Running sky through WMC

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fossil88

2 posts

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#40550 30-Aug-2009 17:08

I'm new to the WMC world and am currently running WMC through a dedicated 2008 HP desktop via windows vista ultimate, 3 Gb RAM, 32 bit Operating system and an Intel core 2 Quad cpu with 2x 500GB hard drives.

I have the system set up in one room and connected through a HDMI cable to a 40inch LCD TV in another room and controlled by IR sensors.

It has taken the best part of a year to get it up and running, with the addition of a Sat card etc.

The picture is alright although loses allot of focus / colour and texture when watching sports, i.e when watching rugby there is no 'depth' to the image and it is not a sharp focus.

The system has a NVIDIA Geforce 8600 GT graphics card in it. Should I look at upgrading this to solve these issues? Any ideas what I sould be looking at getting?

Cheers

davidcole

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#251959 31-Aug-2009 13:42

You don't mention what your source for the "loses allot of focus / colour and texture when watching sports"

Digital Tuner? Analog Tuner?

Your graphics card is fine, you shouldn't need any better (is the same I run and I have no issues with up to 1080p video).

Fianlly how long is the HDMI cable run? Crappy HDMI cables are generally fine......unless you're doing a 5m+ cable run....

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tonyhughes

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#251962 31-Aug-2009 14:01

He mentions Sat card, so I am assuming SD via DVB-S, although the title mentions SKY, so perhaps SKY Sport / Rugby channels via an analogue card as well?

Hmmm...

What say you Craig? Just ruggers over analogue, or digital too?

fossil88

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#252080 31-Aug-2009 23:04

The HDMI cable is over 8 to 10meters from memory beut well over the 5 mentioned.

I am running two Hauppauge Wintv cards one a HVR 1200 Hybrid DVB-T and the other a 88x DVB-S tuner.

I have a scart to s Video and two RCA plug from the sky box to one card and the colax cable split with one going to the dish input on the sky box and the other split to the DVB T card. There is a colax cable going from the RF out on the rear of the sky box back up to link with other TV's in the house.

Not really sure maybe it is just the length of the HDMI cable, it was at the cheaper end (about 150 from memory) would I get a better run with a more expensive HDMI cable I have heard conflicting arguments.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Nety

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#253471 6-Sep-2009 00:46

The short simple answer is that PC tuner cards do not seem to do a very good job with Analogue sources. There is thread somewhere that covers adding some hardware into the MC PC to do the job of the Sky STB which is supposed to have quality as good as the STB.

HDMI cable will not be the cause unless you are getting "sparkles" or other digital artefacts. You will never get colour or definition loss via a HDMI cable.

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