Looking for a good HD TV Tuner for under $100

[ch33zw1z]

So I'm in the market for a good HD TV Tuner, I'm pretty noob when it comes to HTPC. This is for my bro-in-law, he wants to hook it up to the output from the Comcast digital receiver(doesn't have a DVR built in). PCI is preferred, but I believe he has a spare PCI-E open on his mobo. I'm not really partial to brands, I'm looking for ease, quality, stability...

 

[mshan]

Silicon Dust HD Homerun (single tuner version should be under $100)

Hauppauge or Vbox products are usually reliable, especially if you use them with Windows Media Center.

 

[Zaap]

...he wants to hook it up to the output from the Comcast digital receiver...

By this, I'm assuming you mean just clear QAM channels, not subscriber HD channels? Because to my knowledge a simple tuner card can't record an HD signal from a digital receiver.

Someone that's more knowledgeable with this all this might have more info for you, and possible options.

My own (perhaps limited) understanding is that you can only use something like the Hauppauge HD-PVR to record HD from a digital box via component (costs around twice your intended budget), or a complete cable-card setup. (Which I personally know almost nothing about).

If there are other options these days, they've come along since I first looked into all of this.

The suggested HDHomerun is a great choice so long as you understand it only records clear QAM signals from cable (not through the box) or ATSC from an antennae. It also requires a direct ethernet connection.

 

[simonizor]

If his receiver has a firewire port, you should be able to find a way to connect it that way. If it doesn't, he can request one and Comcast has to provide a box with a 1394 connection according to FCC regulations. This is probably the only way that you'll be able to watch subscriber channels on your HTPC.

 

[kalrith]

To expound upon yet simplify what's already been said, here are your options:

1. QAM tuner ~ $100. An example is the HD Homerun, but it's certainly not the only one. This will only get your clear QAM channels, which is usually just the local channels but is sometimes more. One thing you can be sure of is that you won't get all of the subscribed channels. With this option you won't use the cable box, you'll connect the cable directly to the QAM tuner. With a dual-tuner device you'd be able to record two shows at once.
2. Hauppauge HD PVR ~ $170. With this device you'll get every subscribed channel but will only be able to watch/record one show at a time. You'll connect the cable box directly to the PVR, which will then connect to your computer.
3. Cable-Card Tuner ~ $150. I'm not sure how much these run ($150 is a guess...you can search these forums for some past recommendations and pricing), but I think this is the best option. You'll connect the cable directly to the cable card and won't even need the cable box any more. Instead of the cable box, you'll rent a cable card from the cable company, so you'll definitely want to check on pricing for that (usu. $5/month just like a cable box). The cable card inserts into the cable-card tuner, and some of them can record up to 4 shows at once with one cable card, and it will be able to access every subscribed channel. The one caveat is that this will only work with Win7 MCE (unless things have changed recently).

 

[simonizor]

To expound upon yet simplify what's already been said, here are your options:

1. QAM tuner ~ $100. An example is the HD Homerun, but it's certainly not the only one. This will only get your clear QAM channels, which is usually just the local channels but is sometimes more. One thing you can be sure of is that you won't get all of the subscribed channels. With this option you won't use the cable box, you'll connect the cable directly to the QAM tuner. With a dual-tuner device you'd be able to record two shows at once.
2. Hauppauge HD PVR ~ $170. With this device you'll get every subscribed channel but will only be able to watch/record one show at a time. You'll connect the cable box directly to the PVR, which will then connect to your computer.
3. Cable-Card Tuner ~ $150. I'm not sure how much these run ($150 is a guess...you can search these forums for some past recommendations and pricing), but I think this is the best option. You'll connect the cable directly to the cable card and won't even need the cable box any more. Instead of the cable box, you'll rent a cable card from the cable company, so you'll definitely want to check on pricing for that (usu. $5/month just like a cable box). The cable card inserts into the cable-card tuner, and some of them can record up to 4 shows at once with one cable card, and it will be able to access every subscribed channel. The one caveat is that this will only work with Win7 MCE (unless things have changed recently).

Or, instead of spending upwards of $100, he could spend ~$20 on an IEEE 1394 card, and capture the cable from his receiver to his PC that way. Like I said before, the FCC requires that your cable company provides you with a box that has a IEEE 1394 connection if you request it. This thread at AVS is a little old, but it should help you figure out exactly how to do it. This option might not work depending on what operating system the OP is using, what cable box, etc, but it would definitely be the cheapest way to go.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=403695