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USB HDTV tuners

L

liquorman

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 18, 2004
Messages
100
How are these coming along? I notice that a number of US format ones have popped up in the last few months. Dvico has the Fusion5, VBOX has the Cats Eye, and I think there are a few more.

Anybody have any of these? I have a laptop I use for an HTPC and am really thinking about adding HDTV to the mix. I already get HDTV through by cable box, but want to possibly drop the box and go over the air.

Second question: do any of these units have composite outs? meaning allow you to output directly to an HDTV instead of onto your windows desktop?
 
Hopefully you mean component out instead of composite as composite will never pass anything above 480i.

I am thinking about picking one of these up as soon as I get done fighting with compusa over getting a credit for my crapped out laptop and upgrading to a MCE one. If I do I will report back.
 
They all come with USB connections, none have component out for direct TV connection because you still need an HDD in the mix to record too. If you're looking for something like that they do make standalone ATSC HD tuner boxes for TVs.

These are the only external HD tuners that I know of:
http://www.copperbox.com/lite/onair-creator.php?PHPSESSID=170189d7fe91ad88f2661d2eb9c2fa41
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_in...sb-hdtv-tuner-atsc-qam/cName/hdtv-tuner-cards
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_in...restrial-hdtv-receiver/cName/hdtv-tuner-cards
 
My Motorola HD Cable Box, from Adelphia, has USB and LAN ports on it. I'm wondering if I can stream video through the cable box, to my PC (XP MediaCenter), via USB. Otherwise, what's the damn port for?

Thanks - Matt
 
Taking up space. Most likely they ports are there but they're disabled in firmware or not even connected to any traces on the STB's board.
 
ATI's OPAC Should be coming out around when Vista comes out later this year, and it will initially be USB only (I believe), then hopefully they will create a PCI version as well.

You might want to consider waiting for that, as HD tuners today generally are only good for OTA tv, aka the tv that people who dont watch tv use.
 
Now that it's June, are there any other solutions out there? Newegg has one by KWORLD but I'm guessing it's crap.
 
stelleg151 said:
ATI's OPAC Should be coming out around when Vista comes out later this year, and it will initially be USB only (I believe), then hopefully they will create a PCI version as well.

You might want to consider waiting for that, as HD tuners today generally are only good for OTA tv, aka the tv that people who dont watch tv use.
Click to expand...
Does anyone have more information on this ati product? What is it?
 
stelleg151 said:
ATI's OPAC Should be coming out around when Vista comes out later this year, and it will initially be USB only (I believe), then hopefully they will create a PCI version as well.
Click to expand...
Vista is not coming out until February 2007... if it is not delayed further... which at this point it shouldn't be... I hope.
 
I've heard the Cat's eye is good. I'm considering that one for myself.
 
jebo_4jc said:
I've heard the Cat's eye is good. I'm considering that one for myself.
Click to expand...
I've got one sitting here on my desk but no antenna for it yet.
 
DVICO Fushion HDTV USB!!!!
Awesome little box. I get HDTV via Comcast and QAM signalling.
I have to use there little app which records like a VCR at best, but it does it's job well.
I was thinking of getting a MyHD card which is PCI based but supposedly has better general public support for a EPG.
 
jebo_4jc said:
I've heard the Cat's eye is good. I'm considering that one for myself.
Click to expand...

That looks like the best option to me. Thanks. Are you going to get the bundle with the remote and software or are you just getting the tuner by itself?
 
the quality on the vbox is nice and you can find them for around 100$. they are releasing a new line of tuners so you may want to check them out as well. the artec usb sticks just came out which you can find at pcalchemy. the dvico hardware is pretty good but their software looks like a final project for a college level vb class (not that I could do any better)
 
aldamon said:
That looks like the best option to me. Thanks. Are you going to get the bundle with the remote and software or are you just getting the tuner by itself?
Click to expand...
auspexd said:
the quality on the vbox is nice and you can find them for around 100$. they are releasing a new line of tuners so you may want to check them out as well. the artec usb sticks just came out which you can find at pcalchemy. the dvico hardware is pretty good but their software looks like a final project for a college level vb class (not that I could do any better)
Click to expand...
I'm an MCE guy....so I won't buy their software.
 
I just got my T14A Artec today and this thing is money! (44.99 at zzf shipped with coupone PAYPAL09.....you can pay with a CC and it still works!)

The software leaves a lot to be desired, but I am using Beyond TV and this thing is great. I got about 13 digital channels here in Omaha, NE. I am currently watching the ALCS game 3 in HD on FOX and its awesome.

I am running a E1505 Core Duo 1.83ghz with a 1gb of ram and integrated graphics. I get a hitch in the picture every once and awhile, but I think that is more antenna reception more than it is my hard drive caching. So far so good.

Here what I did, I installed the latest driver off of the artectv.com homepage and didn't even bother with the software on the disk that it came with. I tried the program with the driver I downloaded and it was ok. I don't think I'll ever use it though. Then I tried WatchHD home grown tv tuner and it worked good, although I have to manually tune in the channels using antennaweb.com channel settings. (this was kinda neat, as I was able to squeze one more channel into the line up becuase of "iffy" reception). I'll probablly use this to manual test channels when I go to a different geographic area in the US. Then I remembered I am using beyond TV on my main tower with a Hauppague tuner. I read somewhere this was compatible with BTV, so I installed it to try it. Works great and I will use this as I am familiar with the settings and capabilities with BTV. Its amazing this little antenna that it came with can pull in all these channels. I have a set top box from radio shack downstairs on my home theater with a pair of rabbit ears, and it pulls in the channels this little artec device does. (although the artec is upstairs in my kitchen and probablly has less interference).

Try giving it another shot!
 
JonDoms said:
DVICO Fushion HDTV USB!!!!
Awesome little box. I get HDTV via Comcast and QAM signalling.
I have to use there little app which records like a VCR at best, but it does it's job well.
I was thinking of getting a MyHD card which is PCI based but supposedly has better general public support for a EPG.
Click to expand...

I'm new to tv tuners as I just bought a 37" Westinghouse. I have comcast (in miami) and was looking for a card that suppported QAM over cable and analog (SD). Is the fusion what I'm looking for? An all-in-one solution?

If so, what are the pros and cons of the usb vs the pci?
 
For USB Tuners, would you guys recommend the FusionHDTV 5 USB, Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950 USB2.0, or the Artec T14A Mini USB 2.0?
 
I hear mixed things about the Artec, enough for me to be hesitant about buying one.

I haven't heard much on the HVR950 though, not enough to be able to recommend it.

The Fusion is a solid, proven tuner. That would be the one I'd get as it stands now but I'd also consider the 950 simple because I haven't heard a lot about it yet. I'd like to play around with it to see how it fares, you know?
 
Given the remarkable similarities between the artec and the hvr950, I'b be willing to bet it's basically the same device or at least chip (kinda like the bt848 days.) There might be some differences in the driver, but probably not much beyond a rebadging from whichever manufacturer is making the chip inside it. If that's the case, quality will be the same so you can choose on price, which the artec wins. Circuitcity did have the hvr950 for about the same after rebate a few weeks back, and I was tempted to get one, but bought the kids/wife christmas presents instead.

Personally, I'd go with the Fusion5.
 
I don't know about that. What I'm hearing is that the Artec is a decent tuner but it doesn't pull in as many channels as the PCI Fusion 5 cards, in some cases it doesn't even pull in half of the channels that the Fusion 5 does.

The little I've heard about the 950 is that it does better then the Artec in pulling in channels but not as good as the Fusion 5 (internal).

If true then someone is cheaping out on their parts.
 
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