Compro DVB-T300 - Composite BW and Colour Flashing

[mossy]

I've had this card for awhile and all was working ok previously. I hadn't used it for ages and had to do a format recently. I've got XP Professional.

I was originally using the Compro Drivers that came and Compro DTV 2.5, but notice on the website new drivers and software. I downloaded the lastest and installed. All was going well until I hooked up the VCR to start capturing tapes to DVD and the picture just keeps flashing from Black and White to Colour. I'm getting glimpses of colour, but mainly black and white. I'm using the Yellow Composite in, not SVIDEO.
What I've tried;
- Changing PAL settings to every setting there is, some just make it Black and WHite constantly, others still flash.
- Updated all Video Card drivers, I have an Asus video card, same as last time when it was working ok before hand.
- Checked that it wasn't the VCR and hooked up to my TV. All colour no worries.
- All Digital TV scans and finds well and colour and picture is perfect. It only seems to be the Composite In.
- Tried using SVIDEO in with Composite adapter but as what others have found, this just gives black and white picture all the time. I think its the adapter though, not the issue I'm facing with the Composite in.
- Tried uninstalling new version 3 software and drivers and put old ones back on. Still same issue, no different!

So open to any suggestions as I don't really want to go and buy a new tuner and capture card!!

Thanks
Mossy

[mossy]

Well, this has absolutely got me stumped!

I've tried about 4 different video card drivers, going back to the old Compro 2.5 software and drivers, different combinations of each of those working together. Still no the same.

I then had a thought that I could send the VCR signal to the capture card via the antenna cable and then search for a channel in analogue mode. The software pick it up bu AGAIN, black and white with flashes of colour.

I now just can't believe it after trying another connect altogether to get the same thing. I emailed Compro and they were no help, just said that its got a 1 year warranty if I want to take it back. Too bad its about 2-3 years old!

I've tested the VCR again, its working fine when hooked up to a TV.

I'm suprised no one has posted. Does anyone have any ideas at all?????

Mossy

[Mrsash]

Dude this may be the problem. Macrovision. Check it out. VCR tapes(depending on the tapes) may have copy protection which makes them flash colours. Could be this....

[mossy]

Originally Posted by Mrsash

Dude this may be the problem. Macrovision. Check it out. VCR tapes(depending on the tapes) may have copy protection which makes them flash colours. Could be this....

Hi, I was thinking that could be the case with original hollywood movies, however I've only tried my own home videos which have been transferred to VCR through a handycam. It used to work fine as I said. I can't work out what has changed!

Mossy

[bucket23]

The only other thing I can think of is a PAL and NTSC issue. Check what your handicam is recording and then check that the software can accept. Australia is PAL 50.

Note: the hadicam could still be doint the Macrovision thing as well as a false Macrovision flag, so check that as well.

[scottb721]

99% sure it's macrovison. You can get a box from Jaycar to 'fix up' the video signal.

TVs aren't affected by Macrovision as they don't have auto gain control that VCRs have.

If it was a NTSC issue I'd expect to see constant black and white. If it continually changes my guess would be one of the macrovision nasties.

[mossy]

Originally Posted by scottb721

99% sure it's macrovison. You can get a box from Jaycar to 'fix up' the video signal.

TVs aren't affected by Macrovision as they don't have auto gain control that VCRs have.

If it was a NTSC issue I'd expect to see constant black and white. If it continually changes my guess would be one of the macrovision nasties.

Hi, appreciated all your feedback and I does sound as this could be the only issue possible.

But what I just don't understand is that it used to work fine. I'm using VCR tapes that are over 10-15 years old. I had a heap of old grand finals recorded off TV, home videos of family, home videos of sport. About a year ago I transferred about 6 from VCR to the computer with no problems. Now these same videos are doing the black and white and colour flashing.

When it first starts, it seems to be on colour most of the time, then it starts to get worse flashing to black and white, then ends up mainly black and white after about 10 mins. I noticed my fan on the northbridge was not working. I have taken the fan off completely. Would anyone know if the northbridge getting hot would affect this in any way? Keep in mind watching Digital TV is fine through the tuner card though.

Mossy

[Mrsash]

Well if the tapes are that old may be you need a new VCR which has TBC(time base corrector) assuming the quality of the sinal from tapes are degraded enough(as it happens) that your capture card cant make sense of it anymore. What cable are you using from the VCR to the capture card? I have the same card and have no such problems. I do have canopus card whcih does a very good job of transferring tapes including macrovision.....

[mossy]

Originally Posted by Mrsash

Well if the tapes are that old may be you need a new VCR which has TBC(time base corrector) assuming the quality of the sinal from tapes are degraded enough(as it happens) that your capture card cant make sense of it anymore. What cable are you using from the VCR to the capture card? I have the same card and have no such problems. I do have canopus card whcih does a very good job of transferring tapes including macrovision.....

Tapes are old, but the VCR is almost new, only a year old. The tapes play fine through a normal TV. I'm just using standard Composite cables, have tried different ones to see if it made a difference or not and it didn't.

I really think its a driver issue but have tried every single Nvidia driver from the last 4 years and still no difference. I used to use the old Compro driver and software that came with the card when it worked, so I took the new one off and put old on and still no difference. The reason why I think its driver related or perhaps a physical fault with the card, is that it doesn't matter if I use composite input or use the standard coaxial aerial cable and tune it into an analogue station, it still flashes black and white on what ever is coming from the VCR. Even when I'm not play a tape, the standard BLUE screen which should show flashes from blue to grey.

Weird!

Mossy

[Mrsash]

Sounds like its your card.

You have two possibilities
1. Card is stuffed
1. To rule out the first I would use another capture card like the tv in on the nvidia card if it has this feature

2. Tapes too old but your TV does not care for this but the compro is too needy when it receives the picture.
I would record to another borrowed VCR to check if the signal is weak..