Live TV video quality problem

[excotec]

On the power supply I would start by checking with local computer companies. Alot of time they will just toss used power supplies so you may be able to get one for nothing. As for installing they are normally mounted with 4 screws and for the most part the cables will only fit in one spot. Just pay attention to how you remove the one in the computer now. It is a 30 minute job for someone who has never done it before. I could switch one out in ten minutes if I ran into problems along the way. One thing to be careful of is to make sure you get the correct form factor. Most likely will be ATX unless you have a mini or a really really old computer.

[falafelboy]

Have you tried removing the splitter to rule that out. I have run into that problem before when I used a cheap splitter. The cable only carries so much power and once you start splitting it you do get some signal loss. A low quality splitter would make it more noticable.

Will do. Thx.

[capone]

They aren't hard to install or expensive, but do make it your last resort, as all other troubleshooting is free. A powered signal booster is also a cheap possibility.

I'm pretty convinced it's the power, but I'm still going to say save that possibility until you've exhausted all others.

[falafelboy]

I tried the WinTV software, and while I do like it and offers a few interesting features (with interface, snapshots), the quality on some of the problem channels is the same.

I did the quartz.dll fix just in case, to no avail. Maybe it improved my audio/video synch; not sure.

I opened the case to try to reinstall my 150 mce card, but the damn thing would not budge (yes I removed the screw!). SO, I just left it be.

I guess I'll leave it for now, and buy a new power unit eventually. I doubt it's the splitter personally.

But thx for the help.

Edit: Found some really cheapy power supplies at factorydirect.ca.

For ex: http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/prod...ode=PO0300

Acceptable?

p.s. now I know why people mock Dell pc's!

[gEd]

i'ms not sure that replacing one cheepo power supply with another, slightly more powerfull one is going to make much difference.

if you problem is power supply related it is either because the supply is not powerful enough (i.e. it cannot provide a stable voltage for a particular current drain) or the supply is generating electrical interference due to poor design, cheap components as a result of cost cutting.

Either way, you would be better of buying a branded 350 supply that a 450+ watt cheepo.

1st google hit
http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/01/22/g...ght_power/

[capone]

I agree. "You get what you pay for" is a cliche, but a true one.

You don't appreciate the power needs of Live/TS TV untill you get a UPS. I had a basic model, and I could pull the plug out of the wall watching a recording, and it never skips a beat. But do it while watching TV, and it would shut down the whole system. I upped it to a 1200W until, and that's good enough to carry me through quick outage flickers w/o skipping a beat.

The bottom line is that it needs clean and steady power supply to work at it's best. Get a decent 350W unit and enjoy the rewards of a smart purchase.

[falafelboy]

thx again guys. I just plugged my cable diectly into the 150 mce and no significant change. So it's definitely not the splitter.

Power supply it is.

take care.

[gEd]

oh, i'm still a bit worried about the fact that you can't remove the 150 - this shouldn;t happen at all. In all the years that I have been building and modding pcs, I have never had a pci card get stuck. I would investigate this further.

Also, do you have the card installed next to the graphics card? Perhaps try installing the 150 on the bottom slot/away from fans and other components.

if you have a fan near the 150, try stopping it for a few secs to see if this affects image quality.

just trying to think of what else it could be as it would be a pity for you to buy a new suppy only to find that it makes no difference (although having a hq suppy is never a bad thing)

[gEd]

oops double post

[capone]

I have a eMachine for the pvr, and it has this deathclamp it puts on the vid card so it doesn't move in the shell. It could be a "feautre" like that on the pci slot, and not necessiarily something like it has been spot-welded to the board.