TV Tuner Card?

[eVaoVe]

Hey guys, my first time posting here =D

I'm about to build a PC (bring on CK8-04!) and I'm interested in buying a TV Tuner Card. Basically my grandparents are constantly hogging the TV, so I don't really have a chance to watch anything. So someone suggested that I buy a TV Tuner card, which should allow me to watch TV on my computer. I don't really know how this thing works which is why I'm here =D. So basically what I'm asking is what will a TV Tuner Card allow me to do, and which one should I buy.

 

[Crusty]

Search, a thread like this was JUST posted!

Hauppauge PVR-250

 

[powerMarkymark]

First of all, welcome to the forums.

I've tried a few of the inexpensive cards and of them all, stay away from the Ati Tv Wonder pro, my favourite is the Leadtek Winfast Tv 2000.

Have fun,

Marc

 

[Schadenfroh]

see my guide to the best TV tuner

 

[EliteXen]

if you got a few bucks (about 200) to spend on a tv tuner WAIT...hauppauge is going to be releasing their WinTV PVR500 in a couple of months. You can read for yourself about it, but the main thing to note is that it is a Dual Tuner.
I have a Hauppauge WinTV PVR PCI and I used to have a WinTV Theatre which I sold to a friend like a year ago (cheap b@st@rd still hasn't paid me). They are both much better than any other TV Tuner I've used. I'm already saving up for the PVR500. Only real problem I have with Hauppauge is their crappy software, but there are a bunch of really really good third party PVR soft.

 

[DarkKnight]

I have a leadtek TV2000 XP Deluxe and highly recommend it. The image quality is good, and its cheap. I'd recommend it or the Expert version of the card, which is a couple $ more and has better image quality

 

[eVaoVe]

My budget is around $50 so I'm interested in the Leadtek TV2000 XP Deluxe, but I heard from some people that the image quality is crap. Can anyone else give there reviews on their Leadtek TV2000 Deluxes? Also how would I set it up? What are the hardware requirements?

 

[eVaoVe]

Thanks for the guide!

 

[Algere]

FWIW: A buncha TV Card reviews

 

[eVaoVe]

So how would I go about seting up the TV Tuner? I have cable TV. Also can you watch TV and watch TV on your computer simotaneously and different channels? Say TV is on channel 21, and im watching channel 11, thats doable right?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: eVaoVe
So how would I go about seting up the TV Tuner? I have cable TV. Also can you watch TV and watch TV on your computer simotaneously and different channels? Say TV is on channel 21, and im watching channel 11, thats doable right?

yes

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: eVaoVe
So how would I go about seting up the TV Tuner? I have cable TV. Also can you watch TV and watch TV on your computer simotaneously and different channels? Say TV is on channel 21, and im watching channel 11, thats doable right?

I have no such card. But, theoritically, this should be possible. Your TV has a tuner that lets it select a channel and demodulate it. Your card has a tuner. So, it can do the same thing. It is like having two TVs. Each can be set to a different channel.

 

[overclock]

The Winfast is great. I used it to record Wiggles off of Disney Channel for my 2 year old. Just be sure if you record using mpeg, set everything video to the max setting, ie bps, quality. A 25 minute show usually ran about 1 gig.

 

[htmlmasterdave]

Overall I'd say stay away from the ATI too, I bought one and it's been a lot of trouble for me.

 

[Trey22]

Originally posted by: DarkKnight
I have a leadtek TV2000 XP Deluxe and highly recommend it. The image quality is good, and its cheap. I'd recommend it or the Expert version of the card, which is a couple $ more and has better image quality

 

[farmercal]

I never could get the hauppauge card I purchased to work right and took it back to the store. I have the WinFast TV2000 XP you are referring to and love it. It does everything I want it to do and more. You can't go wrong with that purchase.

 

[0roo0roo]

ati hd wonder

 

[Pipposuperpippa]

Anyone has tried the Lifeview FlyTV Prime 30?
It Has a Philips chip and has a little cost (35?). It's no bad