Thoughts on this TV Tuner?

[imported_g33k]

I did a search on TV tuners. Ribbon 13 recommended this Tuner.

I havent heard of the company myself. I was looking for a tuner with a hardware encoder. If not this, than perhaps the Hauppage 150. What do you think?

 

[LxMxFxD3]

get one that is HDTV compatable.

 

[imported_rod]

That's the "VideoMate TV ULTRA" is it?

I've heard that Compro make good TV tuner cards. Have you looked at any of their digital tuner cards?

Rod

 

[batmanuel]

Originally posted by: LxMxFxD3
get one that is HDTV compatable.

The problem is that unless you want to break out the rabbit ears for OTA HDTV with the ATi HDTV Wonder, you can't buy a HDTV tuner right now for cable or satellite. You likely won't see one on the market until Windows Vista comes out along with Intel's VIIV Media Center hardware based DRM so that your HD content provider can lock down the HDTV signal to ensure it won't even output to your monitor unless it has HD Content Protection.

As far as tuners go, I've heard the new ATi Theater 550 has great picture quality. The ATi version of the card came in first in the last MCE TV Tuner roundup article Anandtech did. The ATi recording software isn't so hot, but that isn't an issue if you are using Windows MCE. VisionTek makes a version of the same card that can be had for $82 at Newegg and includes a limited version of Beyond TV. $115 gets you a version with a MCE Remote.

 

[imported_g33k]

The compro comes with a remote and is cheaper. Also the compro wasnt reviewed at Anandtech. Does anyone know how it would compare? The Happuage is also a contender, but Anand gave the nod to the ATi over the Happauge 250. Since that article though, Happuage came out with a cheaper 150, which is basically the same thing as the 250. This makes the Happuage tempting.

 

[imported_g33k]

Originally posted by: batmanuel

Originally posted by: LxMxFxD3
get one that is HDTV compatable.

The problem is that unless you want to break out the rabbit ears for OTA HDTV with the ATi HDTV Wonder, you can't buy a HDTV tuner right now for cable or satellite. You likely won't see one on the market until Windows Vista comes out along with Intel's VIIV Media Center hardware based DRM so that your HD content provider can lock down the HDTV signal to ensure it won't even output to your monitor unless it has HD Content Protection.

As far as tuners go, I've heard the new ATi Theater 550 has great picture quality. The ATi version of the card came in first in the last MCE TV Tuner roundup article Anandtech did. The ATi recording software isn't so hot, but that isn't an issue if you are using Windows MCE. VisionTek makes a version of the same card that can be had for $82 at Newegg and includes a limited version of Beyond TV. $115 gets you a version with a MCE Remote.

Ok after doing a bit more research, it looks like the ATi is the best one. While I couldn't find any reviews of the compro, that card comes with an analog tv tuner. The digital tv tuner seem to be getting better pictures. The Hauppage 150 is also and analog tv tuner. Subsequently I am going to get the ATi for the digital tv tuner.

 

[imported_g33k]

Originally posted by: rod
That's the "VideoMate TV ULTRA" is it?

I've heard that Compro make good TV tuner cards. Have you looked at any of their digital tuner cards?

Rod

No, do they make any?

 

[CZroe]

I can vouch for the Haupaugge PVR-250 but I'm currently using the nVidia NVTV dual-tuner because I had no extra PCI ports (It really is as bad as they say).

 

[imported_g33k]

Originally posted by: CZroe
I can vouch for the Haupaugge PVR-250 but I'm currently using the nVidia NVTV dual-tuner because I had no extra PCI ports (It really is as bad as they say).

The NVTV got a good review here at Tech Report. The only reason I'm not buying it, is because it doesnt support WinXP. I'm not running MCE.

 

[Griffinhart]

I don't know anything about the board you linked, but, If you're going to be using your PC as a media center, I highly recommend a board with two Tuners on it, or Two boards. I built my MEdia Center with the Hauppauge PVR-150 at first. It didn't take me long to get the PVR-500 for the extra tuner.

 

[imported_g33k]

What are the advantages of two tuners?