Nvidia DualTV MCE User's Guide

User’s Guide

NVIDIA DualTV MCE

March 2006 DU-01848-001_v06

For Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE)

NVIDIA DualTV MCE Dual-Tuner Card User’s Guide

This page intentionally left blank.

ii DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Table of Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................................................1

About This Guide.............................................................................................................. 1

Overview.........................................................................................................................1

Features and Benefits.......................................................................................................3

Product Specifications.......................................................................................................3

Functions..................................................................................................................... 3

Connectors on Bracket ..................................................................................................4

Minimum System Requirements .....................................................................................4

Compliance and Certifications ........................................................................................ 5

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) Environment........................................... 5

Unpacking Your NVIDIA DualTV Tuner Card..................................................................7

Unpacking........................................................................................................................7

Hardware Installation and Connections......................................................................11

Safety Instructions ......................................................................................................... 11

Before You Begin............................................................................................................ 11

Installing the Hardware................................................................................................... 12

Connecting a Set-Top Box or Other Video Equipment ........................................................ 14

A/V Cable Connections................................................................................................ 14

MCE Remote Control and Receiver ............................................................................... 15

Connection Diagrams...................................................................................................... 16

Connecting Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna............................................................. 16

Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input.......................................................... 17

Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes via Direct A/V Inputs..................................................... 18

Software Installation ...................................................................................................19

Installing Software and Registering Your NVIDIA DualTV Card............................................ 19

Abnormal Termination................................................................................................. 36

Installing an MCE Remote Control and Receiver .........................................................37

Setting Up the MCE Remote Control and Receiver............................................................. 37

Connection Diagrams with MCE Remote ........................................................................... 39

Connecting Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna............................................................. 39

Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input.......................................................... 40

DU-01848-001_v06 iii 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE Dual-Tuner Card User’s Guide

Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes via Direct A/V Inputs..................................................... 41

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP Media Center Edition..............................43

Configuring MCE to Work with NVIDIA DualTV.................................................................. 43

Configuring MCE Automatically for Antenna or Analog Cable TV...................................... 44

Configuring MCE Manually for Antenna or Analog Cable TV............................................. 50

Configuring MCE for Use with Set-Top Box.................................................................... 56

Setting Up the Radio....................................................................................................... 68

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience ................................................................71

Overview....................................................................................................................... 71

Antenna/Cable TV Signal Strength ................................................................................... 74

Low Signal Level......................................................................................................... 74

High Signal Level........................................................................................................ 74

Adjusting LCD Panels...................................................................................................... 75

Adjusting Your Monitor or TV........................................................................................... 75

Centering the Picture on Your Screen ........................................................................... 78

Adjusting the Aspect Ratio........................................................................................... 79

Adjusting the Brightness: Picture Too Dark ................................................................... 80

Adjusting the Contrast: Picture Too Light...................................................................... 82

Adjusting the Color Balance......................................................................................... 84

Adjusting Display Settings............................................................................................... 86

Gamma...................................................................................................................... 87

Position...................................................................................................................... 88

Digital Vibrance .......................................................................................................... 88

Adjusting TV Capture Settings ......................................................................................... 88

Picture Mode.............................................................................................................. 90

Color Separation......................................................................................................... 90

Noise Reduction.......................................................................................................... 91

VCR Input Timing ....................................................................................................... 91

Adjusting A/V Playback Settings....................................................................................... 92

Color and Brightness Control........................................................................................ 94

De-Interlacing Control................................................................................................. 94

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).............................................................................95

Getting Driver Updates.................................................................................................... 95

General Questions.......................................................................................................... 95

FAQs Specific to Microsoft Windows XP MCE....................................................................103

iv DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Registration, Support, and Warranty.........................................................................107

Registering Your NVIDIA DualTV.....................................................................................107

Warranty and Support....................................................................................................107

Index ..........................................................................................................................109

DU-01848-001_v06 v 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE Dual-Tuner Card User’s Guide

List of Figures

Figure 1. NVIDIA DualTV Tuner Card, NTSC Version..........................................................8

Figure 2. NVIDIA DualTV Tuner Card, PAL Version............................................................ 9

Figure 3. NTSC and PAL Card Connections ...................................................................... 13

Figure 4. A/V Connections with a Set-Top Box................................................................. 15

Figure 5. Connecting Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna................................................. 16

Figure 6. Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input.............................................. 17

Figure 7. Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes with Direct A/V Inputs....................................... 18

Figure 8. Connection Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna, with Remote............................. 39

Figure 9. Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input, with Remote.......................... 40

Figure 10. Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes with Direct A/V Inputs, with Remote................... 41

Figure 11. Low Signal Level ............................................................................................. 74

Figure 12. High Signal Level............................................................................................. 74

List of Tables

Table 1. Tools for Optimizing Your Audio and Video Experience ...................................... 73

Table 2. Application Support for MediaSqueeze.............................................................102

vi DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Introduction

Control your TV experience—watch what you want, when you want, from wherever you want! The NVIDIA analog TV on a Microsoft

About This Guide

This User’s Guide provides setup and operation instructions for the NVIDIA DualTV on a PC equipped with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE). For more information about Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, please visit:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx

Overview

Watch Your Favorite TV Programs When and Where You Want

The NVIDIA DualTV analog tuner card lets you schedule recordings of your favorite TV shows and watch them when you want. You are no longer limited to watching the same program you are recording; with NVIDIA DualTV you can watch one channel and record another, or record two channels simultaneously. And with time shift capabilities you can easily pause and rewind your favorite shows to watch at your leisure.

®

DualTV tuner card allows you to enjoy dual-channel

®

Windows

®

XP Media Center Edition® (MCE) PC.

Best of all, you can watch your programs in your home or on the go. With NVIDIA DualTV you can easily record your favorite programs and then transfer, stream, or copy them to different devices to watch in various locations. NVIDIA MediaSqueeze

™ technology allows you to record and save your favorite programs

using less disk space than other solutions. In addition, you can watch your NVIDIA DualTV from anywhere in the world over the Internet by utilizing software from Orb Networks.

Watch your favorite shows anywhere with:

 An Apple iPod with video  A Sony PSP™ (PlayStation  A Microsoft XBOX 360™ or Media Center Extender  A DVD player  A notebook computer  Orb Networks software

DU-01848-001_v06 1 03/28/06

®

Portable)

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Refer to the NVIDIA DualTV Web site for additional information on these usage scenarios.

Enjoy Unmatched Television Picture Quality

With the power of NVIDIA PureVideo™ technology, NVIDIA DualTV delivers a home-theater experience through your PC, ensuring that the picture is clear and that the colors are vibrant and lifelike. Experience crisp and vivid TV with PureVideo’s advanced 3D noise reduction and 3D comb filter technology. Multistream hardware MPEG-2 encoding lets you record a sharp TV picture while freeing the CPU for other applications. The included NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder provides unmatched picture fidelity and rich surround-sound audio when you’re watching DVDs, videos, or TV shows. And Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) certification guarantees the highest level of picture quality.

Install and Use Within Minutes

Installing NVIDIA DualTV is simple. The easy-to-install, rock-solid NVIDIA ForceWare® drivers will have you watching and recording your favorite TV programs in no time. The “Designed for Windows Media Center Edition” certification ensures that NVIDIA DualTV meets the standards for Window’s compatibility.

Capture, Edit, and Archive Your Home Movies with Ease

NVIDIA DualTV lets you easily connect your camcorder to instantly capture your home movies. Combine NVIDIA DualTV with Microsoft Windows Movie Maker to edit your movies and share with friends and family.

Turns Any Media Center PC into a Home-Entertainment Center

NVIDIA DualTV MCE delivers a superior TV experience on Media Center Edition (MCE) PCs, giving you flexibility in your TV viewing and recording options. Quickly start watching high-quality TV by clicking the “MyTV” button from the MCE display menu. NVIDIA DualTV MCE lets you take full advantage of MCE’s dual tuner and personal video recording capabilities, including recording two channels at once or watching one channel while recording another. You can even distribute two separate programs throughout your home with Media Center Extenders, so others can watch their favorite shows on their own TV.

The NVIDIA DualTV tuner card is available in two versions—NTSC (for North America and Korea) and PAL (for Europe and part of Asia). The PAL version also supports SECAM.

