Card Unsupportted? - Can tune channels

[Ovno]

I have an ATI Radeon 9600xt 128 Mb video card. I started setting up the Sage TV demo because I liked the look guide function; something which is usually poorly done on PC PVR software. I didn't relize at first that my card was unsupportted. I was able to get through the setup process as far as testing video playback.

What I'm wondering is: a) Why can I tune, setup, and preview all of the channels in the channel setup if my card is unsupportted? and b) if I can tune, setup and preview all of the channels from the channel part of the setup, why doesn't the video playback part of the setup work? "there was a problem using the capture device, make sure the dirvers are up to date and corrctly installed" error.

I know that I have no business asking this in the first place, since my card is unsupportted, but it bugs me that, it seems to me like, it's almost working.

It would be a shame if I had to go looking for other software to buy because of a limited supportted hardware list. I don't want to have to shell out for another tuner card AND the software, when I have a perfectly good video card.

[Mark SS]

Telling us what tuner card your using would be a good start.

[Ovno]

Originally Posted by Mark SS

Telling us what tuner card your using would be a good start.

ATI All In Wonder with the Radeon 9600xt chipset.

Which isn't on the supportted list, and that's why I say I have no business asking if it should work, but I can hope.

[JUC]

you're right--you have no business asking such a silly question.
seroiusly though--I had the 9600XT VIVO version and it did the same things you describe. Although sage 'does' (i think) support some software encoder cards WHY would you want to use something that will bog down your system and be a total PITA? I think hardware encoders can be found for around $60 these days. You will be hard pressed to find any software PVR solutions that work reliably using the software encoding card--just too much stress on the system.

And--you're last sentence sums it up nicely "I don't want to have to shell out for another tuner card AND the software, when I have a perfectly good video card." That's exactly correct--you have a perfectly good video card....but not a perfectly good capture card.
Juc

[Ovno]

That's actually rather enlightening to have you point out the difference between hardware encoding and software encoding.

I thank you, very much.

I've learned that with other PVR software my card will only work if the video playback method is set to 3d accellerated and not overlay. I still have to try it with SageTV. Then I'll decide on a software, then I guess I'll probably get a dedicated capture card.