need tv out with pvr-150

[pboodi]

I I currently have a pvr-150 and software ver 2.2. I need to add tv out and now I'm begining to regret ordering the pvr-350 after all the stories im reading. Can I add an output or replace with some other kind of card to get better results.

thx pboodi

[dvd_maniac]

what video card do you have? What kind of slot (PCI, AGP or PCI-x). I think most people here go tv out using an Ati or GeForce video card.

[pboodi]

I have a hauppauge pvr-150 single tuner pci card......I didn't know I could use video on a seperate video card?!?!?!?!?

[pboodi]

oops ......video card ...duh....mine is on the motherboard... can anyone suggest a video card with video output. If i'm going to spend the money I want somthing that works Unlike the pvr-350.

[h8dk97]

What's the problem with 350? I can't tell the difference between watching TV and 350 tv out whereas svideo from my Radeon 9600XT produces a dull, not as sharp picture.

[pboodi]

its a problem with the software locking up at the end of a viewing. The reported fix for it is to stop the video before it ends. I could probably handle it but I don't think my wife would stand it. I'm not sure i want to take the chance. Shes been begging me for a tivo.

[JUC]

Have you tried 3.0X version of SageTV? I have heard that it fixed the EOF bug, no?
JUC

[Opus4]

BTW: stopping playback before the recording ends is a red herring; it does not actually solve the issue in the 350's driver - the developers have been there & done that. The 350 just works on some systems but not on others.

- Andy

[pboodi]

There is a setting used to enable output on the 350 in sage. How would I watch video if I purchased a seperate video card with output to watch tv?

[Humanzee]

VR-350 owner here. 3.x doesn’t fix anything to date. If I were to start over I wouldn’t choose the PVR-350. True, I have been spoiled by the picture quality that its hardware decoding offers. However, the drawbacks are becoming significant enough to me to start looking at another method for TV output.

Benefits of the pvr-350
1. Great image quality
2. “Hardware Decoding Only” uses 0% CPU time when watching a recording.

Limitations of the 350 include.
1. Can only display mpeg video that was recorded with a compatible codec. (no avi, wmv etc.)
2. Can’t display DVD video/audio. Or at least I never got it to work.
3. Unresolved end of file lockup/reboot problem,.
4. Doesn’t synchronize mpeg audio well with the systems audio. So if you have hardware and software decoding enabled, you will get an echo from either your TV or Computer speakers. If you use Hardware decoding only you won’t be able to listen to music on your TV.

Other than that, it’s perfect.

Pboodi,
The “enable 350 TV output” option in settings turns on and off the 350’s hardware decoder. If your TV is going to be plugged into the back of the PVR-350 then you will need to have this turned on. There is another setting there to enable / disable the on screen menus on the output of the pvr-350. There is yet another setting to enable hardware decoding only, this will disable the software decoding and turn off the video on your PC screen. As I said above the two will not be exactly synchronized so I tend to run hardware decoding only. Disabling the 350’s hardware decoding defeats the purpose of choosing the 350 over a 250.

Since you already ordered a 350 I’d hook it up and see how stable it is for you. Like Opus said different folks have different amounts of success. Also note, I have had a bit more stability after improving my case’s cooling, but that might be my imagination.

If you choose not to use the TV-Out on the pvr-350 you would disable the settings for hardware decoding in Sage’s settings and you would need to find a suitable graphics card that can clone what you see on your PC monitor and display it on the TV screen. Your sound would then come from your PC speaker output instead of the 350’s.

As I mentioned, I wouldn’t buy the 350 again. I’d spend some extra $$ on a good graphics card with TV out. That being said, I am too looking for reasonably priced options. AGP slot preferred, else its time for a new mother board.

[nielm]

Originally Posted by pboodi

There is a setting used to enable output on the 350 in sage. How would I watch video if I purchased a seperate video card with output to watch tv?

if you dont have, or dony want to use the -350's tv-out, you would just use the video card's TV-out...

[pboodi]

but can you configure such card to work like the 350 directly from the sage saftware?