TV Out Problem

[Xenogear900]

I have a Dell PC with a GeForce FX 5200...for the longest time, everything was OK with my TV-Out on the card...but now, as soon as I connect it to the TV, i get line that scrolls up the screen repeatedly and also a "bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" noise that stays constant out of the speakers. I can see the picture of, but the LINE and the BUZZZZZZZZZZING noise are making it unbearable to watch any videos.
What should I do? What could this be? It happens weven when I am not watching a video, as long as it is hooked up to my TV. I've used DVD Players, VCRs, Playstations through the same TV input, so I do not believe it is the TV. Could something else be causing this?
Please, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[Duchess]

It sounds like you are getting hum from the house wiring (60Hz if in the USA, 50Hz if in Europe not sure elsewhere) on both sound and video. This is usually because of a bad cable or a bad connector, so check both. If that isn't it check your earths as you can get earth loops that will cause the same problems. Perhaps you recently connected some new piece of equipment that is causing a loop.

[Xenogear900]

OK, what can I do about the house wiring?
What can I do about the earths? I dont understand what you mean by "the earths"?

Please explain?

Anyone have other suggestions?

Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[edDV]

OK, what can I do about the house wiring?
What can I do about the earths? I dont understand what you mean by "the earths"?

Please explain?

Anyone have other suggestions?

Xenogear900@yahoo.com

Short of fixing the house wiring, make sure cables are good and plug everything into the same circuit breaker.

To find the offending component unplug everything (from the power outlet) and then add componets one by one until the hum appears.

[davideck]

Also try disconnecting the RF cable to the TV or cable box...

[Xenogear900]

I'm sorry, but exactly what do you mean "house wiring" are you talking about the electrical wiring that is in the walls? Because, I DID just move into this apartment. This problem didnt happen at my old place.

[edDV]

I'm sorry, but exactly what do you mean "house wiring" are you talking about the electrical wiring that is in the walls? Because, I DID just move into this apartment. This problem didnt happen at my old place.

Yes power wiring in the walls.

[Duchess]

Let's be a little more explanatory. Both video and audio are passed through shielded cables to screen the signals from external pickup, the most common of which are the fields generated by the a.c. from the house wiring. This radiates quite strongly and if there is a fault in the screening the cable carrying your audio/video will act like an aerial (antenna) and you will get both signal and 50/60Hz coming out of your cable. The shielding on the cable is a metal sheath around the signal carrying wire and to be effective it must be earthed (grounded). If you don't do this properly then it will not do it's job and you will get a hum (buzz) on your cable inputs.

How good that shielding is is dependant on the quality of the cable. Cheaper ones do a poor job so it's worth paying out for decent quality cabling, although IMO it isn't worth going to the extent of getting ones with gold plated connectors. What can also be relevant is how good the house wiring is earthed (grounded) and if it's poor then it will reduce the effectiveness of the screening. However, provided all components of your system are connected together with good quality cables then it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Also check that none of the pins on your plugs and sockets are bent or pushed back. It is possible that one of the earth (ground) pins is not connecting properly and that will give the symptoms that you describe.

[edDV]

This may help explain.
http://www.elect-spec.com/faqgrdl.htm