Sky via Svideo into HTPC ??

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Hotdognz

78 posts

Master Geek

#25497 23-Aug-2008 10:47

I currently have Sky going in to VMC via the RCA imputs on the PVR150MCE, I have just picked up a scart -svideo lead from Sky as I was told i should get a better picture, what i would like to know is how do I hook up the sound from the Sky box when I use the Scart-Svideo lead, the scart to svideo lead has 2 RCA plugs on it that are for the sound do i use these ?? and if so do I just go straight into my amp ??

Cheers

Hotdognz

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#159133 23-Aug-2008 11:13

If you want to be able to record video and audio on the HTPC then you will need to connect the red & white RCA plugs along with the s-video to the PVR150.
You could then go from the HTPC sound card to an amp if you want.

Did Sky just give you the cable or did you have to pay something for it?
I have a few clients who want the s-video cable too.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

eXDee

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#159145 23-Aug-2008 13:35

Sky gave us a sky branded one for free a couple of weeks back.

Hotdognz

78 posts

Master Geek

#159204 23-Aug-2008 22:43

They charged my account $20 untill i return the scart - RCA lead then they credit me back.

Hotdognz

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CPU: AMD 4400
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GFX: Nvidia 8500GT
TV capture: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-2200, PVR-150

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Software: DVBviewer, PowerDVD Ultra.

gazbo

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#159356 24-Aug-2008 17:17

I would like to try this cable too so will give them a call. I could never find one whenever I happend to remember if I was in DSE.

I have the same setup except I'm running XP MCE.

Have always thought the picture quality from sky box to PVR150 as less than average using the RCAs. Does it actually make a difference?

Hotdognz

78 posts

Master Geek

#159405 24-Aug-2008 21:32

Well I tried the Scart - Svideo cable today and the picture was in black & white so must have a faulty cable or something, so it was back to the RCA plugs for me.

Hotdognz

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CPU: AMD 4400
RAM: 2GB
GFX: Nvidia 8500GT
TV capture: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-2200, PVR-150

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Regs

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Snowflake

#159406 24-Aug-2008 21:37

Hotdognz: Well I tried the Scart - Svideo cable today and the picture was in black & white so must have a faulty cable or something, so it was back to the RCA plugs for me.

did you setup your sky box to output s-video instead of composite when you tried it?

the s-video should give a considerable better picture than the composite feed

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eXDee

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#159415 24-Aug-2008 21:52

Careful with the audio connector on the HVR-2200. Mine just broke

, the metal looks like its only a fraction of a millimetre thick.

gazbo

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#159555 25-Aug-2008 13:50

Let us know if the picture actually improves Hotdognz because if it's worth the effort I'll do it.

wellygary

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#159596 25-Aug-2008 15:31

Hotdognz: Well I tried the Scart - Svideo cable today and the picture was in black & white so must have a faulty cable or something, so it was back to the RCA plugs for me.

Nope, It means you need to change the output type on the sky box to S-video not RCA, the I had this issue with a DVD recorer, with SCART outputs, I needed to change its setting when I used an S-video connector over RCA

Regs

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Snowflake

#159599 25-Aug-2008 15:37

gazbo: Let us know if the picture actually improves Hotdognz because if it's worth the effort I'll do it.

I would defintely say its worth it from personal experience.

as cyril once said:

Bottom line is the difference from Composite to S-Video is modest to large, the difference from S to Component is no where as great.

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gazbo

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#159681 25-Aug-2008 19:29

Good stuff. I'll give it a crack.

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Hotdognz

78 posts

Master Geek

#159733 25-Aug-2008 22:16

Ill redo the setup again and this time tell the sky box to use the Svideo, ill let you know how I get on

Cheers guys

Hotdognz

Media center
CPU: AMD 4400
RAM: 2GB
GFX: Nvidia 8500GT
TV capture: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-2200, PVR-150

Vista Ultimate SP1.
Vista Media Center
Software: DVBviewer, PowerDVD Ultra.

Hotdognz

78 posts

Master Geek

#160004 26-Aug-2008 22:37

Ok I re did this tonight with the info you guys supplied, I set the sky box to output via the Svideo and ran the TV set up again in VMC and it showed the svideo now in colour :), I must say the picture is now about 50% better than it was from the Scart-RCA lead I was using so was well worth getting the lead from SKY.

eXdee I have a Qs for you.

Are you running Scart - Svideo into your HVR-2200 Svideo port, if so how are you doing the audio from the Sky box ?? im assuming you are using the 2 RCA plugs on the Scart - Svideo lead into 2 RCA - 3.5mm plug into the 3.5mm jack into the HVR-2200. If you are then this means I could dump my PVR150MCE and just have the HVR-2200 in my HTPC using it for the Sky signal in VMC and using the 2xDVBT onbard tuners in DVBViewer for FreeviewHD.

Hotdognz

Media center
CPU: AMD 4400
RAM: 2GB
GFX: Nvidia 8500GT
TV capture: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-2200, PVR-150

Vista Ultimate SP1.
Vista Media Center
Software: DVBviewer, PowerDVD Ultra.

Regs

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Snowflake

#160006 26-Aug-2008 22:53

Hotdognz:

im assuming you are using the 2 RCA plugs on the Scart - Svideo lead into 2 RCA - 3.5mm plug into the 3.5mm jack into the HVR-2200. If you are then this means I could dump my PVR150MCE and just have the HVR-2200 in my HTPC using it for the Sky signal in VMC and using the 2xDVBT onbard tuners in DVBViewer for FreeviewHD.

thats what I would assume. S-video only replaces the video signal - it doesnt carry audio. usually you would use the s-video cable and either red+white rca audio, SPDIF audio or individual 5.1 audio rca outs. Most TV's only have the red+white rca outs but dvd players often have all three options (sometimes 4 if they have coax and optical SPDIF).

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gazbo

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#160930 30-Aug-2008 18:36

Thanks Gents,

Was worth the effort, picture is definitely improved.

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