So I have this HTPC...

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Tbirdkid

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2002
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Win7 ultimate box with media center. Works great. However, i am looking for more hd content. I use hulu, there has to be more. Recommendations? I dont like paying for Itunes, so other suggestions would be awesome. Thanks!
 
sivart

sivart

Golden Member
Oct 20, 2000
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Tbirdkid said:
Win7 ultimate box with media center. Works great. However, i am looking for more hd content. I use hulu, there has to be more. Recommendations? I dont like paying for Itunes, so other suggestions would be awesome. Thanks!
Click to expand...

TV Tuner card and antenna
Cable card, cable card tuner, and subscription to cable (and possibly a tuner adapter for SDV)
Ripping Blu-rays to a server / hard drive

BTW, Hulu doesn't have any HD programming any more. They did back in the day, but it went away.

If you explore some of the Zune channels through the guide, you will find HD content scattered about. Albeit, no major network or cable shows.
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN

BTRY B 529th FA BN

Lifer
Nov 26, 2005
15,194
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What is the best TV Tuner solution? I've seen cards (PCI & PCIe) I've seen USB sticks. I've seen 'Hybrid' versions... i'm a newb at HTPC

I'll probably use Windows Media Center through Windows 7 Pro 64. I'm looking for one that has all the features of today. TIA
 
Fallen Kell

Fallen Kell

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,211
537
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Depends on what you are trying to record... If you want to capture HD TV from cable/satilite, Hauppauge HD PVR, if you want over-the-air, then you have a lot more options. I would say HDHomeRunner for over the air. There is a cablecard version of HDHomeRunning in development which could be interesting if you don't mind all the restrictions (i.e. DRM on the video).
 
F

Fox5

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
5,957
7
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Besides TV tuners there's:
Ripping your own DVD/Bluray catalog
Torrenting
Netflix streaming
Amazon Video On Demand (pay scheme similar to itunes, but it's ok for movie)
 
Fallen Kell

Fallen Kell

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,211
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Just a FYI, I personally have the HD PVR in my setup. I like it a lot (now that most of the bugs are out of the hardware and drivers). There is still a bug with lockup when the computer goes into/out of sleep mode a lot (it will probably lockup the HD PVR within 2-3 days requiring a reboot). So as long as you don't let the computer go to sleep, it works fine. I let mine underclock the CPU's and power down hard drives when idle, but not go into full sleep.
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN

BTRY B 529th FA BN

Lifer
Nov 26, 2005
15,194
403
126
I was looking at something like this which is a hybrid solution. But I don't want to use its software. I'd rather use MCE. Would there be a conflict?
 
The Boston Dangler

The Boston Dangler

Lifer
Mar 10, 2005
14,647
2
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BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
How is that for a TV Tuner? What does Hybrid mean?
Click to expand...

most of the positive stuff i've seen concerns hauppauge products, and not so much avermedia, kworld, etc. that may be due to popularity, but i think where there's smoke, there's fire.

the "hybrid" means this tuner can tune multiple formats, as opposed to separate analog and digital tuners. in this case it can accept any north american tv signal. this is a single tuner device, meaning you couldn't watch 1 thing and record another (or record both).
 
F

Fox5

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
5,957
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81
A hybrid tuner is just a tuner that can do analog and digital, but not at the same time. A dual tuner has a separate tuner for digital and analog and can record both simultaneously.
 
The Boston Dangler

The Boston Dangler

Lifer
Mar 10, 2005
14,647
2
0
i use this. the card and drivers are good, the software and remote are crap. it should work with any software but particularly media center. the WMC setup is extremely easy. for cable, WMC wil provide channels and guide strictly according to what the cable company tells it, even if additional qam channels are unencrypted.
 
poofyhairguy

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Fox5 said:
Besides TV tuners there's:
Ripping your own DVD/Bluray catalog
Torrenting
Netflix streaming
Amazon Video On Demand (pay scheme similar to itunes, but it's ok for movie)
Click to expand...

Don't forget a decent Usenet account plus some good RSS feeds! Beats anything legitimately offered for acquiring HD content...
 
sivart

sivart

Golden Member
Oct 20, 2000
1,786
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I've got the 2250 OEM card in my "home built" Dell Vostro 220s. It works great and can record two shows at once. It has been in there since December 2009 with no issues so far.

Just downloaded the driver, installed and then booted up WMC 7 x64 and did the standard setup without any problems.

It isn't the strongest tuner, but with my attic antenna and being only about 20 miles from the local towers, I have no issues.

Actually, going to go watch House M.D. that it recorded earlier tonight for me...right now :)
 
Zorba

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,613
11,255
136
The Boston Dangler said:
most of the positive stuff i've seen concerns hauppauge products, and not so much avermedia, kworld, etc. that may be due to popularity, but i think where there's smoke, there's fire.
Click to expand...

I actually had problems with Hauppauge. I tried two of their cards (same model), neither one would pick up PBS for more than 30 minutes. It was really weird, when I first installed the card it worked, then stopped after 30 minutes or so, then over the holidays I turned off the computer for 8 days, got home it worked again for about 30 minutes. New card worked for about 30 minutes again, then stopped receiving PBS. I have no idea what its problem was and Hauppauge never returned my e-mails.

I ended up replacing the Hauppauge tuner with 2 Diamond ATI TV Wonder 650s. The diamonds work great, no problems at all. Most of the reviews are written by clueless people, I think.
 
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