Interference issue isolate, new questions

[Jarobata]

Alright so I hooked up a VCR to the same connection that used to go to my ATI550pro which was getting tons of interference. The VCR is then connected to my monitor with a coaxial connection. My question is will I see increased quality if I go to a component connection or if I go to a higher quality VCR. The VCR has component out and I know that I can't get a hi-def signal out of a regular one but would I see an increase in quality with a component cable? I've read some stuff to imply yes but i'm unsure. I'm using the 24inch Gateway HD display. Secondly, it's a cheap VCR. would I be likely to see a higher quality picture with a nicer VCR?

For all of you who were helping me with my interference issue, we now know that the interference is related to the card and not the signal. Clearly something in the case is interfering with the signal, probably the PSU. I've heard the ATI cards are poorly shielded.

Finally, would it be easy to set up an IR connection to my pc along with an svideo input into my ATI card and, assuming the interference doesn't show up, set up GBPVR to work with it?

Also, would I be better off getting a cable box? Would any cable box be able to perform the same function as the VCR? Are there VCR's with digital tuners?

[prouton]

A better VCR could give you a better picture, both because of better components (although that's become debatable) and cleaner heads. But if the tapes were created on the existing VCR, it might give the best playback do to minor timing/path issues common to all consumer grade VCR's.

As for the ATI card being poorly shielded, have you been more successful with other tuner cards?

GB-PVR works fine with the ATI 550pro, although you can't change the recording quality frame size via GB-PVR -- you can only change the bit rate. With a Hauppauge card (and I presume many others) you can change both in the Recording Quality settings.

You have to know what you're getting with a cable box in respect to being able to change channels. As for comparing one to a VCR, then I presume you are just using the VCR to tune to channels? Cable boxes don't have recording capabilities -- that's what DVR's (Digital Video Recorders) are for. And yes, there are now VCR's showing up with digital tuners (but no analog tuner). But these are only going to be good for over-the-air broadcasts, and maybe unencrypted cable broadcasts. A big emphasis on the maybe...

A cable box, the ATI 550, and GB-PVR is going to get you every channel you pay for from the cable company.

[Jarobata]

A better VCR could give you a better picture, both because of better components (although that's become debatable) and cleaner heads. But if the tapes were created on the existing VCR, it might give the best playback do to minor timing/path issues common to all consumer grade VCR's.

As for the ATI card being poorly shielded, have you been more successful with other tuner cards?

GB-PVR works fine with the ATI 550pro, although you can't change the recording quality frame size via GB-PVR -- you can only change the bit rate. With a Hauppauge card (and I presume many others) you can change both in the Recording Quality settings.

You have to know what you're getting with a cable box in respect to being able to change channels. As for comparing one to a VCR, then I presume you are just using the VCR to tune to channels? Cable boxes don't have recording capabilities -- that's what DVR's (Digital Video Recorders) are for. And yes, there are now VCR's showing up with digital tuners (but no analog tuner). But these are only going to be good for over-the-air broadcasts, and maybe unencrypted cable broadcasts. A big emphasis on the maybe...

A cable box, the ATI 550, and GB-PVR is going to get you every channel you pay for from the cable company.

The issue isn't compatibility. The shielding on the tuner is poor so I'm getting interference, most likely from my power supply. If I could mount the card farther away from the PSU or get a better shielded PSU that would solve the problem. I haven't tried other cards, I'm not sure if it's just the combination of a poorly shielded tuner with a poorly shielded psu or if the psu or tuner are just exceptionally bad on their own. Right now I'm just using the VCR to tune with the ATI taking the input via coaxial cable, all my interference problems are gone.

[prouton]

While I won't try and argue that the PSU is the cause of your problem, I don't see how PSU shielding can be at the heart of it. Every PC powersupply I've seen is enclosed in a metal box, screwed into the grounded case. You don't get much better shielding than that. The CPU and memory controller stand a better chance of radiating noise (which is why you need a metal case, or plastic case with a grounded, conductive coating sprayed on the inside to get FCC certification).

Electrical noise on the power lines, on the other hand, could easily be the culprit (but that's a design/component quality issue). Or you could have a defective card (bad capacitors, for instance) -- I don't recall the steps you've taken to troubleshoot the problem, and I wasn't trying to rehash that thread. I've had no interference problem with my ATI 550pro based card, but it's at the opposite end of a small case from the PSU, so it may not be comparable if you're using a media center type horizontal case.

[Jarobata]

While I won't try and argue that the PSU is the cause of your problem, I don't see how PSU shielding can be at the heart of it. Every PC powersupply I've seen is enclosed in a metal box, screwed into the grounded case. You don't get much better shielding than that. The CPU and memory controller stand a better chance of radiating noise (which is why you need a metal case, or plastic case with a grounded, conductive coating sprayed on the inside to get FCC certification).

Electrical noise on the power lines, on the other hand, could easily be the culprit (but that's a design/component quality issue). Or you could have a defective card (bad capacitors, for instance) -- I don't recall the steps you've taken to troubleshoot the problem, and I wasn't trying to rehash that thread. I've had no interference problem with my ATI 550pro based card, but it's at the opposite end of a small case from the PSU, so it may not be comparable if you're using a media center type horizontal case.

Granted it may not be the PSU there's no doubt that card isn't properly shielded. It has to be the tuner itself too since I have no interference through the a/v input.

[Jaggy]

I am using the same setup for a project I have been am playing with for a number of months now. BUT the reason I did this was to boost my signal using the VCR as an extra amplifier/smoother because my UHF signal is rather low where I live (actually outside the listed area of being able to get reception) & even with an amplifier in the circuit I still had a poor picture. The VCR in the circuit made a HUGE difference to the picture it has gone from unwatchable to almost really good

[Jarobata]

I am using the same setup for a project I have been am playing with for a number of months now. BUT the reason I did this was to boost my signal using the VCR as an extra amplifier/smoother because my UHF signal is rather low where I live (actually outside the listed area of being able to get reception) & even with an amplifier in the circuit I still had a poor picture. The VCR in the circuit made a HUGE difference to the picture it has gone from unwatchable to almost really good

I've got an amplifier running into the vhs and I agree, it went from unwatchable to pretty good considering it's an analogue signal. That's what I want to tap into the digital signal and I think it'll look fantastic.