TV Tuner cards are AWESOME!

I bought a Hauppauge WinTV-GO today at CompUSA for $20 after rebates, and I can't believe how I ever lived without it.

Now, I can go to http://www.TitanTV.com, click on anything that looks interesting, and it's automatically scheduled to be recorded on my WinTV-GO. The PVR software is pretty limited (can't pause live TV, can't rewind live TV, just record and take a screen cap, basically) but for $20, I can't complain.

Pretty neat!

 

[PoPPeR]

how is the video quality? I got a Leadtek 2000XP off fs/ft more than a week ago but haven't really used it for anything but plugging in my xbox, and it's not that great (which is what I was told, so i wasn't expecting miracles).

 

[aircooled]

I have a Leadtek card. It's OK for the money, but I'd rather have a better one.

 

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
how is the video quality? I got a Leadtek 2000XP off fs/ft more than a week ago but haven't really used it for anything but plugging in my xbox, and it's not that great (which is what I was told, so i wasn't expecting miracles).

Lemme take a screen cap. The quality is actually better than I expected, and I'm happy with it.

 

[yankeesfan]

I've been thinking of buying one. If I buy one, it will record HDTV, too.

 

[911paramedic]

I bought the one in Hot Deals well over a year ago and it's pretty darned good.

 

Here's a screenie...as long as the resolution on the screen grab is down, it comes out really well.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I love my Leadtek card.

Over the past few months ago, I've captured ALL episodes of Futurama, Family Guy, Sealab, and Aqua Teen in high quality MPEG2, and have converted them into 640x480 Divx files. They don't look that good when I watch them on the computer, but look great on my Philips 642 Divx player.

 

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I love my Leadtek card.

Over the past few months ago, I've captured ALL episodes of Futurama, Family Guy, Sealab, and Aqua Teen in high quality MPEG2, and have converted them into 640x480 Divx files. They don't look that good when I watch them on the computer, but look great on my Philips 642 Divx player.

Yup, that's one thing you need to remember. Your TV takes an analog signal and displays it in analog (as long as you're watching regular cable, duh). Your computer's capture card takes an analog signal and converts it to 1s and 0s, and then displays it on a super-high-quality monitor (in my case, an LCD connected with DVI). Of course it's gonna look worse on your computer.

 

[yankeesfan]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I love my Leadtek card.

Over the past few months ago, I've captured ALL episodes of Futurama, Family Guy, Sealab, and Aqua Teen in high quality MPEG2, and have converted them into 640x480 Divx files. They don't look that good when I watch them on the computer, but look great on my Philips 642 Divx player.

I might have to do that if I get one. I have that DVD player. I love it.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

I love my TV tuner card

 

[RossMAN]

If anyone is interested in a good TV Tuner card with hardware encoding, I highly recommend the Hauppauge WinTV 250 for $90 after rebates.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
If anyone is interested in a good TV Tuner card with hardware encoding, I highly recommend the Hauppauge WinTV 250 for $90 after rebates.

I believe the rebate is expired on that deal...

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I love my Leadtek card.

Over the past few months ago, I've captured ALL episodes of Futurama, Family Guy, Sealab, and Aqua Teen in high quality MPEG2, and have converted them into 640x480 Divx files. They don't look that good when I watch them on the computer, but look great on my Philips 642 Divx player.

Yup, that's one thing you need to remember. Your TV takes an analog signal and displays it in analog (as long as you're watching regular cable, duh). Your computer's capture card takes an analog signal and converts it to 1s and 0s, and then displays it on a super-high-quality monitor (in my case, an LCD connected with DVI). Of course it's gonna look worse on your computer.

Well, it really doesn't look that bad when viewed at 320x240 on my computer.

 

[RossMAN]

Damn, I guess you snooze you lose.

 

[Allio]

My reception with an antenna on a Pixelview PlayTV Pro.

 

[SilentRavens]

Anyone here use the ATI HDTV wonder? I have read some very poor reviews of it.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
If anyone is interested in a good TV Tuner card with hardware encoding, I highly recommend the Hauppauge WinTV 250 for $90 after rebates.

Have it, love it.

 

[silverpig]

AIW 9800 here. I'm happy with it but kind of wish I had bought the video and tuner seperately.

 

[bdjohnson]

Originally posted by: Allio
My reception with an antenna on a Pixelview PlayTV Pro.

WOW that is impressive!

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: RossMAN
If anyone is interested in a good TV Tuner card with hardware encoding, I highly recommend the Hauppauge WinTV 250 for $90 after rebates.

Have it, love it.

I have the 350 version of that card and love it as well. I cap most stuff at DVD longplay which is 6.2 MBits/sec. Here are some screen shots from the Olympics capped with the 350.
1
2
3

 

[0roo0roo]

eh, get an ati hd wonder before you get so excited

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
eh, get an ati hd wonder before you get so excited

Im actually looking into that for myself.... How close do you think i would have to be to the tower though for the included antenna to work?

 

[Colt45]

I have an ATI value wonder. its horrible. i mean it works, but the quality is uber shit.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: silverpig
AIW 9800 here. I'm happy with it but kind of wish I had bought the video and tuner seperately.

why's that. I have a AIW 7500, and was looking to upgrade to either the aiw 9600XT or the 9800,