two questions on Hauppauge PVR350

[Ogilvy]

Hi there
I've almost decided on the purhase of a „WINTV PVR350 Model 991“.On the datasheet of this model at http://www.hauppauge.com/html/wintvpvr350_datasheet.htm
it says „Composite/s-video input to connect to VCR or camcorders“.
First question...does this mean it has both Composite and S-video inputs? (I want to be able to use my cam on Skype)
Second question...is the recorded MPEG-2 content directly playable on a „Western Digital HD Multimedia“ player?
Obliged for any help here


T.C.

[jagabo]

I think the PVR-350 has one s-video input on the back plate and comes with an s-video to composite adapter to connect to a composite device. I think that means you can only connect to one device at a time. I'm not sure if you can use it with Skype.

I have a WDTV Live and it can play MPEG 2 files created by my Hauppauge PVR-250. The PVR-350 files should be the same.

[bigstusexy]

there is also an internal connection you can use but it requires a seperate purchase.

[Ogilvy]

I wasn't aware that this device came with an s-video to composite adapter. It's not a stated feature on the datasheet

[yoda313]

I wasn't aware that this device came with an s-video to composite adapter. It's not a stated feature on the datasheet

Those are very very common on capture cards. It is more rare to find one with a dedicated svideo and composite input I believe.

[jagabo]

Note that that composite to s-video adapter does not convert a composite signal to an s-video signal. It's simply a physical converter that lets you connect an RCA plug to a s-video plug. It routes the single RCA signal to the s-video luma pin. Then the ADC and software treat that pin as composite rather than s-video luma.

[hech54]

I own a 350. The S-Video In and the socket/plug for cable to allow RCA connection are NOT the same thing.

[jagabo]

I own a 350. The S-Video In and the socket/plug for cable to allow RCA connection are NOT the same thing.

So you have to use this for composite capture?

http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/hardware2.asp?product=av_cable

[hech54]

I own a 350. The S-Video In and the socket/plug for cable to allow RCA connection are NOT the same thing.

So you have to use this for composite capture?

http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/hardware2.asp?product=av_cable

That is actually option number two to capture composite. The 350 originally came with an adapter
that plugged into the "thing" next to the S-video input. I bought my 350 used on Ebay and it did not
come with the original cable. I have also watched several of those "sister board" things on Ebay as well
but never bought one. I have an S-VHS machine with S-Video out so I really have no need for RCA connection.

[jagabo]

The 350 originally came with an adapter that plugged into the "thing" next to the S-video input.

You mean the 9-pin connector?

I thought that was only for output.

Found the pinouts (in German):

http://www.vdr-wiki.de/wiki/index.php/Pinout_PVR350

Google translation into English:

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=ht...50&sl=de&tl=en

Indeed, pin 8 is composite video input. So the OP just needs to be sure he gets the right adapter.

[hech54]

So the OP just needs to be sure he gets the right adapter.

Easier said than done. The daughterboard is easier to find.

[SHS]

The 350 originally came with an adapter that plugged into the "thing" next to the S-video input.

You mean the 9-pin connector?

[Attachment 2490 - Click to enlarge]
I thought that was only for output.

Found the pinouts (in German):

http://www.vdr-wiki.de/wiki/index.php/Pinout_PVR350

Google translation into English:

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=ht...50&sl=de&tl=en

Indeed, pin 8 is composite video input. So the OP just needs to be sure he gets the right adapter.

That rigth the 9 pin is Video Output

[Ogilvy]

Given that I can find the right combo of card/connector, as I see it there will probably be a deterioration in quality using (converted) composite input...even if the software can find this input on a connection designated as output. If I can live without TV-out and Radio tuner then with an actual on-board composite input, the PVR250 would be the better choice? Are there any other differences between both models (250 and 350)?
And another question...would anybody care to reccommend an alternative software to the included?
I'm on dual-system, WinXP and Ubuntu 8.04

[jagabo]

I believe the PVR-250 and PVR-350 use exactly the same chips. The 350 simply adds the ability to output video. The 250 has both s-video and RCA composite connectors on the back plate since it doesn't need room for the video output connector.

You're pretty much stuck with Hauppauge's software for capture (I don't know about Linux). Other capture programs like VirtualDub and iuVCR can't capture from these cards (and many other hardware MEPG encoder cards). If you want better PVR functionality you can try SageTV, BeyondTV, etc. Quality won't be any different -- the card does all the encoding, the capture software simply puts the data into a file (although some software might give you more or less controls over the hardware). There are third party products that give you a little more control than Hauppauge does -- like control of the sharpness and noise filters. See SHS's site for those. http://www.shspvr.com/ There was another useful site but has been shut down. You can still see it with the waybackmachine: http://web.archive.org/web/*/www.cask-of-amontillado.com

[hech54]

I'm not sure the RCA connection via the optional daughterboard would be considered deteriorated quality. Sure it's taking up another slot on the PC but the connection method and connection itself(to the 350) looks to be very good quality.
I'm running both WinTV and GB-PVR with my 350(WinTV for VHS capturing and GB-PVR for television capture with an EPG) on Windows XP Pro and all is well.
I would have bought a 250 as well but the 350 showed up on Ebay first at a great price.

[jagabo]

The comb filter on the 250/350's composite input isn't great. Given the choice of a clean s-video signal or composite, s-video is the way to go. But some devices don't have real s-video outputs, they use a simple circuit to create s-video from composite (most laserdisc players for example). That circuit doesn't work very well so you are better off in those cases using the composite input.

[SHS]

I believe the PVR-250 and PVR-350 use exactly the same chips

Some 250 did come Conexant CX23415 which is the same as 350 but hardware decoder was disable and later rev 250 come with Conexant CX23416
As for linux go here http://ivtvdriver.org/index.php/Main_Page for drivers
As for linux software MythTV, Freevo

[Ogilvy]

That was very usefuk information, thank you