The program JTV (Jaak TV), which author is Jaroslaw Kowalski, (jaak@polbox.com), is intended for review of television channels with the help of PC-TV tuners, based on BT8x8 chipset. An example of operation JTV you can see on the right screenshot. Two JTV versions are at present accessible: JTV 3.0 wip 12.5, operating only in the environments Win95/98/ME and JTV 3.0 wip 12.6, operating in the environments Win95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP.

Given description based on the text from site JTVrus, which author, Dmitry, has considerably improved both JTV versions by elimination of many errors and adaptings programs to conditions of Russia. Therefore all terms below falls, first of all, into Russian versions of JTV, but in main fairly and for international version, especially wip 12.6.

At some configurations problems in operation JTV arises, therefore some tested configurations of the PC with no problems with JTV are shown below:

1) System: m/b Iwill BD100, CPU Celeron333A (up to 416MHz), SDRAM 64 Mb PC100, video ATI 3D Rage Pro 8Mb AGP, ethernet Accton EN1207B-TX 10/100 mbit PCI, HDD Quantum FireBall CR 8Gb, sound C-Media CMI8330 ISA, CDROM Mitsumi FX32 IDE, tuner AVerMedia TVPhone 98.
Soft: Win98rus (v4.10.1998) /WinMErus (v4.90.3000), DX7arus (v4.07.00.0716), driver for TVPhone98 v4.1.8.6, driver for a videocard RLTM GDb8/ODv1, Intel INF update Version 2.20 Production Release Build 0006; Win2000rus (v5.00.2195.1), driver for TVPhone98 June.2000

2) System: m/b Chaintech CT-6AJA4, CPU Coppermine 650E (up to 850MHz), SDRAM 64 Mb PC100, video ATI 3D Rage Pro 8Mb AGP, ethernet Accton EN1207B-TX 10/100 mbit PCI, HDD Quantum FireBall CR 8Gb, CDROM Mitsumi FX32 IDE, tuner AVerMedia TVPhone 98.
Soft: Win98rus (v4.10.1998) /WinMErus (v4.90.3000), DX8eng (v4.08.00.0400), driver for TVPhone98 v4.1.8.8, driver for a videocard M6.11.99-T03, Viagart VMM patch v4.04, VIA INF update V1.02B, VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Driver v2.1.50 (2)

3) System: m/b ASUSTek TXP4, CPU Intel Pentium 233/MMX (up to 262 MHz), SDRAM 128 Mb PC100, video Diamond Stealth II S220, ethernet Genius GF100TXR 10/100 mbit PCI, HDD Fujitsu MPE3102AT 10Gb, sound Genius SM Live, CDROM ASUSTek 40x IDE, tuner AVerMedia TVPhone 98 w/VCR. Soft: Win98rus (v4.10.1998), DX7rus/DX8eng, driver for TVPhone98 w/VCR v.0.9/3.02.

Shured, that the presence of drivers for a tuner is necessary only for correct operation of video capture programs, and JTV itself does not use them, moreover, in some cases there can even be a conflict JTV with drivers of a tuner. Theoretically, the program should work with any tuner constructed on the chip BT8x8. For this purpose it is necessary to know only value of the working registers of a tuner. The JTV package is entered with files of customization for many tuners: Aver TVPhone/ TVCapture/ TVCapture 98/ TVPhone98/wVCR, PixelView SuperMultimedia /PV878P + /PD/PL +, Animation FlyVideo 98/II, Hauppauge BT848/878, Zoltrix TV Max, TTT TV Capture etc. the Russian version JTV differs from original by changes in files jtv.exe, teletext.dll, remotelayout.dll, jtvremote.exe and tvguide.dll. The changes in binary files concern only correct mapping of Russian characters and correction of the retrieved errors.

Advantages.
Instant loading and outswapping of the program even on Pentium 233!. It seems that in the program the cycle of initialization of equipment is reduced or disconnected, therefore program starts to work at once after load. At full-screen mode it can work in any screen resolution of the monitor, thus a picture, really obtained from a tuner (768x576), is interpolated. When operating in the window receives any size of the window. There is a flag of holding of 4:3 proportion at resizing the window. There is a possibility to disable an interlaced scanning at output (only in JTVrus 12.5).
The teletext is built-in and superimposed directly on the screen (see snapshot on the right). There is information, that teletext from digital channels can be decoded, as against Cebra Teletext. In the version JTVrus 12.5 teletexts only russian, in the release 12.6 there is a choice of a code page for characters of the teletext. Up to 100 channels are stored. There is possibility to set names of channels on any language. For each channel the own TV-standard is selected. Rather convenient customization of telechannels with possibility of automatic scan of working channels. When starts, installs the same mixer controls as in the last start of the program, instead of fixed with forced inclusion Surround, as, for example, in standard TVPhone98 software. However, in order to regulators were stored, it is necessary to install them in the program.

