poor quality video signal to the PC

[darth vader]

Help! I have a PC with TV-in card. I have put my VCR between the aerial and the TV in, so i can watch videos on the PC. The signal input is fine going into Winfast PVR TV software and all channels good quality. But when i play a video the actual channel which detected the video signal, is really poor quality (barely determinable). How can i get a good quality picture for when the video is in play mode please? ps although i am a developer and computer literate person, i am a TV/technology phobe so explain it to me like i'm a 6 year old. cheers

[darth vader]

Failing a solution to Winfast PVR does anyone know another application (preferably freeware) which processes the TV input from the TV card which will show my TV channels AND video input (through the aerial in) please? ps this is a UK-oriented question (if there's any doubt)

[LeMarchand]

What happens if you try to play a pre-recorded video on your player - does that show OK on your PC?

[darth vader]

no. sorry if i didn't describe the problem properly but that IS the problem - i am trying to watch pre-recorded videos on the PC and getting nothing (well, a very poor quality, no picture, channel). PS have checked and the video IS playing to a TV so it's not the VCR.

it's as if winfast simply cannot tune in to the VCR's frequency (and there's no way to manually fine-tune it is there?)

[LeMarchand]

This is probably going to be me talking complete c*** (as I don't have, and have never had any TV input on my PC), but if you take a look at the Leadtek site http://www.leadtek.co.uk/ , there is a connection diagram (click it for an enlarged pop-up) for the PVR2000 (hope that's what you have). It seems to imply that you need to use S-video or composite video to get a signal from your VCR into the card. You may need to use phono leads for the audio with the latter (and maybe the former - never used S-Video). It may be that the card doesn't accept whatever frequency VCR's broadcast on (though that seems unlikely).

[darth vader]

Lemarchand thanks for your efforts (and three stars obviously) - i was rather hoping i could get a picture via the coax input. the s-video is usually for video cameras btw, though i suppose i could get an s-video lead and use this instead. anyone know where i can get one?

[darth vader]

ok don't answer that - i googled. looks like i need a scart (vcr) to s-video (pc card) cable. thanks again LeMarchand