> Hans Verkuil wrote:
>>>
>>> http://bryars.eu/gallery/tvcapture/wintv150_cap
>>> http://bryars.eu/gallery/tvcapture/wintv500_cap
>>>
>>
>> The PVR500 is basically just a single card with two PVR150 units on
>> it, so from the point of view of the driver there is NO difference
>> between a PVR150 and a PVR500. They are handled exactly the same.
> There are reports of people having problems online with these cards
> and Hauppauge are giving people a download with a program to change
> the tuner to "LNA mode" some alternate tuning mode, does anyone know
> what this LNA mode is? Do the linux tuners support it? I'm going to
> find a machine to put windows onto and install this card and test it
> with the windows driver and the LNA utility and see if it make a
> difference.
>>
That's specific to PVR-500 cards that have the Samsung tuner. It is an
issue with that tuner, not with the PVR-500 vs PVR-150. Basically, avoid
that tuner if you can, it's a crap tuner. 'LNA' stands for Low Noise
Amplifier which is a circuit on the tuner used to amplify channels with a
low signal. By default that circuit is on, but for channels with a strong
signal you have to turn it off manually, which is what that tool is for.
Yuck.
>>
>> What does make a difference is that the PVR500 splits the antenna
>> signal internally and so requires a better quality signal. The
>> other difference is that the your PVR500 has a different tuner, but
>> the Philips tuner is generally quite good (avoid PVR500's with a
>> Samsung tuner, BTW).
> Well, This banding occurs on a good quality signal too, even on a 30cm
> bit of coax from an RF Modulator on a Satellite receiver. I put an
> attenuator in line and it just made the picture fuzzier and still have
> banding. I have ordered another card to test to see if the one I have
> is just broken.
Hmm, I don't have a PVR500 handy to test myself, but I don't think I've
seen banding like that. I can check later to see if the Philips tuner is
properly setup (I think I have the datasheet for that tuner).
> Have hauppauge changed to using the Philips instead of the Samsung,
> vica versa, different ones in different areas for PAL/NTSC or just
> whatever is cheapest on the day they order a batch to be manufactured?
They seem to change tuners several times a year, most TV card suppliers do.
>> You could try to capture from the composite or S-Video input, this
>> bypasses the tuner circuitry and should give completely identical
>> results for the PVR150 and PVR500.
> Pretty much, yes, arguably marginally better on the 150 still, but not
> enough different that I could say this with certainty, and certainly
> no extreme banding like I see when RF Tuned.
OK, so the problem is in the tuner or antenna signal quality. Good to know.
I'll do some more checks later today.
Regards,
Hans
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