Need Help w/ATI Wonder Card and Digital Cable system

[Deezy]

Hi,

I have an ATI Wonder 9000 Pro TV Tuner Graphics Card.

I also have Digital cable from Time Warner Cable.

I have only had access to limited tv stations before today because I did not have an extra Digital Cable box to hook up to the computer to run the signal through. Today I hooked it up and I can get all or most of my digital cable channels by keeping the Media Center on Channel 3 and changing the channels manually on my cable box.

One Problem - I don't have any sound coming from the computer when the TV in the Media Center is turned on.

I just opened my music files and I have sound there so it's not some loose wire.

I did pull down a menu on the computer tv screen for AUDIO MODE - it's on Mono and even though I try to click on Stereo or some other choice - it stays on Mono.

Can anyone give me some troubleshooting tips to try and get the sound for the tv stations? I need to record something tonight that's very important and I've run out of my own trouble shooting ideas.

I'm new here - hope I gave you enough info and thanks in advance for any help!

Dee

[teegee420]

The plug that comes out of the card has a 1/8 inch male headphone plug that goes into your sound card's aucilliary input. Do you have it connected correctly?

[Deezy]

After I posted I thought it could be those wires.

One big plug is in plugged into the tower. There are 2 black little plugs and a yellow one hanging off of it. They had told me when I first got the computer that if I ever wanted to hook up a vcr I'd have to connect those wires.

I'm not that good with this (as you can see; ) can you give me a little more guidance about those 3 hanging wires and the one that's going into the card - I think something is wrong there.

Thank you!

[teegee420]

The one that looks like a headphone plug goes into your sound card. The sound card is where your speakers plug into. There are two other holes next to it. Try the one in the middle. If you see a pink or red hole, that's not it, it's the microphone input.

[Deezy]

Believe it or not, I think I had used the wrong type of wire to connect the cable box to the sound card. I switched it to another wire and the sound is there. One Problem - the TV center still says Mono.

I looked at the wires that are going into the video card. The one big black one that I have hooked into the video card has a stranger shape, it looks round ..but at the bottom it's straight edged - and that matches the shape of the input in the video card. I don't have anything w/red or pink holes as you described.

So, I've got sound coming out of both speakers, but I'm not sure why it's still showing Mono and if the sound is not right. This card has been a nightmare and the sound often diappears and I have to reboot the computer to get the sound back.

Am I supposed to hook any of those 3 wires (that hang off of the one plugged into the video card) into the digital cable box? It's one skinny black one, one skinny yellow one and one completely round larger black one.

Thank you so much for your help!

D

[teegee420]

Exactly what kind of cables are you running out of your cable box? Just a coaxial? Did you see a headphone plug hanging off the video card like I mentioned? The little black one with the female plug should be an audio plug that you don't need, and the yellow and round plugs are video outputs. That should leave the headphone plug that's supposed to go into your sound card. What other plugs do you see on your sound card?

[Deezy]

I am using an RCA Gold Cable between the cable box and the sound card. Do you think that's the problem? I could unplug one of the cable companies cables from another tv if you think this could be causing the problem.

I'm really not familiar with what a headphone cable would look like,

the little black one that hangs off has a yellow color coded into the head of the plug.

the large black one that is now hanging off is a round plug and the metal part of the input is totally round, whereas the black one that I have plugged into the sound card is round in shape, but part of the metal area that plugs into the sound card is straight. That matched the shape of the input in the sound card. If I tried to plug in the one that's hanging off now, I don't think it would fit as the shape of the plug is different from the input in the video card.

I thank you for your patience and appreciate your help

D

[Deezy]

Just another thought...

when I used the ATI setup it gave me a few options for my zip code and I selected the one where one cnbc channel matched my usual channel set up. After it downloaded it's clear that the one it used is not my own cable channel set up. I don't care because I really can't use it since the darn thing will always have to be on channel 3.

