What is the best HDTV tuner card for PC?

[Craig]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Hi,

I want to buy a HDTV Card for my PC. I have had regular TV cards for my PC
before (Hauppauge, etc.), but what are the options in the HD world? I would
like to record, but that's not a must. I want to be able to get broadcast,
OTA shows using an antenna, and I can live with just watching (not
recording).

I have a dual Athlon 2600 running Windows 2000 Pro, and an nVidia GeForce
5900

I've heard of the ATI HDTV Wonder, but what are the other options?

(links to reviews of the cards would be great!)

Thanks!
Craig

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Hauppauge has a product called "WinTV-HD" in fact I'm looking at one on my
desk right now. The only problem with the Hauppauge card is that you can't
input HD content through component cables or DVI. The only digital TV you
can watch is what you can pull off the airwaves.

I'd kill for a card that can take 1080 component input.

 

[Andy]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

MDP-120 <http/www.mitinc.co.kr/mitinc/e_site/index.jsp>

FusionHDTV <http/www.dvico.com/products_mul_hd.html>
DxVA SW decoder in computer with AMD CPU has some kind of bug.
Works fine with Pentium 4.

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 17:53:55 -0600, "Craig"
<craiggarrett@no_pam_cox.net> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I want to buy a HDTV Card for my PC. I have had regular TV cards for my PC
>before (Hauppauge, etc.), but what are the options in the HD world? I would
>like to record, but that's not a must. I want to be able to get broadcast,
>OTA shows using an antenna, and I can live with just watching (not
>recording).
>
>I have a dual Athlon 2600 running Windows 2000 Pro, and an nVidia GeForce
>5900
>
>I've heard of the ATI HDTV Wonder, but what are the other options?
>
>(links to reviews of the cards would be great!)
>
>Thanks!
>Craig
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I use the Dvico Fusion card. It is a pretty cool card, they keep releasing
new and improved software for it, which is nice. Its a bitch to buy
something that gets forgotten and unsupported. It does OTA HD and Cable HD
(QAM, non encrypted), as well as analog SD. Timeshifting too, that wasn't a
feature yet when I bought mine.

Scheduled recording using TitanTV is really cool, though I don't really use
it. Just click RECORD when viewing the guide and it programs to record your
show.

To Halfeaten:
As to a component capture card, good luck. Its been discussed to death.
You can't record uncompressed HD for a number of reasons, one being the
incredible data rates (1.5gbs). Real time compression is just not an option
with todays consumer technology. One MUST use an internal HDTV tuner to do
recordings, or use a DVR supplied by your TV provider (cable/sat).

--Dan


"Craig" <craiggarrett@no_pam_cox.net> wrote in message
news:sAEEd.21503$ql2.2073@okepread04...
> Hi,
>
> I want to buy a HDTV Card for my PC. I have had regular TV cards for my
> PC
> before (Hauppauge, etc.), but what are the options in the HD world? I
> would
> like to record, but that's not a must. I want to be able to get
> broadcast,
> OTA shows using an antenna, and I can live with just watching (not
> recording).
>
> I have a dual Athlon 2600 running Windows 2000 Pro, and an nVidia GeForce
> 5900
>
> I've heard of the ATI HDTV Wonder, but what are the other options?
>
> (links to reviews of the cards would be great!)
>
> Thanks!
> Craig
>
>

 

[Craig]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Thanks for the info everyone! I've now looked into it a bit myself, and I
still have 2 questions:

1. I have heard that HD TV cards don't like computers with dual
processors/SMP/Hyperthreading because the cards need a dedicated IRQ, but
Windows doesn't use IRQs when in SMP mode - are there any HD TV cards out
there that claim to work in such computers? Which cards definitely *don't*
work in these computers? (I think the web site for the MyHD card flat out
says it won't work in a dual processor computer)

2. Will the ATI HDTV Wonder work on a Windows 2000 computer, or is Windows
XP required?

Thanks,
Craig

"Andy" <1@2.3> wrote in message
news:l957u05r5gli64k097o353521mucajp1qm@4ax.com...
> MDP-120 <http/www.mitinc.co.kr/mitinc/e_site/index.jsp>
>
> FusionHDTV <http/www.dvico.com/products_mul_hd.html>
> DxVA SW decoder in computer with AMD CPU has some kind of bug.
> Works fine with Pentium 4.
>
> On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 17:53:55 -0600, "Craig"
> <craiggarrett@no_pam_cox.net> wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >I want to buy a HDTV Card for my PC. I have had regular TV cards for my
PC
> >before (Hauppauge, etc.), but what are the options in the HD world? I
would
> >like to record, but that's not a must. I want to be able to get
broadcast,
> >OTA shows using an antenna, and I can live with just watching (not
> >recording).
> >
> >I have a dual Athlon 2600 running Windows 2000 Pro, and an nVidia GeForce
> >5900
> >
> >I've heard of the ATI HDTV Wonder, but what are the other options?
> >
> >(links to reviews of the cards would be great!)
> >
> >Thanks!
> >Craig
> >
>

 

[sierra]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 21:40:36 GMT, "dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I use the Dvico Fusion card. It is a pretty cool card, they keep releasing
>new and improved software for it, which is nice. Its a bitch to buy
>something that gets forgotten and unsupported. It does OTA HD and Cable HD
>(QAM, non encrypted), as well as analog SD. Timeshifting too, that wasn't a
>feature yet when I bought mine.
>

I read a forum at avforums the other day about the fusion card and it
was ugly over there. Mostly complaints about the QAM performance.

