Best TV Tuner Card for Windows 7?

[Darryl Licht]

Looking for a Win7 PCIE x1 Card...

Hey all you Windows Seven fans! Im looking at getting a nice tuner card for my desktop and need some advice/suggestions.


So far I am leaning toward the AVerTV Combo G2 but I also like the Hauppage WinTV-HVR-2250. I know the white box version is typically without the remote and in plain packaging, and I always love saving money. I have a few questions:

1. If I am only going to view television on my PC via WMC do I even need a remote?
2. What are pros and cons of remotes?
3. Are their other alternative Win7 cards I should also be looking at?
4. Any other software I might need or want?

Thanks to all in advance!!! ...Im an old hand at Windows/DOS but a total noob at tv tuner cards!

 

[Hondajt]

So, the new HVR-2250 is the best bet for Win 7 users? Do any of these work with time warner cable?

 

[Tarka Dal]

My Hauppauge Win 7 does not work on either Vista or Windows 7...
Hauppauge in my view are crap...
That does not have to be your view.

 

[dnorris]

So, the new HVR-2250 is the best bet for Win 7 users? Do any of these work with time warner cable?

I use mine to watch Time Warner at the computer. I don't use the cable box, though, so I only get the analog channels 1-76. If I want to watch other channels or HD, I go to my HD tv.

 

[Ex_Brit]

It doesn't matter which cableco it is, it'll read the cable when you set up Media Center. I don't use the digital boxc either, just the basic cable.
Obsidian, are you installing the drivers correctly?

 

[LarixUthule]

Win Tv HVR-2250

I use the dual tuner Win Tv HVR-2250 PCIx1 card, and it works fine on Ulimate 64-bit -- can record two shows at the same time, and can chose between which of the two shows I want to watch while the shows are recording. The HD channels are a plus -- could not get that when running Vista Home Premium, and the recording of HD is perfect as well. [My connection is ComCast, single cable -- the tuner separates the signals. The Win Tv HVR-2250 has two pair of dual tuners, one analog, the other digital --(total of 4)]

I use the remote and it works well.

Running 8GB RAM -- no issues with stutter.

 

[Darryl Licht]

That newegg gift certificate was burning a hole in my pocket, so I bit the bullet and ordered the AVerMedia AVerTVHD Duet tuner card. It installed without a hitch, but thanks to Charter Communications encrypting nearly every channel, I only get 16 channels (4 of which are Mexican)!

I also have a cable issue which keeps freezing the screen while watching, apparently this card is very sensative to signal strength... if I put a splitter in, I get the freezing, jerky viewing and very slow cable modem dl speeds. If I disconnect cable modem and run coax straight to my tuner card, great picture and quality but no Internet. I've tried 3 different coax cables and 2 different splitters.

I am now thinking of returning this card in favor of something else, any sugggestions?

PS - I'm new to TV Tuner cards... since my card says it gets QAM, does that mean I do not get NTSC? I have a TV in my garage and it gets all non HD channels... what kind of card do I need to get both QAM and regular channels?

 

[hdjunkie]

Yeah, return it and go with the HVR-2250.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Yeah, return it and go with the HVR-2250.

Does the HVR get both QAM and NTSC? Please I need more details than get the HVR-2250... why?

 

[Hondajt]

Yeah, return it and go with the HVR-2250.

Does the HVR get both QAM and NTSC? Please I need more details than get the HVR-2250... why?

A basic google search will let you know that the HVR-2250, has ATSC/NTSC/ClearQam.

So LarixUthule, you can get HD channels on the HVR-2250 with time Warner cable? I was under the assumption that I would only receive the basic 1-79 stuff.

 

[mattyspurs76]

terrratec Cinergy 2400i DT works fine on windows 7. theres some new drivers just been released for windows7 from there website.

Ive got mine working on W7 Ultimate 64 bit, but i cannot get media centre to work with the supplied remote control yet Terratec Home Cinema works fine with it.

