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TV tuner card help

C

crispy55

n00b
Joined
Jan 25, 2008
Messages
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I am looking to buy a tv tuner card for my new computer setup. I was wondering if anyone out there could give me some advice on a good tv tuner card. Here is what I am looking for, pci or pci-e1 interface, dvr capability, hd support, and most importantly good picture quality.

my system
asus m2n-sli deluxe mb
amd x2 5000 Black edition
MSI nx8800 gt oc
2gb gskill ddr2
2 segate sata 250's
 
Not really sure there are so many cards out there. Start here and see if that can get you going in the right direction.
 
why get a PCIe card when you can get a network tuner? I'd recommend the HDHR, with it's new software it makes mapping channels to media centers much easier.

Runing mine with Sage TV (purchased seperately) on my XP box. Sage is quite a bit nicer than windows media center IMO. Worth the money, hell I hardly use mine but it's alot more fun to play with, fully configurable, and can view almost any format for movies and such.

I have the network tuner device/card hooked up to a switch which is hooked to a router flashed with DD-WRT running in REPEATER BRIDDGE mode. I can watch HD TV wirelessly throughout the house on my laptop, or on my Westy 37" hooked up to my main rig in my bedroom. Actualy just got this working fully last night. It's works for any PC that connects this network bridge (hacked router) via wireless or hardwired to the switch. it can also be plugged directly into an ethernet port on the computer.

Also its a dual tuner so you can record on one station and watch another. Or someone else can watch one station on the network while you watch another. I don't think there are any other tuners out quite like it.

Best of all it does not take up any space inside your PC and can work on any comp connected to the network without having to swap cards in and out. It's really not much more expensive than other dual qam HD tuner cards, and the quality is great (I believe one of the best ones and high quality tuners inside of it).

Just be aware that if your cable company encrypts stations like mine does you may not be able to get all your channels (with any card, not just the HDHR)....Mine encrypts Comedy Central for example, but for some reason I have been getting free HBO all week through my QAM tuner (which does not come in through cable my box lol)

http://www.silicondust.com/
 
the silicon dust will blow away the hauppage, only disadvantage is no FM tuner, superior in pretty much all other ways though.

ATI had a dual qam tuner comeing out when I purchased mine, however I have no regrets and would take the HDHR any day over the ATI offering as well.

Catch is it does not come with good media center software but works with most of the decent ones, I like Sage the best so far.
 
Well I found a usb 2.0 hybrid tuner at radioshack for 30.00 and thought i would give it a try. the card was a hauppauge 950. It installed easily and I had no problems setting it up. However the thing just sucks. awful picture, low sound, and the thing gets really hot to the touch. It was an awful experience but I thought I would give it a try. The stick is now back at the store and I have crossed off usb sticks from tuners I would put in my computer. :cool:
 
The ATI TV wonder series is extremely nice - Very good picture quality, supports PCIe and plays ClearQAM (unencrypted digital cable) channels.

We've used them here in the twin cities, in florida and in vegas and have been stunned to find the occasional cable company does not encrypt their movie channels :) On the flipside, we've heard of a few cases where ClearQAM does not work at all with some cable companies.

From a pure features and picture quality standpoint, I'd put the ATI cards at the top of the heap though.

But the suggestion about using a network tv tuner was just brilliant - That way you'll receive a TV signal on all of your computers.
 
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