ATI TV Wonder 650 $99 at Best Buy

[openwheelformula1]

It is the newest.

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: neocor
I am still waiting for a PCI-E based Tuner. No more PCI slots remianing.

neo

Same here.
There are no more open pci slots inside my rig.
However if you only need regular SD free OTA TV here is one:
Power Color 550 PCI-E x1 tuner

 

[neocor]

Originally posted by: videopho

Originally posted by: neocor
I am still waiting for a PCI-E based Tuner. No more PCI slots remianing.

neo

Same here.
There are no more open pci slots inside my rig.
However if you only need regular SD free OTA TV here is one:
Power Color 550 PCI-E x1 tuner

This seems nice. However I definitly need a HD Tuner. My rig already got 2 PVR 500's and crunching (recording) 5 regular (Non-HD) channels simultaneously.

2 PCI-E 4x and 1 PCI-X 8x still available.

neo

 

[Craig234]

So, since I have a signal (cable or satellite), it's probably better for me to get a card that works with it, instead of off the air signals?

 

[Chapbass]

Originally posted by: Craig234
So, since I have a signal (cable or satellite), it's probably better for me to get a card that works with it, instead of off the air signals?

all up to you man. depends alot on where you live. i use BTV 4, plan on getting a 650 any day now. should work in BTV 4 just fine, and i know a few users on their forums that have them and it works great.


im stickin with OTA for me. im in Ames, IA, and i know i can get the des moines HDTV OTA stuff from here. ill let you know if i grab it and try it out. considering that the cable companies here might pull the plug on fox over cable, this might be the perfect ticket!

 

[Craig234]

I live in the San Francisco bay area. But things like HBO and Comedy Central need cable...

 

[Chapbass]

correct me if im wrong on this, but im pretty sure HBO is an encrypted station. if thats true, then you wont be able to get that signal on your HTPC no matter what in the current situation. cablecard support isnt on the PC yet, and its supposed to be brought in with vista....


we'll see how that goes :\. either way, even if you go with like a dvico fusion card or something that can support signals from a cable/satellite box, youll still be restricted to only the free stations. im not sure of the status on comedy central, but im pretty sure HBO is encrypted.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Craig234
I live in the San Francisco bay area. But things like HBO and Comedy Central need cable...

and the food network!

 

[pkypkypky]

Antenna? I'm so confused.

 

[dbz007]

Originally posted by: pkypkypky
Antenna? I'm so confused.

OTA HD (over the air)
HD is broadcast via antenna towers. Using a hd tuner and antenna, you can pick up free hd channels.
You get channels like abc, cbs, nbc, fox, pbs all depending on your location.

 

[Diogenes2]

Sold out ...

 

[openwheelformula1]

sold out online, but available at the stores. Save s/h dude.

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
sold out online, but available at the stores. Save s/h dude.

Thanks for pointing that out.. In stock right around the corner...

Gonna get one..

 

[CorrND]

Originally posted by: videopho

Originally posted by: neocor
I am still waiting for a PCI-E based Tuner. No more PCI slots remianing.

neo

Same here.
There are no more open pci slots inside my rig.
However if you only need regular SD free OTA TV here is one:
Power Color 550 PCI-E x1 tuner

A dual HD, PCI-e tuner from Vbox is supposed to be coming out VERY soon. This reviewer claims he'll be receiving one in the mail tomorrow:

http://www.hdtvtunerinfo.com/vboxcatseye164e.html

Also, DViCO recently announced the "Express" version of their FusionHDTV5 line.

http://fusionhdtv.co.kr/eng/Products/fusion5express.aspx

It's also expected to come out tomorrow, but it certainly aint cheap:

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Video/fusion5exp.asp

 

[imported_nocturne]

Originally posted by: Dealbuyer

Don't know if this is indeed the newer version.

But I have the previous version (which included a remote & antenna), and I can tell you you that it works GREAT !!

Only things you also need are:

• 1) A good fast video card with a lots of memory

• 2) A good fast processor with lots of power to keep up with this thing

• 3) Also, possibly a more powerful antenna if you live further from the towers.

This is a hardware-based encoder, so cpu/gfx power is only important for playing back the video (any compatible pvr program can record in the background without using ANY cpu resources). With an axp/p4 and a 9600/5400+, you should be able to play a 720x480 mpeg stream with no problems, even with some nice ffdshow post-processing (remember too that the cyberlink/purevideo/dscaler5008 mpeg decoders all support DXVA on dx9+ cards, which takes about 16% cpu power for playback on a 2 ghz cpu).

As far as the HDTV aspect of the tuner goes, I'm not sure. I know it is a hardware encoder, unlike the HDTV wonder, but I'm not sure what formats it supports (ie., just HDTVOTA which is antenna-based, or if it supports digital cable or satellite formats).

The number one component to consider is software. Most tuner's bundle software that is barely useable due either to lack of features or bugs. If you want free software, run GBPVR. If you want something slightly more polished, buy BTV (Beyond TV). If running linux, you're pretty much limited to MythTV (PITA to setup, but results are more than worth it).