2 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Features and Benefits

 Simultaneous Watch and Record. Record two TV channels, or watch one TV

channel while recording another—the perfect solution for Windows MCE.

 Helpful Wizards and Simple Quick Start Guide. NVIDIA DualTV’s easy-install

features mean you’ll be watching and recording your favorite programs in no time.

 NVIDIA PureVideo™ Technology. NVIDIA PureVideo delivers a crystal-clear

television picture with 3D noise reduction, advanced 3D comb filtering, and signal amplification.

 NVIDIA MediaSqueeze™ Technology. NVIDIA MediaSqueeze lets you store more

of your favorite TV programs or home video on your hard disk or a DVD.

 NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder. The NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder combines the

industry’s highest quality DVD and MPEG-2 playback with rich surround-sound audio, and provides the best movie experience with Microsoft Windows Media Player and Windows XP Media Center Edition.

 Multistream Hardware MPEG-2 MP@ML Encode. Record a sharp, crisp TV

picture while freeing the CPU for other applications.

Introduction

 Multiple Inputs. Accepts TV and audio input from cable, set-top boxes, and off-the-

air antennas. An internal splitter allows a single cable or antenna connection to supply two different channels simultaneously.

 NVIDIA ForceWare

unleash the full power and features of NVIDIA’s DualTV experience. The added benefits powered by the Media Center extensions deliver an unmatched Media Center experience.

 FM Tuner. FM tuner allows you to pause, rewind, and record your favorite FM radio

programs.

Product Specifications

Functions

 Dual-channel TV reception and A/V capture

¾ Source type: Analog terrestrial broadcast, analog cable broadcast, and analog

A/V signal from set-top boxes or other A/V equipment

¾ Signal type: Radio frequency (RF from antenna, cable TV, output of set-top

boxes) or baseband (S-video or composite video)

¾ TV standards:

¾ NTSC board: NTSC M/N ¾ PAL/SECAM board: PAL I, B/G, D/K, SECAM D/K, L/L’

 Dual-stream MPEG-2 A/V encode with MediaSqueeze technology

®

Drivers. Use the rock-solid NVIDIA ForceWare drivers to

¾ Video: MPEG-2 MP@ML, 720 × 480 (standard definition) ¾ Audio: MPEG1L2

DU-01848-001_v06 3 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

 Uncompressed A/V capture

¾ Video: 720 × 480 (standard definition) ¾ Audio: PCM (16-24 bit per sample, up to 48 KHz)

 FM radio tuner  Internal splitter for RF with in-line signal amplifier; only a single RF input is needed for

the two internal tuners

 3D comb filter and 3D noise reduction with PureVideo technology

Connectors on Bracket

 RF (radio frequency) TV antenna or cable TV: F-connector (NTSC) or IEC-connector

(PAL/SECAM)

 RF FM radio antenna: F-connector (NTSC) or IEC-connector (PAL)  Direct A/V inputs (2 sets) **

¾ S-video (or composite video via included adapter): 4-pin DIN ¾ Line-level stereo audio: stereo minijack

** 2-sets of onboard A/V inputs (1x5 for video and 1x4 for audio) are also available for front-panel (drive bay)

or back-panel connection; requires wafer connector cables and connector mounts (not included).

Minimum System Requirements

 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (including Update Roll-up 2)  1.6 GHz Intel

CPU (2.4 GHz CPU recommended)

 256 MB system memory (512MB highly recommended)  Available PCI slot  Graphics with 64 MB DDR, DXVA (motion-compensation), and Microsoft

9.0 support (128 MB DDR recommended)

 20 GB free space on Ultra DMA (ATA/66) hard disk (40 GB or more recommended)  DirectSound-compatible sound card or integrated audio  CD-ROM drive (DVD-ROM or DVD recorder drive recommended)  Microsoft DirectX 9.0 or later. If this is not already installed on your MCE system,

download from the Microsoft Web site at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en&categoryid=2

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 or later with latest service pack



Note: For MCE-specific system requirements such as CPU speed, graphics

requirements, or Internet access, refer to the MCE documentation on

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx

®

Pentium®4, Celeron®, or equivalent AMD® Athlon™ or Sempron™

®

DirectX®

4 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Compliance and Certifications

 Designed for Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition, 2005 (including

Update Roll-up 2)

 Imaging Science Research Labs/Imaging Science Foundation  FCC, CE, UL/CUL, CTICK, MIC, VCCI, BSMI

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) Environment

When you are using a Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 PC system, the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card provides direct connections with the following for reception of TV broadcast:

 An antenna or cable TV feed or RF feed from a set-top box  Up to two set-top boxes (receiver/decoder units for reception of digital cable, satellite,

or terrestrial broadcast TV) using direct A/V input ports

Introduction

 An FM antenna connection

The MCE application gives you access to an onscreen program guide. With this you can program TV recordings days or even weeks in advance. You can use an MCEcompatible remote control to navigate within the MCE application.

The NVIDIA DualTV CD provides the following software to support your MCE environment:

 NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder (MCE-certified MPEG-2 decoder)  NVIDIA MCE Extensions  NVIDIA DualTV Windows Driver Model (WDM) Driver

The NVIDIA DualTV tuner card is compliant with the following logo program to provide you the best MCE experience:

 Designed for Microsoft Windows (Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs)  Designed for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition  Imaging Science Foundation (ISRL/ISF)

DU-01848-001_v06 5 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Note: If you intend to use your set-top box with the NVIDIA DualTV, you need to have

an MCE-compatible IR remote control/receiver with IR blaster(s). The IR receiver unit controls up to two set-top boxes to change channels. An MCE-compatible IR remote control/receiver with IR blasters is available as part of an NVIDIA DualTV and MCE remote control bundle from the NVIDIA online store. You may also buy an MCE remote control kit from several popular online retailers.

Note: At the time of publication of this document, the MCE application itself does not

support video capture from a non-broadcast source. For example, MCE allows you to receive TV programming from a terrestrial, satellite, or digital cable settop box, but does not directly support video capture and archiving from a camcorder or a VCR. For video capture and archiving, you can use Microsoft Movie Maker (included in the MCE build) in conjunction with DualTV’s A/V input capabilities.

6 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Unpacking

The NVIDIA DualTV MCE is available in NTSC and PAL versions. Figures 1 and 2 show the NTSC and PAL NVIDIA DualTV tuner cards, respectively. The following is a list of the product package contents. Note that certain items are included in retail packages only.

Unpacking Your

NVIDIA DualTV Tuner Card

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

1. NVIDIA DualTV tuner card. Available in NTSC and PAL/SECAM versions.

2. NVIDIA DualTV Installation CD with NVIDIA PureVideo decoder, NVIDIA Driver, and User’s Guide (a PDF of this document).

3. FM antenna cable. Connects to FM antenna input on the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card.

4. S-video cable*. Connects to set-top box or other video equipment.

5. Composite video (RCA to 4-pin DIN) adapter. Allows composite video cable to connect to the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card.

6. Composite video and stereo audio RCA cable*. Connects to set-top box or other video equipment.

7. Minijack to dual RCA audio cable. Allows stereo RCA cable to connect to the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card.

8. Coaxial cable*. Connects to cable TV service.

9. Coaxial cable splitter*. Connects to cable TV service coaxial cable, CATV input on the NVIDIA DualTV card, and to another device utilizing the cable signal.

10. NVIDIA DualTV Quick Start Guide

11. NVIDIA DualTV Registration Reminder Card

* Included in retail packages only

9 10 11

DU-01848-001_v06 7 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

FM Antenna In

Tuner In (TV cable or

antenna feed)

Video 1 In

Audio 1 In

Video 2 In

Audio 2 In

Figure 1. NVIDIA DualTV Tuner Card, NTSC Version

8 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

FM Antenna In

Tuner In (TV cable or

antenna feed)

Video 1 In

Audio 1 In

Video 2 In

Audio 2 In

Unpacking the NVTV Dual-Tuner Card

Figure 2. NVIDIA DualTV Tuner Card, PAL Version

DU-01848-001_v06 9 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

This page intentionally left blank.

10 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Installing the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card hardware requires opening your computer. Please follow all of the safety instructions provided here to ensure that there is no damage to you, your computer, or the tuner card.