Have you read through that forum ?

Don't know who to believe as the reviews are quite good, but the
owners seem to be pissed.

 

[sonic]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

<sierra@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:c0qcu0d3ljkm8332cvvacciogl96vc0gas@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 21:40:36 GMT, "dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>I use the Dvico Fusion card. It is a pretty cool card, they keep
>>releasing
>>new and improved software for it, which is nice. Its a bitch to buy
>>something that gets forgotten and unsupported. It does OTA HD and Cable
>>HD
>>(QAM, non encrypted), as well as analog SD. Timeshifting too, that wasn't
>>a
>>feature yet when I bought mine.
>>
>
> I read a forum at avforums the other day about the fusion card and it
> was ugly over there. Mostly complaints about the QAM performance.
>
> Have you read through that forum ?
>
> Don't know who to believe as the reviews are quite good, but the
> owners seem to be pissed.
>
QAM as I've read has gotten much better with newer releases of the software.
The AVS thread starts in May and is stil ongoing. In May no one could get
QAM reception working right and now it seems to be much less of a problem. I
use a Fusion II for OTA tuning and it's given good results. While Dvico
offers QAM I'm sure that I wouldn't purchase one if cable was my only
source, unless it could be returned if it didn't work. What is the biggest
plus for some, is it works with Windows MCE 2005 with the latest drivers.
The fusion has matured both hardware and software since it's release and
like most hardware has had issues, maybe more than others as it's launched a
new hardware/software idea.

From Copperbox, one company selling the Dvico Fusion

"*QAM reception and compatibility may vary by market and cable company.
FusionHDTV3-QAM is capable of receiving QAM(64,256) unencrypted
("in-the-clear") modulated SD/HDTV signals as confirmed in DVICO's lab with
test equipment. DViCO is not claiming that the FusioHDTV3-QAM is capable of
receiving QAM digital cable channels in every installation.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I have not read the complaints from owners, but I suspect I know why they
are complaining. You see, the QAM feature can only be used if your cable
company sends out unencrypted HD. What cable company does that? None that
I know of.

I am satisfied, but I should say that I only wanted the card for OTA HD. I
got the QAM version just because it was the latest version, why not?

--Dan

<sierra@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:c0qcu0d3ljkm8332cvvacciogl96vc0gas@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 21:40:36 GMT, "dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>I use the Dvico Fusion card. It is a pretty cool card, they keep
>>releasing
>>new and improved software for it, which is nice. Its a bitch to buy
>>something that gets forgotten and unsupported. It does OTA HD and Cable
>>HD
>>(QAM, non encrypted), as well as analog SD. Timeshifting too, that wasn't
>>a
>>feature yet when I bought mine.
>>
>
> I read a forum at avforums the other day about the fusion card and it
> was ugly over there. Mostly complaints about the QAM performance.
>
> Have you read through that forum ?
>
> Don't know who to believe as the reviews are quite good, but the
> owners seem to be pissed.
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote:

> the QAM feature can only be used if
> your cable company sends out unencrypted HD. What cable company does
> that? None that I know of.

It is my understanding that if OTA HD channels are available in your area,
the local cable company is obliged to carry them over basic cable at no
extra cost. That certainly is the case with Comcast in the Wash DC area...
all the major network and PBS HD channels come over my cable and are
displayed perfectly by my Sony's QAM tuner without a STB or CC. Only
premium extra-cost channels are encrypted, but not NBC, CBS, etc.

I would hope that a _good_ PC card tuner should work as well.

--
Anti-Spam address: my last name at his dot com
Charles Gillen -- Reston, Virginia, USA

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Charles Gillen wrote:
>
> "dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > the QAM feature can only be used if
> > your cable company sends out unencrypted HD. What cable company does
> > that? None that I know of.
>
> It is my understanding that if OTA HD channels are available in your area,
> the local cable company is obliged to carry them over basic cable at no
> extra cost.

That's a very 'tricky' statement above that needs some
clarification......

The OTA local HD channel coming from the Tower may not be put on local
Cable
IF the Local Cable Co and Local HD station management can not come to
a
common agreement.

