Bad colors in my video screen?

[ANTant]

Hello!

Does anyone know why KTLA 5 and KABC 7 (Los Angeles county) give me bad colors sometimes after
changing to these channels or when MMC v9.03 runs to record my scheduled show(s) on these
specific channels? If I change channels or repower off and on MMC, then the problem usually goes
away?

I thought it was the rabbit ear antennae, but they weren't causing them. I also checked the
cable connections (wiggled them). I have a link to the three screen captures (one file) of bad
colors: http://alpha.zimage.com/~ant/temp/BadColors-RabbitEars-MMC903.jpg (will
remove once the problem is resolved). I am still using ATI v5.2 driver (still want to use analog
audio for MMC).

Thank you in advance.
--
"Cheerios: Hula-hoops for ants." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | and http://aqfl.net (temporarily down again)
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[patrickp]

Hello!

Does anyone know why KTLA 5 and KABC 7 (Los Angeles county) give me bad colors sometimes after
changing to these channels or when MMC v9.03 runs to record my scheduled show(s) on these
specific channels? If I change channels or repower off and on MMC, then the problem usually goes
away?

I thought it was the rabbit ear antennae, but they weren't causing them. I also checked the
cable connections (wiggled them). I have a link to the three screen captures (one file) of bad
colors: http://alpha.zimage.com/~ant/temp/BadColors-RabbitEars-MMC903.jpg (will
remove once the problem is resolved). I am still using ATI v5.2 driver (still want to use analog
audio for MMC).

Thank you in advance.

Do these channels show Ok on a TV, Philip? I presume you're using an
AIW of some description; the tuners on these often seem to perform
less well on weaker signals than TVs and VCRs do.

If that's the case, it might be an idea to try using the composite
video or s-video output from a TV or VCR rather than a direct aerial
input.

HTH Patrick

<[email protected]> - take five to email me...

 

[ANTant]

Do these channels show Ok on a TV, Philip? I presume you're using an
AIW of some description; the tuners on these often seem to perform
less well on weaker signals than TVs and VCRs do.

If that's the case, it might be an idea to try using the composite
video or s-video output from a TV or VCR rather than a direct aerial
input.

Yes, they are OK on TV and VCR. However, they use their own antennae.
Do I need a better antennae to fix the reception on my TV tuner with
antennaer?

I have an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro AIW (128 MB).
--
"Cheerios: Hula-hoops for ants." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | and http://aqfl.net (temporarily down again)
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[patrickp]

Yes, they are OK on TV and VCR. However, they use their own antennae.
Do I need a better antennae to fix the reception on my TV tuner with
antennaer?

Quite likely. If the tuner gets other channels Ok, but not the two
you mentioned, then that (and similar strategies: aerial amplifier,
proper alignment etc - and checking that whatever antenna you use is
appropriate for the signal from those stations) is the only way you'll
get a good enough RF signal. If you use a different antenna for your
TV/VCR, have you tried using that?

I suppose other solutions might be a cable or satellite service (if
they carry the stations you want) or, as I mentioned before, a
composite video or s-video input from another tuner: VCR, TV, etc.
Most VCRs, TVs etc nowadays do have direct video inputs and outputs.

I have an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro AIW (128 MB).

Patrick

<[email protected]> - take five to email me...

 

[ANTant]

Hello!

Quite likely. If the tuner gets other channels Ok, but not the two
you mentioned, then that (and similar strategies: aerial amplifier,
proper alignment etc - and checking that whatever antenna you use is
appropriate for the signal from those stations) is the only way you'll
get a good enough RF signal. If you use a different antenna for your
TV/VCR, have you tried using that?

Not yet, but the problem that antennae is requires the hole on the TV
which won't fit for my tuner.

I suppose other solutions might be a cable or satellite service (if
they carry the stations you want) or, as I mentioned before, a
composite video or s-video input from another tuner: VCR, TV, etc.
Most VCRs, TVs etc nowadays do have direct video inputs and outputs.