Since the channel on the ATI must stay on channel 3 all the time - is it possible that this is coming in as a Mono station and since it's always tuned to that station on the computer, it's always going to show it as Mono?

Just a thought!

[teegee420]

Ok, I think you're safe on the sound card connector. So am I to understand that you only have one cable running out of your cable box(RCA gold) that you're using for sound? You have a coaxial cable(the kind of cable that runs out of the wall into your cable box) running out of the box and into the capture card too don't you? If I'm correct, disconnect the RCA gold cable from the sound card. The coaxial cable is already feeding sound in.

[teegee420]

Since the channel on the ATI must stay on channel 3 all the time - is it possible that this is coming in as a Mono station and since it's always tuned to that station on the computer, it's always going to show it as Mono?

Just a thought!

I think you're right in your assumption. You might end up having to use the purple box that came with your card to capture instead of using the coaxial input.

Edit: I got confused. You don't have a purple capture box(or do you?). For a minute I thought you had an All-In-Wonder card when you actually have the PCI Wonder card.

[Deezy]

One cable (company) wire running from the wall into the IN FROM CABLE on the cable box.

One RCA Gold cable wire running from the CABLE OUT on the cable box - into the sound card.

That's it.

Did you see my post about the channel set up and perhaps this channel 3 I'm using to get my signal is a Mono station? When I flip through the computer channels on the computer tv - most are all static but I see some say HSN STEREO on the TV screen on the computer. That's why I'm wondering if the download of the Channels is wrong so this channel 3 the computer must always stay on is always going to be a Mono channel.

If that's the case, how would I reprogram the channels and select another option to download a new cable channel set up on the ATI Gem Star program? I looked around and there's no instructions for doing that.

[Deezy]

Correct, I don't have any purple capture box - I assume you're talking about something external that would have come with the computer and card? I do have an All In Wonder Radeon 9000 TV Tuner Graphics Card. It came installed with the computer from Dell as an add on when I bought the computer.

I hope I'm not breaking any rules or protocol on this site with this thread.

If it is coming from the download of the channels from Gem Star and this channel 3 being Mono - I need to get rid of or change the download to get rid of this channel set up or find one with a Stereo Channel 3.


D

[teegee420]

If you only have one audio cable coming out of the cable box and into the sound card, how are you getting any video?

[Deezy]

If you only have one audio cable coming out of the cable box and into the sound card, how are you getting any video?

I don't know, but I am Before I hooked up the cable box today, I've been using it without the box and just ran the cable plug from the wall right into the sound card/video card. It worked fine except I only got my local and basic national channels and most of the PBS stations. Since I have a digital cable signal - it only recognized about 25 channels and most of them were weirdo stations.

I know you can buy this Card Media Center in stores, perhaps it's a different set up than the one Dell sold me. I checked the book that came with it calls it The ATI MULTIMEDIA CENTER but I checked my Dell invoice for the exact name and number I put in my other posts.

[teegee420]

Sorry to leave you hanging but I don't think I can be of any realy help without looking at your setup first hand. I'm just a little too confused. Maybe someone else can help you out.

[Deezy]

Thanks a lot for all of your help - you've been great and I really appreciate your time.

Is there anyone here you can think of who might have some input about the channel line up being on channel 3 and that channel coming in from Gemstar as a Mono station?

Also - is there a chance that even though it's saying Mono - it's really stereo - any way to test this out or figure that out? For some reason, I think the trouble or lack of has to do with this stupid Gemstar thing and I found the instructions for changing the channel line up but nothng for my area puts channel 3 as a Stereo channel.


D

[Nelson37]

OK, we have a lot of connectors here and some terminology problems, so follow along.

On the ATI card, you have the black plug you described with three cables on it. One should have a male, mini-RCA plug, about 3/4" long with two stripes around it. This is Audio out, should be plugged into the line-in of your sound card, next to where your speakers plug in. One of the other plugs, possibly yellow, with a single center hole and a raised metal shroud, this is Composite Video out. The third has multiple holes, looks much like the PS2 ports where your keyboard and mouse plug in. This is S-Video out.

