Video Quality Not So Good

[mightyt]

Today I installed my sever in my family room and hooked it up to my 50" flat panel.

Here's some of the HW/SW config I am using;

• Vista Ultimate
• Sage 6.3.10
• Corel WinDVD 9 (for the Decoders)
• Nvidia GeForce 7950 GX2 Video Card (Current NVidia Drivers)
• NO Nvidia PureVideo Decoder since it is not supported in Vista
• (1) Hauppauge PVR 500 (Total of 2 Analog Tuners)
• (2) Hauppauge HVR 1600's (Total of 2 Analog Tuners and 2 Digital Tuners)
• Intel 2.45GHz Q6600 Quad Core CPU
• 4gb RAM
• Using a Monster DVI-HDMI cable from the PC to flat panel

I think I have done everything possible to get good quality video, but it's barely marginal.

I have tried setting the Quality all the way up to Max, but still live TV and recordings look the same. Many of the channels have sort of that old school flowing stipes just off vertical cycling round and round?? And the digital channels drive me nuts with all the artifacts.

The only thing I can think of is; there are 4 coax cable runs that are somewhat old. Not sure if that could be it, but will likely replace them since I have upped the ante so much on everything else. The other thing I am considering is getting CybeLinks PowerDVD 8 since I've read in several places now that it is better than Corel (Intervideo). Nvidia did come out with PureVideo HD, but ... they now require you to buy a new card!

So, any other suggestions? .... Could some of this be my Setup Settings? I have tried many combonations, but to no avail.

Thanks ...

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by mightyt

Today I installed my sever in my family room and hooked it up to my 50" flat panel.

Here's some of the HW/SW config I am using;

• Vista Ultimate
• Sage 6.3.10
• Corel WinDVD 9 (for the Decoders)
• Nvidia GeForce 7950 GX2 Video Card (Current NVidia Drivers)
• NO Nvidia PureVideo Decoder since it is not supported in Vista
• (1) Hauppauge PVR 500 (Total of 2 Analog Tuners)
• (2) Hauppauge HVR 1600's (Total of 2 Analog Tuners and 2 Digital Tuners)
• Intel 2.45GHz Q6600 Quad Core CPU
• 4gb RAM
• Using a Monster DVI-HDMI cable from the PC to flat panel

I think I have done everything possible to get good quality video, but it's barely marginal.

I have tried setting the Quality all the way up to Max, but still live TV and recordings look the same. Many of the channels have sort of that old school flowing stipes just off vertical cycling round and round?? And the digital channels drive me nuts with all the artifacts.

The only thing I can think of is; there are 4 coax cable runs that are somewhat old. Not sure if that could be it, but will likely replace them since I have upped the ante so much on everything else. The other thing I am considering is getting CybeLinks PowerDVD 8 since I've read in several places now that it is better than Corel (Intervideo). Nvidia did come out with PureVideo HD, but ... they now require you to buy a new card!

So, any other suggestions? .... Could some of this be my Setup Settings? I have tried many combonations, but to no avail.

Thanks ...

Okay lets walk thru a couple of things:

First off, analog is going to look like poop on your 50" screen. I can't watch straight coax on my 51" screen. The limited resolution/quality of straight coax is just too obvious on that size of screen. With that said, you can do a few things to try to decrease the distortion. First off, try amplying the signal coming into your house if you haven't done so. Second, remove as many splitters as you can (just one single split drastically reducing the quality of the incoming signal). Third, switch to RG6 coax (perferably quad shielded, but its tough to work with) if at all possible for your coax runs and any of the coax run from the wall to the computer. If you have done all of these, then what you see is all you are going to get.

Now as far as those digital channels, it sounds like you might have a reduction in sginal, which if you do the above mentioned options, should help considerably. Digital channels (QAM or OTA) are generally an "all or nothing" kind of signal, unless you are the "edge" of receiving a decent signal.

Lastly, what are you using for decoders? If you are using the Sage ones, that is another whole issue as they are certainly not optimized for the highest quality video. I have no recommendations for Vista as I am all XP Pro at my house and have no interest in switching (even tho I do have 2 copies).

