Dual digital Tv tuners

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Dual digital Tv tuners

euanandrews

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#18495 12-Jan-2008 19:30

I'm trying to fine tune the components I want to put into my HTPC....

A question about Tv tuners....

If I want to record and watch tv at the same time, I need a dual tuner yes?
But if I want to hookup freeview digital tv, is there a dual tuner option available for this?
And what if I want HD?

Options Ive looked at:
-Compro VideoMate T750 dual PCI DVB-T and analog TV/FM tuner
-Hauppauge WinTv HVR4000 Quad mode Hybrid PCI tv tuner
-Haupauge WinTV PVR500MCE dual tuner

So what are the NZ specifics I have to look for?

Analogue=Pal
Digital=DVB-S or DVB-T
Size=1024x768 min (HD)

Should I even worry about analogue, if all I'm looking to hookup is freeview? and/or possibly sky?

So my question is, how can I/what is the best way to have dual digital tuners using minimal PCI slots, whats available?
If price is no issue, what are the best HD cards available?

itey

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#104429 12-Jan-2008 20:48

you could get this usb tuner : http://www.digitalnow.com.au/dvbtcards.html

euanandrews

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#104435 12-Jan-2008 21:18

USB is not desired, I want it enclosed within the case as its going in the lounge.

Another option on that same page was the:
-DNTV Live! Dual Hybrid PCI-E S2...that was a dual digital tv tuner, just a shame it does not support DVB-S and 1080i HD like the others do...

Some of the other models I've mentioned above are hybids, and support DVB-S and DVB-T making them usable now and usable when HD digital tv arrives, a preferable choice...just they are not dual tuners....ugh!

euanandrews

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#104440 12-Jan-2008 21:58

Hmmm...maybe this?
-WinTV-NOVA-T-500

Its not DVB-S but DVB-T is the way to go being HD...will be available by the time I build this...

I wonder if it is compatiable with nz standards and freeview compliant, able to accrees/view the freeview certified EPG?
Definition? HD quality?

Looking for recommendations/suggestions from those who have been down this road...

walt12

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#104675 14-Jan-2008 09:05

Just be careful, the HVR-4000 is not dual/quad tuner. It has only one tuner.

JimmyH

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#104839 14-Jan-2008 20:48

I have been looking at the HVR-4000, it seems to be a nice card. I am holding fire until Freeview's terrestrial HD service is broadcasting, when it will hopefully be clearer about whether PCs will be able to view/record HD transmissions (the publicity indicates that HD from STBs will be locked down with HDMI/HDCP, but it's all unclear whether ICT will be enabled and this will stop PC users watching HD). Don't want to spend the money andf go through all the hassle of the install and config etc until is is clear what cards will be able to receive/decode what signals under the new regime.

Failed to get a response from the Freeview consortium on this, just a "we do not currently support PCs blah blah" fob off. Have also asked TVNZ under the Official Information Act and they failed to respond. Have now complained to the Ombudsman, so hopefully that will smoke out some info. I am reasonably familiar with the OI Act from a past life, and can't see that TVNZ have any option other than to answer reasonable questions within 20 working days. Pretty irritating since our taxes are funding this.

openmedia

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#104842 14-Jan-2008 21:00

JimmyH: I have been looking at the HVR-4000, it seems to be a nice card. I am holding fire until Freeview's terrestrial HD service is broadcasting, when it will hopefully be clearer about whether PCs will be able to view/record HD transmissions (the publicity indicates that HD from STBs will be locked down with HDMI/HDCP, but it's all unclear whether ICT will be enabled and this will stop PC users watching HD). Don't want to spend the money andf go through all the hassle of the install and config etc until is is clear what cards will be able to receive/decode what signals under the new regime.

Failed to get a response from the Freeview consortium on this, just a "we do not currently support PCs blah blah" fob off. Have also asked TVNZ under the Official Information Act and they failed to respond. Have now complained to the Ombudsman, so hopefully that will smoke out some info. I am reasonably familiar with the OI Act from a past life, and can't see that TVNZ have any option other than to answer reasonable questions within 20 working days. Pretty irritating since our taxes are funding this.

What makes you think ICT will affect PC users?

The ICT flag just tells a STB to encrypt their HDCP signal. It doesn't prevent a PC owner recording it via a PCI or USB tuner.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

euanandrews

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#104843 14-Jan-2008 21:10

walt12: Just be careful, the HVR-4000 is not dual/quad tuner. It has only one tuner.

This I knew already, just listed it as an example of a hybrid digital and analogue tuner.

After much looking, I have come to choose the Hauppauge WinTV-Nova-T-500 as the best currently available dual digital tuner. (until I find something better)

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joncl

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#104857 14-Jan-2008 22:26

TheBartender: I'm trying to fine tune the components I want to put into my HTPC....

A question about Tv tuners....

If I want to record and watch tv at the same time, I need a dual tuner yes?
But if I want to hookup freeview digital tv, is there a dual tuner option available for this?
And what if I want HD?

I simply use a DM7020 with a WD 320 hdd for this purose .. Record say TV2 watch TV6 off freeview etc. It does all the Media Center functions play my vcd/dvd also play any mp3/mp2 - vob/jpg/gif complete with house wide streaming on wifi and a few things more to boot

BarTender

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#104912 15-Jan-2008 10:12

joncl:
TheBartender: I'm trying to fine tune the components I want to put into my HTPC....

A question about Tv tuners....

If I want to record and watch tv at the same time, I need a dual tuner yes?
But if I want to hookup freeview digital tv, is there a dual tuner option available for this?
And what if I want HD?

I simply use a DM7020 with a WD 320 hdd for this purose .. Record say TV2 watch TV6 off freeview etc. It does all the Media Center functions play my vcd/dvd also play any mp3/mp2 - vob/jpg/gif complete with house wide streaming on wifi and a few things more to boot

But none of the Dreamboxes support HD until the DM8000, which I don't see anywhere on the horizon anytime soon... the DM7025 has dual tuners so you can mix and match between either a Cable/Satellite/Terrestrial .. but the Terrestrial you can't see on the box since it doesn't have a MPEG4/H.264 decoder. Not that I have a 7025, just what I have been told :)

Fossie

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#104914 15-Jan-2008 10:22

With DVT-T, you will be able to watch as many channels as are on a mux, at the same time. eg. The TVNZ mux, you can be recording tv 1, tv2, tvnz 6 and watching tvnz 7. With just the one tuner.

sbiddle

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#104923 15-Jan-2008 11:16

Fossie: With DVT-T, you will be able to watch as many channels as are on a mux, at the same time. eg. The TVNZ mux, you can be recording tv 1, tv2, tvnz 6 and watching tvnz 7. With just the one tuner.

Is there anything out there apart from Media Portal that can do this yet? I know it was in the works for MythTV and I heard sub was working on it for GB-PVR but I haven't read anything officially.

openmedia

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#104930 15-Jan-2008 11:31

MythTV support called multirec has just been merged into their Trunk branch for the pending 0.21 release. Should be testing this in a couple of days.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Fossie

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#105023 15-Jan-2008 17:22

Eyetv for mac can do it. Although there is no codec yet...heh
heres a shot of it.... kordia mux.