TV Quality (1 Viewer)

[sockman]

Hey guys,
I have a few questions regarding extracting the best quality out of my HTPC. The first q relates to the quality of my TV picture. When I view TV through my external Set Top box (SCART to RCA connection) I get a nice, sharp, bright picture. When I view through my PC (Compro DVB-T300 Hybrid TV Tuner card and Geforce 6200 Graphics) the picture isn't bad but it definitely loses a noticeable amount of crispness. The connection from Graphics Card to TV is S-Video to RCA. Could this lower quality connection be entirely responsible for the lower image quality (maybe a stupid question). Or could the problem lie in my TV Card? I ask because I don't want to go and replace x when the problem is y.

Secondly, I am not entirely happy with the amount of time it takes to change channels using my Compro TV Card (usually around 5 - 10 seconds before I get any picture at all). Is this a problem with all tv tuners? If not can anyone point me towards a better card?

Thanks,
BW

Area: Media Portal Program
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.0.0 RC4 (2006-04-1)
MediaPortal Skin: MCE
Windows Version: Windows XP (SP2)
.NET CLR Version: 2.0.50727
DirectX Version: 4.09.00.0904 (9.0c)
Audio Codec: MPEG/AC3/DTS/LPCM Audio Decoder
Video Codec: Mpeg2Dec Filter
CPU Type: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Memory: 511 MB
Motherboard: 'K8N' (ASUSTeK Computer INC.)
TV Card Model: Compro DVB-T300
TV Card Type: Hardware
TV Card Driver: -
Video Card Model: Nvidia Geforce 6200 (256 MB)
Video Card Driver: -
Video Card Resolution: 800x600
Video Render Type: -
Audio Card Model: Realtek AC'97 Audio
Audio Card Driver: -

 

[NLS]

I think there is a user named "compro" that can help you.

 

[sockman]

Cool. Until I hear from compro, can anyone tell me if I am expecting too much of my tv tuner? How long should I expect my tv tuner to take to change channels?

 

[NLS]

without timeshifting, almost like any TV
with timeshifting, 1-2 (3 tops) secs additional

nowhere near your case

 

[~ok|]

hi,

5-10s to switch channel seems a little bit excessive. Using DVB-T200 I can do it in about half that time.

About the picture quality, I don't think your TV and graphic cards should be incriminated. I connect my graphic card (see sig) to my TV card using DVI-D cable and the picture is so crisp and clean. Check your analog cables.

 

[Bram]

I'm going to disable timeshifting. Didn't know it had that much influence.

 

[Elf]

I have a DVB-T card and channel changes since I upgraded to RC4 are virtually instant, although the new channel stutters for a few seconds afterwards - even with timeshifting switched off.

I know what you mean about the TV quality viewed alongside that of a set-top-box though, I saw exactly the same thing with my Sky digibox. It's not that the TV quality from the PC is really bad - if I didn't have Sky for comparison I'd probably be perfectly happy with it.

I've experimented with tv-out (s-vhs) settings for what feels like forever, and I've come to the conclusion I've got about as good a picture as I'm going to get - and that it's really not that bad anyway.

I also tried viewing on a monitor instead of TV, to see if the difference in quality really was down to the tv-out.. While the text is certainly easier to read, I was surprised to see the TV picture didn't improve dramatically. Closer inspection revealed what I'll call "digital artefacts" - blockiness or graininess in large areas of colour or on fast-moving objects (football is particularly ugly to watch) and I'm now wondering if it's worth the investment in a decent mpeg-accelerated graphics card instead of the old Geforce 4MX I've got currently.

 

[sockman]

Ok. Good. So I need to fix the performance of the tv tuner. Any ideas? I heard from someone that I should put my tv tuner in the last pci slot. Could this really make such a significant difference?

In terms of picture quality I guess I'll have to wait until I get a better tv with HDMI inputs :roll:

 

[~ok|]

I heard from someone that I should put my tv tuner in the last pci slot. Could this really make such a significant difference?

none if your card is not engaged in an IRQ conflict

I used to watch TV from a settop box, connected through cheap Cinch cables to the compro card: the quality was... awful.

 

[davej00]

I've experimented with tv-out (s-vhs) settings for what feels like forever, and I've come to the conclusion I've got about as good a picture as I'm going to get - and that it's really not that bad anyway.

I guess you were probably using the Sky box via scart -- which probably means that you were [in effect] using component video. Comparing component video is *much* better than s-vhs.

If you stick with your card I would suggest looking for a VGA->Scart cable. If you search on the web, and are handy with a soldering iron you can make your own.

Failing that, get a better video card and at the same time look out for one with component video.

I use a 6150 mobo. I use component video out with the Nvidia purevideo decoder and the quality on my 32" [CRT :wink: ] panny is very very nice !

Enjoy !

- Dave