Opinions on a TV Tuner

rpenguin

Junior Member
Nov 13, 2005
22
0
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Starting college next fall, i'm already planning ahead. I was thinking about not buying a tv to take and getting a tv tuner card. I've done some searching on newegg, and there are plenty of choices. I'm not so worried about the whole, capturing tv shows and saving them, or the "pause live tv stuff." It's nice, but not necessary for me. I'm just wanting something that will let me watch cable tv, and play xbox on my monitor.

Is watching cable as easy as just plugging up the coax to the card? And how would i go about hooking a game system up to it? Excuse my ignorance, but all help is appreciated.

Thanks

ps. I would like to keep it in the $1-100 range.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
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Originally posted by: rpenguin
What do you think about the Hauppauge pvr 150?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116625

Have it, loved it untill i downgraded to xp64bit, if only it had xp64bit drivers:(

I would go for the Hauppauge over the AIW cards, for you can upgrade your video card and keep your PVR instead of having to throw it out with your AIW. Yes, it really is as simple as plugging your cable TV into it and letting it scan the channels. (at least it was with my Hauppauge). Check out Sage TV or Beyond TV, both of which work with this card and provide TIVO like functions without a monthly fee.
 

memories2002

Senior member
Apr 2, 2002
448
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Ive got a Compro Gold2 Plus that comes with this awesome auto-pc-power-on recording, which really helps turn on the pc, record stuff and then shut down, all by itself, when im at college..though im not sure its available in the USA..
www.comprousa.com
 

woland223

Member
Nov 15, 2005
28
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I'm new here, but saw your topic and thought I might tell you my experience.

I have used ATI Radeon All in Wonder. 8500 AIW, 8500DV AIW (my parents computer). And now an HDTV Wonder

I found all of them had really good TV images. They were fairly easy to use (after they were set up). I liked the recording software. I don?t know how I can ever use a computer now that doesn?t have a TV Tuner.

Bad things, ATI has the WORST drivers I have ever seen. Every time I try to upgrade the drivers I have Horrible problems, ranging from downloading 3rd party driver/registry cleaning programs, to having to install Windows XP all over again because of some nasty updates gone bad. Every time I run into an ATI driver problem I tell myself I will never buy an ATI product again, but then I do.

I really like the HDTV Wonder. A big downside to it is that I believe its Software based and not Hardware based (like the Hauppauge cards) It takes 40% - 60% (p4C 2.2Ghz) of my processor just to view an HDTV channel. I can't surf the internet while watching an HDTV without it skipping. But the picture quality is amazing!! I LOVE to watch Monday night football in HDTV!!! It is sooo nice...

I have a co-worker, who swears by Hauppauge, and they get good reviews, but if you want to watch HDTV then the HDTV All in Wonder http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2546404 ? You should really consider it. I know there are other HD tuner cards but after reading reviews of them, they all come to the conclusion that the HDTV Wonder has the best picture.

Also what monitor do you have, I have a Dell 2405 and it looks SOOOO nice in HDTV!!! it really is amazing. I would think it would look good on other monitors, but you might need a wide screen to really get good use out of an HDTV image.

My 2 cents?
If you like the idea of HDTV get the HDTV Wonder, if you don?t think you can get an HDTV signals or don?t want to bother with it, get a Hauppauge.