Safety Instructions

To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and injury, always follow basic safety precautions.

Hardware Installation and

Connections

Remember to remove power from your computer by disconnecting the AC main source before installing any equipment into the computer chassis.

Before You Begin

IMPORTANT: Any previous analog tuner card drivers must be

conflicts. NVIDIA recommends that you uninstall these drivers prior to removing the old hardware and installing the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card. If you have any existing DVD decoders other than NVIDIA PureVideo decoders, it is highly recommended that these software programs be completely removed.

Your computer may already have an analog tuner card installed. If so, you need to uninstall it and replace it with the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card. You also need to uninstall any other Windows Driver Model (WDM) Drivers for TV tuner cards. Go to

Remove Programs Add/Remove. This will uninstall all files associated with the drivers you have

selected.

Use this same procedure to remove any existing DVD decoders.

completely

Start¾Control Panel¾Add or

. Select the installed analog TV card drivers and click

removed to avoid

DU-01848-001_v06 11 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Installing the Hardware

Note: All hardware must be installed prior to installation of the software.

Use the following procedure to install the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card into your computer system. Use Figure 3 on the next page as a guide to connecting cables to your NVIDIA DualTV tuner card.

1. Turn off the computer, monitor, and any peripheral equipment and

disconnect the power cord to the PC.

2. Open your computer; refer to your computer documentation for assistance.

3. Remove any metal plate that covers the PCI slot you selected on the

motherboard so the tuner card connectors are accessible from the back of the computer (you will use the screws to secure the card).

4. Install the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card into the selected PCI slot.

5. Secure the tuner card using any hardware (screws) removed when you

removed the metal plate or an existing analog tuner card.

6. Reinstall the cover on your computer and reconnect any cables removed earlier.

7. Connect the cables to your NVIDIA DualTV tuner card (see Figure 3). If a TV

antenna or TV cable is used, attach the signal source (directly or via the included coaxial cable splitter) to the set-top box, see Connecting a Set-Top Box or Other Video Equipment on page 14.

CATV connector on the card. If you are connecting a

Note: The A/V cable connection for capturing analog video output from a

camcorder or VCR is the same as that for a set-top box (see Figure 4).

Note: If you have an MCE-compatible IR remote control/receiver but have not

connected the USB IR receiver to the MCE system, please plug that in only after the NVIDIA DualTV software installation (next chapter).

8. Reconnect the power cord to your system.

9. Power on the computer.

12 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Hardware Installation

(

)

Secure to system chassis using

any hardware removed in step 3.

2

if exist

Use the splitter

only if needed

3

NTSC

Version

PAL

Version

1 Connect FM antenna cable. 2 Connect TV antenna or TV cable (this connection supplies the TV signal to both tuners on the card).

If your cable is already connected to another A/V device, you can us e the included “splitter” as shown to send the cable signal to both the NVIDIA DualTV and your other device.

Connect the TV signal directly to CATV connector on the NVIDIA DualTV if you do not have a secondary A/V device. Do not use the splitter in this case.

NVIDIA DOES NOT recommend that you connect an amplifier or active amplifier/splitter with high gain to the TV cable input. Doing so could cause excessive noise on the signal resulting in distortion of the TV picture.

3 For connections to set-top boxes or other A/V equipment. See next page.

Figure 3. NTSC and PAL Card Connections

DU-01848-001_v06 13 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Connecting a Set-Top Box or Other Video Equipment

Most VCRs and set-top boxes have both an RF (radio frequency, using coaxial cable) output and at least one direct (non-RF) A/V output. The latter consists of either an S-video (4-pin DIN) or a composite video (yellow RCA jack) connection or both, plus an audio-out (red and white RCA jacks). Analog camcorders often have one direct A/V output.

4-pin DIN Yellow RCA jack Red and white RCA jacks

For best results, NVIDIA recommends that you use an S-video connection to bring in the video to the NVIDIA DualTV, or use a composite video connection if Svideo output is not available on your set-top box or other equipment.

The instructions below assume the use of a direct (non-RF) A/V connection. The A/V cable connections for capturing analog video output from a camcorder or VCR are the same as that for a set-top box.

If you are using one or two set-top boxes with MCE, you also need an MCEcompatible remote control and receiver with IR blaster(s). The section after the next one describes the procedures for setting up the IR remote control and receiver.

A/V Cable Connections

When connecting one set-top box, use the SVID1/AUD1 connectors. Use the

SVID2/AUD2 connectors for a second set-top box. Always use the SVID1/AUD1

connectors first.

Use the following procedure to connect a set-top box.

1. Use the S-video cable to connect from S-video-out

on the set-top box to DualTV card.

Or

Use the yellow wire composite video-out on the set-top box to the composite video adapter, and then connect the composite video adapter to

SVID 1 on the NVIDIA DualTV card.

2. Use the red

connect to the right and left audio-out respectively on the set-top box. Connect the other end of the red and white wires of the RCA cable to the minijack-to-RCA cable. Finally, connect the minijack-to-RCA cable to on the NVIDIA DualTV card.

Repeat this procedure using

SVID 1 on the NVIDIA

of the RCA cable to connect

and white wires of the RCA cable to

AUD 1

SVID2 and AUD2 to connect to a second set-top box.

14 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Hardware Installation

NVIDIA

DualTV Card

Set-Top Box

Figure 4. A/V Connections with a Set-Top Box

MCE Remote Control and Receiver

An MCE remote control and receiver with IR blaster is needed for the MCE PC and the NVIDIA DualTV to work with a set-top box. However, NVIDIA recommends that you install the MCE remote control and receiver (see Installing an MCE Remote Control and Receiver on p.37) only after you install NVIDIA DualTV software (p. 19) and before configuring the tuners for MCE (p. 43).

DU-01848-001_v06 15 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Connection Diagrams

The following figures depict the connections for three configuration scenarios.

The cabling for the MCE remote receiver (if available and used) is depicted on page

39.

Connecting Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna

The “analog TV cable” referenced below is the typical cable TV feed that runs in the house of a cable TV service subscriber.

1

FM Antenna

6

Coaxial Cable

Secondary Device

6

Coaxial Cable

Splitter

(use only if necessary )

FM Antenna

1

2

FM Antenna

S-Video Cable (4-pin DIN)

PC

FM

CATV

SVID1

AUD1

SVID2

AUD2

NVIDIA

NVIDIA DualTV

DualTV

or

RF Signal Source

TV Antenna or Analog TV Cable (Cable TV Feed)

RF Signal Source

Wall Socket or Coaxial Cabl e

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DIN)

3

4

5

6

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DIN)

Composite Video & Stereo Audio RCA Cable

Minijack to Dual RCA Cable

Coaxial Cable

Figure 5. Connecting Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna

16 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input

From Satellite LNB (Dish Antenna) or Digital TV Cable

S-Video

Composite

Audio

Audio Left/Right

Left/Right

FM Antenna

S-Video Cable (4-pin DIN)

PC

FM

CATV

SVID1

AUD1

SVID2

AUD2

NVIDIA

NVIDIA DualTV

DualTV

FM Antenna

1

or

2

3

5

or

4

4 4

4

1

2

Hardware Installation

RF Signal Source

Wall Socket or Co axial Cable

Coaxial Cable

6

Set-Top Box

(Back)

A/V

A/V Out

Out

RF

(Back)

Set-Top Box

(Front)

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DIN)

3

4

5

6

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DIN)

Composite Video & Stereo Audio RCA Cable

Minijack to Dual RCA Cable

Coaxial Cable

Figure 6. Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input

DU-01848-001_v06 17 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes via Direct A/V Inputs

RF Signal Sources

FM Antenna

FM

CATV

SVID1

AUD1

SVID2

AUD2

NVIDIA

NVIDIA DualTV

DualTV

PC

FM Antenna

1

or

2

3

5

2

3

5

IR

Receiver

or

4

4 4

4

or

4

4 4

4

S-Video

Composite

Audio

Audio Left/Right

Left/Right

S-Video

Composite

Audio

Audio Left/Right

Left/Right

1

2

3

From Satellite LNB (Dish A ntenna) or Digital TV Cable

A/V

A/V Out

Out

RF Signal Sources

Wall Sockets or Coaxial Cables

6

Set-Top Box 1

RF

Set-Top Box 1

(Front)

FM Antenna

S-Video Cable (4-pin DIN)

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DIN)

(Back)

A/V

A/V Out

Out

6

RF

Set-Top Box 2

(Back)

(Front)

Composite Video & St ere o A ud i o RCA Cab l e

4

5

6

Composite Video & St ere o A ud i o RCA Cab l e

Minijack to Dual RCA Cable

Coaxial Cable

Figure 7. Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes with Direct A/V Inputs

18 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Software Installation

The CD that has been shipped with your NVIDIA DualTV MCE contains the following software:

 NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder software  NVIDIA MCE Extensions  NVIDIA DualTV WDM Driver

Note: All the NVIDIA DualTV hardware must be installed prior to installation of the

software. See Hardware Installation on page 11 if you have not installed the hardware.