On the ATI card, where the black plug connects to it. This plug resembles the PS2 and S-Video connectors, but is propietary and different. There should be TWO of them, a regular VGA or DVI connector, and a threaded Coax which accepts the CableTV cable. The Second connector should mate with a purple cable with a large box on the end containing 2 Audio, (red and white), one Video (yellow), and one S-Video inputs.

Note that the red, white, and yellow connectors are all similar and resemble the previously described composite out. These are referred to as RCA connectors, and are also Coax although different from the Cable TV cable. The red and white are the 2 Audio channels and yellow is Video. Also note that some video devices may have Component connectors, which is 3 RCA connectors, Red, Green, and Blue, all 3 just for Video. There is also yet another RCA connector on some equipment, colored Orange, used for Digital Audio and called a SPDIF.

Still with me? You will not be able to receive most Digital Cable channels thru the direct CableTV Coax to the ATI card, though you can tune with MMC. (Note that Media Center refers to a Microsoft product, ATI software is called MMC). To tune all channels, and for best quality, run the CAbleTV Coax to the Cable box, and use the S-video or Composite out from the box to the ATI card. Use the other cable or Coax out to the TV. Connect the two audio outs from the box through a splitter to the two audio ins on the purple box and your Amp or TV, you may be able to use the Monitor connection on your Amp instead of a splitter. Or if you go from box to Audio in on the ATI card, black conector male plug to Line-in on the sound card, and Line-out on sound card to Amp or Speakers, you won't need the splitter and will have sound as long as the PC is on.


You will have to tune and schedule channel changes with the cable box, but you can start timed recordings with MMC. Using the Composite or S-Video gives best visual quality, using the two audio connectors gives full stereo.

Simple, isn't it?

[Deezy]

The Second connector should mate with a purple cable with a large box on the end containing 2 Audio, (red and white), one Video (yellow), and one S-Video inputs.

Note that the red, white, and yellow connectors are all similar and resemble the previously described composite out. These are referred to as RCA connectors, and are also Coax although different from the Cable TV cable. The red and white are the 2 Audio channels and yellow is Video. Also note that some video devices may have Component connectors, which is 3 RCA connectors, Red, Green, and Blue, all 3 just for Video. There is also yet another RCA connector on some equipment, colored Orange, used for Digital Audio and called a SPDIF.

Still with me? You will not be able to receive most Digital Cable channels thru the direct CableTV Coax to the ATI card, though you can tune with MMC. (Note that Media Center refers to a Microsoft product, ATI software is called MMC). To tune all channels, and for best quality, run the CAbleTV Coax to the Cable box, and use the S-video or Composite out from the box to the ATI card. Use the other cable or Coax out to the TV. Connect the two audio outs from the box through a splitter to the two audio ins on the purple box and your Amp or TV, you may be able to use the Monitor connection on your Amp instead of a splitter. Or if you go from box to Audio in on the ATI card, black conector male plug to Line-in on the sound card, and Line-out on sound card to Amp or Speakers, you won't need the splitter and will have sound as long as the PC is on.


You will have to tune and schedule channel changes with the cable box, but you can start timed recordings with MMC. Using the Composite or S-Video gives best visual quality, using the two audio connectors gives full stereo.

Simple, isn't it?

Ummmm, no it's not simple but I do understand a lot of what you said


Ok - I looked in the drawer and I did get a very heavy thick purple cable with the ATI hook up kit. When Dell came to hook the computer up they didn't use this cable at all. I see where that hooks into the ATI card, but what is supposed to go into the red, yellow, white and black connectors on the purple box plug?

I'm sorry I seem like such a dunce. I also apologize to teegeee - I guess I now realize what purple box you were talking about. Everything that wasn't hooked up at the time they installed the computer went into the draw and that cable didn't seem like a box to me.


