analogue NTL on my pc- help me

trikslick · 11-11-2005, 20:39

ive got a new sony vaio with built in tv tuner. ive plugged in my cable box into the pc and tuned it in. also i found some other channels but i dont get a picture(fuzzy, static) but i get sound. anyway of tuning in these channels??

11-11-2005, 20:50

hi &

- have you the option to select 'cable' as the input - it won't scan as many 'channels' if it is set to 'antenna'

- see the pic for my settings on an ATI card

patrickp · 11-11-2005, 21:46

Yes, it's very common for a cable box only to output one channel - whatever you're viewing, the box outputs it on that channel.

For that reason, I've always found it better to take advantage of the better picture quality of a direct (composite or s-video) video connection between the box and the card (or VCR, TV or whatever) than to use the RF output of the box, particularly for capping.

11-11-2005, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickp

Yes, it's very common for a cable box only to output one channel - whatever you're viewing, the box outputs it on that channel.

For that reason, I've always found it better to take advantage of the better picture quality of a direct (composite or s-video) video connection between the box and the card (or VCR, TV or whatever) than to use the RF output of the box, particularly for capping.

absolutely, but my analogue box only gives me an RF connection and I can't justify 'upgrading' to digital - well I cheat a little by taking the stb RF out to a VCR then chain that to the TV card via composite, but I don't think I improve the picture any, the sound is improved, though

trikslick · 11-11-2005, 23:23

i can tune in the single channel for the cable box. but when the cable is plugged in the pc i get other channels like sky news CNN paramount sky1. but there are other channels that come that i should not have but i get the sound but the picture is messed up(static). this is what i need help tuning in. thanx for ur help so far.

patrickp · 12-11-2005, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

absolutely, but my analogue box only gives me an RF connection and I can't justify 'upgrading' to digital - well I cheat a little by taking the stb RF out to a VCR then chain that to the TV card via composite, but I don't think I improve the picture any, the sound is improved, though

There's no particular magic to a direct video input, Gaz, it's just that it's direct. It's the conversion to RF in your box that loses you the quality; putting it through a VCR, and _another_ conversion from RF back to s-video or composite video just loses more.

Is there really no video (or audio) output on your box? Even when I had analogue the boxes I had always had them.

trikslick · 12-11-2005, 13:13

i get audio,but the picture is fuzzy.

12-11-2005, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikslick

i can tune in the single channel for the cable box. but when the cable is plugged in the pc i get other channels like sky news CNN paramount sky1. but there are other channels that come that i should not have but i get the sound but the picture is messed up(static). this is what i need help tuning in. thanx for ur help so far.

one thing about NTL cable TV is that all the data for analogue & digital TV is sent down the cable, what you actually get is determined by the package you are on. However there are some channels that are not encrypted that can be picked up by a tv tuner. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is any way to improve reception of these channels, as far as I know, what you are seeing is the best you can get.

@patrickp - my box only has an F-connector in from the wall plate & an F-connector to RF coax to the TV tuner - the only 'extra' connector is a normal 'aerial' connector for the analogue combiner I have fitted.

- presumably another example of different kit installed by different franchises, depending where you live

JediMaster · 12-11-2005, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikslick

i get audio,but the picture is fuzzy.

Is the Video image Fuzzy on TV? Without PC?

I had to install DirectX 9 for my TV Card to work with my Humax 80GB FreeView Box.

trikslick · 12-11-2005, 15:28

i do get the basic channels and they come clear. but wot i want is the encrypted channels...these come but the picture is fuzzy on the pc. i dont suscribe to them but the audio and fuzzy pic appears on the tv on the pc. thats wot i need to try and tune in.

12-11-2005, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikslick

i do get the basic channels and they come clear. but wot i want is the encrypted channels...these come but the picture is fuzzy on the pc. i dont suscribe to them but the audio and fuzzy pic appears on the tv on the pc. thats wot i need to try and tune in.

there is no legal way to do that, sorry .....