Capture Quality Problems - Stupid Horizontal Lines...

[alstatr]

Before I start I want to say that this post will be long but I have been trying to figure out how best to present this. Please don't ream me out for the options/solutions I have thought of. I am pretty experienced at the whole capturing process but this is one problem that has me stumped.

Ok having said that...

Here is my problem. Below is screen shot of what I see on every channel.



As you can see by my computer specs, the problem is not my computer hardware. I have heard that having a power strip too close to the computer may cause this interfernce, so I moved it about 6 feet away. The lines are still there. I have tried different coaxial sources, one at my house and one at college. The lines are still there. Each coaxial source looks perfect on a TV. I also heard that having PCI cards too close to the ATI AIW 9700 might cause interfernce, so I moved the PCI cards as far away as possible. The lines are still there. As of now I have just dealt with the loss of clarity/quality in the shows I capture because I only used it as a PVR so that I could watch shows I missed. But now I want to burn the shows to DVD and naturally I want the best quality picture I can get.

Here is where I need everyone's help, deciding what to do.

1. Does anyone have any ideas on what I should try to get rids of these lines? I'm using MMC 8.9 and all the versions showed the lines. It doesn't seem to matter if I capture at low/high bitrate, interlace/de-interlace, or AVI/MPEG 1,2. The videosoap on heavy takes away about 50% of the lines but they are still visable just not as much.

2. Here is what I have tried with a VCR. First, I tried coaxial to the VCR then coaxial out to the AIW 9700. No luck, actually alittle worse sound quality. Second, I tired coaxial to VCR the S-Video to AIW 9700. The lines are still there. Then I tried coaxial to VCR then composite to the AIW. This did the best job of getting rid out of the three of lines but still noticable and pretty poor picture quality/clarity.

3. Here is what I was thinking of doing. Buying a Tivo/Replay TV, recording the shows on the Tivo/Replay TV then downloading the show to my computer, editing out the commercials, and burning to a DVD. This process has a few drawbacks though.
1. Time consuming.
2. Expensive but I wouldn't mind buying a Tivo/Replay TV but I don't want to spend more than $250.
3. I am worried about the Tivo fees. I have heard that if you want to schedule the recordings yourself you don't have to pay the fees. Is this true? Does Replay TV have any monthly fees or subscription fees?

I know I can get a Tivo with a DVD burner but that is too much money and I want shows on my computer so I can make cool menus and stuff.

4. For transfering VHS to DVD. Whats the best VCR to have that can do this? Assuming I get rid of the damn lines ?

Thanks to everyone that reads my post, sorry about the length and depth of questions. Thanks to everyone that posts their opinion/suggestions/solutions.

[dphirschler]

N ot sure if this is gonna help much...

I noticed a similar "interference" in my picture on certain channels after my local cable company "upgraded" the lines in my area. My theory is that the interference comes from the cable company in one of two ways.

One: it is caused by some digital channel being resampled or digital filtered. Not sure if there is a solution for that.

Two: Hopefully your signal is just too strong. You might try a 10db attenuator where your cable connects to your PC. Or if you can't find one of those, then just hook up a two way splitter. The splitter will lessen the signal strength. Hopefully the interference will be gone.


Darryl

[alstatr]

Thanks dphirschler.

As for the the first thing. I don't think that my university has digital cable channels. I know that back home Comcast has digital cable but we don't subscribe to it. That'll suck if there's no way to fix it. Do you know if this would happen on a Tivo/Replay TV also?

For the second thing. I have a splitter so my room mate and I can watch TV. I have tried the 10db attenuator. It improved the video alittle bit but the lines were still there and I took it back because it was $35 and I felt it didn't do $35 worth of a job.

One weird thing I did notice is that the lines are less noticable as you go up in channels. For example, 3,5,6 (the ones I record from most often) are worse than say 38,39,40 (we only have basic cable at school ).

Thanks alot though.

[davideck]

Might this be an AC ground loop problem?
You might try isolating the coax cable from your computer.
I think that RF DC blockers are available at Radio Shack, or you can make one from two 75 ohm to 300 ohm matching transformers that are properly isolated.

[dphirschler]

It's looking more and more like an over-amplified signal to me. If the attenuator is too expensive ($35?? wow!), try getting a 4-way splitter and put it either before the 2-way of in place of it.

Also, check your crimp connections on the coax.


Darryl

[alstatr]

Thanks for the input again guys.

