PVR-350 TV-Out versus Video TV-Out....huh?!?!?

[geekycamper]

Hey Folks,
Wow! I'm impressed with SageTV 4.0. Here's my story and questions....

Several weeks ago, I started my mission on building my own PVR. After several discussions with people at work, I jumped into MythTV. I took my existing box, discribed in my signiture below and after extensive reading and recommendations, added a PVR-350. After two weeks of messing around with MythTV (installing, reinstalling, reconfiguring, redoing, remaking, rpm'ing, ...), I gave up! I may be a newbie to SagetV, but I'm not considered a newbie with Linux!!! Let's say that I've being doing Un*x's since 1988...and got started with MS-DOS in 1985. MythTV had me stumped...I just couldn't get the danged TV-Out to work in MythTV...my WSF (wife satifaction factor) was zilch (she wanted me to go with Tivo)...So I decided to give SageTV a try...Next night, I was up and running and recording shows. Wife is happy!...I told one the guys at work about SageTV and they switched.

Alright, enough story, now the questions. I've read through the posts here and realize that there are issues with the PVR-350 card. I can do TV-Out; the picture is clear and smooth and I'm happy with it....but, I can't play MP3's out on SageTV...It works if I switch output to the TV-Out of the nVidia FX5200 card.

Question #1: Should I be able to play MP3's while out-putting to my PVR-350?

Question #2: If I switch to the TV-Out on my video card, will there still be hardware encoding/decoding?

Question #3: I've noticed that the borders of the TV screen is askewed a little when using the TV-Out on my video card. I haven't found any adjustments that could straighten this out. Also, the resolution is a bit fuzzy compared to the PVR-350 TV-Out output, and there's a "magnetic-type" dark spot on the TV screen that iisn't there with using direct output from DirecTV or the PCR-350 TV-Out. If I upgrade to a better video card, will this clear some of these problems up? If so, which card should I go with?

Thanks in advance for the help...this is fun stuff!!!!

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by dad30075

Question #1: Should I be able to play MP3's while out-putting to my PVR-350?

Question #2: If I switch to the TV-Out on my video card, will there still be hardware encoding/decoding?

Question #3: I've noticed that the borders of the TV screen is askewed a little when using the TV-Out on my video card. I haven't found any adjustments that could straighten this out. Also, the resolution is a bit fuzzy compared to the PVR-350 TV-Out output, and there's a "magnetic-type" dark spot on the TV screen that iisn't there with using direct output from DirecTV or the PCR-350 TV-Out. If I upgrade to a better video card, will this clear some of these problems up? If so, which card should I go with?

Thanks in advance for the help...this is fun stuff!!!!

Question 1 - Run a cable from the audio out of the PVR-350 to the mic in of the sound card, and then wire your speakers from the sound card. This will eliminate the problem of not being able to play MP3's.

Question 2 - Not to my knowledge. Though, if you run with the solution I mentioned for question 1, it won't be an issue.

Question 3 - I've heard *LOTS* of differing opinions on this one, and without knowing your TV setup (brand, model, and capabilities), I'd rather not venture a *GUESS* that could end up costing you money. I will say that while I used to use the video out on the PVR-350, I no longer do so. This was due the lack of resolution to issues that were encountered while using it. I currently am setup with a projector for one of my clients that's connected directly via vga, and an MVP on the other client.

Just my $0.02.

[geekycamper]

Thanks Krutaw!
Question #1: Okay. I had it that way, but changed it when I installed it in my entertainment cabinet.

Question #2: NP, will take your advice on #1.

Question #3: It's a JVC AV36F802...it has S-Video, cable, and composite inputs. The real question is, would I benefit in buying another video card? I'm willing to buy one if there is any value to it.

Cheers!

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by dad30075

Thanks Krutaw!
Question #3: It's a JVC AV36F802...it has S-Video, cable, and composite inputs. The real question is, would I benefit in buying another video card? I'm willing to buy one if there is any value to it.

Cheers!

Given that it's not HD, I'm doubting very seriously that you're gonna be able to pump anything out that will look better than the PVR-350.

On an unrelated note, high quality xvid videos play INCREDIBLY through my nVidia card that came on the nForceII motherboard through my HD projector. I almost cried the first time I saw someone's individual whiskers, and hairs moving.