Slight dilemma with non approved Freeview STB w.r.t. video format

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Slight dilemma with non approved Freeview STB w.r.t. video format - wondering about the "official" ones

lchiu7

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#13219 28-Apr-2007 19:47

I have a Shinestar DVB-S box I got off Trademe. It works well and has tuned into all the channels with no problem. The box has component progressive scan output which is nice when fed to my RP TV. The PQ is almost DVD quality, especially with the WS sources on TV3 and TV1 test.

But I have one problem with it I cannot resolve and wonder how the official Freeview boxes handle it. When set to output progressive video over component, the other video outputs (composite and s-video) signal are not watchable - they lack sync or are the wrong format. When I switch the box to output composite video, the s-video and composite signals are fine, the component output either has no sync or is in monochrome. The dilemma is, I want to watch the signal live via component progressive on my TV but I also want to be able to record the signal on my PVR. It seems that the set does not produce a watchable signal over component and s-video simultaneously.

Just wondering what experiences folks are having either with other non approved DVB-S boxes or the official ones

Thanks

Larry

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richms

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#68789 28-Apr-2007 22:21

Yeah, thats quite common. What about if you output a non progressive component signal and let the tv deinterlace - which is all the box is doing anyway. Progressive out on something like that makes sense if you were in the USA where the tvs dont usually line double the interlaced inputs but just show as 60hz interlaced. Every tv I have seen in nz has that horrid 100hz processing when fed interlaced if they support progressive. Annoying because I want a tv for playing my old Nintendo on and the lag of 100hz makes it impossible, have to keep the old mitsi diva for it.

Richard rich.ms

lchiu7

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#68801 29-Apr-2007 07:22

No tried that. The TV only accepts 1125i(!), 625p, 480p and 576p via component. It doesn't like a non progressive signal coming in via the component cables for some reason.

Guess I am forced to set the STB to output interlaced and feed s-video to the TV and composite to my video capture card if I want the PVR integrated into the setup.

Not sure if this TV has the 100Mhz processing - it's a 56" JVC DILA RP

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cyril7

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#68803 29-Apr-2007 07:57

If a CRT supports progressive then it will most likely use 100Hz if interlace signals are input for a very good reason. Quite simply the scan coil system cannot support the wide bandwidth to allow 32kHz scanning as well as 15kHz interlace scanning. Progressive and 100Hz scanning operate at similar scan frequencies around 32kHz. Progressive scanning on a CRT is not always very pleasent, thus 100Hz is more common. As you say 100Hz processors are no good for gaming, but that was most likely not the type of use the designers had in mind.

Cyril

lchiu7

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#68805 29-Apr-2007 08:25

The JVC is a LCoS set - not CRT

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cyril7

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#68806 29-Apr-2007 09:07

100Hz sets are invariably CRT's, digital panel displays normally just deinterlace via bob/weave/motionadapive methods to progressive, this is different to a 100Hz implementation. 100Hz techniques are normally only applied to CRT interlace output, ie after processing most 100Hz designs are still interlace when scand on the CRT, just at 100Hz.

My comments were directed at your comment about 100Hz sets, not your particular lcos. I would be very very surprised if it used a 100Hz design for reasons mentioned above.

Cyril

richms

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#68827 29-Apr-2007 15:19

It sounds like it is a really, really stupid tv to not support component interlaced input.

Have you confirmed that this is by design?

I know on some older philips tvs there was one set of component sockets designated as progressive, the others were interlaced only and went thru the abortion that is pixel plus.

Richard rich.ms

lchiu7

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#68868 29-Apr-2007 21:49

It might be silly but alas it's a fact - the set will not accept interlaced video over component. I am guess I am stuck with either remembering to switch the STB to interlaced prior to a recording or watching Freeview over s-video and recording over composite. I did a A/B test between s-video and component and the PQ was much better over component - colours more natural and the picture sharper. But of course I have no way of recording the progressive signal coming out of the STB - I am not aware of many if any video capture cards that can do that - certainly my Hauppauge PVR 250 can't

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richms

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#68891 30-Apr-2007 00:35

Why not grab a cheap dvb-s card for the computer - saves the whole decode-reencode routine which really doesnt help with the picture quality.

Richard rich.ms

RobDickinson

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#68918 30-Apr-2007 12:11

Wouldnt he need another feed from the Sat dish for that tho?

I'm amazed a TV will do 576p but not i over component? My dvd player is component but only progresive for NTSC, so by that fact I wouldnt be able to watch PAL dvd's on that TV!?!

lchiu7

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#68963 30-Apr-2007 19:41

1. DVB-S card is a possibility but would take some arranging since the Shuttle PC I use has only one PCI slot which currently is occupied by the Hauppauge PVR250. But I also have a USB2.0 PVR 250 box so I could put a DVB-S card in the PC and use the USB 2.0 box for the other source.

2. No idea why the TV doesn't support interlaced over component. It's never been an issue for me before since all my sources that use component output progressive. For the DVD that doesn't support progressive PAL you could always use s-video!

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lchiu7

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#69114 1-May-2007 19:07

RobDickinson: Wouldnt he need another feed from the Sat dish for that tho?

I'm amazed a TV will do 576p but not i over component? My dvd player is component but only progresive for NTSC, so by that fact I wouldnt be able to watch PAL dvd's on that TV!?!

Could be an error on my part. I have a DVD player that is also connected via component and usually outputs progressive. I tried setting it to output interlaced and the TV handled it fine. When I send interlaced from the STB to the TV the picture has the right colour but there is fine cross hatching across the entire picture. Perhaps there is a problem with the STB? Have to move it to another set to try to isolate the problem.

Larry

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deliveryguy

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#69158 1-May-2007 22:14

Just check that the output of the decoder is set to pal not NTSC or secam
I had the same problem with another type of reciever once before - the Tv was multi system and could display the
the picture fine but the DVD recorder was set to pal and the picture was unwatchable

kiwisteve

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#70109 10-May-2007 11:17

Hi Guys
I have the HILLS freeview box same on that If you enable Component out the SVHS is disabled but CVBS is still active on both
Scart sockets . If anyone has a HILLS go to user preferences and select YES on the ( show non freeview channels ) part of
menu. I can now watch non freewiew services

Steve

cyril7

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#70112 10-May-2007 11:30

The Omega(STi551X) and IBM DVB system on a chip solutions which power 90% of the worlds SD DVB STB's (including Sky/NDS(NewsCorp)) have a limitation on what output dacs can be routed to what video streams. Essentially if you select either RGB or YUV(Component) then you only have composite as the other simultaneous output, S-video is not possible unless an independant output has been provided. Composite will always appear on the TV SCART as its required for sync in RGB mode, and is just there but not needed for sync in YUV mode.

Cyril