Difficulty in capturing any video with new video card.

[chuckfinn]

Hi there,

I am hoping someone will be able to help me with this problem!

I have a lot of old VRC tapes that I would like to transfer over to DVD.

I have a HP laptop running WinXP, SP2.

After researching the VCR to DVD process online, I purchased a video capture/TV tuner card for $110. Details of the cared are SAA7134, brand name ‘Pixel Mobile TV’.

The card has two input sockets – an ‘antenna in’ for TV tuning, and an S-video input connection.

I installed all drivers and software that came with the card. The software is ‘Honestech TV Plus’.

The device manager indicates that the card is installed and functioning properly.

However, my problem is no matter what I try, I cannot get the card to work, and am not sure what I could be doing wrong.

I have tried the S-Video connection, with my S-Video cord connecting the VCR’s video output to the video card, and have ensured software is in ‘S-Video’ mode, however receive no picture.

I have also tried to get a picture using the ‘antenna in ‘connection, where I connected an RF cord from the VCR’s ‘RF out’ socket to the video card’s ‘antenna in’ socket. However, when scanning for channels, the software does not pick up on any picture at all. Even when plugging an antenna directly into the ‘antenna in’ socket, it does not pick up normal TV channels.

I have tried everything I can think of. I.e., uninstalled and reinstalled the software, and believing that there might be something wrong with the software, I have downloaded about 10 free TV tuner / video capture applications (spending hours playing with the settings of each) but have the exact same problem with each – simply no picture.

Can anyone advise if I may be missing a step somewhere? Usually with persistence I am able to overcome any hardware/software problems but admit this one has me stumped!

Rgds,

Chuck

[redwudz]

I'm not having any luck finding that card on the internet. Do you have a link to the manufacturer or to where you purchased it from?

What type of card? A PCMCIA card or a USB plug in type box? A Honestech product? http://www.honestech.com/main/default.asp

Any problem with PAL<>NTSC settings?

And welcome to our forums.

[chuckfinn]

Hi there,

Thanks for your response.

It is a PCMCIA card that plugs straight into the laptop. I cant locate too much information on the card online, however it is exactly the same (same box, everything) as the one this person has listed on the following URL:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Laptops/PCMCIA-cards/auction-86762408.htm

The Device Manager states the manufacturer is 'Philips Semiconductors'.

I believe Honestech only relates to the software, not the card. The software included is the same as explained in:
http://www.honestech.com/main/tv_plus_40_gold.asp?path=TV%20&%20Video

In regards to Pal / NTSC settings, I believe it should work on PAL, though have tried all settings, PAL and NTSC, in all the software I have tried.

Please let me know if I can provide you with any more info? Appreicate your help.

Chuck

[redwudz]

Found it, I think :



Specifications:

- Interface PCMCIA Type2 5V
- Input 75 O RF TV input (Cable/Antenna)
- SVHS/Composite Video/Audio(R/L)
- Stereo PAL/SECAM Stereo (NICAM, A2)
- MPEG
- Video: 2-15 Mbps
- Compression Audio: up to 448 Kbps
- Sampling rate: 32KHz/44.1KHz/48KHz
- Frame size PAL: 720x576; NTSC: 720x480
- Dimension 123x54x 18mm

Manufacturer: Prolink

http://www.prolink.com.tw

I don't know if this will help much. I couldn't connect with their website.

US distributor, but a different model: http://www.prolink-usa.com/ Item No: TV-A510C-FR

I hate to say it, but there may be something wrong with the card. You can see if you can get to the TW website, or just do a Google search for Prolink and you may come up with something more, maybe some other drivers.

Good luck.

[chuckfinn]

Thanks for your help. I will take your advise and see if I can get some other drivers.

Cheers

[BJ_M]

maybe take that back and get a canopus ADVC-55 instead for a lot less hassle and better quality

[chuckfinn]

.

[chuckfinn]

I emailed Prolink tech support and they were very helpful. They directed me to an IP address where I could download the right drivers directly from their FTP site. They also asked me to ping the taiwain URL and send them the details so they could look into why I could not access the Taiwan site. Very happy and the card is now working (and works very well!).

Chuck.