The support of the database on programs of a television is built-in. Though the database on programs are unavailable to direct editing, but it is possible to take advantage of the program guidegen.exe for generation of the bases from a text file or to download bases from the Internet, if somebody supports their compilation. The bases should be disposed in the directory TVGuide. It is supposed, that each week the user will download bases from the Internet and put them in this directory. By operation with bases of programs, on the screen can be seen current transmission title, time of its beginning and ending and short description. An example of operation with base on the right is shown. JTV does not launch screensaver, the display does not disable, does not leave in stand-by mode! It is very useful feature. For example, in TVPhone98 software if not to disable all customizations of power management before start, the computer can "fall asleep" in the most improper moment (for example, at review of film) and not wake up (if in BIOS/drivers there are errors or incompatibilities). The screen indicators (title and channel number, volume, hours etc.) - optimal sizes, location, configuration are rather successfully worked. In the version 12.6 there is a possibility to change location of indicators. For handle JTV all keys of the console and key of the keyboard are programmed! The console also can be customized for operation with other programs and for emulation of the mouse (when emulation of the mouse - the moving of the pointer is emulated only, the pressing of mouse buttons - are not emulated!). Luminance, visibility, saturation, volume are customized separately for each channel!

Disadvantages.
Unfortunately, as well as all good programs, JTV is not deprived of disadvantages and bugs. Let's trust that in further them becomes much less. That of them are below listed which were detected by the users of the Russian version JTV. For the sake of justice it is necessary to tell, that in the release JTV 12.6 parts from these disadvantages and bugs was eliminated, but at the same time were added also new:

Autoscan goes in that TV-standard, in which channel works, but after its completion all channels are in PAL BG/DK. Probably, it is coupled with that in Poland it is main TV- standard. In the version 12.6 three types of scanning were added: slow, exact scanning and very careful scanning - long. But it can displease only in the beginning of operation with the program, when the channels are customized.

Some functions in dialog boxes do not work (not realized). These disadvantages most likely are coupled that the given version is the beta - version and most likely they will be eliminated in the following version. By operation in JTV 12.5 the volume control does not inspect external changes installations of sound card, for example through Windows, and when exit does not restore initial installations (before start of the program). Also unsets balance on zero regulators (aligns audio levels on right and left channels, if they were different). Disadvantages rather critical. In JTV 12.6 external changes of regulators are inspected.

In teletext it is impossible to transfer to page by clicking the mouse on its number and back (as in Cebra Teletext). There is no function capture, freeze (stop - frame), and also sheduler. : ( Absence of a stop - frame and saving it on the disk is very essential disadvantage of JTV. As the requirement for it arises quite often. Good sheduler too would not hinder, for example to not skip interesting transmission, especially at presence of bases of teleprograms.

At attempt to leave Windows, JTV hangs. If to try to leave from Windows (through Start-up), at running JTV, JTV will write, that it is impossible in the given moment to complete JTV and safely will hang up. In JTV 12.6 this bug is eliminated.

At operating JTVRemote it is impossible to capture a video by external software! Very critical disadvantage. At attempt of capture, for example, program vidcap32, Windows will signal about the following: " It is impossible to capture because of problems with vertical synchronization. Reinstall drivers ". If not to know reasons, the message forces down with sense.

At some values 'NormalH' in section [Position] of the file jtv.ini there is 'freezing' the picture at switching on a full screen. Is remarked at values 381 and 383. Is eliminated by hand-held installation in 382. Interesting bug.

If will switch under certain conditions to a full screen, the picture will be distorted and "will stiffen". The sound thus is, and the picture does not vary. It is eliminated in JTV 12.6.

Do not realize / not work some functions of jtvremote.exe (to transmit the message to the window, emulation of keys of the mouse). Most likely it too will be realized in the following versions JTV

JTV 12.5 does not write (though writes, that the list is written) the customized list of channels in the file! Notice! Dangerous bug. If you want to create many lists, quit from JTV and copy the file channels.chl. In JTV 12.6 given bug is eliminated.

If you have taken advantage of this information, also have received result or not, or have additions and specifications which can help anothers, please, mail about it to the address <jtvhost@mailru.com> or write in guestbook of this site. Your responses will be located here. Do not forget to point your hardware configuration: Processor / Motherboard / Videocard / TV-card / OS version / TV-software.

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