What hardware could improve image sharpness in Freeview + LCD HDTV?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › What hardware could improve image sharpness in Freeview + LCD HDTV?

GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#86882 14-Jul-2011 23:56

Hi guys and thank you for reading this post.
I just would like to know if anyone here would it be so kind to let me know how could I improve my image sharpness and quality with my HTPC setup.

my tv is a 42" Phillips FlatTV LCD HDTV
My PC is a Dual core 3ghz
Video card 7200 nvidia
connected tv with s-video
image is good but analog tv with aerial was sharper.
in Nvidia control I tried changing resolutions for TV but no change?
I want this setup sweet for the Rugby World Cup Games.

Thanks guys,

Andy

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#493556 15-Jul-2011 00:16

The thing that would make a huge difference is stop using svideo!
You are only running your HDTV at 800x600 probably.
Use VGA, dvi or hdmi.

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Mattv

242 posts

Master Geek

#493557 15-Jul-2011 00:17

A few more specs would help.

What model TV and how old? Does it have HDMI input? Does video card have HDMI output? That would be the best connection. DVI to HDMI will be the same from a picture point of view.

What TV tuner do you have and what sort of TV signal are you trying to watch? If only DVB-S the video card should be ok but if DVB-T then a video card upgrade would be a good idea.

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493558 15-Jul-2011 00:18

Just to be clear, S-Video is a round connector that looks like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Close-up_of_S-video_female_connector.jpg/30...

If that's what you're using, then you shouldn't be. It's a good option for an older CRT TV, but not for an LCD.

Your TV almost certainly has HDMI inputs, or at least VGA (15 pin connector).

Connecting the VGA output to the TV should give you a significant improvement.

Upgrading to HDMI would improve quality by another step. If your video card has DVI output, you can get a DVI to HDMI adaptor. The problem with this setup is that it can be difficult to get sound working.

The best option would be to buy a video card (or motherboard) with direct HDMI output.

GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493560 15-Jul-2011 00:35

Thank you guys for your messages and just to let you know:

My TV does have four types of connectors: RCA yellow and red and white connector. also S-video and it has component connectors for green blue etc. and does have Two HDMI connectors too.

I got DVB-HDTV card and Im running Freeview Satellite signal through it in the software that comes with the card i selected MPEG2 video acceleration done by tunner however the tunner only has Fibre cable or sat cable stuff for output and no RCA or S-video.
should I use HDMI to HDMI or DVI to HDMI? using videocard?

thanks,

Andy

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493563 15-Jul-2011 00:39

Are you sure your TV doesn't have VGA input? I've never seen an LCD that has HDMI but not VGA.

Also, there's no such thing as DVB-HDTV. If you're using Freeview satellite then you have a DVB-S card.

The tuner card is for input only. Your video card handles output. If you have HDMI output, then HDMI to HDMI is the best option. You should be able to get video and audio working, although you may have to fiddle with the driver settings a bit.

GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493565 15-Jul-2011 00:51

Michaelt you are actually right I have a satellite tunner but this tunner has input and output plugin's Also I was thinking do I need to get special decoding software for HD image?
Im thinking maybe to get from trademe a DVI to HDMI cable as I prefer having the sound going through my home theater 7.1 sound through my creative card as is better sound.

thanks,

Andy

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493567 15-Jul-2011 00:59

What's the model of the tuner? I do know there were analog tuners with video in and video out, but I wasn't aware of DVB-S tuners like that.

If you already have a home theatre setup, then DVI-HDMI and HDMI-HDMI will give you the same results. Just make sure the correct audio device is selected on your PC (so it doesn't try to use the HDMI audio when you have a better option).

As for software and codecs, there's a whole lot of options. A dual core PC should be able to handle all of them, although quality and efficiency may vary.

Satellite freeview won't give you an HD image though, so it doesn't matter. Your PC will just be upscaling the SD image.