If you have an MCE remote control/receiver and it is not already connected to the MCE PC, plug it in only after the software installation (this chapter) and before setting up the TV signal in MCE (see next chapter).

When you see the “Found New Hardware” (detecting new tuner hardware) screen after you have inserted the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card and powered up the system, click Cancel. Then insert the CD and run the software installation program.

If the “Found New Hardware” (detects WDM drivers) screen is displayed after software installation and system restart, click Next, and then Finish.

After the software installation, you need to configure the tuners (NVIDIA DualTV provides 2 tuners on a single card) in MCE (see next chapter).

Installing Software and Registering Your NVIDIA DualTV Card

Installing the NVIDIA DualTV software and registering your NVIDIA DualTV card consists of the following procedures:

 Power up the system.  Verify the environment—check PC for MCE, NVIDIA DualTV card, administrator

privileges.

 Select components, install path, and check for existing analog tuner cards.  Check for software updates.  Install the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder—requires activation key.  Install the NVIDIA DualTV WDM driver, User’s Guide(s), and shortcuts.

DU-01848-001_v06 19 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

 Register the NVIDIA DualTV product.  Restart the system—you will then need to configure your tuner in MCE.

The procedures are explained in the following steps.

1. Power up your computer.

It is always a good idea to disable any antivirus software before installing new software.

2. Click

Cancel if the “Found New Hardware” screen (shown below) is

displayed. Use the NVIDIA DualTV installation program instead.

3. Insert the NVIDIA DualTV CD into your CD drive.

The NVIDIA DualTV installation wizard is launched. If the wizard does not run automatically, select

Browse, locate and double-click the CD icon, locate and select Setup,

click and then click

OK.

Run from the Start menu on Windows desktop,

20 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

4. Click Next from the Welcome screen.

Software Installation

The following events may occur after you press Next.

 If the user ID with which you logged on to Windows does not have

Windows “administrator” privileges, the following screen will be displayed. Press

OK to exit the software installation and log on again with

an administrator ID.

DU-01848-001_v06 21 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

 If the wizard does not detect an NVIDIA DualTV card in the system, the

following message will be displayed. Press instructions.

OK, and follow the

 The NVIDIA DualTV MCE is designed to work with MCE. If your

system does not have the MCE operating system installed, the following screen will be displayed.

If you intend to use NVIDIA DualTV MCE with MCE, click No, power down the system, and move the NVIDIA DualTV board to an MCE system.

5. Select the components you wish to install. On an initial NVIDIA DualTV

install, you should select all components listed, and optionally specify the path for the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder and User’s Guide (a PDF file). The exception to this is if you already have the Gold or Platinum version of the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder installed on your MCE system. In this case, NVIDIA recommends that you skip the installation of the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder.

The NVIDIA DualTV software package includes the Bronze version of the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder.

Note: The screen (see below) displays “NVIDIA DualTV User’s Guides” as a component

to install.

22 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Software Installation

 When you click Browse the following screen is displayed for you to select

the install path for the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder and NVIDIA DualTV User’s Guide(s).

DU-01848-001_v06 23 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

 If “NVIDIA DualTV WDM Driver” is selected and the installation

wizard detects the presence of a third-party analog tuner card, the following screen will be displayed. NVIDIA recommends that you uninstall the driver for the third-party tuner card before physically removing the card from the system. The next two screens are displayed:

Note: The example tuner called out in the following screen message is called “DEBUG

TV Tuner” for documentation purposes. In your installation, you will see the name of your third-party tuner.

The following will be displayed if you scroll down in the previous screen.

24 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Software Installation

6. The following screen is displayed automatically. Select the option to check for

availability of updated software from NVIDIA. This option requires that you have an Internet connection.

DU-01848-001_v06 25 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

 If the NVIDIA server detects that your NVIDIA DualTV CD already

has the latest software versions, the following message is displayed.

The following message is displayed if your Internet link is down or if the NVIDIA server is unavailable.

Click

Yes to retry the connection to the NVIDIA server or No to skip the

retry.

If your system fails to link to the NVIDIA server, you can download driver updates later by visiting:

http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Either the newly retrieved software version or the version on the NVIDIA DualTV CD will be used for the rest of the installation.

26 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Software Installation

7. Read and accept the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder License Agreement as

displayed. The following screen is displayed if you have selected

Decoder

you click

in the selection of components to install. Click Yes to proceed. If

No, you are terminating the software installation.

PureVideo

 Enter the Product Code and the Activation Key for the NVIDIA

PureVideo Decoder. The information is on the label on the back of the CD sleeve. Note that the key consists only of the letters A–F (not casesensitive) and the numerals 0–9. There is no letter O (oh). You do not have to type in the hyphens (“–”).

DU-01848-001_v06 27 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

 The wizard completes the installation of the NVIDIA PureVideo

Decoder.

28 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Software Installation

8. The other components are installed depending on your selection. The

following screens appear.

Depending on the NVIDIA DualTV package, multiple language versions of the NVIDIA DualTV User’s Guide will be copied to your hard disk.

9. Click Yes to register your NVIDIA DualTV product via the Internet or a

direct dial-up line.

Note: This prompt is not displayed if you have already run the installation wizard

and completed the registration process before.

DU-01848-001_v06 29 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Note: If you click Cancel during the registration process, only the product

 Fill in your contact information.

registration is cancelled. The software installation remains intact.

 Fill in the information relevant to your NVIDIA DualTV purchase. The

product part number and serial number can be found on the inside cover of the NVIDIA DualTV MCE Quick Start Guide. NVIDIA recommends that you stay current by signing up for the auto-notification service about products, promotions, and software updates.

30 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

 Complete the survey.

Software Installation

 Complete the second page of the survey.

 Select the method to transmit the registration data to NVIDIA, and click

Register. For the Internet option, an active Internet connection is

required. For

Modem, a direct dial-up line using a toll-free number to the

NVIDIA server is used.

DU-01848-001_v06 31 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

 If the data transmission is successful, the following normal completion

screen is displayed. You will receive a confirmation e-mail containing logon information for your NVIDIA Customer Care account and information on accessing NVIDIA Customer Care.

32 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Software Installation

 If you click Cancel during the registration process, the following screen is

displayed. Canceling the registration does not roll back the software installed in earlier steps. If you select registration wizard will return to the (where you select the option among select either

Exit registration or Remind me in 14 days, the wizard goes

Register Now in this screen the Complete Registration screen Internet/E-mail/Modem). If you

to the normal registration completion screen.

10. Respond to the screen that comes up next. One of the following Installation

Wizard Complete

screens is displayed whether you have completed the

registration process or not. A program group is created in the Windows

START menu with shortcuts and uninstall utilities.

The screen that is displayed depends on (1) whether you selected the NVIDIA DualTV WDM driver as one of the components, and (2) whether you are using an MCE system.

.

DU-01848-001_v06 33 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

.

After restarting your MCE PC, the following window is displayed. After reviewing the reminder message there, you can close the window by clicking anywhere on the screen. The window will be removed automatically within 10 seconds.

34 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Note: For a full install on an MCE system, the software installation is fully

complete only after the PC is restarted. After restarting your PC, install an MCE remote control (if applicable) and configure your tuner in MCE as described in the next chapters if you are using MCE.