True, but expensive. 80 bucks for Adelphia's cable package. Ick. No
thanks. The reason why I have VCR and this TV tuner is having two recorders
because I have TV shows air at the same time. I use one to record one
show, and the other for the other show. I work late hours so...
--
"Cheerios: Hula-hoops for ants." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | and http://aqfl.net (temporarily down again)
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[patrickp]

Not yet, but the problem that antennae is requires the hole on the TV
which won't fit for my tuner.

Do you mean the plug won't fit the socket? You should be able to find
an adapter easily enough.

True, but expensive. 80 bucks for Adelphia's cable package. Ick. No
thanks.

Ouch! That is _not_ cheap - is that their basic package? Over here,
my cable provider's basic package is £11 a month - about $20, I 'd
guess.

The reason why I have VCR and this TV tuner is having two recorders
because I have TV shows air at the same time. I use one to record one
show, and the other for the other show. I work late hours so...

Is it those two stations you need to record simultaneously, Philip? If
not, why not schedule your recordings so you record the one you have
problems receiving on the VCR? Otherwise, I guess you're stuck with
improving your aerial - I think it would be well worth trying your
VCR/TV aerial with the AIW to see if that helps.

Patrick

<[email protected]> - take five to email me...

 

[ANTant]

Do you mean the plug won't fit the socket? You should be able to find
an adapter easily enough.

Ouch! That is _not_ cheap - is that their basic package? Over here,
my cable provider's basic package is £11 a month - about $20, I 'd
guess.

I think Basic is like $20, but I don't want to pay more for the Internet
service (59.95 per month).

Is it those two stations you need to record simultaneously, Philip? If
not, why not schedule your recordings so you record the one you have
problems receiving on the VCR? Otherwise, I guess you're stuck with
improving your aerial - I think it would be well worth trying your
VCR/TV aerial with the AIW to see if that helps.

Last season, I did with Alias (KABC7) and Smallville (KTLA 5). I do
remember one time, it was discolored for the first half of the hour
recording, and then it showed normal colors by itself.
--
"Cheerios: Hula-hoops for ants." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | and http://aqfl.net (temporarily down again)
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[patrickp]

I think Basic is like $20, but I don't want to pay more for the Internet
service (59.95 per month).

Do you have to?

Last season, I did with Alias (KABC7) and Smallville (KTLA 5). I do
remember one time, it was discolored for the first half of the hour
recording, and then it showed normal colors by itself.

Did it usually display Ok colour and was just discoloured for that 1/2
hour? That does suggest a borderline signal that's being affected by
weather conditions or something, perhaps.

One other thing that occurs to me is that it is possible to get too
_strong_ a signal. Might be worth trying an attenuator, especially on
the VCR/TV aerial.

I remember when I used to live in Brixton, within sigh of the
transmission towers - I got a terrible picture. So I put a fairly
hefty attenuator on the lead - great picture! You could just stick
your finger in the air round there...

Patrick

<[email protected]> - take five to email me...

 

[ANTant]

I think Basic is like $20, but I don't want to pay more for the Internet
service (59.95 per month).

[/QUOTE]

Do you have to?

Yes. Already too much for Internet only.

Did it usually display Ok colour and was just discoloured for that 1/2
hour? That does suggest a borderline signal that's being affected by
weather conditions or something, perhaps.

No, that was only once ever. Weather? KABC7 is one of the clearest channel
when I don't have the color problems.

One other thing that occurs to me is that it is possible to get too
_strong_ a signal. Might be worth trying an attenuator, especially on
the VCR/TV aerial.

Which one is it from http://images.google.com/images?q=attenuator ?

I remember when I used to live in Brixton, within sigh of the
transmission towers - I got a terrible picture. So I put a fairly
hefty attenuator on the lead - great picture! You could just stick
your finger in the air round there...

Heh. I wonder why my TVs never get these.
--
"Cheerios: Hula-hoops for ants." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | and http://aqfl.net (temporarily down again)
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )