Best picture using PC overlay into plasma

[elnino]

Hi,

I need to set up the following at my work and thought maybe someone here could help. I have a Hitachi 55" plasma which I need to display free to air and foxtel satelitte. However, I need to overlay either signal with a scrolling notice at the bottom of the screen (similar to a golf leaderboard scrolling at the bottom of the screen). I have got the following set up:

1. HD set top box for free to air plugged in to an AV switch box using AV (red/white/yellow cable)
2. Foxtel box plugged in to an AV switch box using AV (red/white/yellow cable)
3. AV switch box is output like this:
a) red/white audio directly to tv
b) yellow video cable run into an overlay box (which is plugged into the PC with the leaderboard) and video out of the overlay box to the video in on the plasma.

I have noticed that the image quality is pretty poor doing it this way. Is there a better way to achieve the above? Also, I will eventually have to output the same image into another plasma display so that both screens are controlled from one location.

Thanks,


el

[tony]

"elnino" <elnino.1fjxfu@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in message
news:elnino.1fjxfu@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au...
>
> Hi,
>
> I need to set up the following at my work and thought maybe someone
> here could help. I have a Hitachi 55" plasma which I need to display
> free to air and foxtel satelitte. However, I need to overlay either
> signal with a scrolling notice at the bottom of the screen (similar to
> a golf leaderboard scrolling at the bottom of the screen). I have got
> the following set up:
>
> 1. HD set top box for free to air plugged in to an AV switch box using
> AV (red/white/yellow cable)
> 2. Foxtel box plugged in to an AV switch box using AV (red/white/yellow
> cable)
> 3. AV switch box is output like this:
> a) red/white audio directly to tv
> b) yellow video cable run into an overlay box (which is plugged into
> the PC with the leaderboard) and video out of the overlay box to the
> video in on the plasma.
>
> I have noticed that the image quality is pretty poor doing it this way.
> Is there a better way to achieve the above? Also, I will eventually
> have to output the same image into another plasma display so that both
> screens are controlled from one location.
>
> Thanks,

To improve HD picture try using a VGA or RGBHV cable.
To improve foxtel picture I wonder if using a foxtel card installed into a
pc would improve it?
Maybe you could build a pc system using HD capture card as well as foxtel
decoder. Then you could use software to create the overlay signal. The image
would then be sent to a VGA distribution amplifier with as many outputs that
you required.
The yellow cable (composite) will never look any good on a decent sized
plasma.
Just a thought...

Tony

[Trevor S]

elnino <elnino.1fjxfu@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in
news:elnino.1fjxfu@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au:

>
> Hi,
>
> I need to set up the following at my work and thought maybe someone
> here could help. I have a Hitachi 55" plasma which I need to display
> free to air and foxtel satelitte. However, I need to overlay either
> signal with a scrolling notice at the bottom of the screen (similar to
> a golf leaderboard scrolling at the bottom of the screen). I have got
> the following set up:
>
> 1. HD set top box for free to air plugged in to an AV switch box using
> AV (red/white/yellow cable)


Composite video.. bloody hell

> 2. Foxtel box plugged in to an AV switch box using AV (red/white/yellow
> cable)

Composite video, bloody hell

> 3. AV switch box is output like this:
> a) red/white audio directly to tv

Composite video, bloody hell.

> b) yellow video cable run into an overlay box (which is plugged into
> the PC with the leaderboard) and video out of the overlay box to the
> video in on the plasma.

Composite video, bloody hell.

> I have noticed that the image quality is pretty poor doing it this way.

Well that might be becasue you are using composite video, a video
transport designed for VHS.

> Is there a better way to achieve the above?

DVI but I doubt your system will allow you. If you must use analogue use
RGB (or any of it's incarnations eg RGsB RGBHV etc) or YUV a lot of this
will depend on what sort of outputs/inputs you have.

> Also, I will eventually
> have to output the same image into another plasma display so that both
> screens are controlled from one location.

You will possibly need to amplify the signal and not just split it

> Thanks,

Don't thank me yet :)

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[BenOne©]

elnino wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I need to set up the following at my work and thought maybe someone
> here could help. I have a Hitachi 55" plasma which I need to display
> free to air and foxtel satelitte. However, I need to overlay either
> signal with a scrolling notice at the bottom of the screen (similar to
> a golf leaderboard scrolling at the bottom of the screen). I have got
> the following set up:
>
> 1. HD set top box for free to air plugged in to an AV switch box using
> AV (red/white/yellow cable)

Mistake number 1. Use S-video at the very least. You are using composite video
which has no hope of delivering a descent SD signal, never mind a descent HD signal.

> 2. Foxtel box plugged in to an AV switch box using AV (red/white/yellow
> cable)

Foxtel isn't the best picture quality wise, but you'd still benefit from S-video.

> 3. AV switch box is output like this:
> a) red/white audio directly to tv
> b) yellow video cable run into an overlay box (which is plugged into
> the PC with the leaderboard) and video out of the overlay box to the
> video in on the plasma.
>
> I have noticed that the image quality is pretty poor doing it this way.
> Is there a better way to achieve the above? Also, I will eventually
> have to output the same image into another plasma display so that both
> screens are controlled from one location.

I wouldn't be surprised if the composite video connections are to blame. Try
s-video, or even component (or RGB) if your equipment supports it.


--
Ben Thomas
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my firm shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

[elnino]

Haha. I get the idea. I am now running the PC via VGA and the foxtel/free to air through an av amp using S-Video. And guess what?... it improved picture quality*;-)

Thanks,


el

elnino <elnino.1fjxfu@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au> wrote in
news:elnino.1fjxfu@no-mx.forums.eyo.com.au:

>
> Hi,
>
> I need to set up the following at my work and thought maybe someone
> here could help. I have a Hitachi 55" plasma which I need to display
> free to air and foxtel satelitte. However, I need to overlay either
> signal with a scrolling notice at the bottom of the screen (similar to
> a golf leaderboard scrolling at the bottom of the screen). I have got
> the following set up:
>
> 1. HD set top box for free to air plugged in to an AV switch box using
> AV (red/white/yellow cable)


Composite video.. bloody hell

> 2. Foxtel box plugged in to an AV switch box using AV (red/white/yellow
> cable)

Composite video, bloody hell

> 3. AV switch box is output like this:
> a) red/white audio directly to tv

Composite video, bloody hell.

> b) yellow video cable run into an overlay box (which is plugged into
> the PC with the leaderboard) and video out of the overlay box to the
> video in on the plasma.

Composite video, bloody hell.

> I have noticed that the image quality is pretty poor doing it this way.

Well that might be becasue you are using composite video, a video
transport designed for VHS.

> Is there a better way to achieve the above?

DVI but I doubt your system will allow you. If you must use analogue use
RGB (or any of it's incarnations eg RGsB RGBHV etc) or YUV a lot of this
will depend on what sort of outputs/inputs you have.

> Also, I will eventually
> have to output the same image into another plasma display so that both
> screens are controlled from one location.

You will possibly need to amplify the signal and not just split it

> Thanks,

Don't thank me yet :)

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein