My HTPC only has PCI slots, and I did not feel comfortable getting a HD tuner that connects via usb. Do any of you guys use a WinTV-HVR 1600 Internal HDTV catd? If you do, what are your personal experiences with it? Also, what good USB HDTV tuners are any of you using? Also if using the wintv mentioned above, how do you have it connected, S-video, or coax?
I have owned several Hauppauge tuners and never liked any of them. The one that I have now is a Dvico FusionHDTV7 Gold RT...best card that I've owned.
For people who have Comcast service, the computer TV Tuner's "tuner" component is being made irrelevant. Comcast is now requiring the use of either their set top box or DTA to tune in most all of their channels now so the computer TV Tuner is no longer being used to actually tune in the channels (set to channel 3). Even over the air channels are lost unless you unhooked the Comcast box.
This was a real bummer for me because I was running my TV Tuner (Hauppage HVR-1950) through Windows 7 Media Center for TV. I used the Keyboard to change channels as it was much more convenient than picking up a remote when I'm a foot and a half from the screen. Anyway when Comcast started requiring the box, it made the Hauppage tuner pretty much non functional. What was worse for me was the keyboard also was made non functional to change channels.
After some research I got around it by buying the TV Tuner "Blaster" component which basically allows Windows Media Center to control the Comcast "box" through the Hauppage Tuner. A wire tapped over the Comcast tuner's receiver (going back to the blaster) allowed the Hauppage tuner to change channels through the Comcast tuner. Through this process I got my keyboard back to change channels again which was what I had hated losing the most.
Last edited by Mike89; 20 Jul 2010 at 12:36.
Yes it was, and thanks for the response. I ended up going back to my original card, then doing a system restore. After installing that other card, playready would not update. Off topic, I have an HD video card, and HD monitors, yet my tv shows show dark. I have set the resolution to the recommended setting for 1080p. Could not having an HD tuner cause that? Even when I watch non HD channels, it still looks dark, especially if it is a night scene, I really cannot see anything.
I use the "KWorld PlusTV 399U Dual DVB-T USB TV Stick" works well with media player and cheap also.
It is a usb stick not card.
Last edited by Romulinx2; 28 Jul 2010 at 04:30. Reason: more info
Better to go high definition TV on a computer monitor (LCD/LED). Anything else just won't display to the monitor's capability. If you ever see it on a computer monitor, you'll never go back. Go with something like a Hauppage HD-PVR.
I am new to this TV tuner world, I am going to be running win7 with media center as a DVR + webTV system. My question is can I use an HDMI output to view the recorded shows on the TV or do I have to use RCA jacks or S-video input? I was going to use the ceton Cable card TV tuner but that is vary pricey so I have looked at TV tuners what are the best ones to use that can record HD or digital signals? I am looking at the Hauppauge, the HVR2250 but I have read mixed reviews.
Dave
That depends entirely on your graphics card's outputs - and software powering it allowing multiple monitors. Mine for instance only has HDMI output but I had to run an internal connector from the motherboard to the GTX295 to provide sound. It all depends on your card not the media center..
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