[Rohan]

I just want to clarify that you guys with HTPCs hooked up to your CRT PJs only use the HTPC for DVDs?


I also have cable and laserdiscs. A HTPC wouldn't allow me to scale those signals would it?

 

[Mooneyass]

Nope, works great for scaling analog inputs. All you need is a good video tuner card.

 

[Rohan]

Can you please clarify?


What tuner is a good one?


What software you use?


What video card?

 

[DaveInVA]

You can use a program called DScaler and a compatible video capture card and use an s-video or composite source into it and it will scale it any way you like it. I just built a HTPC for both playing DVD's and scaling Satellite, LaserDisk, VHS etc. I am still tryng to figure out the best settings for everything and I think I will be happy with the DVD playback from the DVD BUT I am having problems getting acceptable PQ from the video capture card. Video being captured from that card also is picking up some interference from other stuff in the pc making thin angled noise lines in the picture. It works fine with the internal DVD. I had been using a DVDO line doubler for this and was hoping I could use the HTPC to replace it but so far its not working well enough to get rid of the DVDO yet.


Dave

 

[brodi]

I've looked into Pinnacle and Matrox capture cards a bit. The ones around $300 Us and up are decent and used for pro video editing on pc's


I think they would provide a better capture signal than any ATI card.


If you want component out I think they are 3000 or more.


2cents from a newbie.

 

[bcmagog]

Dave,


There are a bunch of solutions to your noise problem. The first one I tried was the "sandwich" of tin foil and paper around the capture card. It helped a little, but no great improvement. Another member has an add-in to dscaler that is a superior noise filter discussed in this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hlight=dscaler


What helped my analog cable signal the most, however, was buying an inexpensive signal amplifier along with the above filter. I was splitting my cable signal between the PC and VCR, resulting in signal degradation. After the installation of the amplifier, PQ was close to 100% clear on 90% of my channels (back when I had cable).

 

[DaveInVA]

bcmagog,

Thanks for the link for the filter. I will give it a try later tonight.(I hope it also works with DScaler 4 beta) I am using DirectTV Satellite and not cable and its s-video. There is no noise when used with my DVDO so the noise is being introduced by the TV Tuner/capture card. There is no noise with the internal DVD player either. I will have to try and find a way to shield the card even though I suspect some of it may be coming in on the dc power to the board. I will look at it with my O'Scope later and try and see where its really coming from.



brodi,

The only problem with using a Hi end board right now is that DScaler doesn't yet support many of them. I have a Pinnacle Studio DC10 plus and it isnt recognized by DScaler.


Dave

 

[bcmagog]

Some members have had success with this foil in shielding noise from the card, I haven't used it myself though:

http://www.lessemf.com/mag-shld.html

 

[DaveInVA]

bcmagog,

I just tried the filters from that link you posted and they have no affect whatsoever on the noise. It appears its because the noise is not in the incoming signal but its being picked up at a later stage by some circuitry on the card. The noise looks like diagonal bands scrolling across the screen. Probably on of the clocks on the motherboard or another card is being picked up by some circuitry on the card. It might even be power supply noise so I guess I am going to have to fire up the old O'Scope and see if I can find the source. It may just be a poorly designed capture card also.


Dave

 

[cpurvis]

Hey Dave - have you tried moving the capture card to another slot on the motherboard?


Just curious...

 

[DaveInVA]

Yes, that was the first thing I tried. Its much worse if its in the slot right next to the Radeon 7500. If I try it in any of the last 3 slots its better but seems to be about the same in any of those 3 slots.


Dave

 

[DaveInVA]

Here is an example of the wonderful noise added by the capture card.
http://www.braveknight.com/dave/images/tv.jpg


Dave

 

[brodi]

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveInVA bcmagog, Thanks for the link for the filter. I will give it a try later tonight.(I hope it also works with DScaler 4 beta) I am using DirectTV Satellite and not cable and its s-video. There is no noise when used with my DVDO so the noise is being introduced by the TV Tuner/capture card. There is no noise with the internal DVD player either. I will have to try and find a way to shield the card even though I suspect some of it may be coming in on the dc power to the board. I will look at it with my O'Scope later and try and see where its really coming from. brodi, The only problem with using a Hi end board right now is that DScaler doesn't yet support many of them. I have a Pinnacle Studio DC10 plus and it isnt recognized by DScaler. Dave

Dave,


Dscaler is a program correct? Are there no other scaler applications that are compatible with hi end boards like Pinacle DC10?


Brodi

 

[DaveInVA]

brodi,


Dscaler is a popular scaler program that works mostly with Brooktree chipset based capture cards. Many of the low end TV Tuner and capture cards use that chipset. Hopefully DScaler will support more hi end cards in future versions.

The Pinnicle DC10 plus I have I used for capturing and editing s-video from a camcorder and it never introducded any noticable noise. If I can find a way to use it with my HTPC that would solve my problems. I don't know of any scaling software that works with it at this time


Dave

 

[MikeEby]

Rohan,

The HiPix card does a decent job of scaling SVideo plus you can also use it to watch and record OTA HD. I see you live in SF, I believe they have a bunch of HD stations.


The HiPix is a little pricey ($370-400) compared to other the Brooktree based standard def cards however HD on the card is nothing short of breathtaking.


Mike

 

[bcmagog]

Dave,


My only suggestion would be to try and shield the card in some way. Maybe try to sandwich the card with four or five sheets of foil to see if it helps in any way; if any improvement is made, you may try the high end foil described above.


Hope this helps.