Poor video quality with PVR250?

[firehawk12]

Hi, I'm new here, so forgive me if I'm bringing up an old issue, but I'm having problems with my PVR250 with Sage TV...

My problem is that the video quality can get very bad on some channels - it can get very blurry and pixelated. This is especially prevalent with sports programs.

I was wondering if this was a problem with my card, with the program, or with something else?

I have a very old video card - an Asus GeForce 1 - could that be the problem?

I had an old TV tuner that came with the Asus card, an external tuner called the "Asus TV Box", and the video quality when using that is actually pretty good. So, I actually have no idea what the problem could be.
(Too bad SageTV doesn't support it )

Anyhow, any help is appreciated.

[carlgar]

That sounds like it could be too low of recording rate. What is your recording rate?

[firehawk12]

The video quality is poor when I'm just watching "Live" without recording.

To be honest, I haven't even tried recording yet... if the video quality is this bad now, there's probably no point in even trying to record it.

[stanger89]

"Live" is still recorded, everything with the 250 is run through the MPEG encoder and "Live" is recorded at whatever you have your Default recording rate set to.

I agree with carlgar, it sounds like it's probably a combination of low Recording quality and possibly a somewhat dirty source (which will give the encoder fits at low bitrates).

[firehawk12]

Hrm, well the recording quality is set to "Good" - the 2gb/hour one, so I dunno if that's a problem or not.

Could it be anything else?

[carlgar]

I would try at least best (3gb/hour) or DVD Standard (3.25gb/hour) which is what I use. You can at least see if you have any improvement in the picture.

[Opus4]

I'll 3rd the motion to set the recording rate to a higher setting. I can easily tell the difference between 2GB/hr & 3GB/hr, especially for shows with lots of motion. 2GB/hr works well for kids cartoons for me.

- Andy

[firehawk12]

Hrm, okay, I'll give that a try.

After doing some searching, I've noticed people talking about using the Sonic Cineplayer encoder... does that make a difference?

[kny3twalker]

Sonic Cineplayer encoder

sonic cineplayer decoder

but anyways
they are about the best decoders available for sale

use overlay rendering for an HD compatible TV

and VMR9 rendering for a SDTV

although your video card will probably not work with VMR9 rendering


what are your computer's specs by the way?

[firehawk12]

Pretty old, to be honest.

Old GeForce1 card

P4 1.7 ghz

512mb ram

umm... not sure what else is relevant.

[kny3twalker]

well use overlay rendering with whatever decoder you use

make sure to turn on the DXVA

but your video card is killing the playback

an upgraded video card and you should be able to get VMR9 on a SDTV

but probably not on a HDTV/monitor without any stuttering or tearing

you can get a video card for around 100 dollars which can help alot
look at a 9600/5700

not wanting to spend that much

watch the paper and get a geforce 4 MX or TI
you can find good deals for around and under 50 dollars

[firehawk12]

^^
Does the video card affect the recording quality, or just the playback quality?

I mean, if I use the mpgs on a better computer, are the files going to look better?

[justme]

Does the video card affect the recording quality, or just the playback quality?

No, it doesn't effect the recording's quality. Only the recording quality settings(Sage recording bitrate and capture calibration settings) of the PVR card effect the actual recording. The video card in no way effects the actual recorded file, just your perception of the quality when you use the videocard for playing the mpg.

mean, if I use the mpgs on a better computer, are the files going to look better?

If by a better computer you mean one with a better video card then yes, you can(not an absolute in every situation) get a better picture when playing back the mpg. Still any differences you see will be a result of the Video Card(mainly it's chipset but sometimes it's drivers), Video Decoder, and Renderer(better CPUs can help with VMR9, in particuliar) used.