Basically, if your PC can handle the content now, then it will almost definitely handle it with a different output, regardless of software. The only exception is if your computer was right on the edge of handling your video content, in which case the higher resolution output might push it over that edge. I doubt that applies in your case.

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GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493568 15-Jul-2011 01:11

Michael thank you for your useful info as i was thinking of buying a new videocard HD capable but after what you said about freeview not HD content but SD? what is SD? I thought with freeview both terrestrial and satellite you would it get cristal clear HD? if not HD omg wtf I wasted my time setting this up....:(

thanks,

Andy

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493569 15-Jul-2011 01:18

SD is Standard Definition as opposed to HD which is High Definition. SD is usually a bit below DVD quality. Freeview satellite is SD only. It's better than analog for most people, but not by much. 'Crystal clear' is a meaningless marketing term.

For HD you need either terrestrial reception or Sky.

Also, your computer can probably handle HD without a new videocard. It'll be decoded in the CPU instead of the videocard which will use more power, but still works.

Regardless, I think you'll see a noticeable improvement going from S-Video to HDMI.

sbiddle

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#493574 15-Jul-2011 06:15

GamerOC: Michael thank you for your useful info as i was thinking of buying a new videocard HD capable but after what you said about freeview not HD content but SD? what is SD? I thought with freeview both terrestrial and satellite you would it get cristal clear HD? if not HD omg wtf I wasted my time setting this up....:(

thanks,

Andy

Freeview satellite is not HD and have never claimed to be. You only get HD on Freeview|HD which is terrestrial.

Using s-video is the cause of your bad picture, moving to VGA or HDMI as mentioned above will solve this however you're probably going to need to buy a new video card.

xpd

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#493596 15-Jul-2011 08:29

Yup, your picture via the satellite is poorer compared to the antenna because of the 2 different signals - if you want HD, then you need to get a DVB-T card instead of the DVB-S and plug your antenna into it, not your satellite dish. Then you'll get your clear signal again :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493614 15-Jul-2011 09:18

Thank you guys for your replies, I setup satellite tv because a mate told me it was better image than terrestrial...grrr anyway i will try my DVI-HDMI cable that should arrive via courier today, if im not happy with that I do have a freeview compatible terrestrial aerial.

so if I install a PC Terrestrial tuner plus better video graphics card use my terrestrial aerial I could get Freeview HD????

If answer is yes im gonna kick this satellite setup in to touch...

thanks guys,

Andy

oxnsox

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#493667 15-Jul-2011 11:18

It depends where you are in the country.
Most places outside the main centers don't yet have the option for Terrestrial Freeview (which is HD).

trig42

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#493673 15-Jul-2011 11:26

Don't bin the satellite setup.

If you are using Windows7 Media centre (or other Media Centre products) you can happily use multiple tuners. Also, the EPG comes off the satellite and into W7MC quite easily and nicely without having to use grabbers and xml files.The quality off the sat will be the same for most channels as for Terrestrial (except TV1,2 and 3).

Keeping the sat setup and adding terrestrial also means you can record one channel while watching another.

GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#493707 15-Jul-2011 12:48

Hi thank you guys for replies,

That is a great idea to put a terrestrial card in so I can have both things as i think some sat channels are not broadcast through terrestrial correct me if Im wrong on that one.

I like the satellite setup as my tunner have double decouders so I can record two shows or watch one and record the other and im also running an LNB with double head so each head is looking at different transponder. I also like it because it has the freeview tvguide EPG at your finger tips. also this card is awesome I can preview the channels right on the tv screen and see them all simultaneously and just click the remote to choose.

will have to give it a bit more of thought to what to do.
I want good image but also keep all the great channels.

:( courier have not arrived with the DVI-HDMI cable...

Add-on my tuner has two plug in because one is for LNB in signal and the other is a loop so i can get an output to connect to another decouder box or pc I just read that cool so i can hook up my other tv lol.
for the people that requested the name of the tuner here is the link: http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Products/TwinHan/102G-VisionPlus-Twinhan-PCI-receiver.htm

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