So, I'm not receiving Stereo sound now? Is there any way to tell if I am other than what the screen says when tuned to channel 3? I have to say it doesn't sound bad and there is sound coming from both speakers, but I don't know if that is the definition of stereo or not. Talk about feeling like a dunce!


If I don't care about using this card MMC to do programmed recording - do I need to use the splitter hook up - is there any other benefit other than setting the MMC programmed recording feature?


I appreciate your patience and thanks for all of your help.


D

[teegee420]

Ok - I looked in the drawer and I did get a very heavy thick purple cable with the ATI hook up kit. When Dell came to hook the computer up they didn't use this cable at all. I see where that hooks into the ATI card, but what is supposed to go into the red, yellow, white and black connectors on the purple box plug?

I'm sorry I seem like such a dunce. I also apologize to teegeee - I guess I now realize what purple box you were talking about. Everything that wasn't hooked up at the time they installed the computer went into the draw and that cable didn't seem like a box to me.


So, I'm not receiving Stereo sound now? Is there any way to tell if I am other than what the screen says when tuned to channel 3? I have to say it doesn't sound bad and there is sound coming from both speakers, but I don't know if that is the definition of stereo or not. Talk about feeling like a dunce!


If I don't care about using this card MMC to do programmed recording - do I need to use the splitter hook up - is there any other benefit other than setting the MMC programmed recording feature?


I appreciate your patience and thanks for all of your help.



D

Looks like you're getting somewhere! Also, no need to apologize. The purple cable and box is your capture hook-up. I think using it is your best bet. What you'll need to do is connect it to your cable box with the red and white plugs for audio, and the yellow plug for video. Do you have those three outputs on your cable box? Then plug the other end of the capture cable into your ATI card. After that, all you have to do is start up ATI MMC, right click and select "Composite" as the input connector.

[Deezy]

Ok - I looked in the drawer and I did get a very heavy thick purple cable with the ATI hook up kit. When Dell came to hook the computer up they didn't use this cable at all. I see where that hooks into the ATI card, but what is supposed to go into the red, yellow, white and black connectors on the purple box plug?

I'm sorry I seem like such a dunce. I also apologize to teegeee - I guess I now realize what purple box you were talking about. Everything that wasn't hooked up at the time they installed the computer went into the draw and that cable didn't seem like a box to me.


So, I'm not receiving Stereo sound now? Is there any way to tell if I am other than what the screen says when tuned to channel 3? I have to say it doesn't sound bad and there is sound coming from both speakers, but I don't know if that is the definition of stereo or not. Talk about feeling like a dunce!


If I don't care about using this card MMC to do programmed recording - do I need to use the splitter hook up - is there any other benefit other than setting the MMC programmed recording feature?


I appreciate your patience and thanks for all of your help.



D

Looks like you're getting somewhere! Also, no need to apologize. The purple cable and box is your capture hook-up. I think using it is your best bet. What you'll need to do is connect it to your cable box with the red and white plugs for audio, and the yellow plug for video. Do you have those three outputs on your cable box? Then plug the other end of the capture cable into your ATI card. After that, all you have to do is start up ATI MMC, right click and select "Composite" as the input connector.

I got it all right!!! I had the cables and hooked up the purple wire to video card and had a set of red white and yellow cables and hooked those into the cable box and then into the purple/box wire. I hit composite and WOW did the sound change!!!

Thank you teegee and Nelson37 for all of your help and patience. I never would have gotten all of this or have been able to do it without your assistance and tech guidance! I don't think I'll ever be in a position to return the favor in this forum, but I do try to help out other people in communities where I'm a little more knowledgeable

Now, I might need some help when I try to burn this show I'm taping onto a DVD

D

[teegee420]

I got it all right!!! I had the cables and hooked up the purple wire to video card and had a set of red white and yellow cables and hooked those into the cable box and then into the purple/box wire. I hit composite and WOW did the sound change!!!

