' settings (especially frame rate). You want the frame rate to match the content frame rate and the refresh rate of your display/TV.

mm

 

[pmbsa]

Thanks fro the response, I did notice alot of chatter about SAF but I wasnt sure I understood what it was all about. Is is safe to just install then?

I will have a good poke around with the tuner settings then and see if I can get that to improve things and perhaps look into the cyberlink codecs. I asume thats just by installing powerdvd? (which Version is best?)

thanks
Paul

 

[mm1352000]

Thanks fro the response, I did notice alot of chatter about SAF but I wasnt sure I understood what it was all about. Is is safe to just install then?

I believe so... I mean I've never actually used it myself. I install pretty much the same codecs manually. Hoburg and the rest of the community provide excellent support though, so if you have any queries then you can be sure someone will be able to help.

I will have a good poke around with the tuner settings then and see if I can get that to improve things and perhaps look into the cyberlink codecs. I asume thats just by installing powerdvd? (which Version is best?)

Yes, from PDVD, although the latest versions don't allow you to use the codecs with 3rd party apps like MP. If you go for SAF then be sure to ask about the unlocked version.

The other thing I meant to say is don't set the quality levels on the encoders too high. It may sound counter intuitive, but it is actually best to start low and work upwards gradually if you find that the settings are reliable.

mm

 

[pmbsa]

great, thanks for the advice. I will give it a go and see how I get on.