Decent TV tuner card

[dmw16]

I'm leaving for school in 2 weeks and I want to be able to watch cable TV. However, I really dont watch enough TV to justify buying a TV so i figure a TV tuner card is a good option. I have a nice big monitor(19" trinitron) so i'll probably get a better picture than I would of off a cheap TV anyway. So I'm looking for a decent TV tuner. I dont need PVR or anything, i just want something that will get the job done. Any suggestions? What do they ussually cost?
thanks,
-doug

 

[John]

LeadTek

 

[ai42]

The only cards I have had experience with has been ATI cards. I don't really like ATI cards their dirvers and software are terrible, and have to use propietery software to use it. However, I heard bad things about other companies drivers/software too.

Happaguage I've heard good things however, since this is basically all they do.

 

[Vinny N]

Hauppauge's WinTV cards get the job done pretty well. And with DScaler, you get a nice pic.

Pinnacle has some nice cards (the image quality is better than Hauppauge as far as I can tell) but their drivers for their tuner cards weren't always updated at the same pace or up to the par of the Hauppauge ones. Pinnacle cards will work with DScaler as well.

BTW, did I mention you should check out DScaler? linkie

 

[Instan00dles]

Lol that is the exacpt same reason I went out and picked up the MSI Tv @nywhere and it works fine. Full screen the tv image is kinda grany and later on with drive updates msi will have mpeg-4 recording to cut down on space needed. It comes with a remote that is alittle touchy. I will have the 3 key and if I hit it too hard it will think I hit it twice so sometimes it get annoying. I dont know if you would use this featuer but you can make it your desktp so the tv plays as a desktop background type thing. All the software worked right out of the box and I am running win2k w/ sp3. I can post some screen is you want to. I got this card cause the leadtek winfast tv 200/xp was sold out. only difference is no fm tuner.

 

[wtfOO]

fior a tuner card, do u need mono or stereo sound? or does it even matter..i want to pick up a card as well for college

 

[Instan00dles]

mono or stero shouldnt matter. With my tv tuning program I can change between stero or mono.

 

[wtfOO]

the hauppage wintv go card only lists tat it could do mono. Thats why i was wondering would it be better to get a stereo card or if there is any way to make tat mono on both speakers...

 

[Instan00dles]

if you have 2 speakers than you have stero sound? unless one speaker is broken

 

[DeviousTrap]

For your purpose i would go with the Wintv i got the version that comes with the remote for 59.00 (i forget where) and it works great just like a tv. You push the tv buttun and have a full screen tv.

 

[Vernor]

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
if you have 2 speakers than you have stero sound? unless one speaker is broken

Two speakers outputting the same signal is still mono.


and I doubt your analog cable even has a stereo feed.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
if you have 2 speakers than you have stero sound? unless one speaker is broken

Mono and stereo will both come out of both speakers, the difference is that Mono is the same sound from both speakers, where stereo sound is a left and right channel.

I believe the TV tuner card has to be able to decode the stereo signal from the cable. So, if the card says it'll only do mono, I think that's all your going to get.

and I doubt your analog cable even has a stereo feed

Analog cable does have a stereo feed. It all depends on the network you're watching.

 

[Imported]

Sort of off topic.. but is there other software available that can be used for the Leadtek card other than what came with it?

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Imported
Sort of off topic.. but is there other software available that can be used for the Leadtek card other than what came with it?

DScaler

 

[MSantiago]

Gotta agree with everyone here -- I can't recommend DScaler enough. I used it with a mono Happauge card, but I really wish I'd shelled out a few extra dollars for the stereo version. My roommate uses a stereo card and I can definitely hear the difference.

 

[Vinny N]

Originally posted by: MSantiago
Gotta agree with everyone here -- I can't recommend DScaler enough. I used it with a mono Happauge card, but I really wish I'd shelled out a few extra dollars for the stereo version. My roommate uses a stereo card and I can definitely hear the difference.

Here's a thought: have an extra VCR lying around? I did, I hooked my cable tv into it(helps the signals sometimes too), and hooked the VCR up to the composite-in of my Hauppauge card. For the sound I used a 2 male composite->1 male 1/8" jack cable and hooked it directly into the line-in of my soundcard. Ta-da. Stereo sound and a remote control too

 

[LostHiWay]

AverMedia makes a good TV tuner card. Cheap price too.

 

[LouPoir]

I have the Leadtek and have owned the ATI TV Wonder. I would pick the Leadtek. Much better driver support.

 

[ed21x]

yup yup,
avermedia TV studio with remote, composite in, s-video out, stereo, and fm for a really good price. that's the one i currently use in the dorms.