Artec T14A Mini USB 2.0 Digital TV Tuner Retail ***Free Shipping***

[Homerboy]

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp//ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=324900

 

[Replay]

Neat find, very tempting. Wonder how good it is? Need a strong pc to view HDTV with this.

"Special System Requirements for HDTV function P4 3.0 GHZ CPU or above
512M RAM or above VGA card with at least 128MB memory"

EDIT: Couple of reviews at this reseller: http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_review...sCsid=4e3895ded56de7fc1c734f13a2152b13

Guy with a 2Ghz laptop had stuttering issues with HD, but 3G celeron was ok (remember 3 Ghz HD requirement).

 

[dude8604]

I'm not sure if it has an input for cable TV. Anyone know?

edit: I'm still not sure, but there is a picture of it with what looks like a cable input. Sounds like maybe it only receives broadcast digital TV and nothing else (no analog). This one is only $10 more and supports analog.

Also, here's a thread at AVS Forums with more info on it.

 

[msi1337]

Picture for your viewing pleasure!
coax connection..yes sir..

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: msi1337
Picture for your viewing pleasure!
coax connection..yes sir..

I think that is to attach the attanae to
not your cable line. This is for OTA signals only I think... trying to research more... but I do have one on order anyways

 

[Homerboy]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8040702&&#post8040702

more

 

[steelio]

I dont think you can plug a cable that you get cable channels that are not HD can you?

 

[theslickvik]

hmm not sure. Thanks for the deal OP

 

[xtknight]

Jesus...how can they fit a tuner into that thing?

 

[elph]

Doesn't support QAM - most likely won't work with cable. Sweet deal if you're looking for an OTA (over the air) solution.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

damnit, gave in to it.

 

[conehead433]

The MyHD130 has 2 connections and supports QAM, so you can have OTA as well as unencrypted HD cable channels. It' also a hardware decoder so you don't need a super fast CPU. Supposedly works quite well as many over at avsforum.com say, but it costs $179 at DigitalConnection.com and you have to buy a daughter DVI card to actually have DVI out. I need something that suports QAM because I'm not sure how good my OTA reception will be where I live.

MyHD MDP-130 Thread

MyHD MDP-130 at Digital Connection

 

[Replay]

Originally posted by: conehead433
... I need something that suports QAM because I'm not sure how good my OTA reception will be where I live.

If you can tune in broadcast TV, see what you can find on your UHF channels. That's where the HDTV signals are broadcast in most markets.

We are getting new life out of our old roof antenna and rotator, pulling in HD from all over, and lots of good FM stations too.

 

[bigpow]

no qam = no hd over cable

 

[phios]

QAM is near worthless anyway since no major PVR software supports it (except for the software that comes with the device, which is clunky and worthless IMHO).

 

[Hork]

Originally posted by: phios
QAM is near worthless anyway since no major PVR software supports it (except for the software that comes with the device, which is clunky and worthless IMHO).

Is this true? It is disturbing to hear... I thought if I got a card with QAM so I can pull in the local HD stations over comcast cable without a box, I'd be able to use one of the more popular PVR software packages for PVR functions.

Does anyone know if any of the good PVR software out there supports QAM tuners?

 

[phios]

No major software will support QAM until Vista comes out (I think it's due to lack of driver support in Windows XP). Take a look on avsforums for more specific information.

 

[forcemac101]

I just got my T14A Artec today and this thing is money! (44.00 shipped from zzf)

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).

 

[videopho]

Do not bother with it, IMO. Someone to buy mine? It runs hot and pictures (especially in HD format, 1080i or 720p) start lagging after running sometime. You get what you pay for.

 

[Johnniewalker]

Need a strong pc to view HDTV with this.

That's pretty much going to be the case with any software decoder.

Example:
Apple's Quicktime in 1080p:
3.0 Ghz Intel Pentium D (dual-core) or faster processor
At least 1GB of RAM
64MB or greater video card
Windows 2000 or XP

 

[forcemac101]

Originally posted by: videopho
Do not bother with it, IMO. Someone to buy mine? It runs hot and pictures (especially in HD format, 1080i or 720p) start lagging after running sometime. You get what you pay for.

so far no audio/video sync issues for me. But i do run into some BSOD with this thing. Dunno if its the driver for it or Beyond TV trying to use the tuner. I do know if the antenna loses reception on a channel, starting Beyond TV is extremely slow. All in all, its worth 45 bucks for me. I recorded 30 minutes of the seahawks HD game today and compressed in divx HD at 4Mbs, the quality and sync are good. Although I think I will have to increase the bit rate of the compression upwards to 6 or 8 Mps to keep the razor sharp HD picture. In the default recording MPEG2 format, its 9GB an hour. Yes the little tuner does run hot, but its stable for me and no crazyness after prolonged use.

 

[mrVW]

Anybody tried with Vista RC2? I have mine on order.

 

[mikeford]

These are all get your feet wet in HD type devices. I am waiting for the serious hardware to start rolling out that will support CableCard, HDCP, all that kind of stuff.

OTOH I live in the valley of suck with no OTA HD signals at all (I live in the foothills behind a ridge so no line of sight on any stations).

Vista I am pretty sure is going to want HDCP on all the outputs, but no reason to require on all inputs. Plenty of companies though are dumping old stock now for precisely the reason that they are not going to offer Vista drivers, for real HD plan on upgrades.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Johnniewalker

Need a strong pc to view HDTV with this.

That's pretty much going to be the case with any software decoder.

Example:
Apple's Quicktime in 1080p:
3.0 Ghz Intel Pentium D (dual-core) or faster processor
At least 1GB of RAM
64MB or greater video card
Windows 2000 or XP

quicktime is a terrible product. files are sluggish even in 720p, which plays FINE in WMP.i took an HD video from "supreme commander" and it stuttered in QT. converted to WMV, and played it perfectly. my rig runs a little slow doing 1080p in WMP, but is otherwise fine

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: mrVW
Anybody tried with Vista RC2? I have mine on order.

I don't think Vista driver comes with it or available for d/l.
The driver that comes with the cd is worthless.

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need a strong pc to view HDTV with this.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I used it with my Dell Gen4 which is not the most powerful pc on earth by today's standard but enough to run all of my games and all.'
What do I expect for $54.99 (two months ago price)? Shouldn't be much, so I learned my lesson.