"Random" bad recording help

[danlakey]

I'm running the latest version of GBPVR. I'm also using Comskip with postprocessing.bat and the "remove commercials while recording" unchecked in the config. I have not done any tuning of the comskip file.

My recordings come through just fine 90% of the time, but then the other times you can really really tell something is wrong: It comes through in black and white, looking very grainy and scrambled and without sound.

I have a splitter on my cable. 2 cables go directly into 2 TV's and then 1 cable goes into the TV tuner. I initially thought that if I was watching TV and recording through the TV tuner at the same time that the quality was being sacrificed due to both being used at the same time. But I was able to rule that out this afternoon.

Thanks for reading,

Dan

[HtV]

I'd check if the cable to the tuner is ok, while watching livetv. Maybe the coax has broken. Replace it with one of the others. Also try another out on the splitter, that could be defekt too ofcourse.

[danlakey]

The coax cable running to the tuner is brand new, but when I get home i'll jiggle it around a little bit and see what happens. The splitter now is "el cheapo" and I wouldn't mind spending a few more bucks for a better one.

Still, I don't understand how these things would account for it not working only sometimes. I mean, when it does work that 90% of the time, the picture is fine.

I was going to purchase an amplifier. Maybe i'll get one from a local store so I can always return it if it doesn't help. Any thoughts?

[HtV]

If the picture is fine normally, you don't need an amp. It could very well decrease your picture quality. You might also check/jiggle the tunercard.
If it only happens to the pvr-side of things you should ofcourse check there.:confused:

[danlakey]

Huh, I didn't know that an amp could actually hurt your signal. Thanks for the heads up. Yea, the cable going into the TV has always been 100%, so I suppose that means it has to be in the tuner card/gbpvr software.

My card is the WinTV PVR 150. Do you know of any program, either from Hauppauge or 3rd party, that can test the integrity of your signal?

Also, if I assume the solution lies in the GB-PVR config settings, where is a good place to begin there?

Thanks, Dan

[HtV]

Also, if I assume the solution lies in the GB-PVR config settings, where is a good place to begin there?

I can't imagine a setting that would cause what you described. I really think it's a 'mechanical' thing. Or maybe the hauppauge drivers.