Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier with my Xcard....

[cmaffia]

For my 150, any volume changes for Line-In don't seem to work at all.
I even did some drastic volume reductions and it didn't change a thing.
I even rebooted between changes. Do these changes work for Sage?
I tested on the actual sage server so I am referring to LiveTV, not recordings with old volume settings.

Originally Posted by gplasky

Get yourself the handy, dandy Hauppauge Tweak Tool!

Tweak Tool

Download

Several advanced settings can be changed that are not accesible with the normal software.

Gerry

[something fishy]

I've not used the tweak tool with any success (I have a 250 and a 350); the old registry editing technique is detailed on the "Hauppauge tips and tricks" page of http://www.cask-of-amontillado.com/htpc.html

Cheers
Eric

[BryanJ]

Hi, I'm also interested in utilizing the internal digital video out feature of the Xcard hooked up to a video card with an svideo output to marry the hardware decoded mpeg video with the Sage UI. I went ahead and ordered an Xcard and, not suprisingly, it did not come with the internal digital video pin header. I also happened to have on hand a ATI Rage 128 Pro card which appears to have the holes for the internal digital video input as well. So, what I would like to do is to have the pin header soldered on to both of these cards and order the 26 pin cable as seen earlier on in this thread. I suspect I'll have to take this to a PC repair shop and have someone do this work for me. (See the attached image)

My questions are: Can the pin header actually be soldered on in the first place? Looking at the ATI board, is this the correct header? (upper left corner) Are the pinouts the same or will I have to mod the cable wiring? What am I overlooking? Has anyone ever done this?

I did try out the xcard and I'm impressed with its smooth video... but, of course, there is no sage UI.

Thanks for your comments.. BryanJ

[abanytime]

Hey all,

I've got an Xcard with the header and a GeForce3 Ti500 with the header. I obtained the "Feature Enhancement" 26 pin cable dbfresh posted about and connected the two. I also dropped a copy of the needed dll into the system32 directory. I'm currently connecting to a PC monitor through the VGA output on the Ti500.

When I attempt to watch a DVD through the Xcard player and select "VGA" as the output I get a black screen. Is it possible I have the cable connected backwards? The Ti500 has one missing pin, the second from the bottom on the right set of pins as the card is installed in my Ahanix case. I haven't tried to connect through s-video to my TV yet (which is the ultimate destination for this once I finish building it and getting Sage configured.

Thanks for any help and forgive me if this is a stupid question.

- AB

[abanytime]

Originally Posted by abanytime

Hey all,

I've got an Xcard with the header and a GeForce3 Ti500 with the header. I obtained the "Feature Enhancement" 26 pin cable dbfresh posted about and connected the two. I also dropped a copy of the needed dll into the system32 directory. I'm currently connecting to a PC monitor through the VGA output on the Ti500.

When I attempt to watch a DVD through the Xcard player and select "VGA" as the output I get a black screen. Is it possible I have the cable connected backwards? The Ti500 has one missing pin, the second from the bottom on the right set of pins as the card is installed in my Ahanix case. I haven't tried to connect through s-video to my TV yet (which is the ultimate destination for this once I finish building it and getting Sage configured.

Thanks for any help and forgive me if this is a stupid question.

- AB

Sorry to reply to my own post but maybe someone can help...

Problem is described above. I tried to output to my TV using the S-video out on the ti500 (to my AV receiver) and I can see Windows on the TV. I can see the Sage menu also. When I try to view live TV in Sage I get a dark green screen. I'm using analog cable through a PVR500. I'm using the correct driver for the tuner and was able to set up both tuners correctly through the Source Setup in Sage.

The ti500 seems to work fine on a PC monitor through VGA. I'm afraid there might be a problem with the header on one of the cards. I thought I might have the cable reversed to the video card, so I switched it, but this produced a "System failed VGA test" on boot. So, I think the cable is connected properly.

Anybody have any ideas/fixes/suggestions? Thanks for anything.

[something fishy]

I think to use the VIP header on the xCard you have to have the output in the xcard control panel set to anything *but* "VGA". Try switching it to s-video and see if that works <this switch in the xcard control panel is irrespective of the actual connector you are using to hook the TV up to graphics card>

[willemse]

Did you install Xcard drivers en application of the website?: http://www.sigmadesigns.com/support/...win2000_xp.htm

You did not indicate that this was done so.


The driver is the zip file XC_2_1k1 and the application is zip file XC_2_1k2
After installation of the application:
-Set in the Xcard media player, tab Video set-up output (composite S-video) and TV standard
-Test whether you get output on the Xmedia player

goodluck

[abanytime]

Thanks something fishy and willemse for your replies. I am going to try the drivers at the link willemse posted. I just used the drivers on the xcard cd. I'm at work so I can't check the version of mine right now, but I suspect they're older than the website drivers.

I'll post if this works, hopefully this saga can help others, too.

[aoehlke]

anyone know if a 4MB PCI nvidia RIVA video card will handle this application?
it has the header... and svideo out... I just dont know if it matters that it is only 4MB

[SHS]

Yes 4MB is fine I had it all the way down to 2MB ATI which would be the very bear min to get away at 800x600, other then that 4MB is better at 1024x768 any thing higher then this better jump 8MB card or more.

[aoehlke]

I am having a really hard time finding a card.

I need a 4MB PCI video card, with Svideo out... its hard to come by on ebay anyway.
I lost an auction yesterday for the 4MB one I asked about above... darn ebay sometimes doesnt send out outbid notices til end of auction!
does it have to be ati or nvidia?
can it be S3 or diamond?... what about a banshee(i think 3dfx).

[SHS]

ati or nvidia only what wrong with get a AGP card? unless you don't have AGP slot.

[SHS]

I see lot of ATI 3D Rage Pro PCI and ATI Rage Pro Turbo PCI heck I ever see Nvidia Riva 2 and TnT 1/2 on eBay

But with SVideo out
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-3D-Rage-Pro-...ayphotohosting

[mikejaner]

aoehlke,

I have a Matrox G400 32 or 64 Meg card with the Svideo adapter and the VIP connector on it if you want.

[aoehlke]

sure, i'd buy it... but i thought the matrox wasnt supported in this application?

is the matrox a PCI card?

[mikejaner]

No, AGP
I don't know why the Matrox would not be supported for what your trying to do. You might be talking about the DVDMAX mode. I am not sure but the Matrox might not have Overscan controls, which is why everybody is pointing you to Nvidia and ATI.

[aoehlke]

oh the reason i want PCI is cause I already have a card in my agp slot.
this card has no VIP and, I would like to isolate the sage output from the rest of the system (this is why i also have xcard).

[mikejaner]

AHHHHH, I should read more carefully.
This would be an untested setup your doing. Having an AGP card and a PCI card, and outputting Sage through a secondary Display Adapter, and tying in the Xcard through VIP.
The problem with this is you would have to A: Get the two cards working properly in the first place, then, B: make the PCI adapter your Primary to get Overlay to display on that card, so the Xcard VIP input would be displayed on the PCI Card.

[SHS]

Matrox are not support

[SHS]

Here what you want this sure be a 4MB
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-3D-Rage-Pro-...ayphotohosting

here one more not if it 4MB or 2MB ver
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-RAGEII-DVD-6...QQcmdZViewItem