SageTV installed and few problems

[getstarted]

I installed the trail version of sage tv. Configuration is very simple, get the picture in less than 5 mins. Now my questions are:

1) picture is not coming on full screen. Black border on all 4 sides. "Adjust User Interface Overscan" wizard is configured correctly, but not sure about "Adjust Display Aspect Ratio"

On the live video, I changed aspect ratio to "Fill", "Source", "4X3" and "16x9", but no use.

2) Picture has some parallel lines. Video quality is very poor when compared to directly connecting dish receiver to TV. I tried ele card decoder, nvideo (1.0x, i guess). But sagetv mpeg2 video decoder filter is little better than others.

My settings here are:
Video Renderer: Overlay (default, video overlay renderer, vmr9)
MPEG2 Video Decoder Filter: SageTV (PDVD7, Cyberlink Video/Sp decoder, Elecard, NVideo, NVideo post processor, SageTV)
MPEG4 Playback: DirectShow
DScaler Deinterlacing filter: DIsable

My setup:
Hauppauge HVR1600 connected via S-Video cable
Panasonic 1080i 50" Plasma
connected htpc to tv via HMDI

3) once i decide to buy, where should i buy the software? I have Media MVP, what else i need to buy to make my media mvp work? I never pay retail price for any product, i dont see any others selling this software .

TIA.

Edit: i read somewhere if i select right click and turn the wheel it adjust the screen. But it is not working with sageTV.

[getstarted]

Problem: After watching of 5 mins. of video in full screen mode, system halts. When i reset, it is turning off after blue screen every other reboot.

Any known bug with sagetv? I was also trying to configure IR Blaster with wintv. I am not sure which one is causing it.

have been watching dvd's, no problem like this.

[Conejo]

I would suggest you do your input troubleshooting in the WinTV application.
Does it also Pillar/Letterbox your STB input?

[getstarted]

if i connect directly from sub to tv, it occupies full screen. only through htpc. So if i configure on wintv, will it affect in the sagetv?

[Conejo]

Using SageTV, video size/resolution is determined by TWO subsystems: Input and Output

The INPUT can be affected by your STB (Set Top Box) menu settings, or the HVR-1600 driver settings. Since you're connected into your HVR-1600 using s-video I just wanted you to confirm that the s-video feed was full size (either 702x480 or 640x480). You can do this either by viewing the feed using WinTV or connecting the s-video cable directly from your STB into the s-video on the TV.

The OUTPUT can be affected by your video settings. You're connecting your HTPC via HDMI to a Panasonic 1080i 50" Plasma, are you using this as your only display? Can you view your desktop? Does the desktop display across the entire screen?

When you run SageTV, are you running it WINDOWED or FULL SCREEN.

if i connect directly from sub to tv, it occupies full screen.

Sorry, I don't know what a "sub" is. What is your Source Device

[getstarted]

If i connect svideo directly, i am getting full screen. Right now I am only connecting this pc to 50" plasma. I am running as full screen, not windowed.

i meant sub means receiver from dishnetwork (311 receiver). Thanks for trying to help me out..

My wintv shows full screen, though the quality is very bad.

[Conejo]

Please answer each of these questions:

1. Is the Panasonic the ONLY monitor/display connected to your PC?

1. When you display the Windows PC Desktop on the Panasonic, does it fill the entire screen?

2. What is the maximum resolution of your Panasonic 1080i 50" Plasma (a model # would be helpful)

3. What resolution does Windows report for the Panasonic, using Control Panel > Display > Settings

4. What is the make/model and driver version of your video card


-- -- --
Here are some answers to your previous questions

once i decide to buy, where should i buy the software?

I believe you can purchase it direct from SageTV, or pcalchemy.com, be aware that SageTV support is only available when the software licenses are purchased from authorized vendors.

I have Media MVP, what else i need to buy to make my media mvp work?

