Provideo PV-256T vs Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 250

[Satan's Cheerleader]

Which is better, the PV-256T or WinTV-PVR 250? Will the PV-256T produce VCD compliant mpegs? How does mpeg-1 video look captured by it? I'm a little hesitant to order the PVR 250 after all the negative comments I've seen posted about it. Also, what is the difference between the PV-256T and the PV-256T Pro?

[SHS]

Well both the WinTV-PVR 250 and PV-256T Pro use the same mpeg chip.
The down side to the PV256 you have order the card from the manufacturer.
Some of thoses user where useing first drivers or 2nd drivers set which did have problem.

[Satan's Cheerleader]

Does anybody have any experience with both the PV-256T and PVR 250 that can compare? I was pretty satisified with their PV-233.

[SHS]

Yes ask KevinKiller On the PV256 forum http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=pv256&nav=start
or the WinTV PVR forum http://pvr.opcenter.de

[Anonymous65]

The PVR-250 and the PV256 does not use the same compression chip. The PVR-250 use a newer and better chip. It's perfomance is better both for mpeg-1 and mpeg-2.

http://steve.kittelsen.com/pv256c

http://steve.kittelsen.com/pvr250

[SHS]

Oh dran I forgot about good old steve hehe

[Barnabas]

Don't even consider the PV-256, as it uses the Stream Machine chip. ADS uses that chip in the ADS Instant DVD, and it gives NOTHING but problems.

[Satan's Cheerleader]

I can always count on you guys to simplify things for me. You've managed to narrow down my choices to WinTV-PVR 250 or WinTV-PVR 250. Is there anything better, known to be less problematic? So far all i hear about it with the exception of a few is problems.. heat issues, software crashing, etc. Should i not worry about the complaints too much? I'm spoiled by the stability and ease of use of the PV-233.

[Rickyblaze]

I have had the pv256 for the last 1 1/2 yr and only have had very few problems but since I bought the pvr250 I have had nothing but trouble just trying to get it installed. I have been working on getting it installed since last night and still no go. I reformatted and installed 98se fresh. Anytime I have done this with the pv256 I have never had any problems getting it to install and work the 1st time. As far as quality I would have to say that installation ease would have to be rated as very poor.

[SHS]

Well Rickyblaze if you are having all thoses problem how come I havn't secen you on PVR forum? which is rigth here http://pvr.opcenter.de yes I agree some use green horn user are have a bitch of time with install the the PVR 250.

Satan's Cheerleader install the CD first that must then download drivers and app off my web site and install them links is below this message

[Rickyblaze]

It lives!!! I don't know what I did different but this time it works, the problem now is it is real jrky while watching TV. I set the hdds to DMA but it still starts getting jerky and shows signs of pixelating. I installed the beta drivers but I am still not impressed over my pv256 for ease of installation or quality of TV viewing. Any suggestions?

[SHS]

Be sure download the newest main drivers and MPEG decoder drivers and WinTV200 app.
You should have the fellow list below
WinTV-PVR 250 Drivers 1.2.20255
WinTV-PVR MPEG Software Decoder 2.0.20108
WinTV32/2000 3.41.20197

[Rickyblaze]

I have downloaded the new drivers and will be installing them to see if they help get rid of the jerky TV play. I have the updated versions of the rest installed. I hope the DVD quality is as good as everyone keeps saying so it turns out to be worth the trouble of installing. I may be prying this card back out and going back to my old pv256

Thanks

[SHS]

Rickyblaze what other mpeg2 codec do you have install list any other beside the one from Hauppauge.
Like WinDVD, Nimo Codec pack, etc, etc?.

[Anonymous65]

The jerky and pixelation you see when viewing is the mpeg decoder driver. Use the newest (not Beta) driver from Hauppauge and not the one on the CD-ROM. This driver (2nd one released) will fix the problems viewing TV with the PVR-250.

[Barnabas]

I can always count on you guys to simplify things for me. You've managed to narrow down my choices to WinTV-PVR 250 or WinTV-PVR 250. Is there anything better, known to be less problematic? So far all i hear about it with the exception of a few is problems.. heat issues, software crashing, etc. Should i not worry about the complaints too much? I'm spoiled by the stability and ease of use of the PV-233.

I own a Provideo PV-231, a Hauppauge PVR-250, a Hauppauge PVR USB, and a Hauppauge WinTV go card.

You might also want to consider the Hauppauge PVR USB unit, so you can keep your PV-233 on your computer. To my eyes, the Hauppauge PVR USB makes even better looking captures than the 250 does. The video on the 250 is a bit softer than it is on the PVR USB. The 2 main disadvantages to the PVR USB are, some random pops in the audio, caused by the USB, and no VBR capturing.

