TV tuners

[Will404]

I want to get a decant internal TV tuner for my new computer, which I will plug into the standard roof aerial(it gets digital on the TV). I would like to be able to pick up digital TV channels, and for it to be compatable with Vista's Media Center (Home Premium 32bit). Looking at under £60, but less is better, as I would like to get a remote too. PCI, or PCI-e. UK broadcast.



Looking for help as last two ddnt work, or were fuzzy (Ok, so I was given them for free, but it was still anoying)

[Funkstar]

There are loads. You shouldn't get a fuzzy picture with digital, it pretty much works or it doesn't. Although in a weak signal area you can get more pixelation and breakup.

Hauppauge cards are the benchmark. They aren't the best cards, but they are the most popular, so support is decent if not stellar. They are very well supported if you were to play around with non-MS media center apps, like MediaPortal or MythTV etc.

Here is Scans list of them: http://www.scan.co.uk/Index.aspx?NT=1-0-33-277-0

I don't know what it is like, but the KWORLD DVBT PC160-2T PCI dual DIGITAL TV Tuner and capture seems really good value. Despite being low cost, previous KWorld cards have had a good reputation.

I would strongly recomend getting a proper Microsoft MCE remote. Scan don't do them, but KustomPCs do (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_5498.html). In my opinion there is no better MCE remote. Again it is so widely used that it is probably the best supported remote for other applications as well, even in Linux.

Hope this helps.

[Will404]

There are loads. You shouldn't get a fuzzy picture with digital, it pretty much works or it doesn't. Although in a weak signal area you can get more pixelation and breakup.

Hauppauge cards are the benchmark. They aren't the best cards, but they are the most popular, so support is decent if not stellar. They are very well supported if you were to play around with non-MS media center apps, like MediaPortal or MythTV etc.

Here is Scans list of them: http://www.scan.co.uk/Index.aspx?NT=1-0-33-277-0

I don't know what it is like, but the KWORLD DVBT PC160-2T PCI dual DIGITAL TV Tuner and capture seems really good value. Despite being low cost, previous KWorld cards have had a good reputation.

I would strongly recomend getting a proper Microsoft MCE remote. Scan don't do them, but KustomPCs do (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_5498.html). In my opinion there is no better MCE remote. Again it is so widely used that it is probably the best supported remote for other applications as well, even in Linux.

Hope this helps.

Thankyou,

I was looking at the list, and not really knowing what was different between the 60quid cards and the 30 quid ones.

The one you selected looks good, but the box for Media centre is not ticked, and I would like to use media centre on it.

Was thinking of something like this http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=602559 as hexus has a good review for it.

Is it worth the £55 though, or would it be best for me to get something cheeper.

Was also thinking of getting this remote:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=745541

but would the windows one be better:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=143741

I think that it is ugly.

[Will404]

I have had a look around, and seen the VideoMate Vista E700, which comes complete with the remote which I wanted.

However the version scan sells is the VideoMate E700, same card, but with some crappy remote.

Does anyone know of where I can get one of these, or if, and when SCAN are going to stock them???????

Thanks

[llololloy]

I'm using this in my media pc.
dual dvb-t tuners, pci-e, £18 and havn't had a problem yet. Runs fine in vistamce, and having dual channel is great.

[Will404]

Cool, that looks great, you have just saved me loads

Does it come with a remote (and is the remote any good??

[Funkstar]

Have a look at the comments though, tuner sensativity appears to be low and getting the drivers set up for MCE could be a pain.

The difference between expensive and cheap cards is usually the quality of the drivers and support, as well as the quality of the tuning hardware.

Personally, i think that black compro remote looks ugly I've bought a couple of "mce compatible" remotes in the past and they weren't as compatible as you would think. i.e. they didn't work with MediaPortal which has native support for the real MCE remote. I didn't know Scan stocked the official one, they didn't always. I highly recomend getting that.

[Will404]

Ok, scan do stock the offical one, so i think that i will get that then.

[Taz]

I ordered the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR1300 PCI. I haven't installed it yet though so can't comment on quality but it ticks all the boxes in your requirements.

[Will404]

How much was it.

+please could you tell me how it preforms when you get it???

[Taz]

How much was it.

+please could you tell me how it preforms when you get it???

It was this one mate: http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=318489

The price is £55.23 inc VAT.

I'm sorry but I won't be able to tell you how it performs as I won't be able to install it until early next week as i'm working away from home.

However, I bought it on the back of some very good reviews on eBuyer:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/107008...roduct_reviews

[llololloy]

I've got the hvr1300 aswell, but replaced it with the dual that I posted. Only real reason for the swap was I wanted dual tuners and it seemed the cheapest and easiet way of achieving that.
I've not noticed any difference in quality, and personally the pinnacle has been more reliable, but I did buy my 1300 second hand so I always wondered if that had anything to do with it.

[Will404]

I've got the hvr1300 aswell, but replaced it with the dual that I posted. Only real reason for the swap was I wanted dual tuners and it seemed the cheapest and easiet way of achieving that.
I've not noticed any difference in quality, and personally the pinnacle has been more reliable, but I did buy my 1300 second hand so I always wondered if that had anything to do with it.

Cool, will defo go for the card you said. I have had problems with the hampauge cards too, picture quality was appalling.

This one is a hell of a lot cheeper, so a MCE remote too

Thanks all