Software Installation

DU-01848-001_v06 35 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Abnormal Termination

If you click Cancel at any time during the software installation before the registration step, or screen, the following screen is displayed.

No in the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder License Agreement

If you click

Yes, the installation wizard exits with the following screen. The software

installed in prior steps is uninstalled.

36 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Installing an MCE Remote Control and

Receiver

MCE requires an MCE-compatible remote control/receiver with IR blaster(s) to control set-top boxes (up to two). An MCE remote control and receiver kit is included in the package if you have received an NVIDIA DualTV MCE with Remote Control bundle. Otherwise, you may purchase an MCE remote control and receiver kit from one of many online PC retailers.

If you do not intend to use a set-top box as a TV signal source for your NVIDIA DualTV, or you do not have an MCE remote control and receiver kit, please skip to the next chapter.

This section provides generic instructions only. Refer to the documentation that comes with your MCE remote control and receiver kit for details. If you received an NVIDIA DualTV MCE with Remote Control bundle, please also consult the NVIDIA MCE Remote Control Quick Start Guide (hard copy) and the NVIDIA MCE Remote Control User’s Guide (available on the NVIDIA DualTV Installation CD, and copied onto your PC if you selected the respective option during NVIDIA DualTV software installation).

Note: If your remote receiver is not already connected to the MCE PC, please plug that

in only after the NVIDIA DualTV software installation (last chapter) but before setting up the TV signal in MCE (next chapter).

Setting Up the MCE Remote Control and Receiver

1. Install batteries into the remote control unit. Make sure the battery terminals are

oriented properly (often the “+” and “-” markings are available in the compartment). Close the compartment cover.

2. Place the USB IR receiver unit at a convenient location with a line-of-sight to

(without obstruction), and within an effective range of where you will be using the remote control.

3. Set up the IR blaster (emitter). a. Connect the IR blaster cable to a port on the back of the IR receiver

unit.

b. Locate the remote control (IR) sensor window on your set-top box.

This window is usually located at the front of the equipment. Refer to the set-top box manual if needed.

DU-01848-001_v06 37 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

c. Remove the paper sticker from the red plastic emitter LED of the IR

blaster. Place the sticky side of the red emitter LED directly on the settop box IR sensor window. Do not totally block the window.

4. Connect the IR receiver unit’s USB cable to your MCE PC. If your remote

receiver has a detachable USB cable, make sure the USB cable is plugged securely into the back of the IR receiver unit.

5. When the PC is powered on, insert the plug of the USB cable into an available

USB port on your PC. Windows will recognize and configure the device automatically.

USB cable connector for PC side USB s ocket on the PC chassis

38 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Installing an MCE Remote Control and Receiver

Connection Diagrams with MCE Remote

The following diagrams depict the connections for various configuration scenarios.

Connecting Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna

1

FM Antenna

FM

CATV

SVID1

AUD1

SVID2

AUD2

NVIDIA

NVIDIA DualTV

DualTV

or

FM Antenna

6

Coaxial Cable

Secondary Device

6

Coaxial Cable

Splitter

(use only if necessary)

or

RF Signal Source

TV Antenna or Analog TV Cable (Cable TV Feed)

RF Signal Source

Wall Socket or Coaxial Cable

PC

FM Antenna

S-Video Cable (4-pin DIN)

Composite Video Adapt er (RCA t o 4-pi n DIN)

Composite Video & Stereo Audio RCA Cable

Minijack to Dual RCA Cable

Coaxial Cable

USB-A Female

USB-A Female (Chassis Mount)

(Chassis Mount)

MCE IR

MCE IR Remote

Remote

Control

USB Cable

IR Signal

IR

Receiver

IR Sensor

Window

1

2

3

4

5

6

Figure 8. Connection Analog TV Cable or Off-Air Antenna, with

Remote

DU-01848-001_v06 39 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input

From Satellite LNB (Dish Antenna) or Digital TV Cable

FM

CATV

SVID1

AUD1

SVID2

AUD2

NVIDIA

NVIDIA DualTV

DualTV

PC

USB-A Female

USB-A Female (Chassis Mount)

(Chassis Mount)

FM Antenna

1

or

USB Cable

IR Signal

2

3

5

IR

Receiver

IR Sensor

Window

or

4

4 4

4

IR Blaster (Emitter)

Cable

1

2

From Satellite LNB (Dish Antenna) or Digital TV Cable

S-Video

Composite

Audio

Audio Left/Right

Left/Right

(Stick this onto the set-top box

FM Antenna

S-Video Cable (4-pin DIN)

RF Signal Source

Wall Socket or Coaxial Cable

Coaxial Cable

6

Set-Top Box

(Back)

A/V

A/V Out

Out

from IR Blaster Cable

RF

Emitter LED

sensor window)

(Back)

Set-Top Box

(Front)

IR Sensor

Window

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DIN)

MCE IR

Remote

Control

3

4

5

6

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DIN)

Composite Video & St ere o A ud io RCA Cable

Minijack to Dual RCA Cable

Coaxial Cable

Figure 9. Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input, with

Remote

40 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Installing an MCE Remote Control and Receiver

Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes via Direct A/V Inputs

RF Signal Sources

Wall Sockets or Coaxial Cables

6

Set-Top Box 1

RF

Set-Top Box 1

(Front)

IR Sensor

Windows

Emitter LED

from IR Blaster Cable

FM Antenna

FM

CATV

SVID1

AUD1

SVID2

AUD2

NVIDIA

NVIDIA DualTV

DualTV

PC

USB-A Female

USB-A Female (Chassis Mount)

(Chassis Mount)

USB Cable

1

IR Signal

FM Antenna

or

3

5

or

3

5

2

IR

Receiver

From Satellite LNB (Dish Antenna) or Digital TV Cable

S-Video

or

4

or

4

4 4

4

S-Video

Composite

Audio

Audio Left/Right

Left/Right

S-Video

Composite

Audio

Audio Left/Right

Left/Right

IR Blaster (Emitter)

Cables

(Stick this onto the set-top box sensor window)

1

A/V

A/V Out

Out

(Back)

A/V

A/V Out

Out

6

RF

Set-Top Box 2

(Back)

(Front)

MCE IR

MCE IR Remote

Remote

Control

IR Sensor

Window

2

3

4

5

6

S-Video Cable (4-pin DIN)

Composite Video Adapter (RCA to 4-pin DI N)

Composite Video & Stereo Audio RCA Cable

Minijack to Dual RCA Cable

Coaxial Cable

Figure 10. Connecting Two Set-Top Boxes with Direct A/V Inputs, with

Remote

DU-01848-001_v06 41 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

This page intentionally left blank.

42 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in

Windows XP Media Center Edition

If you have any problems with MCE, please consult the documentation associated with MCE. For more information on configuring or using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, please visit

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx.

Configuring MCE to Work with NVIDIA DualTV

With the hardware and software installed, you need to configure MCE and the NVIDIA DualTV to receive the TV signals in your area.

The sections below describe the separate procedures for configuring MCE for use with:

 Off-air antenna or TV cable (analog cable TV service)–see page 44 for automatic

configuration, and page 50 for manual configuration.

 One or two set-top boxes (cable or satellite receivers)–see page 56.

Note: If you intend to use your set-top box with MCE, you need to have an MCE-compatible

remote control and receiver kit with IR blaster(s). The blaster(s) control the set-top box to change channels. You need to plug in the remote receiver to your MCE PC before you configure NVIDIA DualTV in MCE. See and

Connecting Two-Set-Top Boxes via Direct A/V Inputs

Connecting One Set-Top Box via Direct A/V Input

.

DU-01848-001_v06 43 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Configuring MCE Automatically for Antenna or Analog Cable TV

To get started, power up your PC. Upon initial power-on, the MCE application may launch automatically. If it does, begin with Step 2. If it does not launch, begin with Step 1.

1. Go to

Start and select Media Center to launch the application. If the MCE

setup wizard comes up, go straight to Step 4.

2. Select

Settings.

3. Select TV.

44 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

4. Select

Set-up TV Signal and then click Next.

5. Confirm your region to configure for local television service.

DU-01848-001_v06 45 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

6. At this point, you can automatically configure your TV signals or manually

configure them. It is recommended to automatically configure the signals. Make a selection and click

Note: Go to the MCE Web site for information on whether automatic configuration is

available for your country.

