Quick question about HD Tv signals and other things ..... (1 Viewer)

[jbhifi]

Hi. First post here. I have spent the last few weeks messing about with MS MCE 2005 and MediaPortal and have found to have had a much nicer time with media portal. MP picks up all my tv channels unlike MCE2005. I have a question about HD TV though. I am using an old laptop with a 1.8mhz AMD Sempron and 2 gb of RAM. It also uses an onboard video chip which shares system memory (128mb) . I just assumed that it wouldn't be able to handle HD because of its low specs. However I am able to tune to SBS HD (Australia) without a problem but ABC, 7, 9 and 10 are no good. Is the SBS signal somehow different? Or would I be looking at signal quality issues?

The other question I have is regarding a Compro USB u300 TV stick. I have no trouble tuning the stations but I cannot record and watch another channel at the same time. I am able to do this with the original Compro software though. Is this because the compro software is doing something that MediaPortal is unaware of how to do?

Any help appreciated.

 

[Taipan]

However I am able to tune to SBS HD (Australia) without a problem but ABC, 7, 9 and 10 are no good. Is the SBS signal somehow different? .

SBS HD is 576p, ABC HD is 720p and all the others (7, 9 & 10 HD) are 1080i.

It depends what your mean by "ABC, 7, 9 and 10 are no good" - do you mean that the video is choppy, or do you get no video at all?

What MPEG2 decoder have you selected for TV?

The other question I have is regarding a Compro USB u300 TV stick. .

Is this a dual DVB-T receiver ?

Are you using TVE2 or TVE3? (the built-in TV engine, or the TV Server engine)

 

[jbhifi]

Ahhhh that makes sense. The video is choppy on all the other channels. In my limited experience I'd say that must be because the SBS signal requires less processor time than the others.

The usb tuner as far as I am aware is a single tuner.

Thanks

Oh btw, I beleive I'm using the TV server. If thats what installs by default with the SQL express engine...

 

[Taipan]

The usb tuner as far as I am aware is a single tuner.

Which means that it can only receive one "channel frequency" at a time - however, most channel frequencies carry more than one program.

For example, on the ABC frequency you can view ABC1, ABC2 or ABC HD. With the TV Server, you could be recording ABC1 while watching ABC2. However, you cannot watch ABC1 while recording 7 SD as they are on different frequencies.

The same would apply to the original Compro software - you could only watch and record 2 channels that are on the same frequency.

HTH ...?

 

[jbhifi]

Yeah, that has helped.

Am I correct in assuming that I could purchase another usb stick tuner and use that for recording while I view other channels? I noticed I can use multiple devices with the TV server. Are there any problems in using different chipsets etc.. or would sticking to the same brand be safest?

 

[Taipan]

Am I correct in assuming that I could purchase another usb stick tuner and use that for recording while I view other channels?

Yes, that is correct.

I noticed I can use multiple devices with the TV server. Are there any problems in using different chipsets etc.. or would sticking to the same brand be safest?

I am not aware of any issues either way, but if you are happy with the Compro USB u300 TV stick, then it should be fine to add a second one.

 

[jbhifi]

Cool. Thanks for answering my nubby questions.

Cheers