Odd Quality Problem via Digital Cable

[roddym4]

Hello all.

I have pvr-250 in a XP2200, nvideo Gforce MX4400 box and licensed copy of Sage plugged into 43 hitachi HDTV RP monitor that gets its signal from a Mot. DCT2000 digital cable box (Comcast).

Quality is good, though motion artificating is more noticeable on an HD box. I have no interest in investing in an expensive component out capable card at this time. Generally, PQ is good on most recordings. That said......

When I record shows on one of the "supplemental" HBOs (e.g., HBO Signature or other +300 movie channels), I get a very obvious ghosting (echoing) of images, particularly when the camera pans. It looks like a "trail" effect feature on a camcorder. I figure that it may have to do with compression of the additional channels, but it is not noticeable at all when watching through the cable box alone, only via Sage/PVR-250. I also get a bit more of "pastelling" which makes flesh tones appear to morph on people's faces. That I know has to do with compression, but the ghosting/image echoing is very odd and appears to be associated with the PVR encoding.

I have the latest drivers on all devices, and I utilize the Hauppauge registry hack. I have tried all quality options, including Max Quality to no avail.

Any and all "sage" advice and counsel is greatly appreciated. I am a happy camper otherwise.

[mlbdude]

Try different deinterlacing options and a different decoder. The Elecard codec will let you use DScaler to deinterlace. DScaler is the best deinterlacer you could use. Make sure you put Sage to sleep after you change one of these settings and go to test it out. Otherwise it will not have taken affect yet.