The latest beta drivers for the 250 fix some of the color settings problem, where the color resets to default when WinTV 2000 is loaded. One user reports that changing channels still reverts to the default settings. I use the S-Video input, so don't see that problem, but the colors still DO reset when the Scheduler is run for some odd reason.

The "jerky" movement some have posted about is only on the display, and never on the actual captures. The USB unit will do that after about 35 minutes, but in Overlay mode, the 250 never shows very jerky video, at least here.

The captured files from both units can be cut easily without losing sync.
For the PRV USB, you need to cut BEFORE for mux for SVCD. With the 250 you need to MUX before you cut or you will lose audio sync.

[Barnabas]

The jerky and pixelation you see when viewing is the mpeg decoder driver. Use the newest (not Beta) driver from Hauppauge and not the one on the CD-ROM. This driver (2nd one released) will fix the problems viewing TV with the PVR-250.

Steve,

The latest PVR-250's ship with the newest driver now. It's on Installation CD version 1.2. It dated about July 12th 2002 or so.

[Rickyblaze]

I have installed the newest drivers not beta. I have only the codecs from the hauppauge installation disc and a fresh format and install of win98se. I am at my wits end with this thing. I have never had as much trouble installing any hardware as I have had with this. It works on TV mode now and I have captured from TV but when I hook up my sony trv103 through the s-video input it displays in black & white and captures as b&w,what now? I am beginnig to think Hauppauge did'nt think this thing through very well with all the incompatibilities this card seems to have

[SHS]

Rickyblaze go to my web site under How to Use under WinTV PVR click on the How add or setup Channel in WinTV2000

[Barnabas]

Rickyblaze,

Are you using the supplied S-Video to composite adapter by chance? I found that with the supplied adapter, I could only get B&W. When I used my Radio Shack S-Video to Composite adapter, I get color.

I get color fine from a normal S-Video source.

[Rickyblaze]

Well shs you where on the money I set up the s-video channel and I'll be, it works in color now made my first dvd cap from my sony trv103 it was only 2min long but looks promising. Does anybody know if there is a recording timer like pv256 ap has. One that you can preset how long you what the recorder to work so I can go about my business while it records from my old VHS tapes? Another question is why does the wintv2000 act so slow?even with the new drivers and app

Thank you to everyone who has replied,Rick

[Rickyblaze]

Barnabas,
I am using a straight s-video cable,But I could have used that svid-composite adapter a while back. I guess I have one now


Thanks,Rick

[Barnabas]

Rickyblaze,

The Scheduler will do timed recordings for you, but it does not keep the correct settings yet. The newest beta driver works better than the 1.2 does, so you should download that and give it a try.

Perhaps you did not have the S-Video checkbox enabled before.

[Anonymous65]

The PVR-250 has only a S-video connector input. If you use composite video, you need to use the adapter that splits the video into two pins. The card will give you black/white video if you supply it S-video and set the card for composite video input. In composite mode, it only looks for a signal on one pin, not two pins. So, go into your channel settings and select S-video (channel 200, channel 210 for composite). It will enable both pins, one for color and one for the black/white signal.

[Satan's Cheerleader]

How is this card just for leisurely tv watching? Also, any comments on the heat problems i've seen reported?

[Barnabas]

You can watch the PVR-250 in full screen mode for watching TV, but I prefer to watch TV on a normal TV. I have not noticed any heat problems with my unit so far. Hauppauge will have a PVR-350 out soon with hardware decoding, but will cost more $.

[Satan's Cheerleader]

How will hardware decoding make a difference just while watching tv? I thought that would apply only to playing back captures.

[Anonymous65]

I don't think the PVR-250 has had any heat problems, it has a heat sink on the encoder chip, the only card I have seen that actually use a heat sink. Most cards don't use anything for cooling. The Dazzle DVCII have some cooling problems, the only card I know of.

The PVR-250 does not have video out for playing back captured video to a TV set. When you watch video on you PC, you use the software decoder (and CPU) for decoding and displaying the video.
The PVR-350 has a hardware decoder and a video encoder for outputting video to a TV set or VCR. However, you can buy a Hollywood Plus mpeg decoder card on eBay for $15 that will do exactly the same as the PVR-350 card, play mpeg files in hardware and output the video in NTSC or PAL to any TV or VCR.

So, if you have the PVR-250 and you need to output the video, get a Sigma Design Hollywood + PCI card. It will also play Divx files to a TV set with the right software.

[SHS]

Steve there just one thing about the Hollywood Plus it can't read big file in fact it has hard time with over 2GB unlike the Xcard which can.
I know I own both of them hehe to min dran toys lie a round.

[Anonymous65]

Yes, under Win2K, and I assume XP, large files are no problem, but Win9x will not play them unless they are on a DVD. I assume this is a software issue with the card and the OS. I don't know why Sigma can't fix this...