Computer TV-Out problem

Hey all,

I'm having a strange problem with S-video output on my new video
card. I just got this new video card (Diamond 3D Graphics ATI Radeon
PCI 256MB DDR S9250 SB Edition, Outputs: DVI, VGA, S-Video)

I don't know what to call this problem, so I took a video with my cell
and posted it on youtube. Please take a look at it and let me know
what you think. I need to get this working for this weekend.

Keep in mind that I do know a fair amount about computers (I have a
comp sci degree), and I have tried changing wires, checking
connections, etc.

The video is found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7pkcJk0N94

http://tinyurl.com/2ulvxp

Please post even if you're not sure as I could use ideas. I have
never formally used the S-Video input on this TV, but I have used the
RCA input, and converting S-Video to RCA and plugging it in given the
same result, so I believe that the problem is with the computer and/or
video card.

The computer is old--PIII 1GHZ, 512 RAM, but I figure it should still
work. I don't think it has anything to do with windows b/c the
problem happens as soon as the computer is turned on.

Email me at if you want.

Thanks

Rob

Rob

Rob wrote:
>
>
> The computer is old--PIII 1GHZ, 512 RAM, but I figure it should still
> work. I don't think it has anything to do with windows b/c the
> problem happens as soon as the computer is turned on.
>
> Email me at if you want.
>
Either the frame rate on the output's outside the locking range on the
input, or the sync pulses are going missing somewhere.

My first guess would be an NTSC output feeding a PAL input or the other
way round. Maybe a jumper setting on the card or a setting in the driver.

If the picture on the TV is mono, then I'd guess wrong video format
rather than the sync pulses getting lost. If the colour's OK, then the
sync's going missing, with the possiblity of a problem in the card. Try
another TV just in case it's a TV problem.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

John Williamson

The color is black and white (I think--hard to tell, but I'm pretty
sure). There is no jumper on the card.



On Dec 12, 10:48 am, John Williamson <johnwilliam...@btinternet.com>
wrote:
> Rob wrote:
>
> > The computer is old--PIII 1GHZ, 512 RAM, but I figure it should still
> > work. I don't think it has anything to do with windows b/c the
> > problem happens as soon as the computer is turned on.
>
> > Email me at RobertBorger...@gmail.com if you want.
>
> Either the frame rate on the output's outside the locking range on the
> input, or the sync pulses are going missing somewhere.
>
> My first guess would be an NTSC output feeding a PAL input or the other
> way round. Maybe a jumper setting on the card or a setting in the driver.
>
> If the picture on the TV is mono, then I'd guess wrong video format
> rather than the sync pulses getting lost. If the colour's OK, then the
> sync's going missing, with the possiblity of a problem in the card. Try
> another TV just in case it's a TV problem.
>
> --
> Tciao for Now!
>
> John.

Rob

Rob wrote:
> The color is black and white (I think--hard to tell, but I'm pretty
> sure). There is no jumper on the card.
>
Try booting up & use the display properties to set the TV output to the
right system for wherever you are.

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/d...asp?deptID=894

Is the main index page for these cards on the manufacturer's site. I see
a note on the site that not all cards using this chipset can output a
PAL signal, so if you're in Europe & bought the card from the USA, that
may be your problem.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

John Williamson

Rob wrote:
> The color is black and white (I think--hard to tell, but I'm pretty
> sure). There is no jumper on the card.
>
>
>
Another possibility is that you've got the card set in clone mode. Use
the Windows display setup dialogue or the utility installed on your
system when you installed the card to set it to extended mode to permit
independent refresh rate settings, is what it says in the knowledge base.

Also a possibility:-

" When an ATI product with TV OUT (sometimes called "PC2TV") is
configured to OUTPUT a television signal to a PAL-M or PAL-N TV, the
picture will appear black and white on the television.