Click

Next.

46 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

7. Click Yes to continue. MCE has determined your system configuration and asks

if you want to continue to configure the TV signal using the results it found.

8. You are done with the TV signal portion of the setup. Select Set Up Guide

Listing

to set up the TV station guide and then click Next.

9. Select

I Agree

.

Yes to view the guide privacy statement and accept the agreement. Select

and click Next.

DU-01848-001_v06 47 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

10. Enter your postal or ZIP code so the proper guide information for your area

can be downloaded, and click

Next.

11. Click

Next again after seeing “Download Complete.”

12. Select your provider from the list displayed.

MCE will then download the program guide.

48 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

13.

You Are Done! Select Finish to complete the configuration.

DU-01848-001_v06 49 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Configuring MCE Manually for Antenna or Analog Cable TV

MCE allows you to manually configure all settings associated with your NVIDIA DualTV tuners. To manually configure MCE, perform the following procedure. Otherwise, you can configure the tuners automatically (see page 44).

To get started, power up the PC. Upon initial power-on, the MCE application may launch automatically. If it does, begin with Step 2. If it does not launch, begin with Step 1.

1. Go to

Start and select Media Center to launch

the application. Cancel the MCE setup wizard if it comes up.

2. Select

3. Select

Settings.

TV.

4. Select Set Up TV Signal.

5. Click

Next to begin setting up your signal.

50 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

6. Confirm the region that you will be receiving the TV signal. MCE determines

the region and asks for your confirmation.

7. Select I will manually configure my TV signal and click Next.

.

8. Select your TV signal type and click

Next.

DU-01848-001_v06 51 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

9. Specify if you have a set-top box that you will be connecting to your MCE

computer. Click

10. Select the tuner(s) to be configured.

With the NVIDIA DualTV tuner card, you have two tuners. You want to configure both tuners. Make sure both tuners are checked.

Next.

Click

52 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

11. Select Set Up Guide Listing to manually set up your online TV Guide and

Next.

click

Click

Next again to continue.

12. Select

Yes to continue to use the guide and click Next to continue.

13. Read and accept the terms by selecting

DU-01848-001_v06 53 03/28/06

I Agree and click Next to continue.

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

14. Enter your postal/ZIP code and click

information.

Next to download provider

Next to continue.

Click

15. Select a provider that best fits your location.

54 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

16. Click Next to download your TV Program Guide information.

Next to continue.

Click

Next to continue.

Congratulations, you have successfully downloaded the online TV programming guide. Click

Finish to complete the process.

This completes the tuner configuration in MCE.

DU-01848-001_v06 55 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Configuring MCE for Use with Set-Top Box

To get started, power up the PC. Upon initial power-on, the MCE application may launch automatically. If it does, begin with Step 2. If it does not launch, begin with Step 1.

1. Go to

Start and select Media Center to launch the

application. Cancel the MCE setup wizard if it comes up.

2. Select Settings.

3. On the Settings page, select TV and then select Set Up TV Signal.

4. TV Signal Setup screen pops up. Select Yes to continue.

56 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

5. Click Next to continue TV signal setup.

6. Select country where you reside and click Next.

7. Media Center tries to detect the TV captured by NVIDIA DualTV. Select

Configure my TV signal automatically and click Next.

DU-01848-001_v06 57 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

8. Media Center then tries to determine the type of signal received through

NVIDIA DualTV by doing an input scan.

9. Media Center then reports the type of signal detected. The number of

connections should be two if you have two set-top boxes connected to the NVIDIA DualTV. Click Yes to continue if the detected result is correct.

58 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

10. Select the type of provider: Cable or Satellite. Then click Next to continue.

11. Media Center will then set up the MCE remote control and receiver to work

with Set-Top Box A. Please make sure all the items shown on the screen have been checked.

12. Select the appropriate TV signal. Video from the set-top box is displayed in the

preview window if the right signal is chosen.

DU-01848-001_v06 59 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

13. If you have previously configured your system, you are prompted for either

modifying channel change settings or reconfiguring all set-top box settings. Select Reconfigure all set-top box settings.

14. To identify the first set-top box (Cable Box A as referenced in the wizard, as

shown below), use the controls on the set-top box itself to change the channel, and check whether the video changes to another program in the MCE preview window. Try the other set-top box if the channel does not change in the Media Center window.

60 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

15. If your set-top box comes with an IR remote control, select Yes, and Media

Center can identify the correct settings (semi-) automatically. (If you do not have a remote control for your set-top box, select No and a list of set-top box manufacturers will be displayed. Select each code set until you find the correct one). If automatic identification fails (in the next few steps), select Back and use manual identification. Do not select

Cancel

.

16. Check that your set-top box remote is set to control your set-top box before

selecting Next.

DU-01848-001_v06 61 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

17. When prompted, press and hold the “0” button (or whatever is displayed) on

the set-top box remote (not the Media Center remote control). Then Media Center prompts you to press and hold the “Enter” button. If you’re too close to the IR receiver, you may have a problem with the signal being recognized

.

18. Put down the set-top box remote and pick up the Media Center remote control.

Then select the number of digits corresponding to the highest channel you received.

62 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

19. Respond whether your set-top box remote needs to press the “Enter” or “OK”

key to change channels.

20. Use the Media Center remote control to enter a channel number that you know

you can receive. If the channel does not change, select Try next IR control cable button.

DU-01848-001_v06 63 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

21. Help Media Center determine the optimal IR signal speed by pressing the

“Channel Up” or “Channel Down” keys on the Media Center remote six times or more. Media Center attempts Fast, Medium, and then Slow speed as you step through this process. When channel change is successful and robust, click The channel changed correctly.

22. Media Center confirms the IR signal speed.

64 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

23. Next, the wizard assists you in configuring the second TV tuner. To identify the

second set-top box (Cable Box B in the wizard), use the controls on the second set-top box itself (not the remote) to change the channel up or down. Since the remote that is provided with most set-top boxes would change the channel on both at the same time, you should not use the set-top remote for this step.

24. The wizard guides you through to configure the second set-top box, repeating

the previous steps 15-22 above.

25. The final step is to download the Program Guide. Select Yes to use the guide

and accept the Guide Terms of Service. Enter your ZIP code, and TV signal providers in your area will be shown. Select your provider. Media Center then downloads the guide for 14 days. You will be notified when it is completed.

DU-01848-001_v06 65 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

66 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

DU-01848-001_v06 67 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Setting Up the Radio

Note: The TV must be set up prior to setting up the radio.

Be sure you have the FM antenna cable connected to the FM connector on your NVIDIA DualTV tuner card.

1. Go to

Start and select Media Center to launch

the application.

FM Antenna Cable (included in the kit).

Note: Actual cable may vary from picture shown.

2. Select

3. Select

Settings.

Radio.

4. Configure your favorite station to load the FM radio presets.

68 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Configuring NVIDIA DualTV in Windows XP MCE

If you do not see the Radio menu item in the MCE main menu, do the following after you have closed the MCE application/menu:

1. From the

then

2. Click

3. Select

Center Radio.

START menu on the Windows desktop, select ALL Programs, and

Set Program Access and Defaults.

Custom, and then the down arrow button.

Choose a Default Media Player, and click the checkbox for Media

4. Click the checkbox for

Enable Access to This Program for Media Center

Radio.

Note: During this procedure, if the checkbox for Enable Access to This Program for

Media Center Radio is already checked (i.e. this option is already enabled), de-

select this checkbox, close the control panel, then go through the above steps for Set Program Access and Defaults again.

DU-01848-001_v06 69 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

This page intentionally left blank.

70 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Overview

Optimizing the Audio and

Video Experience

This chapter contains information on common video problems with instructions on how to correct and repair these problems. In addition, there are settings that help you optimize the audio and video experience, taking full advantage of both MCE and NVIDIA tools.

After the discussion on dealing with different signal strength, you will find several sections that cover adjustments for video. NVIDIA recommends that you make the adjustments in the following order (see table below for summary):

1. Adjust the display device settings in MCE for your lighting condition and

display type.

