Anyone know of a USB TV Tuner that has dual ATSC tuners?

[RedShirt]

I'm looking to make my Acer Revo into a MythTV box. Since this is a nettop, I can't add a PCI/PCIe card to it

I've been doing some research and it looks like thanks to the power of Nvidia VDPAU, that the Revo should be up to the task as long as I use a USB tuner (apparently it takes next to no CPU power to record digital broadcasts, only to play back). I'd like to be able to record 2 shows at once or watch one show while recording another. I was about to buy a couple of Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-850 USB adaptors from newegg (going to be OTA only, don't need QAM), but wondered if there were any dual tuner sticks out there that work in the US (found several that are overseas).

Anyone know if any exist?

Thanks

 

[sdifox]

There wouldn't be any room for it to be a dual tuner on a usb stick.

 

[kalrith]

There wouldn't be any room for it to be a dual tuner on a usb stick.

How big does a dual tuner have to be? If you're alluding to it needing 2 coax ports, some dual tuners (like the HVR 2250) do it with just one coax connection.

 

[RedShirt]

How big does a dual tuner have to be? If you're alluding to it needing 2 coax ports, some dual tuners (like the HVR 2250) do it with just one coax connection.

Indeed.

I'd like it to be done with one coax port. That is the main advantage of wanting to go dual tuner on one USB device

 

[RedShirt]

There wouldn't be any room for it to be a dual tuner on a usb stick.

There are many USB sticks out there that have dual tuners. Granted, they are NTSC + ATSC.

I'm wanting ATSC + ATSC. Such a thing may not exist, but it could be done.

Take a look here:

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...t-399u-plustv-dual-dvb-t-stick--466600/review

This is a dual digital tuner USB stick, however it's not ATSC so it won't work in the US. I'm just linking it to show it can be done.

 

[alfa147x]

N00b question here:

If it's USB why not just get two one tuner sticks?

 

[sdifox]

There are many USB sticks out there that have dual tuners. Granted, they are NTSC + ATSC.

I'm wanting ATSC + ATSC. Such a thing may not exist, but it could be done.

Take a look here:

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...t-399u-plustv-dual-dvb-t-stick--466600/review

This is a dual digital tuner USB stick, however it's not ATSC so it won't work in the US. I'm just linking it to show it can be done.

Those are not really dual tuner, rather, hybrid. You can tune to atsc or ntsc, but not both at the same time.

 

[kalrith]

N00b question here:

If it's USB why not just get two one tuner sticks?

Two sticks will take up two USB ports and require you to split the antenna to two connections. They might draw more power as well.

Those are the only advantages I can think of (unless the dual-tuner stick were cheaper than two single-tuner sticks). It's mostly convenience.

 

[RedShirt]

Ya, it looks like I'll go the two sticks route. Just would be nicer to have 1 stick (no splitter, less cords, etc).

 

[alfa147x]

Two sticks will take up two USB ports and require you to split the antenna to two connections. They might draw more power as well.

Those are the only advantages I can think of (unless the dual-tuner stick were cheaper than two single-tuner sticks). It's mostly convenience.

Hmm

Well wouldn't 2 tuners in one take the same power as 2 separate tuners?

 

[RedShirt]

Hmm

Well wouldn't 2 tuners in one take the same power as 2 separate tuners?

Depends on the design If someone made a dual tuner package on one chip, the power requirements would probably be lower.

Honestly, I don't care about the power aspect of things, mostly wiring, splitters, etc. Just would be much nicer to have a dual tuner USB stick.

 

[alfa147x]

Depends on the design If someone made a dual tuner package on one chip, the power requirements would probably be lower.

Honestly, I don't care about the power aspect of things, mostly wiring, splitters, etc. Just would be much nicer to have a dual tuner USB stick.

Yeah I can understand that, I hate tons of wire

 

[RedShirt]

I just ordered 2x Hauppauge WinTV HVR-950Q USB tuners. I was going to buy 850's, but I found the 950q's for the same price. They support QAM if I ever want that down the road.

These will work fine. I'll just have a couple extra wires.

Thanks to all that provided feedback.