Opinions - Where are the DVB-T2 PC tuners?

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[Clydonian]

black gold have one thats a dual dvbs2 and dvbt2 but you need to order it directly, blackgold.tv

[Funkstar]

black gold have one thats a dual dvbs2 and dvbt2 but you need to order it directly, blackgold.tv

NOT true.

Their newest product is DVB-S2 but not DVB-T2.

http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT31...oducts/BGT3595

[Funkstar]

I've written off the idea of DVB-T2 in my HTPCs. When I make the jump to HD programing I'll be doing ti with Freesat instead.

[Jonatron]

The BBC managed to make a DVB-T2 demodulator in 2008, http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcintern...modulator.html . Sony's demodulator chip has been available since January, and as you said, set top boxes are available, so either the companies that develop PC DVB-T tuners are slow or are having trouble getting the demodulator chips.

[Steve]

I've written off the idea of DVB-T2 in my HTPCs. When I make the jump to HD programing I'll be doing ti with Freesat instead.

Not likely to be able to get a dish installed here, otherwise I'd pop a quad LNB up there and enjoy the awesome sauce.

[pauldarkside]

I've not dabbled with Freeview HD and looking at their site, all I'd get, in HD, is three channels; BBC HD, ITV1 HD and 4HD. I've no interest in ITV's content, most of 4HD I wouldn't bother with either and BBC HD is far too limited an offering. Without content, what's the point in manufacturers developing the hardware?

Up until March this year when real life took over (my Dad unexpectedly passed away), all of my HD viewing required a Sky subscription together with additional content packages. I'd love to have a legal method of obtaining that content through my own HDPC build - the hardware Sky supply can be shockingly unreliable - but their encryption makes that a non-starter.

[Funkstar]

Up until March this year when real life took over (my Dad unexpectedly passed away), all of my HD viewing required a Sky subscription together with additional content packages. I'd love to have a legal method of obtaining that content through my own HDPC build - the hardware Sky supply can be shockingly unreliable - but their encryption makes that a non-starter.

I agree whole heartedly. You can do it failry easily, and I know of a bunch of poeple that do. With a patch, MediaPortal can even read in the complete Sky EPG, which is more than any of the Sky boxes can do. They are looking into adding Series Link too, but that will need some changes to the MP database, and front end code. Handling the EPG is just a patch to the Transport Stream handler.

[Clydonian]

oops, true its only dvbs2 and dvbt dual tuners

[NightshadowUK]

I think it comes down to a lack of demand, at least on a worldwide scale.

The UK is one of the only (if not the only?) regions terrestrially broadcasting using DVB-T2 so the big players aren't particularly interested. As far as I know Sony is still the only company who manufacture a T2 demodulator chip (the 'CXD2820R') and a quick look at Comet's website shows that, despite pretty high demand (even my Dad wanted to watch the World Cup in HD), there's still only a handful of set-top boxes available.

With this in mind, as annoying as it is, I'm really not surprised that UK PC users who'd like DVB-T2 PCI cards / USB sticks are being considered as a pretty insignificant blip on the commercial radar.

[Funkstar]

oops, true its only dvbs2 and dvbt dual tuners

Hopefully it will actually be DVB-S2 this time, the previous 6-in-1 card they released initially stated DVB-S2 in the spec but turned out to be DVB-S only. There were a lot of disappointed owners because of that mess. Hopefully their drivers for this will be stable as well, I've heard of a lot of issues with Blackgold support and reliability.

[Gunbuster]

Simple answer will by Sony's PlayTV2 which will have to be USB.

[cheesemp]

I was beginning to wonder where they where. I live in an area thats had Freeview HD for 4 months and I wanted to give it a try. The price of the set top boxes put me off so I checked out the tuners and as you've stated - nothing! It frusting this DVB-t2 as I have several Tv-tuners that claim to do DVD-T HD which will never happen in the UK.

[Steve]

Simple answer will by Sony's PlayTV2 which will have to be USB.

I doubt that'll be out before other solutions, and internally I bet Sony will be favouring sending its demod chips to TVs over a new PlayTV design.

[Percy1983]

I am another person waiting for a decent PC card, my PC is connected to the TV and can more than do it so why pay £300 on a PVR.

[someoneelse]

Couldn't agree more. My area is due to get freeview HD is september and there is just no sign of any PC freeviewHD DVB-T2 tuner. I'm rarely an early adopter but I will almost definately buy the first version I can get my hands on.
I don't know about uk having a small market. I recon everyone with a mediapc will buy one.