¾ See Adjusting LCD Panels on 75 and Adjusting Your Monitor or TV on 75. ¾ From MCE main menu, go to Settings¾Configure your TV and Monitor. ¾ This tool guides you on centering the picture and adjusting aspect ratio,

brightness, contrast, and color balance via the control (knob or buttons) on the monitor device itself. This is a calibrating and video are used; thus it does not depend on user preferences.

¾ Usually this adjustment needs to be done only once, unless the environmental

condition (e.g. lighting) or the display device is changed.

¾ The adjustments affect the whole display screen, not just the video window.

2. Adjust the display settings via NVIDIA MCE display extensions (if

needed and if available).

¾ See Adjusting Display Settings section on 86. ¾ If an NVIDIA GPU board is installed in the MCE PC, and an appropriate

NVIDIA MCE display driver is used, an “Advanced Display Settings” tool is available.

¾ From MCE main menu, go to More Programs¾NVIDIA Settings¾

Advanced Display Settings.

¾ This tool provides a convenient way to quickly adjust gamma (correct pictures

that are bleached out, too bright, or too dark), digital vibrance (intensity control that compensates for the lighting conditions to achieve accurate, bright image), and picture positioning, based on your own preference.

¾ The best gamma control setting is content-dependent in general. Digital

vibrance control is often an optimization for the lighting condition.

¾ The adjustments affect the whole display screen, not just the video window.

process where reference pictures

DU-01848-001_v06 71 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

3. Adjust the NVIDIA DualTV television picture settings (on the input

source as they are captured).

¾ See Adjusting TV Capture Settings section on 88. ¾ From MCE main menu, go to More Programs¾NVIDIA DualTV. ¾ This tool provides picture mode presets and adjustments for color separation,

noise reduction, and VCR input timing tolerance. The picture mode presets (Professional, Cinema, Home Theater, Normal, or Vivid) are specific combinations of brightness, contrast, color saturation, and sharpness levels.

¾ Picture mode preset selections are usually made based on the exact program

content (e.g. drama vs. newscast); you can select the preset based on your own preference. Noise reduction settings may depend on quality of the signal feed or the individual channel.

¾ The adjustments affect the video window only, except for full-screen media

viewing.

4. Adjust PureVideo Decoder A/V playback settings based on the media

content.

¾ See Adjusting A/V Playback Settings section on 92. ¾ Available only if the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder is installed (for example,

by selecting this decoder at the component selection screen of the NVIDIA DualTV installation program).

¾ From MCE main menu, go to More Programs¾NVIDIA Settings¾Audio

Video Playback Settings¾De-interlacing Control, or More Programs¾ NVIDIA Settings¾Audio Video Playback Settings¾Brightness and Contrast Control.

¾ De-interlacing Control includes the following choices: auto, film, video, and

smart (with inverse 3:2 pull-down adjustment).

¾ Brightness and Contrast Control includes adjustments on hue (tint),

brightness, contrast, and color saturation. You change the setting based on your own preference.

¾ This facility allows optimization for particular media content (e.g. a specific

DVD, MPEG, or WMV movies downloaded from the Internet, or live TV programs, or programs recorded with NVIDIA DualTV).

¾ The adjustments affect the video window only, except for full-screen media

viewing.

72 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Table 1 summarizes the tools just described.

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

Tool Adjustment Descriptions

Tool Availability

Display Device Settings in MCE

Display Settings via NVIDIA MCE Display Extensions

NVIDIA DualTV TV/Video Capture Settings

NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder Playback Settings

Built-in with MCE

NVIDIA GPU with appropriate MCE driver

Comes with NVIDIA DualTV Installation CD

Comes with NVIDIA DualTV Installation CD or PureVideo Decoder

Aspects

Adjusted

Aspect ratio, brightness, contrast, and color balance

Gamma (corrects overly bright or dark pictures), digital vibrance (intensity control), picture positioning

One-click profiles (brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness), 3D color separation, noise reduction, VCR timing

Deinterlacing control, brightness and contrast

Display

Area

Affected

Whole display screen

Video window only (also with fullscreen viewing)

When to

Adjust

Initial setup, or when lighting or display device changes

Initial setup, or when lighting or display device changes, or per content

Per content

Adjustment

Process

Nature Criteria

Using knob or buttons on display device

Using onscreen buttons

Calibrating with reference picture

Based on your preference (preview window shows effect)

References Access in MCE

Section

Name

“

Adjusting

Your Monitor or

TV

”

“Adjusting

Display Settings”

“Adjusting TV Capture Settings”

“Adjusting A/V Playback Settings”

Table 1. Tools for Optimizing Your Audio and Video Experience

Section

Page

page 75

page 86

page 88

page 92

MCE Menu

Item

Settings -> Configure your TV and Monitor

More Programs -> NVIDIA Settings -> Advanced Display Settings

More Programs -> NVIDIA DualTV

More Programs -> NVIDIA Settings -> Audio Video Playback Settings

DU-01848-001_v06 73 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Antenna/Cable TV Signal Strength

Low Signal Level

In general, NVIDIA does not recommend connecting an additional amplifier or active amplifier/splitter with high gain to the TV cable input.

However, if low signal levels are evident on all channels, check cable/antenna connections and remove any unnecessary splitter devices. If the problem persists, add a powered external amplifier with 5–10 dB of gain (consult a local electronics store).

Note the grainy picture and appearance of colored dots where there should be none.

Figure 11. Low Signal Level

High Signal Level

If high signal levels are evident on some or all channels, remove any amplifier devices or reduce their gain. The addition of an amplifier or active amplifier/splitter with high gain to the TV cable input causes excessive noise on the signal resulting in distortion in the TV picture. If the problem persists, add a series RF attenuator (consult your local electronics store).

Note the diagonal lines and horizontal color distortion.

Figure 12. High Signal Level

74 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Adjusting LCD Panels

LCD panels pose special setup challenges for TV viewing. The range of settings for brightness is not as varied compared with a CRT monitor or TV, and the color temperature is usually lower. This can result in imperfect settings even after running the Media Center calibration.

Each LCD panel is different. What works for one panel may not work for another. Factory defaults are a reasonably reliable way of achieving adequate results, but the best method is trial-and-error by the user for the best individual results.

Go through the process given under Adjusting Your Monitor or TV (next section). Make all the necessary adjustments until you are satisfied with the results.

Adjusting Your Monitor or TV

TV or monitor settings play a large part in the overall viewing experience. To achieve the best picture possible, you should run the complete Media Center monitor setup utility. Use the following procedure to set up your monitor or TV.

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

1. Go to

2. Select

Start and select Media Center to launch the application.

Settings.

3. Select

TV.

4. Select

Configure Your TV or Monitor.

The following screen displays explain how the wizard works.

DU-01848-001_v06 75 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Next to continue.

Click

5.

Select your display type and click Next to continue.

6. Select the type of connection on your monitor or TV and click

Next.

76 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

7. Select Adjust Display Controls and click Next. Click Next again to make adjustments.

8. Select the adjustments you wish to make and follow the instructions given.

See the following sections to make adjustments to you monitor.

 Centering the Picture on Your Screen  Adjusting the Aspect Ratio  Adjusting the Brightness (Black & Shadow)  Adjusting the Contrast (White)  Adjusting the Color Balance

DU-01848-001_v06 77 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Centering the Picture on Your Screen

Onscreen Centering and Sizing

On a computer monitor, these controls are normally along the bottom of the screen. Consult the user documents for your monitor or TV to locate the controls.

Click Next to continue.

Click Watch Video.

The objective is to center the larger picture on your screen so that you see all the edges as shown in the smaller inset picture. Use your monitor or TV adjustment controls to center the picture.

When you are satisfied, click on the MCE Back button to return to the previous menu. Click Next on that menu to go back to the Display Calibration menu.

78 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Adjusting the Aspect Ratio

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

Aspect Ratio

Select Aspect Ratio (Shape).

If you need to change your screen resolution, click

Change Screen Resolution to display the

Display Properties window. Adjust the resolution per your computer documentation.

Locate the adjustment controls for your TV or monitor and click Next to continue.

To adjust the Aspect Ratio, click Watch Video and adjust the controls as necessary.

Make sure the cube of chalk is square and the billiard balls look round.