Many ATI products (such as the ALL-IN-WONDER Family) offer video
Input in multiple broadcast standards. North American versions of these
products typically support capture in NTSC, PAL-M, and PAL-N formats.

TV OUT, however, is limited to NTSC only on these North American
models.

PAL-format TV OUT is supported by some European models of our
products; however, PAL-M and PAL-N output support is not included in the
European version either.

ATI TV OUT capable products do not support TV OUT in native PAL-M
and PAL-N formats.

Most televisions sold in PAL-M and PAL-N regions also support NTSC
signals.

Some TV's may adapt automatically to the format of the incoming
signal, while others must be "switched" or "adjusted". Please consult
your television documentation to determine if your TV supports NTSC
input and how to configure it."

PAL-M & PAL-N are used mainly in South America, IIRC. 60Hz frame rate
with the PAL colour subcarrier system running at the NTSC frequency, if
you need to know.


--
Tciao for Now!

John.

John Williamson

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:26:31 -0800 (PST), Rob
<> wrote:

>The color is black and white (I think--hard to tell, but I'm pretty
>sure). There is no jumper on the card.

Most defiantly PAL vs NTSC issues. Make sure the video output is set
to match your TV standard. If you like in North America, use NTSC.
Most of Europe uses PAL.

The reason picture is B&W is because the color carrier frequency is
different on NTSC and PAL. The picture rolls because of 60 hz vs 50
hz frame rate.

Impmon

I am in Canada. How would I go about changing from PAL to NTSC?

On Dec 12, 1:21 pm, Impmon <imp...@digi.mon> wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:26:31 -0800 (PST), Rob
>
> <robertborger...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >The color is black and white (I think--hard to tell, but I'm pretty
> >sure). There is no jumper on the card.
>
> Most defiantly PAL vs NTSC issues. Make sure the video output is set
> to match your TV standard. If you like in North America, use NTSC.
> Most of Europe uses PAL.
>
> The reason picture is B&W is because the color carrier frequency is
> different on NTSC and PAL. The picture rolls because of 60 hz vs 50
> hz frame rate.

Rob

It turns out the card was outputting PAL. However, even in the setup
program that comes with it, when I went into the format, it said it
was outputting NTSC. I changed it to PAL, and nothing was fixed
(obviously), and then changed it back, and whammo it worked! LOL

However still one problem: it seems WINDOWS is now telling the card to
output NTSC. This is fine and good once windows starts, but until it
does, the card is still outputting NTSC. This means that the boot up
screens are all unreadable, and I wouldn't be surprised if I went to
the dos prompt, or to safe mode, it would be blurry too.

Any suggestions on how to make the card go to NTSC from boot up?
There is no jumper on the card, no switches, etc. I can't find
anything in the bios that might somehow set this.

Rob


On Dec 12, 9:22 am, Rob <robertborger...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> I'm having a strange problem with S-video output on my new video
> card. I just got this new video card (Diamond 3D Graphics ATI Radeon
> PCI 256MB DDR S9250 SB Edition, Outputs: DVI, VGA, S-Video)
>
> I don't know what to call this problem, so I took a video with my cell
> and posted it on youtube. Please take a look at it and let me know
> what you think. I need to get this working for this weekend.
>
> Keep in mind that I do know a fair amount about computers (I have a
> comp sci degree), and I have tried changing wires, checking
> connections, etc.
>
> The video is found here:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7pkcJk0N94
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2ulvxp
>
> Please post even if you're not sure as I could use ideas. I have
> never formally used the S-Video input on this TV, but I have used the
> RCA input, and converting S-Video to RCA and plugging it in given the
> same result, so I believe that the problem is with the computer and/or
> video card.
>
> The computer is old--PIII 1GHZ, 512 RAM, but I figure it should still
> work. I don't think it has anything to do with windows b/c the
> problem happens as soon as the computer is turned on.
>
> Email me at RobertBorger...@gmail.com if you want.
>
> Thanks
>
> Rob

Rob