Noob - Live TV playback issues

[jfullam]

Hi - just installed a PVR-150 Tuner card in an Althlon 2000+ with 256MB of memory (I will be getting an add'l 512MB tomorrow to speed things up). I have connected my TV cable into the new tuner card...

I then installed GBPVR and loaded up EPG listings with ZAP2IT. That seemed to work fine. So now when I go to view Live TV in GBPVR the screen is all shaky and stuttery... totally unwatchable. I assume I have some settings wrong? Can anyone help me? Not trying to use this machine as a client, just trying to watch straight live TV. Let me know if I need to provide more info to help troubleshoot my issue. Thanks!

[sub]

Its most likely the video decoder you're using. If you reproduce the problem, then zip and attach the gbpvr.exe-native.log I'll take a look.

It could also be the quartz.dll problem discussed in this thread: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=5600

[jfullam]

Thanks for the quick reply. Attached is a copy of my native log.
Currently, my only Video Decoder choices are the Intervideo Decoder or Sytem Default.
I am running DirectX 9.0C.

[sub]

12:47:33.248 VERBOSE Graph contains the following filters:
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - Video Renderer
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - MPEG Audio Decoder
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - Color Space Converter
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - AVI Decompressor
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - InterVideo Video Decoder
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - Encoder
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - Capture
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Crossbar
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - TV Audio
12:47:33.248 VERBOSE - TV Tuner

There is a couple of odd directshow filters being used on your machine, which would normally not be present. I've highlighted these above. Directshow can behave in strange and mysterious ways, and in this case I wouldnt have a clue why its using these filters. All I can suggest is trying a different video decoder. May be try the free decoder from http://sourceforge.net/projects/gplmpgdec/

[jfullam]

mmm... first I tried the free decoder you suggested. That did not seem to work (see attached Native file again).

Then I researched the threads about the quartz.dll file, got my hands on a 9.0b version (6.05.0001.0902 English Final Retail 5/30/2003) and installed using the Replacer program. After reboot, I verified the 9.0b version thru DXDIAG...but still no joy, still stuttery and choppy.

In trying to resolve, I messed around with the MVP pre-delay setting on the MVP tab in config... not sure if that plays a factor, but can you help me reset to installed defaults?

Any other thoughts?

[sub]

14:46:35.655 VERBOSE Graph contains the following filters:
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - Video Renderer
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - MPEG Audio Decoder
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - GPL MPEG-1/2 Decoder
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - Encoder
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - Capture
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI II Crossbar
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - TV Audio
14:46:35.655 VERBOSE - TV Tuner

The graph now looks much better.

You could also try switching the video renderer to Overlay to see if it helps.

What speed CPU is in your machine? Do recordings playback fine in Windows Media Player?

[jfullam]

Thanks for your assistance...

I checked the Overlay Manager setting in the Config and now my stutter and jitter is gone! But.... now the quality of the video is horrible. It is all washed out and blueish and when the OSD appears on screen it causes additional pixelation and ugliness. Without the overlay manager checked, the quality of the video (and colors) is actually quite good, except the video stutters and jumps and stuff.... any other setting I can try?

I am using an Athlon XP 2000+ (1.66GHz)... currently only has 256MB of memory, but I will be adding another 512MB tomorrow.

[sub]

any other setting I can try?

Nothing springs to mind. Maybe try some other video decoders and hopefully you'll find one that looks good to you.

[jfullam]

OK, I have found that if I leave the Overlay Manager checked and make sure my display color settings are set to 32 bit (mine were previously at 16 bit), that the quality/resolution looks good. However, my color quality is still very poor. I have a blueish hue, washed out colors. I find that if I launch my Intervideo DVD player and play a DVD, my colors look just as poor, however, in Intervideo, I can adjust the video setting (playing with the Hue, Contrast and Gamma settings, until the colors look correct). I can watch a DVD in Intervideo and things look good. If I go back to GBPVR, those video settings for the decoder do not "stick" and I cannot seem to adjust them properly within GBPVR... I have a Dell 17" Widescreen EDTV/monitor and this may be part of the issue... perhaps there is something I can set at the Display Adapter level...not sure...any ideas would be welcome. Thanks.