Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

  1. #1
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    48
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • scorchio75's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5N-T Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2Gb Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400
      • Storage:
      • 4 x 500GB Seagate Barracuda (RAID 0 + RAID 0), 1TB Seagate FreeAgent
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x Asus 512Mb 8800GT (with Akasa Vortexx Neo coolers)
      • PSU:
      • 1000W Coolermaster Real Power
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate (64 Bit)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2405FPW. LG W2442PA

    Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

    Hi all,

    I've just bought a Hauppauge WinTV-NOVA-T DVB-T USB tuner (on a whim, to be honest ) and I've been reading a lot of bad stuff about their viewing software. So, I thought I'd hit up you knowledgeable folk with a question or two:

    1) Can I just install the drivers for the USB tuner and use something like GB-PVR to actually watch/record TV?
    2) If (1) is a yes, what software (GB-PVR, MediaPortal, etc.) would you recommend, bearing in mind that I'm on XP Pro

    Thanks in advance!

    Cheers,

    s75

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    492
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    106 times in 80 posts

    Re: Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

    I don't have any USB tuners, but I have a Hauppauge HVR-1300 amongst others - yes, Hauppauge's bundled software is truly horrible, whether it's their own in-house effort or the equally ghastly PowerCinema.

    The good news is, Hauppauge hardware is well-supported by third-party HTPC apps, so if you just install the drivers, both GB-PVR and MediaPortal should work OK. Personally, I've found GB-PVR is simpler to set up and more reliable, but they're both free, so you might as well give them both a go and see which you like best.

  3. #3
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    48
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • scorchio75's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5N-T Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2Gb Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400
      • Storage:
      • 4 x 500GB Seagate Barracuda (RAID 0 + RAID 0), 1TB Seagate FreeAgent
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x Asus 512Mb 8800GT (with Akasa Vortexx Neo coolers)
      • PSU:
      • 1000W Coolermaster Real Power
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate (64 Bit)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2405FPW. LG W2442PA

    Re: Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

    Thank you for the swift response, kind sir!

    I'll be receiving the tuner on Monday, so I'll give it a go...although I'll probably be posting more questions then!

    Cheers,

    s75

  4. #4
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    630
    Thanked
    965 times in 816 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

    MediaPortal is definitely worth a shot.

    It's quickly heading for a v1.0 release, currently on 1.0 RC2

    http://www.team-mediaportal.com/

    Lets you do some very cool things when you use the TVServer installation

  5. #5
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    48
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • scorchio75's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5N-T Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2Gb Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400
      • Storage:
      • 4 x 500GB Seagate Barracuda (RAID 0 + RAID 0), 1TB Seagate FreeAgent
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x Asus 512Mb 8800GT (with Akasa Vortexx Neo coolers)
      • PSU:
      • 1000W Coolermaster Real Power
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate (64 Bit)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2405FPW. LG W2442PA

    Re: Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

    Thanks Funkstar - I'll try GB-PVR and MediaPortal to see what fits best.

    Are there any other Windows-compatible solutions that you guys can recommend?

    Cheers,

    s75

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    492
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    106 times in 80 posts

    Re: Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

    I'm not aware of any other *free* alternatives that would really compare with GB-PVR or MediaPortal in terms of capabilities.

    I've messed around with SageTV a bit, and it's very nice indeed - very slick and well-presented, with oodles of functionality. The fact that it costs nearly as much as an OEM copy of XP MCE or Vista Premium is a bit of a turnoff, although there's a trial version available (times out after 30 days IIRC).

    There's always Vista Premium and XP MCE themselves of course, which have their own Media Center app built-in... very easy to set up and use, provided you just want standard-definition DVB-T (Freeview) support for no more than two tuners (things can get problematic with satellite reception and/or HD material).

    I'd give the free options a go first, and see if they do what you want - I haven't actually used MediaPortal for a while, as it was a nightmare to configure when I last tried it, as well as being a hanging, crashing bugfest. I gather things have come on in leaps and bounds since then though, in terms of user-friendliness as well as stability.

  7. #7
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    48
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • scorchio75's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5N-T Deluxe
      • CPU:
      • Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2Gb Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400
      • Storage:
      • 4 x 500GB Seagate Barracuda (RAID 0 + RAID 0), 1TB Seagate FreeAgent
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x Asus 512Mb 8800GT (with Akasa Vortexx Neo coolers)
      • PSU:
      • 1000W Coolermaster Real Power
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate (64 Bit)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2405FPW. LG W2442PA

    Re: Hauppauge USB TV Tuner - Software Alternatives?

    Thanks Cap'n.

    GB-PVR is looking like the first one I'll try - and I agree, MP looks a bit complicated, especially for me...

    RE: XP MCE or VHP: I've actually got a retail copy of Vista Ultimate that I tried to install on my home-built system, but I had an absolute nightmare - 16 hours trying to get the install to work. I ended up reverting to XP Pro - although the PC's been exhibiting some funny behaviour since the failed Vista install...

    Cheers,

    s75

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Help! USB ports are not Enhanced: 965P-DS3 (ICH8), Vista.
    By cocksy_boy in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 25-04-2008, 07:18 AM
  2. Which TV tuner ? USB or ExpressCard ? For Dell M2010.
    By rmaciag in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 20-03-2007, 01:55 PM
  3. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-12-2006, 05:12 PM
  4. All new Software Sticky ( with Wings !! )
    By Moby-Dick in forum Software
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 21-06-2004, 10:42 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •