Help choosing a tuner card

[slsmnaz]

In the process of getting parts for the HTPC and just haven't figured out the tuner card yet. Currently have cable but the end goal is to shut that off when this is up and running (and the wife has been trained how to use it). Would like for it to be internal but am open. Mobo is an ASRock H77M in a GD05B case using Win7

Suggestions?

 

[kn51]

Probably a Ceton.

They have had their bugs but latest firmwares have cured 99% of the issues.

Edit: Sorry, I was giving a cable suggestion.

 

[slsmnaz]

thanks and that's kind of where I run into my issue. I don't want to overbuy on the card features when I'll just be using it for OTA

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

The Silicon Dust HD Homerun or the Hauppauge 2250 are probably your best choices for OTA tuners.

 

[el aye]

The Silicon Dust HD Homerun or the Hauppauge 2250 are probably your best choices for OTA tuners.

+1 for the HDHomerun, I really like being able to access this easily on other networked devices.

 

[guachi]

I have a Ceton and a Hauppage 2250.

With cable, I was able to connect the coax to the Hauppage and it functioned like basic cable at that point. All the major networks, multiple PBS channels, any independent stations, and all the various sub-channels of the above. I think we ended up with 40 channels. It was perfect for my wife in our bedroom as she could record more than enough stuff to watch while in bed. Plus with the wireless mouse we could surf Netflix or use the (no longer available) plug-in for MediaCenter and use the mouse.

In other words, you can get the Hauppage and still access some cable channels until you dump cable.

The Ceton is a great card, too.

 

[Mloot]

What guachi said about the 2250 may or may not be true, depending on your area and cable provider. I have a 2250 and had Comcast cable tv service, and some time ago Comcast scrambled all of the digital channels that I had, previously, been able to watch with just the coax from the wall plugged into the Hauppauge. Now, if I want to watch any cable channels, even the local ones, I have to have either some kind of set top box from Comcast, or a cable card.

I believe the FCC has given cable companies the authority to scramble the digital feeds of all local channels (which they previously could not), and if your cable has not yet done so, it is probably only a matter of time.

 

[slsmnaz]

thanks, ended up grabbing the 2250. I have fios but no idea whether I need the box but it's worth a try.