Video quality on clients

[ninkynonk]

I run a Hauppauge Colossus 2 via HDMI from a Satellite receiver.  The STB has 1080i and 720p options.  Currently I am set a 1080i.  The video in the Hauppauge capture app is more clear/less grainy that what I am seeing on Desktop or Web client on the server or on CCWGTV on several TVs running NextPVR UI Client.  
The CCGTV running other clients like Youtube, Amazon TV,  Netflix produce more clear video quality than NextPVR/Colossus2/Bell Satellite (1080i). Is there something I am missing in the settings?
Thanks

[sub]

When you view in the desktop app, you'll get the native feed from the Colossus. About the only thing that'll effect the quality is the bitrate the Colossus is using. You could try tweaking the bitrate in the <Mode1080i> setting in config.xml. You may find increasing this helps.

When you view in the web app, the quality is reduced slightly, since it needs to be re-encoded to a format compatible with web browser playback.

[mvallevand]

Quality is a function of bitrate and fps not resolution. Perhaps check samples from the capture program and nextpvr and increase config.xml settings to match.

Martin

[sub]

Youtube/Amazon/Netflix will often have a better quality feed than your satellite receiver. Youtube etc are encoded using H264, which can give much better quality video for the same bitrate.

Often over Satellite, they have limited bandwidth, and it's encoded using MPEG2. (your Colossus is then having to re-encode it, losing a little quality, before passing it on to NextPVR)

[mvallevand]

I see sub and i are posting at the same time, hope it is not too confusing.. A recent post also had other recommendations https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...#pid583416 for profiles and fps to try.

Martin

[ninkynonk]

Thanks gents for the quick reply and potential resolutions!
I changed <Mode1080i> BitRates as follows:
- Bitrate from 4400000 to 140000000
- Bitrate Peak from 4600000 to 19600000
- VideoEncoderLevel from 3.1 to 4.2
- Scaler1080iFPS from 'source' to 25
Video quality appears much improved on DeskTop and CCGTV

I may play with Scaler1080iFPS setting to see how much of a difference it made.

One question - I assume that any existing recordings would have been recorded at the previous bitrate settings? Meaning I should expect them to continue to be more grainy that recordings from today forward?
Thanks again for your help!
Greg

[mvallevand]

Right, no silk purse from a sow's ear.

I definitely would not use - Scaler1080iFPS from 'source' to 25 in Canada though. Outside North America 25/50 makes sense , not sure I agree with sub for 25 if you watch sports, but it should be different in North America, so I'd leave it at source.

Personally because of sports with the HDPVR I force my STB to use 720p and record 60 fps.

Martin

[ninkynonk]

Thanks for the input Martin. That's the kind of advice I was lookin for regarding interlaced, sports and FPS. I shall try those settings as well. Again, many thanks!
Greg