What TV tuner should I get?

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rattewisday

205 posts

Master Geek
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#24483 25-Jul-2008 14:26

Hi :)

I'm interested in getting a TV tuner for my PC but there are so many options and I don't really know what to look for! I've looked through this forum a bit and it seems Hauppauge products are popular but I don't really understand the difference between all the different models. Basically I want a tuner with either a USB (2.0) or PCI-E interface. It needs to support both analogue and digital signals (DVB-T is what I'm after I think?). It would also be nice if it had the capability to recieve/record two DVB-T signals at the same time (e.g. record a show on TV3 and watch TV2 at the same time).

Any ideas on what tuner I should get? :) Also what type of connections/cables will it need? Do the tuners connect to the standard areial plug that goes in to the back of my old TV? I havn't had any experience with DVB-T so I'm not really sure how it works.

Thanks for your help!
Daniel

EDIT: I should mention I will be using DVBViewer for DVB-T and possibly MCE for the analogue signals if that is possible? I will use the Cyberlink codec to support hardware acceleration with my 8500GT. :)

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183 posts

Master Geek

#151317 25-Jul-2008 15:21

The Hauppauge HVR2200 is pci-e and has 2 tuners for watching one channel and recording the other. Supports analogue and DVB-T. To view Analogue and Freeview Terrestrial plug your aerial cable into the card. If you have good uhf reception and get prime well you should be able to pick up the Freeview Terrestrial channels.

To view the channels on tv you need to connect the graphics card to the tv either through composite, s-video, component, dvi, hdmi.

Does DVBViewer support hardware acceleration?

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rattewisday

205 posts

Master Geek
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#151321 25-Jul-2008 15:30

Actually I've decided I don't need to record from DVB-T and analogue at the same time, but I would like to record two channels from DVB-T at the same time if that makes any difference. I would like a cheap reliable solution. :) On the HVR2200 what are the different plugs on the backplate for?

davidcole

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#151331 25-Jul-2008 15:50

Yes that does make a difference. Now you'll need to look at the Nova-T 500 HD (again from Hauppauge) - this is a dual PCI DVB-T tuner. I don't know if there is a PCI-E equivalent.

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charley

183 posts

Master Geek

#151364 25-Jul-2008 16:42

dannyres:
Actually I've decided I don't need to record from DVB-T and analogue at the same time, but I would like to record two channels from DVB-T at the same time if that makes any difference. I would like a cheap reliable solution. :) On the HVR2200 what are the different plugs on the backplate for?

I dont have one but the card also supports capturing vhs, camcorde etc so i'm guessing aerial in, s-video in, composite in, line in, line out? Probably also radio in and infra red in for remote?

amphibem

138 posts

Master Geek

#151379 25-Jul-2008 17:32

I see no reason to get the Nova T 500 over the HVR 2200 as they cost about the same, and can both record off two DVB-T mux's at once. The only difference is that one or both of the tuners on the HVR 2200 can record analog instead of digital.

So you can record pretty much as much digital you want (unless you care about Parliament TV or Maori TV), which would appear to satisfy your requirements. But you could also record analog when you wanted. Plus it leaves PCI slots avaliable for other cards.

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eXDee

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#151382 25-Jul-2008 17:46

amphibem: I see no reason to get the Nova T 500 over the HVR 2200

The remote.

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amphibem

138 posts

Master Geek

#151388 25-Jul-2008 17:56

Ah didn't realise that. I would personally recommend for an HTPC some form a learning remote, like the Microsoft MCE UBS2 remote or a fancier Logitech etc, rather than add another remote to the pile on the coffee table. In this case it sounds like the OP wants to use this on a desktop and hence doesn't need a remote.

So I would still recommend an HVR2200 over the Nova T 500, but I have a Nova T 500 and it is a good card so go for it if you want it. Just need to realise they can both record off two digital tuners at once.

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rattewisday

205 posts

Master Geek
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#151395 25-Jul-2008 18:26

Ok cool so it looks like I will either go with the Nova-T 500 or the HVR2200. Do they both have analogue support also (it doesn't need to run at the same time as the digital interface..just mainly so I can get channels like Prime)?

Here is a picture of the HVR2200:

I can't seem to find a closer picture though. Anyone know for sure what these plugs are?

davidcole

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#151413 25-Jul-2008 19:02

I didn't realise the the HVR2200 was a dual DVB-T and an anlogue tuner. Is that correct? If so my apologies, and that card looks better all the time.

charley

183 posts

Master Geek

#151419 25-Jul-2008 19:34

WinTV-HVR-2200 PCI-Express card with built-in DVB-T, PAL/SECAM TV receivers, FM radio receiver and S-Video, Composite and stereo audio inputs. No remote.

WinTV-NOVA-T 500 PCI, Dual DVB-T tuner. No analogue support. Includes the Hauppauge IR remote control
http://www.hauppauge.com.sg/site/products/data_novat500.html

mcraenz

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#151429 25-Jul-2008 20:08

Depending what software you which to use; get an HVR-2200 is has 2 tuners so you can record:
1xAnalog+1xDVB-T
or
2xAnalog
Or
2xDVB-T

The best part about the HVR-2200 is that it has a hardware MPEG2 encoder for the analog side, this is something that you absolutely need if you're serious about building an HTPC.

I don't think the older Nova-T 500 will be much chop for analog.

I have an HVR 2200 and use it with MediaPortal TVServer, it's a great card.

Be aware that there are other hardware requirements for DVB-T, i.e. a video card that supports h.264 decoding.

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charley

183 posts

Master Geek

#151439 25-Jul-2008 20:46

mcraenz could you answer a couple of questions please?

Does the hardware MPEG2 encoder influence the quality of video output or does it just releave the cpu of MPEG2 encoding? And how good of a job does it do?
Also does the hardware MPEG2 encoder chip also encode the incoming signals from s-video?

cheers,
charley

mcraenz

1140 posts

Uber Geek
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#151453 25-Jul-2008 22:08

1. I doubt it makes much, if any difference, especially considering the source. The main purpose is to relieve the CPU and simplify the process; it means that it's so much more simple for the PVR app; i.e video goes in, data comes out; simple, cuts out lots of software steps.

2.Yes it will encode s-video in :-)

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1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#151471 25-Jul-2008 22:51

mcraenz: Depending what software you which to use; get an HVR-2200 is has 2 tuners so you can record:
1xAnalog+1xDVB-T
or
2xAnalog
Or
2xDVB-T

The best part about the HVR-2200 is that it has a hardware MPEG2 encoder for the analog side, this is something that you absolutely need if you're serious about building an HTPC.

I don't think the older Nova-T 500 will be much chop for analog.

I have an HVR 2200 and use it with MediaPortal TVServer, it's a great card.

Be aware that there are other hardware requirements for DVB-T, i.e. a video card that supports h.264 decoding.

Couldn't agree more. Even though analogue is SLOOOOOWLY disappearing, it still is a vital component for an efficient HTPC.
Here's the review that sold me on the card http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/techreviews/?p=195

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Asmodeus

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#151488 25-Jul-2008 23:49

dannyres: Ok cool so it looks like I will either go with the Nova-T 500 or the HVR2200. Do they both have analogue support also (it doesn't need to run at the same time as the digital interface..just mainly so I can get channels like Prime)?

Here is a picture of the HVR2200:

I can't seem to find a closer picture though. Anyone know for sure what these plugs are?

1x TV aerial (digital & analog in same input)
1x FM antenna
1x S-video
1x audio

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