Electronics Problems with PC -> Home Theater -> TV audio/video

KC Jones · 10-29-2009, 02:37 PM

So, I decided to throw my old PC next to the TV and make a media center or at least a netflix streaming box out of it. The problem is I can get video or audio but not both (well at least not without changing cables all the time). I'm 99.9% certain it's my home theater tuner, but thought I'd throw the symptoms out here in case our resident geniouses (sic) have any ideas....

Tuner = Yamaha HTR 5550
PC Graphics card = 6600 GT

The 6600 GT card has a special 9 pin s-video in/out and a cable that translates that into the regular 4 pin out plus some standard component jacks. I have a crappy s-video cable that doesn't seem to work at all going from the adapter to the tuner. If I plug a standard video component cable in to the adapter and into the tuner I have a video signal, but it's not picking up the audio signal from my sound card (cheap on board sound).

If I leave the audio cables going from the sound jack to the tuner, and run the video cable directly to the TV. I get both picture and sound. The tuner has no problem with audio and video using component jacks for vcr, DVD wii, cable box, etc, so I just don't get it. I guess I can try going through the VCR and see if it's work that way.

Any ideas?

My only limitation is not spending money on a new PC, TV, graphics card, sound card, or home theater system.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 10-29-2009, 05:01 PM

Your receiver is most likely trying to rescale the video signal from the computer to a resolution not supported by the TV. I had a similar problem like this when I went from component on the HTPC to an HDMI out on the receiver and then to the television.

It wouldn't show the BIOS flash screen. It wasn't until Windows loaded and the correct resolution popped up that I was able to see the computer output. The only workaround was to hook the Component cables directly to the TV.

The best thing to do is as follows:

Set up a two monitor system in Windows. Hook up a computer monitor to the VGA output of the PC. Play around with the resolutions, then switch it over to the TV. See if you've found one that works. If not, keep playing around.

Ideally, you'd have a receiver w/ HDMI ins so you could buy a vid card that had HDMI output (as you can transfer 5.1-7.1 LPCM over them), but alas, you can't.

**Baby Lee** · 10-29-2009, 05:32 PM

There's a program (I think it's called Powerstrip) that gives you a ton of control over resolutions and timings. Go to avsforums for detailed help.

KC Jones · 10-29-2009, 07:28 PM

Thanks guys!

Oddly enough plugging into the VCR and then feeding the tuner works. So, I guess I'll be keeping that otherwise useless piece of electronics around for a while still.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 10-29-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

There's a program (I think it's called Powerstrip) that gives you a ton of control over resolutions and timings. Go to avsforums for detailed help.

+1 on PowerStrip. It's a very detailed program, but will allow you to customize your display far beyond the few resolutions that Windows will generally allow (plus it allows you to create your own "monitor" with specified resolutions and frequencies (30, 60hz, etc.)

Otter · 10-30-2009, 08:26 AM

What software are you using for media center? Just curious if you went with a Linux app.

KC Jones · 10-31-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter

What software are you using for media center? Just curious if you went with a Linux app.

I wanted to, but the main emphasis of this was watching netflix on the TV and until they remove the silverlight/DRM handcuffs you must have windows. For now it's just a vanilla XP PC w/ no real media software and we watched our first streaming netflix movie last night. I'm planning to play around with it a bit - might turn it into a VM box with linux DVR and launch a windows VM when we want netflix. Might just stick with windows so I don't have to deal with launching VMs (need to keep it simple for the wife and kids).

This is an old SD TV (I think like 11-12 years old now) and the resolution is poor for fonts and the like. I put an old 15 inch monitor up there for administrating the PC so I can see what I'm browsing for. I've got a better 17" CRT somewhere, but that thing is HUGE.

10-29-2009, 02:37 PM
KC Jones Genious Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $10012761	Problems with PC -> Home Theater -> TV audio/video So, I decided to throw my old PC next to the TV and make a media center or at least a netflix streaming box out of it. The problem is I can get video or audio but not both (well at least not without changing cables all the time). I'm 99.9% certain it's my home theater tuner, but thought I'd throw the symptoms out here in case our resident geniouses (sic) have any ideas.... Tuner = Yamaha HTR 5550 PC Graphics card = 6600 GT The 6600 GT card has a special 9 pin s-video in/out and a cable that translates that into the regular 4 pin out plus some standard component jacks. I have a crappy s-video cable that doesn't seem to work at all going from the adapter to the tuner. If I plug a standard video component cable in to the adapter and into the tuner I have a video signal, but it's not picking up the audio signal from my sound card (cheap on board sound). If I leave the audio cables going from the sound jack to the tuner, and run the video cable directly to the TV. I get both picture and sound. The tuner has no problem with audio and video using component jacks for vcr, DVD wii, cable box, etc, so I just don't get it. I guess I can try going through the VCR and see if it's work that way. Any ideas? My only limitation is not spending money on a new PC, TV, graphics card, sound card, or home theater system.
Posts: 5,366

10-29-2009, 05:01 PM	#2
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Your receiver is most likely trying to rescale the video signal from the computer to a resolution not supported by the TV. I had a similar problem like this when I went from component on the HTPC to an HDMI out on the receiver and then to the television. It wouldn't show the BIOS flash screen. It wasn't until Windows loaded and the correct resolution popped up that I was able to see the computer output. The only workaround was to hook the Component cables directly to the TV. The best thing to do is as follows: Set up a two monitor system in Windows. Hook up a computer monitor to the VGA output of the PC. Play around with the resolutions, then switch it over to the TV. See if you've found one that works. If not, keep playing around. Ideally, you'd have a receiver w/ HDMI ins so you could buy a vid card that had HDMI output (as you can transfer 5.1-7.1 LPCM over them), but alas, you can't. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

10-29-2009, 05:32 PM	#3
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $6838598	There's a program (I think it's called Powerstrip) that gives you a ton of control over resolutions and timings. Go to avsforums for detailed help. __________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
Posts: 95,642

10-29-2009, 07:28 PM	#4
KC Jones Genious Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $10012761	Thanks guys! Oddly enough plugging into the VCR and then feeding the tuner works. So, I guess I'll be keeping that otherwise useless piece of electronics around for a while still.
Posts: 5,366