Good HD PC Tuner Card?

[John L]

I have a Win-TV-D and a Remote Control.  When I have both the TV and computer on and display the video from the computer onto the TV, the Remote Control can affect both control between the TV and Win-TV-D.

Yes I do have a video card that outputs NTSC video in which I have connected to my VCR.  I can view things on the internet on my TV if I rather watch that then the monitor. But the monitor provides better and sharper images.

-John L.

[tazman]

Hi Snard

Yes the remote does work under Windows XP with the Hauppauge software which is the WINTV2000 software that I talk about.  The thing that I cannot do is to tune any multi cast channels with it.  Example, lets say I select channel 46 digital which is the channel that WDJT 58 multi casts on.  There is no feature on the remote that allows me to select lets say 46.2 or 46.3 or 46.4.  I have to go to my Windows XP desktop where the WINTV2000 software is running and right click in that window to get a popup menu, from there I can select from a list of the multi casts for that particular channel.  Just for a little clarification the Hauppauge card has it's own YPP component outputs which I have connected to my TV.  My Nvidia cards VGA output goes through a RCA RGB to YPP transcoder box and then to another set of YPP inputs on my TV.  The Hauppauge card is not able to display anything on the TV through it's YPP connections other than it's own output, in other words  it will not pass through anything from the desktop,  It also does not have a DVD decoder so I can not upscale DVD movies with it.  I do however use my PC to play DVD's and use the Nvidia card to output my movies as 720p.  Not as good as the same movie in true HD, but better than a stand alone progressive scan DVD player, and that I know for a fact because I had a Toshiba Progressive DVD player hooked up and set to progressive, and tried a movie in both the PC's DVD player and the Toshiba.  Thats why I say that when I want to see whats on some of the multicasts, I have to switch inputs with my TV remote to get to the Win XP desktop and then switch back again.

[HiDefDon]

I have been using the HiDTV card for over a year and it is working very well for me.  I use it almost every day (just finished watching CSI which is wonderful on HTDV).  I also have an RCA DTC-100 STB and can verify that the HiDTV card definitely has better tuner performance.  Unfortunately this tuner card is not being supported and is not being sold any more in the US, so I really can't recommend it.

If I were going to purchase a tuner card today, I would go with the latest MyHD card.  If you are willing to wait a few more weeks (months?) the ATI card looks interesting.  The ATI tuner card uses the NXT2004 demodulator chip which should provide the best available tuner performance (high sensitivity and best tolerance of multipath).

Here in the Dallas area (I do still miss Manitowoc and Milwaukee) we have been furtunate that OTA HDTV programming has been available from many stations for some time.  I am planning to add an ATI card to my main home computer and record HDTV onto a Firewire 800 hard drive.  Then I can unplug the hard drive and attach it to my HTPC for viewing and selective archiving.

DonP

[tazman]

Hi to HIDEFDON

I only wish I would have taken a closer look at the MyHD card before making the decission to buy the Hauppauge card.  They were both in the same price range.  As far as tuner sensitivity goes the WINTV-HD card from Hauppauge leaves much to be desired.  We have a low power analog channel in Milwaukee which transmits MTV-2 programming.  When connecting my antenna lead to the built in tuner on my TV I can receive it just fine.  Then connecting that same cable to the Hauppauge card, the signal is barely dicernable.  I did here about the ATI card as well and I do periodicaly check their site  to look for specs and features and a possible release date.  I only have to convince my wife that it's worth spending another $300. on a new computer upgrade versus just getting a stand alone STB.  My wife hates having to deal with operating anything on a computer just to watch TV and I do believe I have things simplified as much as I possibly can.

[bigcheeshead]

Thanks to all that responded to this thread. I've been monitoring every response and I think I'm finally ready to make my decision.
I will purchase MyHD card and build a dedicated Media Center PC with myhtpc software.
The system will only be connected to the TV via RGB, no regular monitor will be required. In addition to watching TV I would like to watch DVD's etc on the PC.

