Kworld MCE-TV 201 (Conexant 2388x) problems

[waylo]

Hello,

I'm 'upgrading' my analog encoder to a hardware encoder card, the KWorld MCE-TV 201, which has a Conexant 2388x chip. This is to capture my analog cable. The old card (ATI HDTV Wonder) has horrendous audio/video sync issues with analog (software encoding my guess). Manufacturer's site:
http://www.kworldcomputer.com/produc.../mce-tv201.htm

I'm having lots of difficulty getting it to work with SageTV though. It is recognized, and the channels can be configured. The sound works fine. The video is the only problem!

The bottom 1/3rd is a mix of purple and green pixels. The top 2/3rds is a triplicate of the image it's supposed to be displaying. I've linked a screen shot:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...zlpViFrTzVw3_g

When I use another program (kmplayer) to tune into this card, it comes out fine however.

Any ideas? Does SageTV have a problem with the 2388x chip?

[paulbeers]

It isn't listed as a Sage compatible Tuner so that might be your problem.....

Otherwise if it comes with any software, try it out and see if it works with its own software to verify it isn't a broken card.

[waylo]

Aggh, that's really unfortunate!

Seems like it was a very popular hardware encoder card and thus would be.

Hmm, any suggestions on what THE best hardware encoder card for SageTV would be?

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by waylo

Aggh, that's really unfortunate!

Seems like it was a very popular hardware encoder card and thus would be.

Hmm, any suggestions on what THE best hardware encoder card for SageTV would be?

Probably the HVR-1600 or HVR-1800 (whether you want it in PCI or PCI-E)

Usually runs about $50-60.

[waylo]

Aha! Figured it out.

From a prior thread a couple of years back. Searched for Conexant Blackbird, which is apparently the other name for this card. Lots of people with the exact symptoms.

Essentially the mpeg encoder doesn't like what SageTV does with the different resolution settings. "DVD Extra Long Play" does work however.

Thanks for the suggestions. Maybe for the next upgrade!

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by waylo

Aha! Figured it out.

From a prior thread a couple of years back. Searched for Conexant Blackbird, which is apparently the other name for this card. Lots of people with the exact symptoms.

Essentially the mpeg encoder doesn't like what SageTV does with the different resolution settings. "DVD Extra Long Play" does work however.

Thanks for the suggestions. Maybe for the next upgrade!

Ahhhh....the only conexant blackbird design. Yes I had two of those. They were actually great cards. Very decent image quality and very reasonably prices (especially at the time when the PVR250's were going for $100+). Glad you got it to work.