You can also use the TRIAL with the MVP (see the .pdf SageTV Manual included with the software). If it works, you can purchase an 'extender' license that allows the device to boot SageTV off your network. You may want to take a look at the STX-HD100 if you are interested in viewing SD and HD content on an HD set.

i read somewhere if i select right click and turn the wheel it adjust the screen. But it is not working with sageTV.

SageTV has a list of keyboard shortcuts, listed in the .pdf Sage Manual included in your installation. I don't believe I have ever heard of a 'right-click, wheel turn', as right-clicking is normally reserved for secondary menus.

Any known bug with sagetv?

If you ran SageTV without devices, I would say it is bug free. When you add capture_cards/Tuners/Network_Encoders, Ir blasters and Video Cards into the mix then things get interesting.

The SageTV people also work with system integrators who create turn-key systems if you'd rather go that route.

So if i configure on wintv, will it affect in the sagetv?

Configuring the WinTV application should NOT affect SageTV.

[getstarted]

Originally Posted by Conejo

Please answer each of these questions:

1. Is the Panasonic the ONLY monitor/display connected to your PC?

1. When you display the Windows PC Desktop on the Panasonic, does it fill the entire screen?

2. What is the maximum resolution of your Panasonic 1080i 50" Plasma (a model # would be helpful)

3. What resolution does Windows report for the Panasonic, using Control Panel > Display > Settings

4. What is the make/model and driver version of your video card

1. Yes
2. Yes, DVD's, AVI's are also displaying in full
3. Model# is Panasonic TH-50PX60U
4. It shows different settings:
1920x1080; 1776x1000; 1280x1024; 1280x960; 1280x968; 1280x720; etc.,
Currently I set it at 1280x720
5. Video card is with the mother board; ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics Card

When I go to Catalyst Control Center - Basic->Information Center->Graphics Software (is it the right one?)

It has the following settings.

• Driver packaging version 8.475-080318a-061753c-Gigabyte
• Provider: ATI Technologies
• 2D Driver Version: 7.01.01.747
• Direct 3D version: 7.14.10.0567
• OpenGL Version: 6.14.10.7415
• Catalyst COntrol Center Version: 2008.0318.2139.36886

When I open advanced; it says maximum reported resolution by panasonic tv is 1920x1080; refresh rate is 60Hz.

extender is 5$ cheaper at pcalchemy.

Update1 :If i buy this "XFX PVT88SFDF4 GeForce 8800GS ", does it improve any quality of the picture?
Update2: I installed the latest display drivers, the versions are below. There is no change in SageTV display even after installing latest drivers.

ATI Catalyst Install ManagerFinal Status: Success
Version of Item: 3.0.682.0
Size: 20 Mbytes
ATI Display DriverFinal Status: Success
Version of Item: 8.512.0.0000

Thanks,

[Conejo]

Originally Posted by getstarted

My wintv shows full screen, though the quality is very bad.

I wonder if the capture resolution of your HVR-1600 has somehow been set lower. S-video is usually 640-720x480i and that should produce a decent SD picture on your Panasonic utilizing 1280x720. It should at least be full height with only pillar boxes left and right.

[getstarted]

Originally Posted by Conejo

I wonder if the capture resolution of your HVR-1600 has somehow been set lower. S-video is usually 640-720x480i and that should produce a decent SD picture on your Panasonic utilizing 1280x720. It should at least be full height with only pillar boxes left and right.

Where do I set it?

[Conejo]

Where do I set it?

I was just speculating about the video resolution, it's actually pre-set. I can't see what you see. If you're running each application Full Screen the video in WinTV and SageTV should fill the screen top to bottom.

Can you try a couple of other things:

- Detailed Setup > Advanced > Select the User Interface Theme: Standard HD720

Does the SageTV menu paint the entire screen with a BLUE Stylized background graphic?

- Detailed Setup > DVD > DVD-ROM Drive : YES

Can you now play a DVD within SageTV and does it fill the screen.

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Anyone else have any ideas?