Im on the look out for another tuner though as only the one tuners working on my card (its a dual tv tuner)

 

[pat247]

I have the Hauppauge HVR-1800 in my 8 gig system using MC in Win 7 x64. I also have the HVR-2250 in my wifes 4 gig system using MC in Win 7 x86. Both are working well, I even let windows update install an optional driver today on the HVR-1800 with no ill effects.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Yeah, return it and go with the HVR-2250.

Does the HVR get both QAM and NTSC? Please I need more details than get the HVR-2250... why?

A basic google search will let you know that the HVR-2250, has ATSC/NTSC/ClearQam.

That's exactly what I did after I posted this above comment... Google.

I am going with the AVerMedia G2... I prefer the USB remote RX with long dongle, and it gets ATSC/NTSC/QAM as well!

 

[LarixUthule]

HVR 2250, Comcast and Digital Signal

Yeah, return it and go with the HVR-2250.

Does the HVR get both QAM and NTSC? Please I need more details than get the HVR-2250... why?

A basic google search will let you know that the HVR-2250, has ATSC/NTSC/ClearQam.

So LarixUthule, you can get HD channels on the HVR-2250 with time Warner cable? I was under the assumption that I would only receive the basic 1-79 stuff.

The digital channels are QAM or ATSC (I did let Mediacenter do the automatic configuration, and didn't pay much attention -- so I am not much help distinguishing), not Comcast digital for which I have their converter box which I do not use with Windows.

I do live near Boston, and some of the digital stations are the HD variants of the analog stations. Someone who nows more than I about such matters may speculate what the HVR 2250 is picking up, perhaps the cable itself may even be acting as an antenna bringing in the ASTC signal. The quality of the digital picture is remarkable and the HVR 2250 records these perfectly.

Regards,
LarixUthule

 

[Mike89]

When I changed from XP Pro to Windows 7 Professional 64 bit, I was expecting to lose some programs. Turns out, the only thing I lost was my previous Leadtek USB2 TV Tuner. It was a substantial loss for me though as it rendered a perfectly good piece of hardware worthless. This Leadtek tuner has been a phased out model for a couple of years already and Leadtek wasn't and isn't providing anymore support for it. So it basically wouldn't work just because Leadtek won't write any 64 bit drivers for it. I really needed a TV tuner so I started looking for one compatible with Windows 7 64 bit (and also wanted to stick with a USB2 one). I ended up getting the Hauppage WinTV-HVR-1950.

Installed the drivers for it but not the software. I wanted to see how the Windows Media Center would work viewing TV. Everything went fine and I really like Windows Media Center so I'm not going to bother installing the Hauppage viewing software.

I got my TV back now and am happy with the result.

 

[gslane]

tv tuners

How can I watch 1 sat station, record 1 and record 1 over the air station? I have win7.

 

[AngelProcesser]

How can I watch 1 sat station, record 1 and record 1 over the air station? I have win7.

This seems to be a riddle, so let me reply to it as such:

You can watch the sat station on TV #1.
You can record that on a VCR.
You can use TV #2 to tune to your over the air station.
You can record that on another VCR.

I think this solves the riddle.:sarc:

If you meant 'how can I do all this from one PC?', let me know.

 

[gslane]

tv tuners

one tv. one PC

 

[Arfer Daley]

hi
i use a avermedia digi tv card 16AR PCI Hybrid DVB-T have had no problems with it at all so far

 

[AngelProcesser]

What do you have for a Set Top Box (s)?

I have an HD dual tuner DVR STB (Comcast) feeding my PC. I can record a show on the HD DVR STB, switch tuners, fire up my WMC (WMC Edition Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1800 (Model 78xxx, Combo ATSC/QAM)) and watch what ever I want even the same channel and record on my PC. I can also switch tuners again on my STB and watch on demand - the guide is slow and I use the STB's remote to navigate there - it's a bit tricky but doable..

In your case, do you have an STB from your Sat. provider? Is it a dual tuner? Is it also dual output as many are? Ask your sat provider or review the manual.