How long do TV tuners last?

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Sly

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Over the last several years (since i started getting them actually) i think i've averaged around 2 TV tuners per system i built. Other components like the video card and harddrives do get replaced, but they're still good enough to be sold. The TV tuners the only component that actually breaks down on a regular basis. Either they stop getting detected, or the picture starts losing clarity.

Do these things really wear out so fast?
 
I'm running a Hauppauge HVR-1800MCE and it works flawlessly and has for the last 2.5 years or so.
 
I've had one die on me - been running a hauppauge hvr 1600 for 6 months with no probs.
 
OmegaAvenger said:
He was exaggerating, but its fairly uncommon even these days to see a computer with a tuner.
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I don't think it's ever been common to find them in computers. There was a short run where OEMs tried the force the niche into mainstream, but for the most part PC tuners have been isolated to those that specifically wanted them in their system.


I just remembered that I gave my sister my first PC tuner, a Hauppage WinTV-Go from 1999. It still works to this day in her kids' computer
 
I bought two internet connections from Time Warner. I use one for gaming and casual internet use and one for newsgroups. (Both 18mbit down /1mbit up)

I don't need no stinkin' TV tuner. :->
 
I have a STB Vision PCI 2.1 card with FM tuner that I used from 1997 to 2007 when I retired it cause I no longer had cable hooked up to it.
 
I have a PCI ATI analog tuner that came with my Dell "media center" PC back in 2006... still working, though semi-useless since analog is gone

and my trusty USB Aver Volar Max Hybrid, still working 1.8 years in


the deaths might be due to heat... i once had a USB Pinnacle HDTV Ultimate that was too hot to touch in use... sold it
 
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My first TV tuner was a Pinnacle. So far they average around 1.5-2 years each, every other component i've had lasted much longer than that.

OmegaAvenger said:
He was exaggerating, but its fairly uncommon even these days to see a computer with a tuner.
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*shrugs* It's cheaper than buying a TV you rarely use.
 
OmegaAvenger said:
I totally agree. But I find TVs more useful for consoles.
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All the same with a video in on your card. I love my tuners and would never build a pc without one, especially now that I get about 50 free hd channels over the air. That paired with hulu and free basic cable from my hoa and I have a really nice setup. Game on one monitor and watch shows I recorded on the other.
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lloose said:
All the same with a video in on your card. I love my tuners and would never build a pc without one, especially now that I get about 50 free hd channels over the air. That paired with hulu and free basic cable from my hoa and I have a really nice setup. Game on one monitor and watch shows I recorded on the other.
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Video in on tuners adds a noticeable delay, trying playing well..... anything TBH. Also where can I find an HDMI capture card that supports HDCP?

I agree though, Tuners are useful, I have one. its USB though.
 
OmegaAvenger said:
Video in on tuners adds a noticeable delay, trying playing well..... anything TBH. Also where can I find an HDMI capture card that supports HDCP?

I agree though, Tuners are useful, I have one. its USB though.
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Yeah, it's really apparent when you hear your neighbors TV while you're watching the same channel on a TV tuner, there's a noticeable lag between the two. Still, i don't play on consoles anyway, so latency isn't an issue:)


The TV tuner i'm using now is a USB one (My previews 4 or 5 tuners were PCI cards). It has a hard time getting detected now, either by my desktop or the netbook. I sort of have to leave it plugged in for a while like i was warming it up or something. Unplugging it, and then replugging before the PC can detect it. Which is making me think that this one's starting to break down as well. It's less than 2 years old.
 
I haven't had mine plugged in in months, its sitting in a box since before I moved. I usually get the TV I want online. :)
 
Well that's it. I plugged in the TV Tuner, ran the software, and Windows7 bluescreened. This thing is officially dead. Gonna go to the store later on and see what they have.
 
People who want to list TV tuners are dead technology are just completely wrong. There is huge amount of HTPC users that swear by there custom systems and vastly prefer them over streaming boxes. You can do a lot more with a user created HTPC than some stream box that has a fixed interface and limited outputs.

There is also a tv tuner card coming out soon with 2 slots for cable cards (which cost about 4 dollars a month each from the average cable provider) providing a total of 4 full HD streams which is something pretty much none of the TV content providers can match.

As to the life of them? They last just like anything else , keep them clean and use care and they'll last for years.
 
My AMD rig from 1999's TV tuner still works. Hasn't been turned on in 7 years though because of the AMD bit.
 
Godmachine said:
People who want to list TV tuners are dead technology are just completely wrong. There is huge amount of HTPC users that swear by there custom systems and vastly prefer them over streaming boxes. You can do a lot more with a user created HTPC than some stream box that has a fixed interface and limited outputs.

There is also a tv tuner card coming out soon with 2 slots for cable cards (which cost about 4 dollars a month each from the average cable provider) providing a total of 4 full HD streams which is something pretty much none of the TV content providers can match.

As to the life of them? They last just like anything else , keep them clean and use care and they'll last for years.
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If I could use an HTPC to record TV instead of my DVR from Dish Network, I'd drop the DVR lease immediately.
 
I've been using TV tuners for a while. Where I stay near University really doesn't have enough space for a TV. Owned two and neither of them have ever died on me.
 
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