HD Tuner card

[Haui]

Guys. I have a computer with the following specs:

Dell Optiplex GX260
P4 2.4GHZ 512/533
1GB PC2700 RAM
500GB HD
16X Pioneer Dual Layer DVD-RW
PCI FX5200 128MB with VGA out.

19" Gateway 8ms response - brand new (not widescreen).

I want to add a PCI HDTV tuner card to it. Can it be done with these specs?

If so, what exact card do you guys recommend?

Thanks again!

 

[Indolent]

From what I've read, those specs should be fine for one hdtv tuner. I have no personal experience though. I've just been doing a lot of reading about it lately and ordered my parts Saturday for a dual tuner mythtv setup.

The two I've been looking at are the Dvico Fusion 5 and the Airstar HD5000.

http://www.cyberestore.com/free_hdtv_info.php

That page has some good info but they only list comparisons for the cards they sell. I'm going for the dvico because of the astc, ntsc, and qam support. You might want to also look into the Avermedia a180 or a Hauppauge WinTV. They're cheaper but don't support qam.

 

[Haui]

What is gam?

 

[Rubycon]

I think he means QAM - Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

 

[Haui]

what is that?

 

[Rubycon]

Text

 

[nordloewelabs]

Originally posted by: Haui
What is gam?

that's the kind of signal used by the Cable Cos to transmit Digital and Hi-Def content. the QAM signal it's always encrypted for channels for which they charge. in many markets, the Hi-Def versions of CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, CW, My9 and PBS are delivered (by cable) using unencrypted QAM. depends on the Cable Co.

so buying a Hi-Def card that supporsts QAM means that, if your Cable Co isnt encrypting the Hi-Def channels of the big networks, you will be able to watch those channels if you plug your cable to the card's input. the same logic is valid for ppl who have Hi-Def TV sets that support QAM.

if you buy a Hi-Def TV card (or TV set) that only has ATSC support, in order to receive Hi-Def channels, you will need an antenna (starting at $40) connected to the card's input coz ATSC implies "Over The Air" (OTA) Hi-Def broadcasting.

try to get more info on QAM on the web. if you live too far from the towers that are trasmitting the Hi-Def channels in your area, you will need to resort to the Hi-Def channels broadcast via QAM by your Cable Co.

 

[Indolent]

yeah, that's QAM, the lower case type makes it look kinda like gam. Basically it's what nord said. Cable companies are required to send the local network channels unencrypted, some people get other channels also. There's not a whole lot of support for it in windows right now. With the Dvico card you have to use their software, Beyond TV or any other programs don't support it. If you're within range, Over the air channels are most likely what you would use for your HD channels.

 

[crispytreat]

Originally posted by: Haui
Guys. I have a computer with the following specs:

Dell Optiplex GX260
P4 2.4GHZ 512/533
1GB PC2700 RAM
500GB HD
16X Pioneer Dual Layer DVD-RW
PCI FX5200 128MB with VGA out.

19" Gateway 8ms response - brand new (not widescreen).

I want to add a PCI HDTV tuner card to it. Can it be done with these specs?

If so, what exact card do you guys recommend?

Thanks again!

I had a similar setup with HDTV Wonder, A180, and MCE 2005. This worked rather well.

 

[mshan]

Check here first to see which hdtv channels you get and your distance from transmitters:

http://www.antennaweb.org