Newbie - Setup Assistance... (1 Viewer)

[Fil6s]

MediaPortal Version: 1.2.2.0
MediaPortal Skin: Streamed MP 1.7.5.3066
Windows Version: Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 64bit
CPU Type: AMD Athlon II X2 250 Processor 3.00Ghz
HDD: 160G WD SATA2 WD1600AAJS INTERNAL & 2 external USB Drives
Memory: 4GB TW3X4G1333C9A XMS3 CLASSIC
Motherboard: Asus M4A78LT-M
Video Card: 512MB SAPP HD5450
Video Card Driver: AMD 8.920.0.0
Sound Card:
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: TBS Dual DVB-S2 High Definition Digital Satellite Tuner PCI Express Card HD (DVB-S2/DVB-S) Receiver
1. TV Card Type: DVB-S2
1. TV Card Driver: TBS 2.0.0.21
MPEG2 Video Codec: LAV Video Decoder
MPEG2 Audio Codec: LAV Audio Decoder
h.264 Video Codec: LAV Video Decoder
Satelite/CableTV Provider: SKY
HTPC Case: SilverStone GRANDIA GD04B
Cooling: Stock
Power Supply: CORSAIR 430W CMPSU-430CX
Remote: MCE
TV: Samsung LE40B550
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI


Hello,

Just a bit of background, I am new to the MediaPortal scene, a recent transition from XBMC, the reason? I really want to remove the need for SKY as my TV provider, as I find that I do not use any of the pay to view channels, and tend to watch the terrestrial channels.

So, I followed the installation guide and found out about and installed SAF V6 (based on LAVF) codecs pack, I have managed to get all my HD and non HD movies working really well (well to my satifaction anyway). But I am really struggling to get the Live TV aspect of MediaPortal to give me anything close to quality I expierenced with the SKY + HD box.

I find that the picture is not as clean or crisp as the SKY box, espiescally on SD content, HD content is alot better.

I am now starting to lose my patience with messing around with various setting, and the fact the otherhalf is nagging at me to get it sorted

I am using Dynamic Refresh Rates

Cinema - 23.976
PAL - 50
HDTV - 50
NTSC - 50
TV - 50


I have been messing around with Interlacing, but not really sure what it is doing, any suggestions on what this should be set to?

I have looked into Aspect Ratios, as MediaPortal seems to set itself to Zoom, and when I set it to Original, the TV picture goes into postcard mode (very small).

Whatever I do, I just feel that I am guessing all the time, so I thought enough is enough, call in the experts......

So, can anyone please review my setup and let me know what can do to get a better picture or at least a little bit less blurred.

I hope I have explained my issue well enough, I have attached as much information that I can think of.

Thanks in advance

Phil

 

[mbuzina]

Hi there & welcome to the wonderful world of MP

Basically I would say that your setup is good, the timing of playback is fine (horizontal lines on the graph). Deinterlacing artifacts usually don't look blurry, they show best upon a news channel with a scrolling news ticker. If it is clean & readable your deinterlacing is good, otherwise it needs looking at. The value to choose here is VectorAdaptive.

You might want to try the MS Video CODEC, in my opinion it is one of the best, others recommend the PowerDVD codec.

I have problems really identifiying your picture quality issue, so maybe you can describe the effect you are seeing in more detail (washed out colors? Tearing of fast movement? ...)

 

[Fil6s]

Thanks for your prompt reply.

It is hard to explain the picture issues, when looking at close up faces, it would seem rather blocky and not a smooth blend of colours and lines.

I also see as part of moving objects that they leave a jagged shadow behind them.

I will try to capture some images to describe it better.

I will try some different variances of Codec to see if that helps, Is there anything I need to check on the graphic card itself?

Regards

Phil

 

[wishywashy]

It is a SD picture on a HD television, it is going to look ugly. Your screen shot shows the input video is only 720x576 and is upsized to 1920x1080. If you zoom something two or three times bigger, you are zooming the inherent noise of an analog signal. The "post card" sized picture when you set the video to normal is similar to putting a 3x5 card in a 8x10 picture frame, there is plenty of space left over.

 

[Fil6s]

Is there anything that can be done to increase the original picture size, so that I am not zooming in so much, are there settings on the tv card or anywhere else.

Thanks for your help.

Phil

 

[porky996t]

Hi Phil,

I, too got rid of my Sky box over two years ago and started using MP instead. Welcome to the learning curve!

I use both DVB-T and DVB-S/S2 signals to receive Free To Air programmes. Whilst I think I have a good picture, I do find that when upscaling to a full HD image some channels are not as detailed as others. This is particularly noticeable with channels such as "Yesterday", however, I do find "BBC2" very good though. I suspect some channels use a lower bitrate on transmissions. As wishy washy said, this is going to happen with a SD transmission, as you are effectively zooming in to the image.

I use a combination of codecs, and have PowerDVD11 set for the H.264 channels (generally HD) and the MS DVD Codec that comes with Win7 for standard SD transmissions.

HTH,



M.

 

[Fil6s]

Thanks for that, I will keep playing around with the setup, luckily I still have the sky subscription to fall back on while I am messing.

Another thing I have noticed is that itv hd and channel 4 hd are out of sync after 10 seconds of viewing, any help on that issue?

Thanks

Phil

 

[porky996t]

Hi Phil,

What is out of sync? Is it the audio and video ?

This would be a codec issue - if you have live TV running and then press Shift & 1 ( the ! key) it will bring up a graphic display of three coloured lines... but it should also tell you which codec you using.

If you could tell us what codec is being used it would be a start.


Thanks,



M.

 

[Pandanus]

If you are still having this problem try looking in the AMD Vision centre (or whatever the hell it's called). In the video quality settings you can adjust the edge detection and noise reduction being applied, it sounds like this might be what's causing some of your artifacts.

I can't help much more as I'm still playing with this myself - I recently had to re-install MP due to an HD failure and I'm having trouble getting the excellent SD quality I used to have. I blame the AMD drivers personally.

 

[adeyman]

I am having similar problems to you at the moment. In fact I sound like I am in exactly the same boat as you.

I used to use my PS3 for TV viewing but wanted an all in one set up/tv and media streaming on the go etc etc. But I just can not get the TV quality to look good. I can get it just OK but it is nowhere near the quality of the PS3 and some channels/programs (especially american sitcoms on e4 etc) look so dire I keep thinking my girlfriend has smeared the TV in Vasaline as a protest against my constant fiddling!

I have done weeks of researching and googling and reading of any guide that anybody has shared. What is starting to drive me mad though is the reply 'well duh it isnt a bluray, you're supersizing an image threefold of course it is going to be rubbish' even though as you (and I) have already stated the SD quality was fine through a Sky box or a PS3. We're not so mentally subnormal that we think 576i can be upscaled perfectly to 1080p, but we know it can look better than it currently does.

And when people say 'quality is subjective, I think mine looks good'......well, OK, but what are YOUR settings? Nobody ever gives up what THEIR settings are. Is it a secret?

I don't want this to sound like a rant, and I love the product, it is just frustrating that all you ever find is people asking what the best settings are and people only ever replying with 'my settings are OK' and then not sharing them.