Anyone have a Pinnacle PCTV tuner?

chiwawa626

Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
12,013
0
0
Anyone have a Pinnacle PCTV tuner? I just got one from a friend and i installed it...is there any 3rd party software thats better then what comes with it?
 

chiwawa626

Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
12,013
0
0
Originally posted by: glen
mine refuses to work in winXP

Whats the error or problems, i had problems initialy with my win2k setup but got it running, my guess is its somewhat of a universal problem, what happens when u install the drivers?
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
1
0
I have one. The software really sucks. It takes up to a second to change channels... very bad for surfing. The software sucks too. I would have gotten a Leadtek but they weren't even out when I got my tuner.
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
works fine for me. channel surfing could be a bit faster. the euro software works on my friends computer flawlessly w/ only one update (as oposed to the 3 patch method on the US software). regardless, it works fine for me in 98/2k/xp. The only thing is if i record, lotta hiss :(

there's also a third party program call dscaler that works nicely, but you lose recording features (and it doesn't auto mute/unmute the line in for the audio source).
 

Parrotheader

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
3,434
2
0
I have one, but kept having driving problems in W2K. Their software support for consumer grade products is abyssmal. I got fed up with it and ended up getting an ATI TV Wonder instead.
 

MiamiJones

Senior member
Jul 2, 2001
222
0
0
Hey,
I got some images I need to scan. I have the PCTV PCI version but yet when I press or try to scan anything on my scanner the PCTV software runs and goes wild. It won't allow me to scan becomes its randomly keeps doing things. PLEASE let me know if you have a solution.
My scanner is a HP 3300C USB and tuner is PCI I think it has something to do with the TWAIN drivers but I selected which twain to use yet no matter what the Tuner software and tv run and its a mess.

Thx for any help.
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
1
0
I have one. I hate it because the software sucks majorly. There is a program that I found on download.com I think.. but it didn't record, and would crash often.
I hate the 1 second delay to change channels on this piece of crap.
 

MiamiJones

Senior member
Jul 2, 2001
222
0
0
Originally posted by: MiamiJones
Hey,
I got some images I need to scan. I have the PCTV PCI version but yet when I press or try to scan anything on my scanner the PCTV software runs and goes wild. It won't allow me to scan becomes its randomly keeps doing things. PLEASE let me know if you have a solution.
My scanner is a HP 3300C USB and tuner is PCI I think it has something to do with the TWAIN drivers but I selected which twain to use yet no matter what the Tuner software and tv run and its a mess.

Thx for any help.
*****************************************************

Anyone have a solution to my problem above. I can't scan because the Pinnacle TV keeps on running and is interrupting me. Please I need ideas.


 

duke

Golden Member
Nov 22, 1999
1,240
0
0
I have this card. I got it when I was running NT 4.0 and the card worked beautifully then. But ever since Win2K and now WinXP, the card has been sucking it. The drivers suck. The software really sucks. I get a windows error message EVERYTIME I exit out of PCTV Vision, but I'm actually fine with it, believe it or not, because at least it no longer locks up my machine which previous drivers used to do. Switching channels is a pain in the ass like jellomancer has mentioned. It uses more system/cpu resources. And to top it off support is non-existent. I do not recomment this card to anyone.

I would also like to know if there is a better software available for this card.
 

fxsts

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,794
0
76
I have one of the older cards (miro PCTV PCI), which came with driver version 1.X. It only works with the old driver, but the old driver only works with Windows 95/98. I have tried it with driver versions 3.X, 4.X, and 5.X and none of them works and lock up the system.

It has been one of the biggest piece of computer crap I have ever purchased.

The only good part of it is that I bought it from Value America for almost nothing (50% off & $20 or $30 rebate).
 

fxsts

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,794
0
76
duke,

If that's the case, which driver are you using so that your card is semi-working. I have never seen mine working for quite some time.

On the other hand, I just ordered Asus 880 TV card last night. I was using old ATI Rage 128 All in Wonder in my second system for TV in/video capture after I gave up on PCTV. However, I have just learned that my new motherboard only supports 1.5V AGP card which my AIW was not.

Before I decided to buy the Asus card, I tried one more time to see if the PCTV would work and I quickly realized that it was still the same POS. I in fact almost stepped on it.
 

novon

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,711
0
0
I had this card, all you need to make it work in XP is software version 4.02
 

duke

Golden Member
Nov 22, 1999
1,240
0
0
fxsts,

I feel your pain. This card is ridiculous. I wonder if the cards by Hauppage are just as bad? Anyway, I'm currently using 5.10. It is far from perfect, but at least it doesn't lock up my machine anymore. I read on Pinnacle's forum that there is/was 5.20 floating around, but I haven't tried that yet.


The card is in a dual P3 rig, if that matters any.
 

chiwawa626

Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
12,013
0
0
Originally posted by: freakflag
I use Dscaler and it works great.
Yah rite now thats the only thing that works for my pinnacle pctv pro card .... i had the original software working until i posted in this stupid thread and installed some of the programs u guys said...they screwed up my drivers or something and now even if i remove the card and clean out all the drivers it still wont work rite when i put it back in.....

Ive used this card and an ati tv card as well, and so far ive had nothing but driver/software problems...are all cards like this?