To accomplish this I'm assuming I'll have to use configuration #3, see http://www.digitalconnection.com/Support/cn_myhd8.asp

Could someone please clarify to me why.
1. I have to use a transcoder instead of a cheap vga to component cable.
2. Why does the video card needs to be hooked up to MyHD card?

Also, so I understand this correctly. The card will only work with OTA and not TW cable HD?

P.S. For those of you that haven't seen myhtpc do yourself a favor and check out this wonderful freeware. I fell in love with it the first day http:\\//www.myhtpc.net

[sp44again]

myhtpc rocks! :rock:

[Doug Mohr]

Originally posted by bigcheeshead
Could someone please clarify to me why.
1. I have to use a transcoder instead of a cheap vga to component cable.
2. Why does the video card needs to be hooked up to MyHD card?

Also, so I understand this correctly. The card will only work with OTA and not TW cable HD?

1. If you mean RGBHV component, you can. If you mean Y-Pb-Pr component, then you can't. The MyHD VGA passthrough does not convert VGA to Y-Pb-Pr. If you use a Y-Pb-Pr output on the MyHD card to a Y-Pb-Pr monitor, you will never see your desktop since the card just passes along the vga output of the card.

2. to allow viewing the desktop for other computer activity or to see the HD broadcasts in a scalable window.

I only use it for OTA, but I am 99.99% positive that it will work fine with cable. In fact I think that is the reason for two inputs, one can be antenna and another, cable.

As for watching DVDs, the new MyHD software does some impressive DVD playback. You just need DVD Region Free to allow viewing of protected content in full screen.

Doug

[tazman]

That is similar to the Hauppauge card that I have.  I use a RCA RGB to YPP transcoder box which is available at American for $75 or $80.  You didn't say what HD set you have.  Some, like the Samsung LCD and DLP have a VGA port on them already and you do not have to do anything else.  In my case I needed to use the transcoder box.  I also needed to install PowerStrip to set my video timmings correctly, even though Nvidia's latest drivers support 1280x720P, I was not able to get the horizontal sync set correctly to center the picture without using PowerStrip.  As far as digital cable goes Gregg Lengling might be able to answer your question on that, he has one of those cards.  My Hauppauge supports only analoge cable, at least thats what it says in the instructions.  Be very carefull when adjusting video timming settings with PowerStrip some sets do not take well to incorrect settings.  I'm lucky the Sony I have is very forgiving and it hasn't blown up.  I stand corrected, you did say what set you have.  I didn't see that untill after I posted this.

[Gregg Lengling]

None of the tuner cards "YET" support digital cable..they only support analog cable.  I'm sure it's only a matter of time, but I haven't even seen a press release on one that does digital cable yet...but stay tuned when someone announces one you can be sure I'll post it on the Latest News forum.

[Doug Mohr]

Not having ever subscribed to cable, I didn't know that TW cable HD = Digital Cable.

Sorry if I confused anyone.

Doug

[Gregg Lengling]

Originally posted by Doug Mohr
Not having ever subscribed to cable, I didn't know that TW cable HD = Digital Cable.

Sorry if I confused anyone.

Doug

No problem everyone learns something new here all the time.  Whilst HD from TW is digital, just remember you don't have to subscribe to digital cable to get it.  You can have basic cable and add the HD box and HD services without upgrading to the digital package.  From what I understand this is for local HD channels....if you want HBO or SHOW HD you'll still have to subscribe to digital in order to receive those packages though.

(Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

[mrmike]

Originally posted by Gregg Lengling
None of the tuner cards "YET" support digital cable..they only support analog cable.  

The Fusion HDTV III supports QAM in theory, but it doesn't work yet.

-MM

[Doug Mohr]

Originally posted by Gregg Lengling
No problem everyone learns something new here all the time.  Whilst HD from TW is digital, just remember you don't have to subscribe to digital cable to get it.  You can have basic cable and add the HD box and HD services without upgrading to the digital package.  From what I understand this is for local HD channels....if you want HBO or SHOW HD you'll still have to subscribe to digital in order to receive those packages though.

(Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

Man, that's confusing! I'll think I'll stick with OTA :cool:

Doug