First $35 wasn't too expensive, its just that it wasn't doing a good job and I couldn't justify spending $35 for pretty much nothing.

What do you mean by crimp connections?

And how much would one of these RF DC blockers cost? And how would I isolate the coax from computer? It only touches it when it goes into the computer. I might try the 4-way splitter since thats like $5.

Any suggestions on the Tivo/Replay TV route, I've been wondering about this.

Thanks again guys.

[Coluph]

I could be wrong, but looking at the picture, obviously this is picking up RF interferance from something...I'm probably stating the obvious but have you:

1) Tried a new coax cable...no splitters?

2) If you play a video tape on your VCR, running the coax into the AIW and have the tuner set to channel 3, does the problem go away? If it's still there this rules out an issue with the cable company or the signal from them....

A grounded shield on a coaxial rf type connection is crucial...its like a garden hose and if there is a hole in it....it leaks all over the place (or in this case lets all kinds of things in that you don't want to see...there's all kinds of junk in the air these days....cell phones, microwaves, frs radio's you name it)

If you still get the interferance when you play a tape from your VCR to channel 3 on the AIW, it may be possible that the sheilding on your particular card is being compromised and it is picking up interferance from some other device.

Other things to check....do you use any cordless devices nearby....wireless router, network card, mouse, another computer or television, drawing tablet etc that may be creating the noise?

These are all things you can look for...

Hope this helps some.

[alstatr]

Coluph thanks for the reply.

I tried a brand new coax cable directly from the wall to the ATI AIW 9700 Pro. (I hope its not my card causing this problem) No luck the lines were still there.

Running the coax to the VCR then to the AIW and having it on channel 3 doesn't help at all. (I was almost 90% sure this would solve it but it didn't )

I checked the coax cable (its 25ft long, can this cause anything?) the coating is perfect all along the cable.

The only things that are near the computer are the RF AIW remote (could this cause it? I unplugged it but the lines were still there) Theres a wired hub, then the PCI cards are farthest away from the AIW.

I am so stumpped. I wish I could wave a magic wand and it would go away! (man would that be cool)

Thanks guys!

[Coluph]

25ft for a coax cable at any rate is pretty long...
but if you are using a short cable...6 ft or less, straight from the vcr and it still gets interference it could be coming from somewhere inside the computer...perhaps something isn't grounded properly.... (I'm assuming you are using the screw on type coax cables....the push on ones that come with the vcr's are terrible...

the only other things I can suggest, is try try and find the source of the interferance....try unplugging uneeded peripherals to the computer....speakers or stereo...headphones...see if any of those clear it up...if not it may be a bad ground or sheiliding on the card...you may want to physically look at it and see if there are any signs of that....(the little metal cover where the coax goes in sheiles it from other devices in the computer...if it's bent or loose it may be allowing stray signals in...

Not sure what else to tell ya I'm afraid.

[cd090580]

Me too, I also the same kind of problem with my TV Card.
The same lines appears when I use the COAX or the video in (from a VCR or Camcorder).


You can see diagonal red lines and they are moving.

I tested with different cables and even moving my card to another PCI slot but without success.

[dphirschler]

Something else to try.. an FM filter on the coax line. Although the cable company may already be doing that.


Darryl

[Rob_nz]

It is not clear to me if you have determined where the problem is yet.

I suggest:
Rent or borrow a VHS tape of commercial quality
disconnect all antenna lines (including any TV and cable connections), remote and FM antenna from Capture card.
Disconnect all un-needed things from PC (speakers etc).
use short lead from VCR to SVIDEO or Composite Video (not TV Antenna) input on card.
Plug AC (power) for the PC, monitor and VCR all into the same outlet.

play the tape and capture into your capture card
inspect for lines.

If you still have lines, then change the cable from the VCR to Capture card.
If this does not help, try a different VCR.
If this does not help, i am 99% sure the problem is inside your PC.

My sugestion here is to move the capture card away from the PSU and any other cards in the PC (if possible).

If this does not help, change your PSU in your case. Buy a good quality PSU, 350W or more, not a cheap PSU (or try a friends PSU if they let you - make sure it is powerful enough).

I have had serious interference from a cheap PSU before - it was so bad i had wavy lines on my Monitor.

I hope this helps.

[fmctm1sw]

Here is my problem. Below is screen shot of what I see on every channel.

Greg Gumble on every channel? Damn, that WOULD suck....