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Okay lets walk thru a couple of things:

First off, analog is going to look like poop on your 50" screen. I can't watch straight coax on my 51" screen. The limited resolution/quality of straight coax is just too obvious on that size of screen. With that said, you can do a few things to try to decrease the distortion. First off, try amplying the signal coming into your house if you haven't done so. Second, remove as many splitters as you can (just one single split drastically reducing the quality of the incoming signal). Third, switch to RG6 coax (perferably quad shielded, but its tough to work with) if at all possible for your coax runs and any of the coax run from the wall to the computer. If you have done all of these, then what you see is all you are going to get.

Now as far as those digital channels, it sounds like you might have a reduction in sginal, which if you do the above mentioned options, should help considerably. Digital channels (QAM or OTA) are generally an "all or nothing" kind of signal, unless you are the "edge" of receiving a decent signal.

Lastly, what are you using for decoders? If you are using the Sage ones, that is another whole issue as they are certainly not optimized for the highest quality video. I have no recommendations for Vista as I am all XP Pro at my house and have no interest in switching (even tho I do have 2 copies).

Thanks Paul ...

Yeah, I get what you are saying about analog and large screen, but it seems better when run straight to the TV. Not digital, but better.

When you say, "try amplying the signal coming into your house ", what do you mean? I've not heard of this before. I have purchased a Radio Shack Bi-Directional Amp that sits before some of the tuners.

It's hard to remove splitters when that the point I installed 6 tuners. I have heard of others successfully using that and more in the past on this forum.

I did replace all my cables with RG6 (though they are only dual shielded) so and good there.

On the decoders, I guess either the CyberLink will help or I need to get a newer video card. I have another post in Hardware for suggestions.

Thanks again ...

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by mightyt

Thanks Paul ...

Yeah, I get what you are saying about analog and large screen, but it seems better when run straight to the TV. Not digital, but better.

When you say, "try amplying the signal coming into your house ", what do you mean? I've not heard of this before. I have purchased a Radio Shack Bi-Directional Amp that sits before some of the tuners.

It's hard to remove splitters when that the point I installed 6 tuners. I have heard of others successfully using that and more in the past on this forum.

I did replace all my cables with RG6 (though they are only dual shielded) so and good there.

On the decoders, I guess either the CyberLink will help or I need to get a newer video card. I have another post in Hardware for suggestions.

Thanks again ...

Well it sounds like if you are comparing direct coax to the tv to the coax going to your server (and they are swapped from the same jack), then I would try different decoders. It also could be the tuners themselves. I know some of the PVR500's (including mine) do not have the best tuners and have a horrible internal "splitter" that degrades the signal. My PVR500 has been regulated to last tuner since my Avermedia does such a better job of tuning.

These are just a few factors....I am making the switch to Dish, because I can't stand the poor quality coming from my coax.

[blade]

For the analog tuners you need to calibrate your capture card if you haven't already. With my PVR500 the contrast was too high, brightness too low, and saturation was too high. All of that resulted in very poor PQ. After calibrating I can barely tell a difference between coax straight to the TV and what I'm playing back through Sage.

I had a couple of HVR1600s and returned them because of all the artifacts with digital channels. I never have problems with artifacts with my HDHomeRun. I think newer drivers fixed some people's problems with the HVR1600. So it might be worth looking into if you don't already have the latest drivers.

[nicogekko]

I have tried to find a way to calibrate my PVR500 card but without success. Could you please advice?

I have kind of the same problem with how the TV presents it when I put the coax directy in the TV and let the TV tuner handle it vs. when I put it thrue the PVR500 and Sage presents it via HDMI to the TV. The picture gets shifting strips from top to bottom and its a little bit blury. Otherwise the sound and all is ok.

[mikehaney]

Yes, I would like to know how to "calibrate" the capture card as well. I have a PVR500 and PVR150 and have the same issues. We are evaluating SageTV and Media Portal, and I literally have both servers installed on the same machine and just shutdown one service and start the other, so we can try them both out.

The difference in video quality is astounding. With MP right out of the box, the picture quality is nearly perfect, but with Sage the contrast is way too high and brightness too low - it's unwatcheable.

[QueOnda]

I did a little searching on the SHSPVR forums and found this tool to tweak the cards: http://www.chris-pc.com/tweak/

I'm going to give it a try when I have a chance. but don't know how to what calibration tool to use? Maybe a dvd connected to the card which has a THX video calibration tool?

Edit: Chris tool is costs. I would prefer a free type solution.