Plextor PX-TV402U ConvertX & TV Tuner

[Ashurbanapli]

Looking for comments on the above-mentioned PVR-TVTuner-USB Capture device:

http://www.plextor.com/english/products/tv402u.htm

Seems to be a dream come true; read a few (professional, but glowing) reviews, and wondered whether anyone had first-hand experiences to share. Only down side mentioned so far is the lack of a IR remote control...

Cheers,
-Ashur

 

[Bateluer]

Don't own one, but the two Plextor DVD writers I own are top notch.

 

[mooncancook]

I bought one and return it.
Pro:
hardware mpeg 1,2,4,divX encoding
Con:
No remote
Mediocre TV picture quality
Mediocre mpeg 4 video quality

I ended up buying a ATI TV Wonder Elite (internal PCI)
Pro:
Superior picture quality
Remote included
Con:
No hardware mpeg 4 (I can use software to encode for better quality)
Weak software (I use 3rd party GBPVR so it doesn't matter)

If you must have hardware mpeg4/divX I suggest you wait.

Edit: I bought TV Wonder Elite first and returned it because the software is buggy and sux. Then I bought the Plextor, and returned it because the picture quality just doesn't compare with TV WE. Bought the TV WE back because a new version of GBPVR adds support to the chipset.

 

[Ashurbanapli]

Thanks for the comments.

The TV Wonder Elite is just a tuner tho, isn't it?

Cheers,
-Ashur

 

[mooncancook]

TV WE has the same pvr functions as the Plextor minus HW mpeg4/divx encoding. Main difference is the Plextor is ext USB and the TVWE is int PCI. TVWE comes with an detachable hub with vivo functions (A/V RCA + S-video), so you'll be able to hook up any external video source to both of these 2 devices.

Depends on what you do with it, if you absolutely need hardware mpeg4/divx encoding then you don't have many choices, you can either wait for a better model or get the Plextor for $200.

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: Ashurbanapli
Thanks for the comments.

The TV Wonder Elite is just a tuner tho, isn't it?

Cheers,
-Ashur

The answer to that is no, it's not just a tuner. It's just like the Plextor unit, you can hook up a VCR to it and record your old VHS tapes. With TVWE you can record videos to mpeg1(VCD) or mpeg2(DVD) format, with the Plextor you have additional choices to record video in mpeg4/divx format, which result in much smaller file size

 

[hellokeith]

Mine works fine in SageTV. Some shows I use the 6mbps MPEG-2 and others Theater Highest Quality DivX, getting a 30% reduction in file size.

Note: It has a 6mbps capture limit, whereas the atypical Hauppagge can capture at 12mbps MPEG-2. You need a good video card to be able to do DivX playback.