Teleivsion quality (esp. sports) (2 Viewers)

[quiller]

MediaPortal Version: 0.2.2
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo
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:
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:
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
Power Supply: TruePower 450w
Remote: Pronto Pro TSU7000
TV: Apex 36" CRT
TV - HTPC Connection: S-Video

After suffering through problems a Type B PVR-500, I've gotten a replacement and have MediaPortal up and running without many problems. Actually, there's only one, and it's a biggie: picture quality. I'm not talking about deeper quality, such as the wavy lines or snowy picture from the old PVR-500, or even brightness/contrast problems. The former was solved with the new card (as my PVR-150 was always fine) and the latter by playing with ffdshow filters.

The quality concerns I have are slight, and nearly unnoticeable with most programs; watch a basketball or football game, however, and switch between the STB signal and MP, and the difference is obvious. On MP, the picture is slightly blurry; it's missing the extra level of clarity that lets me see the glint of lights off the hardwood floor, for example. I've tried several codecs, but nothing outside of what MP has installed by default. The MPV codec is horrible, and eventually I settled on the Hauppauge codecs (Intervideo NonCSS). Still, The blacks still aren't quite blacks, and pixelation can be seen if the colors are dark during fast movement.

What I'm really looking for is a tip in the right direction: if this is the best the PVR cards will get, is there another option for tuners? Codec alternatives? Keep playing with the brightness/sharpness?

 

[quiller]

Not to double-post, but some more clarification/questions:

Could the difference be within the analag tuners? My STB is a digital DVR, so perhaps it can pick up the digital signal sent by TimeWarner, whereas the tuner cards can only grab the analog signal? Is there a difference?

Also, I'm pumping the STB into the PVR-150 via a composite connection, and the picture looks the same within MP as it does when the card(s) are doing the tuning.

Combining the previous post and the last revelation, I seem to think the problem is related to either my video card (ATI Radeon 9550 Pro) or something within the codecs...

 

[Flerbizky]

I found that the latest Hauppauge drivers made a world of difference - The version I'm using is # 2.0.48.205...

www.ninjayeti.com/LNA_Tray_App_Install.zip

Also - For some reason, Hauppauge insists on turning up their annoying Comb filter. You can disable it with Hauppauge Tweaker... That should, in theory ;-) remove some of the blur..

http://www.cask-of-amontillado.com/tweaker/Hauppauge_tweaker.zip

Cheers,
Steff

Hmmm... Odd Domain names indeed

 

[quiller]

Interesting... Their site still has the 2.0.43.24103 version; is the LNA_Tray_App the same as what they sent me to "fix" my faulty Type B PVR-500?

 

[diehard2]

Buy the NVIDIA decoders. They are well worth the $20 and far superior to what is included in MP by default

 

[quiller]

Buy the NVIDIA decoders. They are well worth the $20 and far superior to what is included in MP by default

That's assuming the problem is definitively caused by poor codecs. If so, though, I wonder how anyone can stand this quality; it's just above "acceptable," but nowhere near what I thought a sophisticated HTPC would produce, when compared to traditional, run-of-the-mill STB products...

Still, I'll try the new drivers tonight. If that doesn't work, I'll think about shelling out some more cash...

 

[diehard2]

Decoders are difficult to write. NVIDIA is the current technological pinnacle. the other decoders are not as good.

 

[Flerbizky]

Interesting... Their site still has the 2.0.43.24103 version; is the LNA_Tray_App the same as what they sent me to "fix" my faulty Type B PVR-500?

Most likely - But they did make a diff on my setup - Have A model 500s btw...

Cheers,
Steff

 

[quiller]

Wow, talk about "world of difference." I need to play a bit with the brightness, but otherwise the picture is now just as clear and crisp--and no motion artifacts!--as my STB. I forgot to try the drivers and codec separately, but I'll post later on which one made more (any) difference.

 

[bigj]

If you are watching on an iinterlaced CRT you probably need to turn on Bob deinterlacing. It's by far the best (and cheap). Any other mode (which field combines) is overkill and will blur. Watch sports and press '!' to view framerate - if it's deinterlacing it will show (US) 30 I think - where you really want 60hz
I use nvidia codec with bob on pal interlaced crt via scart and IQ is better than my STB.