Congratulations! Pleased to hear you got it straigtened out.

Thank you teegee and Nelson37 for all of your help and patience. I never would have gotten all of this or have been able to do it without your assistance and tech guidance! I don't think I'll ever be in a position to return the favor in this forum, but I do try to help out other people in communities where I'm a little more knowledgeable

Contributing back to the group mind, that's what forums like these are all about.

Now, I might need some help when I try to burn this show I'm taping onto a DVD

D

That would be a whole 'nother thread now wouldn't it? :P Now that you're up and running I'd like to direct you to a site created by one of our more knowledgable members who's specialty is capturing with ATI cards. Goes by the name of Lord Smurf, and you can find his site at Lord Smurf.com.

[Deezy]

I got it all right!!! I had the cables and hooked up the purple wire to video card and had a set of red white and yellow cables and hooked those into the cable box and then into the purple/box wire. I hit composite and WOW did the sound change!!!

Congratulations! Pleased to hear you got it straigtened out.

Thank you teegee and Nelson37 for all of your help and patience. I never would have gotten all of this or have been able to do it without your assistance and tech guidance! I don't think I'll ever be in a position to return the favor in this forum, but I do try to help out other people in communities where I'm a little more knowledgeable

Contributing back to the group mind, that's what forums like these are all about.

Now, I might need some help when I try to burn this show I'm taping onto a DVD

D

That would be a whole 'nother thread now wouldn't it? :P Now that you're up and running I'd like to direct you to a site created by one of our more knowledgable members who's specialty is capturing with ATI cards. Goes by the name of Lord Smurf, and you can find his site at Lord Smurf.com.

Thanks for the link to the site. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing when I try to burn this....a girl can dream

BTW - In case I ever want to get rid of this ATI set-up - is there something else you can recd that wouldn't be half the headache that this card is, but offers similiar features?

Thanks!

D

[teegee420]

I'm afraid nothing comes to mind. The good thing is that you have made some progress and it's not likely you'll have the same problems again. ATI owners tend to be fairly loyal. I'm certain the next card I buy will be a newer All-In-Wonder.

As you can see from Lord Smurf's site, there's a lot to learn about this hobby(make no mistake, it's a hobby). Read up as much as you can. You'll find some guides for DVD burning on this very site. One early peice of advice, get yourself some RW discs. That way you won't waste any discs if your first couple of burns yield less than stellar results. If you get stuck, you know where to post your questions. Best of luck to you.

[Nelson37]

Excellent, now you're cookin'!

The splitter is only necessary so that sound still goes to Amp and speakers without PC needed. No relation to MMC.

That comes in the fact that using the Composite or S-Video connectors, you are bypassing the tuner on the ATI card, which is only active using the threaded CATV Coax. The ATI tuner cannot tune the higher channels or Premium, encrypted ones anyway. You also get better video qualtiy on Composite or S-Video. BTW, if available, use the S-Video connection, it gives the best quality available.

IMO, there is nothing really comparable to the ATI card in terms of quality, price, and feature set. The dedicated MPEG encoder cards (Hauppage) and external boxes (Dazzle) are less customizable, and will never improve in performance. My ATI captures get better everytime I upgrade my processor. If you just want straight AVI cap, there are other effective solutions but no real-time MPEG.

Setup a hassle? I guess being in the business I expect that from almost any reasonably powerful piece of hardware. People complain about updating drivers but at least ATI is still around to create these new drivers, this is a major positive in my opinion.

Just remember, if it was easy, EVERYBODY would be doing it, and where's the fun in that?

You will find lotsa opinions on lotsa ways to capture and process video. Test and try a number of variations, you may find various areas of disagreement here and there. Only you, and no one else, can determine the proper amount of ketchup (or even, god help you, mayonnaise) to put on your french fries.

And one day soon you will find yourself helping some poor newbie to discover what you have learned.