Does the PC's video affect recording when using Hauppauge 500?

[BlueRidgeMark]

I hope this turns out to be a simple question. I've just installed SageTV and a Hauppauge PVR-500 (purchased from Sage as a bundle) in an IBM Netvista P4 with Intel on-board video. (2.0 gig processor, 640 meg RAM) Obviously, it's not exactly your high end video.

I have near-garbage on SageTV (when it works, but that's another story) when viewing live TV, and when playing the MPEG files back in Windows Media Player. When I say "near-garbage", I mean unusable. I can make out that what is on Sage is the same as what's on the TV next to it, but that's about it.

The Hauppauge is being fed via coax from a splitter, which also feeds a DVR & TV setup. That works fine. Yes, I've swapped cables. Tried several, in fact, and swapped ports on the splitter.

So my question is this: Is the quality that is recorded via the capture card affected by the capabilities of the PC's (lame) video system?

If the answer is no, any ideas?

[FidgetyRat]

The answer is no. The hauppauge cards have hardware encoders meaning all of the recording work is local to the card and should not be affected by your PC (assuming you have enough disk I/O to handle the recordings)


What could be causing unwatchable video is the fact that Hauppauge released a HUGE batch of defective PVR-500 and PVR-150s. I just sent one back 3 weeks ago


The video is very fuzzy, often distorted colors, could be green tint. There are diagonal shifting and horizontal upward lines. Video is unwatchable.


On the bright side, Hauppauge is an awsome company and will take the card back, often no questions asked. My new tuner was just fine.

[BlueRidgeMark]

Thanks for the quick reply. You've confirmed what I thought - I didn't see any reason the PC's video system could have an effect.

And BTW, thank's for a succinct and to the point answer. That's not always the case on tech support boards.

You've described my problem too. Green tint, lots of colored snow. Bleh.

Well, do I send this back to Sage or to Hauppauge?

Glad to hear they're a good company. Their website is a MESS. I only found out that I need to use the beta drivers for Win2K by getting an email from support after I could not install the card in another machine. (Kept rebooting when I tried to install drivers.) There's not a CLUE on their website that the latest drivers don't support Win2K. I'm VERY unimpressed with them so far.

[ke6guj]

Here is a link that talks about the differences in the tuners. http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/showthread.php?t=33675 .

I'd call/email Sage and ask them if they have any Type A PVR-500's and if they can do a quick exchange. If not, otherwise you may have some extended downtime if you have to send in the card to Hauppauge and then wait for a replacement.

As per drivers, if you use driver version 24205 or newer, you can get Closed captioning support in Sage with your PVR-500. I don't know if they are Win2k compatible or not. I know 24103 wasn't, but it support came back in 24108

[BlueRidgeMark]

Thanks for the info, Jack. I've emailed Sage - will wait to hear back. Bummer. I think I have type A already. No joy.

When you say, "extended downtime", what do you mean? Days? Weeks? Worse?

[BlueRidgeMark]

Say, Fidgety, please 'splain this to me:

**Join the fight against SageTV's discrimination against Americans that use the 24h time format!**

What's this "24 hour time format"? Do you mean a proper full day clock, as opposed to using two half day clocks pasted back to back, like most people do?

[ke6guj]

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMark

Thanks for the info, Jack. I've emailed Sage - will wait to hear back.

When you say, "extended downtime", what do you mean? Days? Weeks? Worse?

Based on the about thread I posted, I did see downtimes of around 2 weeks or more, IIRC. Basically the time to box up your cards, send them in, time for Hauppauge to test, then to ship back. Maybe now that they are aware of the issue, it may be faster. Fastest would be if they could send out replacements (charged to a CC if necessary) and then have you ship back the defective cards on pre-paid shipping (or refund CC charge when received).

[BlueRidgeMark]

You hit it, FidgetyRat. I had the Samsung based card. Hauppauge swapped it out (not a smooth or quick process, but it got done), and I now have usable video.

Now to learn how to fly this thing!


Thanks for the help, folks!