Suggestions on PC output to TV at DVinfo.net

Greg Peters · January 28th, 2007, 05:34 PM

I thought I had a decent video card, even though it is older now.

I am currently using 2 LCD monitors on my video card.
The card has an output to RCA jack.
Soo... I ran a long RCA cable to my TV and gave it a go.

After messing with some settings I was able to get 1 LCD and the TV to show a picture.
I was also able to direct just the video to the TV (what I wanted)

BUT

The image quality is not that great. It has horizontal bands that travel bottom to the top of the screen.

Any suggestions???

I would like to play videos that I have on my computer direct to my TV screen.

Ron Chau · January 28th, 2007, 05:50 PM

Does your video card have settings or adjustments for each output ?

Greg Peters · February 4th, 2007, 10:56 PM

Yes it does.
But nothing specific that I can see.

Am I seeing something normal? Is the output to TV always poor?

Ron Chau · February 5th, 2007, 07:30 AM

Your video card probably only allows 2 outputs at a time, so it's either the 2 DVI outputs or 1 DVI, 1 RCA.

Is your TV an HDTV with an HDMI input ? If so, try a DVI to HDMI cable.

Bill Davis · February 5th, 2007, 11:14 AM

Hi Greg,

From your discription (horizontal band(s) moving bottom to top) there are two common possibiltiies that spring to mind.

First and most likely from your discription is that the video card - being designed to drive a typical progressive scanned computer monitor - is doing a poor conversion to the interlaced signal necessary for the television set. To put the same signal on two displays that want to see very different kinds of signals requires some kinda fancy signal conversion on the card - and it sounds like your card is not syncing up to what the TV set can display.

The other possibility - which would typically show up as a single wide band moving slowly bottom to top - would be a "ground loop" problem. Ground loops often show up on monitors as essentially a transparent horizontal bar moving slowly up the screen.

Try running your computer, the monitor, the TV and ALL the associated gear off a single outlet and see if the bar disappears.

FWIW

Greg Peters · February 5th, 2007, 09:33 PM

Anyone think it would be possible to take a "photo" of my TV screen problem??

My video card has settings for "TV"
It will only drive 2 at a time.

Maybe I need a video card upgrade.

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeon98...pro/specs.html

Jesse Redman · February 6th, 2007, 04:06 PM

Greg,

I have used about 10 TView Gold systems to go from PC to TV. I know that you are not using these (but one might be an alternative).

There were different installations and times that I got either bands or lines going across the TV picture.

In my case it was almost always dirty power.

Outside of that, they have worked great.

January 28th, 2007, 05:34 PM	#1
Greg Peters Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 67	Suggestions on PC output to TV I thought I had a decent video card, even though it is older now. I am currently using 2 LCD monitors on my video card. The card has an output to RCA jack. Soo... I ran a long RCA cable to my TV and gave it a go. After messing with some settings I was able to get 1 LCD and the TV to show a picture. I was also able to direct just the video to the TV (what I wanted) BUT The image quality is not that great. It has horizontal bands that travel bottom to the top of the screen. Any suggestions??? I would like to play videos that I have on my computer direct to my TV screen.

February 6th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#7
Jesse Redman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 182	Greg, I have used about 10 TView Gold systems to go from PC to TV. I know that you are not using these (but one might be an alternative). There were different installations and times that I got either bands or lines going across the TV picture. In my case it was almost always dirty power. Outside of that, they have worked great. __________________ - Jesse XL2 - Vegas - DVDA - Sound Forge - Acid Pro - Cubase SX 3

January 28th, 2007, 05:50 PM	#2
Ron Chau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ny, ny Posts: 204	Does your video card have settings or adjustments for each output ?

February 4th, 2007, 10:56 PM	#3
Greg Peters Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 67	Yes it does. But nothing specific that I can see. Am I seeing something normal? Is the output to TV always poor?

February 5th, 2007, 07:30 AM	#4
Ron Chau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ny, ny Posts: 204	Your video card probably only allows 2 outputs at a time, so it's either the 2 DVI outputs or 1 DVI, 1 RCA. Is your TV an HDTV with an HDMI input ? If so, try a DVI to HDMI cable.

February 5th, 2007, 11:14 AM	#5
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Hi Greg, From your discription (horizontal band(s) moving bottom to top) there are two common possibiltiies that spring to mind. First and most likely from your discription is that the video card - being designed to drive a typical progressive scanned computer monitor - is doing a poor conversion to the interlaced signal necessary for the television set. To put the same signal on two displays that want to see very different kinds of signals requires some kinda fancy signal conversion on the card - and it sounds like your card is not syncing up to what the TV set can display. The other possibility - which would typically show up as a single wide band moving slowly bottom to top - would be a "ground loop" problem. Ground loops often show up on monitors as essentially a transparent horizontal bar moving slowly up the screen. Try running your computer, the monitor, the TV and ALL the associated gear off a single outlet and see if the bar disappears. FWIW

February 5th, 2007, 09:33 PM	#6
Greg Peters Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 67	Anyone think it would be possible to take a "photo" of my TV screen problem?? My video card has settings for "TV" It will only drive 2 at a time. Maybe I need a video card upgrade. http://ati.amd.com/products/radeon98...pro/specs.html