[MEncoder-users] Converting video codec ffh264

[Malte Schünemann]

I store video files from a SAT receiver as ts files and convert to DVD. 
Now, I have videos coming in via a channel that I can get as HD ... 
midentify tells me something like
ID_DEMUXER=mpegts
ID_VIDEO_FORMAT=0x10000005
ID_VIDEO_BITRATE=0
ID_VIDEO_WIDTH=0
ID_VIDEO_HEIGHT=0
ID_VIDEO_FPS=50.000
ID_VIDEO_ASPECT=0.0000
ID_AUDIO_FORMAT=8192
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=0
ID_AUDIO_RATE=0
ID_AUDIO_NCH=0
ID_LENGTH=0.00
ID_VIDEO_CODEC=ffh264
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=256000
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=2
ID_AUDIO_CODEC=a52

I can get the same video via another channel coming in at only a 3rd of 
the size as
ID_DEMUXER=mpegts
ID_VIDEO_FORMAT=0x10000002
ID_VIDEO_BITRATE=15000000
ID_VIDEO_WIDTH=720
ID_VIDEO_HEIGHT=576
ID_VIDEO_FPS=25.000
ID_VIDEO_ASPECT=0.0000
ID_AUDIO_FORMAT=80
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=0
ID_AUDIO_RATE=0
ID_AUDIO_NCH=0
ID_LENGTH=2622.35
ID_VIDEO_CODEC=mpegpes
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=192000
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=2
ID_AUDIO_CODEC=mp3

To convert, I use
mencoder -ofps 25 -hr-edl-seek -oac lavc -ovc lavc -of mpeg -mpegopts 
format=dvd:tsaf -vf scale=720:576,harddup -srate 48000 -af 
volnorm=2:0.15:lavcresample=48000 -lavcopts 
vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:vbitrate=9800:keyint=15:vstrict=0:acodec=ac3:abitrate=192 
-ofps 25 -o <output file>  <input file>

For both ts files, I get roughly the same size for the converted output. 
Converting the one with video codec ffh264 (i.e. the larger one) I see 
tons of lines saying
Skipping frame!
Error while decoding frame!6.24fps Trem:  88min 3998mb  A-V:-0.010 
[4182:192]
Error while decoding frame!6.32fps Trem:  88min 3998mb  A-V:-0.009 
[4182:192]
Pos:  18.5s    861f ( 0%) 66.33fps Trem:  88min 3971mb  A-V:-0.011 
[4169:192]

I suspect that loose more quality than necessary ... can someone give me 
a hint how to retain the good quality of the ffh264 video ?

Thanks
  Malte