Hauppage 150 settings

[4110]

I have the Hauppage 150 card. It produces a very good picture on most channels, but poor pictures on other channels. Specifically, the low-numbered channels, like 4 or 6 have lines and patterns. All the channels higher than about 8 are fine.

I have cable with the cable coming to a splitter with one feed going to the TV and the other feed going to the computer and the 150 card. All the channels are fine on the TV so it isn't the source signal.

What can I do to fix this problem?

Thanks,

David

[Fickey]

The issue is either a cheapo splitter, poor coax cable to the PC, RF interference leaking into the PC coax, or a combo of the above. I'm no expert on all this, but I put my money on a poor coax cable to the PC. There's a lot of little things that can complicate this sort of setup, though, like unused splitter outputs or running coax parallel to power cables.

[4110]

Hi Ficky,

Thank you for your help. Based on your observations here is some more information. The TV and computer are a couple of feet apart. The cable TV source comes to a two-way splitter located between the TV and computer. From the splitter there are are two short cables, one to the TV and one to the computer. The cable TV signal is fine at the TV so the cable to the splitter and the splitter itself must be OK. That only leaves the cable from the splitter to the computer. Based on the possible problems you suggested I replaced that and was careful that the new cable was well away from power cables or anything else. I still have the problem with the picture on low numbered channels. Based on your suggestions I think we have ruled out the source signal as the problem. What else should I try?

Thanks,

David

[pvrguy]

Switch the coax from the TV to the 150 to rule out having one bad split.

[Bigbird999]

4110
This (poor picture on low channels) is usually an interference/low signal strength issue. Your 150 needs a stronger signal than the tuner in the TV so you don't notice it on you TV until it is even weaker. Every splitter reduces signal strength so if you have a bunch of other splitters between you and where the cable enters your house you could have a marginal signal at your TV and the last splitter is the proverbial straw. Try hooking the cable from the wall directly to the 150, if that gives a good picture on all channels, then it means that the splitter/short cable is what is causing the low signal strength. You might need a cable amp or maybe just replace/remove upstream splitters and cable. Depending on your house/apartment situation and your cableco, it could be a weak signal when it gets to your house.

BB

[4110]

Thanks PVRGUY,

With all of your help we are getting there. Per your suggestion I was working on the wiring and noticed that the TV had a loop-out connection so I removed the splitter altogether. Now the cable TV source plugs directly into the TV with a cable from the TV loop-out connection to the computer. With this setup the TV still has good pictures on all channels. The computer has good pictures on channels 7 and up. Channels 3-6 still have a little bit of patterning but it isn't too bad and an improvement over what it was. I suspect that is as good as it gets (although I am still open to ideas).

Thanks,

David

[Voxelflinger]

Check the PVR-150 bad tuner thread. You may happen to have one of the defective cards. Mine had low channel signal problems.

[4110]

OK. Thanks. Do you have a link? Is it on one of the Snapstream forums?

David