When you are satisfied, click on the MCE Back button to return to the previous menu. Click Next on that menu to go back to the Display Calibration menu.

DU-01848-001_v06 79 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Adjusting the Brightness: Picture Too Dark

If your picture is too dark, you need to adjust the Brightness (Black & Shadow). Brightness controls the dark and shadowed areas of the screen. Incorrect settings may cause a black screen to look gray or lose detail in shadowy areas of the screen.

To adjust the brightness, go to

Settings¾ TV¾ Configure Your TV or Monitor.

Select your monitor type and connection (see Adjusting Your Monitor or TV on page

75). From the Display Calibration menu, select

Brightness (Black & Shadow).

From the Display Calibration window, select Brightness (Black & Shadow).

Click Next to continue.

Locate the brightness controls for your monitor or TV. Click Next to continue.

To adjust the Brightness, click Watch Video and adjust the controls as necessary.

80 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

Too dark: Suit, shirt, and background blend

Correct: Blacks can be distinguished

Make sure you can distinguish the black shirt from the black background.

When you are satisfied, click on the MCE Back button to return to the previous menu. Click Next on that menu to go back to the Display Calibration menu.

Note that, if you are reading this document on a display, you have to set your display properly to see the subtle separation of the black shirt and black background from the illustrations on the left.

Depending on your printer and printer settings, you may or may not be able to see the separation from a printout of this document.

DU-01848-001_v06 81 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Adjusting the Contrast: Picture Too Light

If your picture is too light, you need to adjust the Contrast (White). Contrast controls the intensity of the white signal of your display. If the contrast is set incorrectly, it can cause the picture to appear faded and lose detail in brighter areas of the screen.

To adjust the contrast, go to

Settings¾ TV¾ Configure Your TV or Monitor. Select

your monitor type and connection (see Adjusting Your Monitor or TV on page 75). From the Display Calibration menu, select

Contrast (White).

From the Display Calibration window, select Contrast (White). Click Next to continue.

Locate the contrast controls for your monitor or TV. Click Next to continue.

To adjust the contrast, click Watch Video and adjust the controls as necessary.

When you are satisfied, click on the MCE Back button to return to the previous menu. Click Next on that menu to go back to the Display Calibration menu.

82 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

Contrast too high. Buttons and wrinkles are not sharp

Correct contrast. Buttons and wrinkles are visible

Adjust the contrast as high as possible without losing the wrinkles and buttons on the shirt.

When you are satisfied, click on the MCE Back button to return to the previous menu. Click Next on that menu to go back to the Display Calibration menu.

Note that, if you are reading this document on a display, you have to set your display properly to see the subtle separation of the black shirt and black background from the illustrations on the left.

Depending on your printer and printer settings, you may or may not be able to see the separation from a printout of this document.

DU-01848-001_v06 83 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Adjusting the Color Balance

Incorrect adjustment of color temperature can cause unwanted color information to appear in black and white pictures or leave the picture with a skewed tint.

To adjust the color balance, go to

Settings¾ TV¾ Configure Your TV or Monitor.

Select your monitor type and connection (see Adjusting Your Monitor or TV on page

75). From the Display Calibration menu, select

RGB Color Balance.

From the Display Calibration window, select

Balance

continue.

. Click Next to

RGB Color

Locate the color controls for your monitor or TV. If there is a color temperature control setting, set it to 6500 k. Select Back and go to the next adjustment.

Click Next to continue.

To adjust the RGB Color Balance, click Watch Video and adjust the controls as necessary.

84 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Color temperature too low

Correct color balance

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

The billiard scene is shown and pans in on the gray panels in the background.

Adjust the color so that the gray panels have no tinge of red, green, or blue.

It may be necessary to fine-tune brightness and contrast after adjusting the color balance.

When you are satisfied, click on the MCE Back button to return to the previous menu. Click Next on that menu to go back to the Display Calibration menu.

DU-01848-001_v06 85 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Adjusting Display Settings

This section describes the “NVIDIA Display Extensions” and is applicable only if you are using an NVIDIA GPU board with an NVIDIA ForceWare display driver. The whole display is affected by the adjustments, not just the video window.

1. From the

Media Center main menu, select More Programs.

2. Select “NVIDIA Settings.”

3.

Select “Advanced Display Settings.”

86 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Gamma

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

4. Make the adjustments (see below) according to your preferences. You can see

the effect of the change instantly; the adjustment affects the whole display screen.

simulated

Gamma is the nonlinear relationship between pixel value and display intensity, thus the brightness.

Gamma Correction can improve the pictures that are bleached out, too bright, or too dark.

Vary the amount of gamma correction to change both the brightness and the ratios of red to green to blue.

DU-01848-001_v06 87 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Position

This control allows you to adjust the position of the picture on the glass screen of your display device.

Digital Vibrance

Digital Vibrance Control allows you to digitally control the intensity and color separation of the picture through a simple control panel, in order to optimize the viewing experience based on the lighting condition.

With proper adjustment you will see richer color, and brighter, cleaner, more ergonomically pleasing pictures.

Adjusting TV Capture Settings

This section describes the settings with which TV broadcast or direct video input are captured by the NVIDIA DualTV for viewing or recording. The adjustments affect only the video content captured.

1. From the

88 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Media Center main menu, select More Programs.

2. Select “NVIDIA DualTV.”

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

3. Make the adjustments according to your preference (see the following

sections). Live TV must be playing before you can adjust these settings. You can see the effect of the change almost instantly (please wait as the picture is adjusted) in the preview window. The adjustment affects only the video window but not the whole screen.

DU-01848-001_v06 89 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Picture Mode

Each preset in this tool translates to a certain brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness level.

In general, the brightness is increased for each preset in this sequence: Profession-

al, Cinema, Home Theater*, Normal, Vivid. The default setting is Normal.

* Imaging Science

Foundation (ISF) certified

Color Separation

Turn 3D comb filtering (3DYC) On or Off.

3D comb filtering reduces color artifacts (e.g. “rainbow swirls”) during video capture, and provides better color definition.

NVIDIA recommends that you leave this setting On (the default).

90 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Noise Reduction

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

Adjust the level of 3D noise reduction among Off, Low, Medium, and High.

3D noise reduction reduces “shimmering” transmission noise often present, especially in terrestrial (offair) broadcast.

In general, a High setting may reduce the clarity (crispness) of the picture, resulting in a less noisy but slightly blurred picture.

A Medium setting should work for most situations.

VCR Input Timing

This tool toggles timing tolerance for VCR input signals ON or OFF.

ON prevents picture- tearing artifacts when video footage from a low-end VCR is captured by the tuner board via an RF feed. This “fast locking” setting helps to correct timing problems with VCR head switching and lowcost RF modulators.

Leave the setting OFF (the default) if you are not capturing video from a lowend VCR.

DU-01848-001_v06 91 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Adjusting A/V Playback Settings

This section describes adjustments controlling media playback and live TV viewing. This set of tools is unavailable if you use a third-party decoder instead of the included Pure Video Decoder. The adjustments affect only the video content being played in the video window, unless the playback is in full-screen mode.

1. From the

2. Select “NVIDIA Settings.”

Media Center main menu, select More Programs.

92 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Optimizing the Audio and Video Experience

3. Select “Audio Video Playback Settings.”

4. Select the tool to make adjustments based on your preference.

DU-01848-001_v06 93 03/28/06

NVIDIA DualTV MCE User’s Guide

Color and Brightness Control

This tool allows you to adjust picture hue (tint), brightness, contrast, and color saturation independently, according to your preference for the display content.

De-Interlacing Control

The following modes are available for the De-

interlace control:

Automatic (Default) -

NVIDIA DVD Decoder reads the source type and automatically selects video or film mode, depending on the source.

Smart - This option lets the decoder pick the best deinterlacing method to use and is the only technique to do inverse telecine (3:2 pulldown) and bad edit detection. The performance of Smart De-interlacing varies with the content being viewed; if the result of this mode is undesirable, try “Automatic” instead.

Film - Forces film mode and does not apply deinterlacing.

Video - Forces video mode and applies de-interlacing. Choose this option if you see combing or feathering artifacts in the video.

94 DU-01848-001_v06 03/28/06

Nvidia DualTV MCE User's Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual