Is an external tuner an option?

[The I]

I'll be needing a tv-tuner soon, mainly for watching the little tv I do on my computer(s), and some limited recording. I'll be using DVB-T as that's the basic 'must carry' signal where I live (Denmark) and I don't want to pay for cable or satelite services.

The thing I'm at a loss with is whether to go with an internal or an external solution. I don't mind cranking open my desktop case, but with an external solution, USB2 for example, I'd be able to use it in my laptop as well - having the tv running on that one while playing a game on my main rig, for instance.

So the question basically is whether there's a good external tuner out there and whether the internal solutions are sufficiently better to justify the lack of flexibility?

 

[Peter]

If the input signal is going to be digital, then there is no quality difference - the tuner card will just extract the payload signal and transport it into the computer.

PCI cards give much better (and faster) results with analog input signals. Consider that when/if you plan to hook up a games console, transfer old video tapes to DVD or somesuch.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: The I
I'll be needing a tv-tuner soon, mainly for watching the little tv I do on my computer(s), and some limited recording. I'll be using DVB-T as that's the basic 'must carry' signal where I live (Denmark) and I don't want to pay for cable or satelite services.

The thing I'm at a loss with is whether to go with an internal or an external solution. I don't mind cranking open my desktop case, but with an external solution, USB2 for example, I'd be able to use it in my laptop as well - having the tv running on that one while playing a game on my main rig, for instance.

So the question basically is whether there's a good external tuner out there and whether the internal solutions are sufficiently better to justify the lack of flexibility?

You might investigate HD Homerun (www.silicondust.com) and see if they have a device that does dvb-t...it's not a standard here in the USA so I can't comment too much. Worth a shot, though. That would let you view HDTV on any machine attached to your network.

 

[The I]

Originally posted by: Peter
If the input signal is going to be digital, then there is no quality difference - the tuner card will just extract the payload signal and transport it into the computer.

PCI cards give much better (and faster) results with analog input signals. Consider that when/if you plan to hook up a games console, transfer old video tapes to DVD or somesuch.

Great, seems kind of logical to me that with no A/D-conversion quality concerns shouldn't be that much of a problem. I don't plan on doing analog at all since I neither have tapes or a games console so that shouldn't be a problem.

So is my only quality concern getting a proper antenna/signal? - I have almost perfect line of sight to our local tower from my apartment so I reckon that shouldn't be to much of a problem.

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: The I
I'll be needing a tv-tuner soon, mainly for watching the little tv I do on my computer(s), and some limited recording. I'll be using DVB-T as that's the basic 'must carry' signal where I live (Denmark) and I don't want to pay for cable or satelite services.

The thing I'm at a loss with is whether to go with an internal or an external solution. I don't mind cranking open my desktop case, but with an external solution, USB2 for example, I'd be able to use it in my laptop as well - having the tv running on that one while playing a game on my main rig, for instance.

So the question basically is whether there's a good external tuner out there and whether the internal solutions are sufficiently better to justify the lack of flexibility?

You might investigate HD Homerun (www.silicondust.com) and see if they have a device that does dvb-t...it's not a standard here in the USA so I can't comment too much. Worth a shot, though. That would let you view HDTV on any machine attached to your network.

I looked at the website and it seems to take only American standards. Besides, a networked solution might be a little drastic since I usually have my laptop a few foots away from the desktop and it's only a matter of switching an USB from one machine to the other.


How about software/stability/quality of build, everyone. Any name-brands any of you can recommend in tuners? - I've had my eye a bit on hauppage for their portable solutions like the HVR 900 (after all the hybrid option is nice to have if I should be in a poor-coverage area and I don't need a remote or an EPG)

 

[dclive]

You might think about the network solution, though - it's *very* convenient, and allows you to use the device with *any* networked box, without having to do anything with USB. Remember how convenient print servers were when we moved to them a few years ago, rather than localized printing? Now we can do the same with our TV tuners...

Hauppauge is a good brand; I've used their PVR-500 solution for a year or so now and no problems at all.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: dclive
You might investigate HD Homerun (www.silicondust.com) and see if they have a device that does dvb-t...it's not a standard here in the USA so I can't comment too much. Worth a shot, though. That would let you view HDTV on any machine attached to your network.

Not yet. They're working on one, but they're still in the hardware design phase, last I checked.