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TV Tuner for Vista 64
- Thread starter NJHC
- Start date
Figured I'd bump this thread rather than make my own, since this one isn't that old.
I'm looking for a TV Tuner for Vista 64 bit, but something reasonably priced. I can't really seem to find anything that supports Vista 64 and when I do, they're way too expensive, or have features I don't need. Essentially, all I'm looking for is something simple in the $20-$60 price range that can record SD. I have a new PC and I'd like to set it up as a DVR, but I don't particularly care about anything fancy, as it'll just be recording off a standard definition TV. I want to have a remote for it as well.
Also, how exactly do these things hook up? A lot of the ones I see don't have audio connections on the board, or on the connectors where the plug ins are, so how do they hook up? I have a cable box and from what little I've read, it looks like I need to plug my video card into the cable box, as well as the audio and everything goes through there. Just wondering because my TV is a cheapy that only has the Y/R/W connectors.
Thanks
I'm looking for a TV Tuner for Vista 64 bit, but something reasonably priced. I can't really seem to find anything that supports Vista 64 and when I do, they're way too expensive, or have features I don't need. Essentially, all I'm looking for is something simple in the $20-$60 price range that can record SD. I have a new PC and I'd like to set it up as a DVR, but I don't particularly care about anything fancy, as it'll just be recording off a standard definition TV. I want to have a remote for it as well.
Also, how exactly do these things hook up? A lot of the ones I see don't have audio connections on the board, or on the connectors where the plug ins are, so how do they hook up? I have a cable box and from what little I've read, it looks like I need to plug my video card into the cable box, as well as the audio and everything goes through there. Just wondering because my TV is a cheapy that only has the Y/R/W connectors.
Thanks
A PVR-150 from Hauppauge would be a great fit, or a tuner from ATI or based on ATI's chipset (search newegg for ELITE and ATI and you'll find ATI's models...), but Hauppauge is my choice b/c the drivers are built into Vista, which I like.
You want one that will record MPEG2 in hardware. You'll get drastically better results doing so. You can hit the top end of your price range (if you shop around) and get MPEG2 in hardware. Avoid "SoftPVR" and anything that doesn't explicitly say it does MPEG2 emphasis:*IN HARDWARE*. Doing it in software's easy - everyone can do it - but results aren't so good, and compatibility with MCE is drastically lower (0% in 2005MCE; I haven't seen reports for VistaMCE, since everyone I know has moved to MPEG2 in hardware...)
You want one that will record MPEG2 in hardware. You'll get drastically better results doing so. You can hit the top end of your price range (if you shop around) and get MPEG2 in hardware. Avoid "SoftPVR" and anything that doesn't explicitly say it does MPEG2 emphasis:*IN HARDWARE*. Doing it in software's easy - everyone can do it - but results aren't so good, and compatibility with MCE is drastically lower (0% in 2005MCE; I haven't seen reports for VistaMCE, since everyone I know has moved to MPEG2 in hardware...)
What exactly is MCE?
As well, why should I avoid the software encoding?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815116626
I see this, which does that SoftPVR thing, but it also doesn't say anything about Vista 64. Is Newegg wrong, or does it really not support Vista 64 (Just using it as an example. Do all Hauppauge cards support it?)
As well, I see the PVR-150 that you suggested doesn't come with a remote. Is there some sort of cheap remote I can get for the thing as well?
I should add, I'm not going to be watching TV on my PC at all. It'll be strictly on the old CRT TV I have.
As well, why should I avoid the software encoding?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815116626
I see this, which does that SoftPVR thing, but it also doesn't say anything about Vista 64. Is Newegg wrong, or does it really not support Vista 64 (Just using it as an example. Do all Hauppauge cards support it?)
As well, I see the PVR-150 that you suggested doesn't come with a remote. Is there some sort of cheap remote I can get for the thing as well?
I should add, I'm not going to be watching TV on my PC at all. It'll be strictly on the old CRT TV I have.
Modelworks
Lifer
Avoid software encoding.
MCE doesn't officially support it and neither do over half the other pvr softwares.
I went through alot of trouble setting up a home pvr , tried various cards and software and the one thing I learned is you want hardware mpeg2.
Ended up biting the bullet and going with tivo though in the end.
MCE doesn't officially support it and neither do over half the other pvr softwares.
I went through alot of trouble setting up a home pvr , tried various cards and software and the one thing I learned is you want hardware mpeg2.
Ended up biting the bullet and going with tivo though in the end.
MCE is Media Center Edition. Google on MS's website and you'll see the full details - it's a fantastic and easy to use interface to allow you to watch TV, record TV, and much more, all from a handy remote.
You'll want the MCE remote. $30 or so at newegg. Yep - another cost. Nope, Hauppauge's remote won't work with Vista/2005 MCE.
Software encoding sucks. Just trust us.
