How do TV tuners work?

[x y u]

I got a TV tuner card from taiwan. i'ts from D-Link model : DUB T200. I hope this is the right forum for this question. Anyway, my question is why and do I have to use the software that came w/ the card? When i put in the CD and use the software that came on that CD the TV tuner works fine. Problem is, this software is old and crap. If i update the software from the software makers (Honestech TVR) the tuner box stops working.

If i try another 3rd party freeware program it won't recognize that i even have a TV tuner hooked up. It doesn't recognize a driver or anything. BTW this is a USB 2.0 tuner box not an internal card.

I did manage to somehow feed it into virtualdub but if i do that it gets no sound and that's just annoying

So, does anyone know why i can't use any other software besides this POS version 1.0 crap i have from the CD. Also can anyone enlighten me about what is a WDM driver? Do i have it? I'm sure i do...but it seems its used for many things. Thanks in advance, i'll reply if i get anywhere on this situation.

 

[xxGriff]

when you upgrade to the latest TV/Capture software you may need to update the drivers (if there are).

is your tunre supported under the latest software? there should be a README or updated txt/html file included, or available on their site. some updates could also require additional updates to your OS (and make sure your OS is supported) like ATI did with the CCC, and dotnet being needed to use (not a multimedia thing, but a good example).

if you have the latest drivers, and the latest software supports your hardware, have you tried just installing the latest version and not upgrading the earlier one?

 

[x y u]

Yeah that's exactly what i did. there was no "Upgrade" so i just installed the latest version of the program.

The real problem is, i bought this card in Taiwan and so the website would be in Chinese. I know D-link has an english webpage but however they dont have a DUB T200 tuner box as it was only released in asia and the south pacific.

haha. what a hastle. I dont know what drivers i have and i dont even know what drivers it uses. The readme's are in Chinese.

 

[xxGriff]

heh...


you can try to translate the page and search. and a deffinite pain! translated pages are like reading my 5th graders essays sometimes

If you got it installed and the drivers (whatever revision) do work, i would look at VCD Help's Tools section for a piece of software (some are free some not) that works for you. they have quite a few, and thier forums may provide some good info, at least they have for me in the past.
i have used GB-PVR and Media portal before with tuners for TV and capture.

 

[x y u]

Well, i have found a readme for the file but all it tells me is how to use the software included w/ the tuner. Doens't tell me what's supported or any of that. Just says that its an MPEG 1/2/4 etc etc....and what resolutions it can capture.

I've tried nearly all programs from http://www.tv-cards.com/apps.php

All say "There is no video capture device installed" or something to that effect.

Maybe my card uses some weird driver, i thought it was the WDM though. and i thought most 3rd parties use it. I'll check out that forum though and reply w/ any progress.