Hauppauge Tweak Tool: Configuring Multiple Tuners

[webserverdude]

I currently have two Hauppauge PVR-150 tuners, and they both are giving me quality problems. I want to use the Hauppauge Tweak Tool to see if the problems can be corrected, but I do not know how to identify each tuner in the application. Does anyone have any experience with using this application with multiple identical tuners?

[webserverdude]

These are the types of problems that I am having concerning picture quality. In addition to my previous question, does anyone know anything about the diagonal artifacts in this attached picture?

[NumberFive]

I'd like to second this request if anyone can offer any help. I have a PVR-150 and it doesn't work well with a noisy source, although the tuner in the plasma TV copes fine.

Anyone run into a problem of the audio dropping in and out on the PVR-150?

[aa4hg]

Regarding the audio dropping out with a noisy signal, it sounds like the PVR-150 is losing the lock on the audio carrier, in non technical terms, you don't have a good enough signal. This would also be the reason that the video is noisy. (Assuming again, that when you said noisy source, you were referring to video noise.) It's been my experience that the Hauppauge tuners are not the best for sensitivity, and the plasma TV is using a new sensitive tuner. Just a guess....

Scott

[martint123]

That's an awful picture. Low signal I'd say. I'd also guess the diagonal lines are due to interference with another signal on a close frequency.

I'd have to say that even if your TV had a better tuner, the signal is still too weak on your PC tuners - even a good TV can't pull a good picture out of a noisy signal.

Is it possible to try the aerial cable from the TV straight into the PC ?

[garymeds]

can't you just disable a tuner (in device manager) then run the tweak tool? although doubt that picture you've got is due to the 150's config...

[HarryH3]

That's a pretty ugly picture. I don't think the tweak tool is going to fix that. :eek:

How are your lines split coming from the main line? Are all of the connections solid? If you have too many splitters, the signal loss can become quite significant. If you can't clean the signal up, you may need to place an inline amplifier before the splitters (but after a cable modem, if you use one).

[bgowland]

I'd also guess the diagonal lines are due to interference with another signal on a close frequency.

I get similar lines on one of the tuners on my PVR-500 (which is obviously 2x 150s on one board). The lines are caused by one of my cooling fans and only appear when the fan is running at a certain speed.

can't you just disable a tuner (in device manager) then run the tweak tool?

Good call that man. Seems like the easiest way to do it.

[webserverdude]

I really appreciate your guy's suggestions. The signal to both my PVR-150s has been split twice; a 5-cable splitter and a 3-cable splitter. In reality, its somewhat better than the picture. It doesn't really have those grainy colors. The capture screen on XP caused the video to jump a little and turn out how it did. But assuming the grainy colors weren't there, I also have problems with kind of green and purple shadows surrounding certain things in the picture. Has anyone experienced that?

By the way, I really appreciate garymeds's suggestion about disabling one tuner.

[SLR_65]

A 5 way and 3 way splitter will drop your signal significantly!

Most splitters are basically just 2 way splitters stacked up to give the required number of outputs. Each 2 way splitter usually drops about 3.5 db.

A 5 way usually has 3 outputs with 7.0 db drop and 2 outputs with 10.5 db drop, so maybe try moving your feeds to the lower db drop legs.

A 3 way splitter usually has one output with 3.5 db drop and two with 7.0 db drop, so again maybe try switching to the leg with less drop.

(The splitters are normally labled with their db drop ratings)

Soooo, the best case scenario is 10.5 db drop and the worst case is 17.5 db drop.

A 0 db signal is the lowest signal that gives a clear picture, once you go below 0 db you WILL have a noticable effect on the picture. Most cable companies give you somewhere between 5 and 10 db into your house so I'm certain all those splitters are affecting your picture!

You may be better served with a different splitter arrangement. A Channel Vision 8 way splitter only has 11 db drop to each leg. Maybe combine that with a 15db amp placed BEFORE the splitter.

Try to keep the splits to an even number and use 75 ohm terminator caps on all unused ports. Also, make sure the connections are tight.

Not so important on analog tv, but important to digital tv and cable modems is the feed cable. When running new cables or replacing old try to use RG-6 quadshield and with Thomas and Betts Snap-N-Seal connectors. Also, use quality splitters, no Walmart stuff! I like Channel Vision splitters, but have had good luck with TruSpec and other well known brands.

For amps I've had good luck with Motorola and Pico amps, as well as Channel Vision.

If you have some spare cable, or some double female splicers, or can move the system try to run an input directly into your PVR-150 with no splitters and I'll bet you will be amazed at the difference in picture!

If you need some help mapping out some cable runs drop me a private email.

Again though, I'm certain you are dropping too much signal. For the best results with what you have look at the 5 way splitter and try to feed the 3 way off of a 7.0db drop leg, then try to feed the PVR-150 off of the 3.5 db drop leg of the 3 way splitter - that'd give you 10.5 db drop total and would be the lowest drop possible with your current config.

TTYL,

Steve