DVB-T capture card for windows 7? Howabout Leadtek?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › DVB-T capture card for windows 7? Howabout Leadtek?

Batman

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#40582 1-Sep-2009 02:47

Hi all, on top of my listed specs (the DELL), i have a 8600GT video card and cyberlink powerdvd 8. Looking to get Windows 7 Media Center to watch freeview on the computer.

Looking to get a cheap DVB-T card that works as well as the HVR2200.

Can anyone tell me if this http://www.nzoczone.com/product_info.php?products_id=26443 card gives different performance compared to the HVR2200 ie good bad faster slower can/cannot do GPU acceleration, mheg5, etc etc etc?

Thanks!

GF74

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#252105 1-Sep-2009 07:54

I am pretty sure that the DVB-T capture card does none of the processing at all. It merely produces a data stream on the PC from the terrestrial signal. Therefore one card that works should be as good as any other one.

The graphic card or the processor does the decoding and other filters provide mheg5 support, etc.

GF

allstarnz

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#252176 1-Sep-2009 11:54

yeah, the DVB-T card is 'dumb', it picks up the terrestrial signal, and the video card etc do all the processing.

mikehayton

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#252221 1-Sep-2009 13:52

FYI: If you visit the Windows 7 WHQL Catalog, you can get a list of Tuners which have passed AQ certification. The current list also includes Remote Controls. your friends or your family.

The WHQL program went live on May 5th, and between then and Windows 7 GA the list will continue to grow as our hardware partners focus on ensuring that their hardware is 100% compatible with Windows Media Center.

http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductList.aspx?m=7&g=d&cid=&aqid=6&f=86win7

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Batman

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#252487 2-Sep-2009 10:49

thanks!

pardon the ignorance, but is it true that if windows 7 can detect a dvb-t tuner card it gets the signal, and then the media center is able to use GPU to accelerate decoding? does one still need the cyberlink powerdvd codec? is the config difficult or does windows 7 do it all for you?

i've been holding out bcos from reading the forums about dvbviewer, mediaportal etc it sounds very tricky to get the settings right and from reading the forums windows 7 media center can do it i presume it's idiot proof?

thanks

mikehayton

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#252841 3-Sep-2009 09:27

So Im going to claim ignorance on this. Ive forwarded this link onto a guy at work thats more of an expert in this area. I'll see what he says...

From reading this thread. I would agree that the DVB-T tuner is likely just as good. Though I'd check it out on the WHQL link above. The original tuner's hardware encoding is for the analog (i.e. PAL) to MPEG conversion and not used on the DVB-T side.

In Win7 you dont need a codec - its included in Win7.

The hardware accleration that you'll want is on the video card side of things. Win7 Media Center will pick it up automatically and use it. I've heard that Nvidia is good. Though I'll ask about the 8600GT in relation to H.264. I would describe getting this going in Win7 as almost idiot proof.

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mikehayton

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#252853 3-Sep-2009 10:00

The word is that the 8600GT should be good

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smac

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#252855 3-Sep-2009 10:09

As far as idiot proof, yeah I'd say Win 7's MC is - I can use it! Played with MP briefly but it just seemed to be waaaay too much like hard work to replace something that the operating system (combined with the MC) can already do. Couldn't give a toss about skins etc as I use it to watch content, not look at the menu. Tough choice, something that works in 10 minutes, or something I couldn't get working after a couple hours tinkering.....

As far as hardware decoding - I am now using an integrated (9300) nvidia GPU with no extra codecs installed and can confirm from the CPU loadings that yes the GPU must be doing the work.

I've steered clear of MS for a number of years, but looks like they got it right with what I've seen of 7 so far. Will happily pay for it when the time comes (ok maybe not happily...).

Batman

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#252868 3-Sep-2009 10:35

awesome thanks! no headaches (dvbviewer mediaportal etc quadrupled by blood pressure and had to be dumped) is always good.

Nimma

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#253067 4-Sep-2009 07:38

I'd be curious to hear how you get on with the leadtek TV card as most people here seem to go with the Hauppage cards. As long as win7 recognises I can't imagine any issues since like was said at the beginning of the thread, the GPU does most of the work

Batman

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#253334 4-Sep-2009 23:08

Hi, i am not planning to buy it, at least for now, as windows 7 is not available (to me) yet. i am also seriously considering either the $60 (other brand) usb dvb-t tuner vs the $100 hauppauge 'high sensitive' dvb-t tuner as i realise i can then use it on my laptop! (which has gma4500hd which surprisingly decodes 1080i with no problems!)