PVR 150 MCE edition card Image Quality

Psygnosis · 29-12-2006 11:50AM #1

I posted earlier about the mce setup. I have everything working fine the EPG IR BLASTER the works.

I bought a scart adapter which is plugged into the back of the sky box this lets me take a composite signal from it which is plugged into pvr150mce card (Bought of ebay so disc with it)
The image quality is not the best and is always in 4:3 format unless I use the zoom function but this makes quality worse again.
The image looks like it has lines when there is a fast moving object also colours are not vivid when I switch back to the scart cable the picture looks alot better.
I just installed the drivers for the card is there any configurable options I can use I cant seem to find any
my machine is as follows
I have the following setup plugged into a mirai 32" lcd through the VGA
Pentium 4 3.2GHz with hyperthread technology
Genuine Windows Xp Professional
1024MB Ram
DVD ROM
DVD RW
120GB HDD
256MB Radeon x800 Pro
Creative Audigy 2 Sound Card
Logitech MX 700 Cordless Mouse

8T8 · 29-12-2006 12:53PM

Don't have the card myself though it is known not to have that greatest image quality.

Only suggestions I can make are;
Make sure you are using latest drivers.
Try the Hauppauge Tweak Tool however some discussion here states that it does not always work with certain driver revisions. More suggestions on how to use the Tweak tool here.
Change to s-video using a scart RGB to s-video converter.

Psygnosis · 29-12-2006 09:17PM

I tried a Svideo to Svideo cable today but the picture was black and white. The cable is a svhs cable looks a ps2 to ps2 connector. I connected this to svideo of the scart RGB. Would I need a adapter at the end of the COAX to change this into a svideo would this then plug into card or into the STB

Also tried the drivers but made no difference.

SouperComputer · 30-12-2006 07:10AM

how does the signal look when connected directly to the TV? What you are seeing "may" be the result of compression in the transmission.

You could also try different MPEG2 decoders such as Nvidia Purevideo and filters such as FFDShow to improve the results. It may take a bit of tweaking, but its usually worth it,

What software are you using to view TV on the PC?

Psygnosis · 30-12-2006 12:57PM

I am using Microsoft MCE 2005.
I am using the Nvidia Mpeg encoder well I hope I am this is what I have installed can I check wether this is being used.

The connections from the SKy sat box come from a scart to RGB converter from here I take a 3 cable red yellow and white connection to the WINTV PVR150mce.

The best way I could describe the picture would be like a VHS video or a telecine download.
Even on the sky TV guide it looks a little bit out of focus and there is pixalation on the blue part of the screen

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

8T8 · 30-12-2006 02:41PM

If using NVIDIA Purevideo MPEG-2 decoder try these settings below, in order to get to the Purevideo properties you will need to play some MPEG-2 content* in WMP and right click on the NVIDIA decoder icon that appears in the systray.

* Just use a recorded DVR-MS TV show in WMP or a DVD VOB file.

Psygnosis · 30-12-2006 06:21PM

Ok I have installed this and now I am getting a error saying that the picture is unavailable due to a weak signal but I have checked in VLC and it looks really good now to figure out why there is no picture in media centre

Psygnosis · 30-12-2006 06:58PM

Ok just reinstalled driver for mce150 and WOW what a difference need to do some more tweaking but fair play to you guys.,
Another Question Nvidea software now decodes the audio as well will this affect divx audio or will this still go through the AC3 software

Psygnosis · 30-12-2006 09:08PM

I have noticed slight ghosting in fast motion and still images sort of vibrate a tiny bit anyone got any tweaks

8T8 · 31-12-2006 04:37PM

In regards the audio it only decodes certain types DivX files are unlikely to be using unless you are sticking AC3 tracks into them.

If you want AC3 filter to take back control just go into the AC3 Filter config program and go to the last tab and set it as the preferred decoder for MPEG audio, DTS, AC3 etc.

The audio decoder in Purevideo does AC3 pass through as well though I do not use it myself.

As for tweaks sorry haven't got any ideas don't use the card try those threads I linked to.

Psygnosis · 03-01-2007 11:41AM

Hi again

Ok I am not 100% happy with the PVR150 card. I am looking to replace this with a dvb-s/s2 card. Is this feesable with MCE2005 I have seen you can map the channels to DVB-t channels will I mess up the EPG.
I dont use any of the extenders so I was thinking would I be better off with SAGE-TV or similar
Also with DVB-S I will get the FTA chanels so BBC's and ITV's what about ch4

8T8 · 03-01-2007 01:49PM

I'm not really familiar with it only in passing some DVB-S not sure about S2 cards can be fooled into behaving as DVB-T cards in MCE.

So either that or use another media centre software like the one you mentioned or GB-PVR or Media Portal both of which support various DVB-S cards natively.

Technotrend are the guys who do the DVB-S into DVB-T trick for sure but don't know personally of who else does it.

If you still want to use it for MCE basically buy one of their DVB-S cards, then go to this part of their site towards the end you will find TT Budget MCE drivers & an MCE tools package. Install the driver for your card and then the tools package which has the DVB remapper.

This PDF outlines the steps to take after that. DVB Shop sell a Technotrend DVB-S2 card mentioning MCE support so maybe S2 cards do work/

Psygnosis · 04-01-2007 03:20PM

Hi guys

Ok think I am going to go the Technotrend s1500 route just a few questions first. I am moving to Rush soon and by the looks of it will be able to get DTT trial which will be great as I am without the Irish channels at the mo.

A question though is it possible to mix the technotrend dvb-s with a mce compatable dvb-t card or is this is a no go?

Also haupage do a 3in1 card maybe this would be a better solution

8T8 · 04-01-2007 04:05PM

You definitely wont be able to mix them in MCE it does not support multiple guides though you could use more than one media centre program like GB-PVR for one & MCE for the other.

MCE does not support DVB-S or DVB-S2 which is why it must be tricked into thinking it is DVB-T which it does support but the channels coming through will still be channels received over DVB-S if you catch my drift.

Some other media centre software does support multiple devices but I'm not entirely sure which does myself.

SouperComputer · 04-01-2007 04:25PM

AFAIK both Media Portal and GB-PVR support multiple sources. Im not sure how to set it up though.

Depending on how windows-centric you are, MythTV would be an excellent choice but the server portion is Linux only.

Psygnosis · 05-01-2007 03:31PM

Afte much debating I think I will go with the Technotrends s3200 card DVB-s2 now before I spend more money I would like to know will my pc be able to show bbc hd channels are is it below spec?

8T8 · 05-01-2007 04:19PM

I have not kept tabs on BBC HD but according to the wiki entry the DVB-T service is still using H.264 which was what I last heard & where most of the programming is shown. The DVB-S service consisted mostly of demo loops though that may have changed & the wiki entry doesn't exactly say what video codec is being used.

Still as for the PC specs it should be okay but if it turns out to be H.264 on the DVB-S service you will need to use CoreAVC Pro Edition as the H.264 decoder as I recall the BBC HD feeds need MBAFF interlacing support to be decoded and CoreAVC is/was the only H.264 decoder that does it.

(CoreAVC is the fastest H.264 decoder anyway so it is handy to have & supports Directshow so can be used with any media player or media centre software like GB-PVR, MCE, Media Portal etc.)

PVR 150 MCE edition card Image Quality

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