Phildec Decoder Installation

[moosberger]

I have two A31p Model 2653-R5U with ATI Mobility Radeon 7800 and R4G with a Radeon 7500, both with S-Video In and Out connectors.
I can't find an installation procedure for the Phillips Phildec Decoder to enable Video recording from an S-Video Source.

I have following files which seem to be for this Device:
phildec.inf, phildec.dat, phildec.dll, phildec_.dll, phildecN.inf

I tried install hardware from the control panel, but this does not work.
Anybody knows how to install or has a setup software.

[mediasponge]

Some info on S-video input and video capture on A31p in this thread. I haven't tried it on mine. Where did the Phildec software come from? I find no info on this package.

[moosberger]

Mediasponge, thanks for the link to the thread. I agree with most comments, the A31p is unparalleled the most versatile Laptop available. Unfortunately Lenovo's new Laptops have a drive bay only on one side. The TpA2x and 3x can have 3 bays with the docking station which can be used for hard disks, CD/DVD Roms or additional battery.

I bought my Model 2653-R5U from e-Bay with the Phildec software installed, the Video In works perfectly. Virtual Dub and Windows Movie Maker recognize the S-Video In and recording works fine. Unfortunately my Magix Edit Pro Plus 15 & 17 recognize the port, but fail to connect to it.

I just don't know how to install the Philips Decoder on my Model RG4, but it used to work under Windows 2000. Hope somebody knows how to install it.

[ajkula66]

Just one small thing...R4G would be the European version of R4U, with the same Fire GL 7800 (based on Radeon 7500) GPU...so apart from COA, and lack of wireless/bluetooth, it's essentially the same machine as R5U.

I always wanted - from the early days of my playing with A31p units many years ago - to acquire some expertise on the whole S-video thing, but never found the time...

Good luck and keep us posted.

[ElbertR]

Drivers for the A31P video-in module are installed with the standard A31P ATI7800 video drivers from the Lenovo website.

After that there is a Phildecn video device available in Windows that can be used as a standard video-in source which should be recognized by any video recording software. Don't think the A31P came with any standard video recording software.

You can use a standard S-Video cable to the Video-in port but you will need a special audio splitter that has the small single plug (fits into the blue line-in connector) on one side and two standard audio connectors on the other side (white/red).

When using Skype on my A31P with the UltraPort Camera on top of the screen, I always have to go into the Skype video settings to select the UltraPort Camera as the right webcam. The program will try to use the 'Phildecn' device by default.