Improving Quality of Magnet Reception

shaneh

Hi all,
I've live in a FTTH development and have Magnet as TV/Phone/Internet provider. Sometimes I have a problem with the quality of reception of some channels. For example the quality of rugby matches is better on BBC as it is on RTE. There is alot more noise on the RTE picture.

My TV is an LCD, Sony 40W2000 which at the time I bought it was known to be good with handling standard TV quality. Now first of all I wholely accept that the TV is somewhat responsible for the picture quality. That's a fact and I accept that. However I won't be changing the TV in the near future so I'm looking for other ways to improve the quality.

My idea is to have a split off the RBG SCART connector from the set top box and run this into my PC via TV receptor card (probably S-Video). I have an 8800GT graphics card which would then output the signal back into the TV at full HD, 1080p. This way the PC upscales the TV reception. Just wondering if anybody has ever done this and is there a considerable improvement in quality? I would really only use this when signal is bad, mostly during live matches/games.
Would spiltting the SCART using a connector/adapter introduce too much noise in the first place and render this idea useless? Was planning on using something like this http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?view_product=1&id=22410

My only other idea was to get a better cable from the Amino setup box to the TV. Perhaps something gold plated and insulated better. However, I think the SCART cable used is unique to the set top box and I can't find anywhere to get a better cable.

Any responses appreciated
Cheers
Shane

adrian.s

shaneh wrote: »

Hi all,
I've live in a FTTH development and have Magnet as TV/Phone/Internet provider. Sometimes I have a problem with the quality of reception of some channels. For example the quality of rugby matches is better on BBC as it is on RTE. There is alot more noise on the RTE picture.

[snip]

My only other idea was to get a better cable from the Amino setup box to the TV. Perhaps something gold plated and insulated better. However, I think the SCART cable used is unique to the set top box and I can't find anywhere to get a better cable.

Hi Shane,

I wouldn't recommend going with this route, if the image into the card for upscaling purposes is bad to begin with, then it's not going to be any better coming out at the higher res. I'm also in an FTTH home and haven't seen the problems that you refer to but then again, I don't use it all that much. What kind of quality problems are you having, you may need to chase down Magnet as ultimately the problem will lie with them.

Adrian.

shaneh

Hi Adrian,
thanks for the response. Everything is fine except sometimes on RTE for live games, reception can be very noisy. 6 Nations games have been poor so had to watch on BBC. I don't think it's Magnets fault either, root problem is probably on RTE side so nothing Magnet can do about this.

Therefore was I was just wondering if there was any way I could improve the general quality myself.

On seperate note, do you know if Magnet are still using the Amino 110 box or have the upgraded. Any word of HD trasnmission from them?

Cheers
Shane

adrian.s

shaneh wrote: »

On seperate note, do you know if Magnet are still using the Amino 110 box or have the upgraded. Any word of HD trasnmission from them?

Cheers
Shane

YIp, that's what they still provide. Haven't heard any word from them about updating to HD, although listening to your experience, maybe they should get the old SD stuff sorted out first!

Regarding HD, it's going to require new amino STB's, and from looking at their website, they still talk about their DVR model as being in development and specs subject to change. Probably a while before we see HD from them.

A.

shaneh

Hi Adrian, things that aren't that bad. It's just after investing so much in hardware, was looking to get best picture quality possible.

On seperate note, do you know the root password for the STB boxes?

Cheers
Shane