Don't rely on Newegg for product information. For that, go to the vendor site. At this time most of those cards have drivers for Vista.
So you have an SVideo out on your video card that you'll connect to the CRT, and watch from there, then?
In the case of the remote (I discovered that I'm wrong and the 150 does have a remote), I don't plan to buy an MCE remote for an OS I don't even have. I'll probably get that 150 and see how it works out on Vista 64 and if it sucks, I'll go back to XP Pro to use it with.
My S-Video output is on my cable box, which, as I understand it, is how I connect my video card up properly with the tuner.
As well, is it possible to connect up the PC to the TV via the S-Video, but at the same time, use my monitor with the video card so that I can use the PC as a second PC, as well as having it record and playback on my television?
Also, can you suggest a decent program to use for recordings and whatnot?
Hauppuage has 64 bit drivers; you shouldn't have any problems in Vista64.
You'll need to investigate if VistaMCE will control your tuner box. You'll buy the MCE remote, and that comes with a small sender that permits VistaMCE to control your tuner box. Once you've got that, and assuming VistaMCE knows about your cable box, you're all set.
smack Down
Diamond Member
Please what ever you do don't get anything made by ATI, There drivers don't work in any OS.
I didn't realize VistaMCE was an actual program until today when I was poking around on wiki. I just assumed it was yet another version of Vista.
How does it work out? I'd ideally like to avoid having to buy a special remote for VistaMCE, how do some of the free/open source PVR programs do? I seem to have found more than a few of them for Windows today.
How does it work out? I'd ideally like to avoid having to buy a special remote for VistaMCE, how do some of the free/open source PVR programs do? I seem to have found more than a few of them for Windows today.
It works out *great*, has a wide community of developers, and is, I'm betting, far and away the most popular. It works best with a remote, but if you don't have one you can use the mouse for everything, which is great too. But then you can' t control your cable box.... Did you see if MCE was compatible with and would control your cable box?
How do I find this out? I have the Motorola DCT2224 cable box.
Oh, I just checked the cable box and noticed it has no S-Video in :/
However, it does have R/W/Y inputs, would I be able to find an S-Video cable that output to yellow-video?
Edit:
Rather, I see that the P150
http://www.amazon.com/Hauppaug...&qid=1185169996&sr=1-7
Has R/W/Y inputs. So how exactly would I go about connecting it up?
MrChad
Lifer
Most TV Tuner cards include an "IR Blaster" that send IR signals to your digital cable box to control the channels. The only A/V connection between the cable box and the tuner is from the A/V output on the cable box to the A/V input on the tuner. If your cable box has an S-Video output, this should yield better PQ over the standard R/W/Y outputs.
I just purchased the PVR-150, but I'm rather confused as to how it hooks up to my set top box. There aren't any instructions that came with it on how to do so. At the moment, VistaMCE is downloading the Tv setup options for my region (taking ages too. Is it supposed to take this one? It's been about ten minutes and the bar hasn't moved), so I'm trying to figure out how to connect the thing up properly. I currently have the line-in on the tuner connected to my sound cards line-out, and a composite cable from the TV tuner to the set top box. I'm not sure where I go from here. I can't figure out how the tuner is supposed to get audio, beyond hooking the cable line up to it, in which case, how is my set top box supposed to get audio?
I've searched all over google but I can't find decent setup instructions.
Edit, got through that step, now VistaMCE wont detect my IR stuff.
I've searched all over google but I can't find decent setup instructions.
Edit, got through that step, now VistaMCE wont detect my IR stuff.
When you bought the MCE remote you should have gotten an IR gizmo to allow your PC to control your TV set top box.
You'll need that.
Your STB should have an output - svideo - that attaches to the video in on the tuner. It should have a L-R audio in; that signal comes from your STB too.
Your videocard should have svideo or vga output - attach that (or dvi/hdmi) to your tv, and take you PC's sound out and attach that to you tv too.
You'll need that.
Your STB should have an output - svideo - that attaches to the video in on the tuner. It should have a L-R audio in; that signal comes from your STB too.
Your videocard should have svideo or vga output - attach that (or dvi/hdmi) to your tv, and take you PC's sound out and attach that to you tv too.
I have not purchased the MCE remote yet, I don't have the extra money at the moment, so I was attempting to just use the Hauppauge remote. Is there any way I can get passed the IR config? It keeps telling me that it can't detect the IR, but wont let me move on and just skip it for now.
The tuner also does not have R/W audio inputs on it.
So does this need to be connected as such?
Composite Cable from Tv Tuner --> STB
S-Video cable, split into composite cable (I have no S-video on my TV) --> TV
?
The tuner also does not have R/W audio inputs on it.
So does this need to be connected as such?
Composite Cable from Tv Tuner --> STB
S-Video cable, split into composite cable (I have no S-video on my TV) --> TV
?
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