This applies to FOX-HD in GBay... (FOX-HD not on TWC)

The must carry rule applies to local Cable Co who are requested by the
local
HD station to carry station HD content IF station HD Programming
differs
from the Analog SD content.


This applies to UPN-HD in GBay (UPN-HD not on TWC) here HS & Analog
content
is the same...

In either case, IF the Cable Co 'does happen' to Carry HD locals,
There
will be no customer Cable charge for Cable access to these HD
local Channels.

Is the must carry item clarified or more confusing???

That certainly is the case with Comcast in the Wash DC area...
> all the major network and PBS HD channels come over my cable and are
> displayed perfectly by my Sony's QAM tuner without a STB or CC. Only
> premium extra-cost channels are encrypted, but not NBC, CBS, etc.
>
> I would hope that a _good_ PC card tuner should work as well.
>
> --
> Anti-Spam address: my last name at his dot com
> Charles Gillen -- Reston, Virginia, USA

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

That makes some sense, I just wasn't even considering local OTA over cable.
If at all possible, it would be better to just use an antenna as the cable
signal is no doubt compressed much more than OTA.

--Dan

"Charles Gillen" <see-my-sig@below.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95DD9203F34A6gillen@216.194.192.13...
> It is my understanding that if OTA HD channels are available in your area,
> the local cable company is obliged to carry them over basic cable at no
> extra cost. That certainly is the case with Comcast in the Wash DC
> area...
> all the major network and PBS HD channels come over my cable and are
> displayed perfectly by my Sony's QAM tuner without a STB or CC. Only
> premium extra-cost channels are encrypted, but not NBC, CBS, etc.
>
> I would hope that a _good_ PC card tuner should work as well.
>
> --
> Anti-Spam address: my last name at his dot com
> Charles Gillen -- Reston, Virginia, USA

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Charles Gillen wrote:
>
> "dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > the QAM feature can only be used if
> > your cable company sends out unencrypted HD. What cable company does
> > that? None that I know of.
>
> It is my understanding that if OTA HD channels are available in your area,
> the local cable company is obliged to carry them over basic cable at no
> extra cost. That certainly is the case with Comcast in the Wash DC area...
> all the major network and PBS HD channels come over my cable and are
> displayed perfectly by my Sony's QAM tuner without a STB or CC. Only
> premium extra-cost channels are encrypted, but not NBC, CBS, etc.

I only wish this was true. Time Warner Cable in Raleigh, NC
does not provide OTA HD-TV channels over the basic cable
set-up. I wish they did, since the local TV station provide
additional contenton their HD channels.

Ed

>
> I would hope that a _good_ PC card tuner should work as well.
>
> --
> Anti-Spam address: my last name at his dot com
> Charles Gillen -- Reston, Virginia, USA

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I have an ATI HDTV Wonder running on a 3.6GHZ (Intel 560) with HT
enabled with no issues. The drivers for the ATI card have gotten much
better. When they first came out, and I swear I got one of the first
, the thing wouldn't even load the drivers. Sat for a few weeks
waiting on new beta drivers and it finally would load, now with the
current drivers it works very well. I use it with (XP) - Media Center
2005 edition


--
sampatterson
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This message was posted via http/www.satelliteguys.us by sampatterson

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

sampatterson wrote:
> I have an ATI HDTV Wonder running on a 3.6GHZ (Intel 560) with HT
> enabled with no issues. The drivers for the ATI card have gotten
much
> better. When they first came out, and I swear I got one of the first
> , the thing wouldn't even load the drivers. Sat for a few weeks
> waiting on new beta drivers and it finally would load, now with the
> current drivers it works very well. I use it with (XP) - Media
Center
> 2005 edition
>
>
> --
> sampatterson
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This message was posted via http/www.satelliteguys.us by
sampatterson

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

test

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Sorry for the empty posts, it lost my first post and I did not want to
retype the whole thing only to lose it again.

I live in NYC and use Time Warner Cable, if I upgrade to their HD
package and get an HD Tuner, souldn't that tuner output in unecrypted
QAM??? Can I then use a FusionHDTV3 card to input the signal into my
MCE 2005 system?

I have searched the AVSForums and cannot find out what TWC uses as a
signal to know if the fusion card will be able to pick it up (i.e. QAM
64/256) any advice?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I would like to know the correct Linux xorg.conf modeline to use when
connecting an Athlon xp 1800 PC with a GeForce FX 5200 video card to an
RCA HDTV monitor (16:9 aspect ratio), model #D40W20. I am using a DVI
cable to connect the two. When I use Jarrod's xorg.conf at
http/wilsonet.com/mythtv/xorg.conf-HD.txt the output is not distorted
(though with significant flickering), but only a quarter of the output
is visible (really big) and you must scroll over to get the rest of it.
This is the section of the file (I think) is being applied:
# My 960x540p mode
Mode "960x540p"
DotClock 37.26
HTimings 960 976 1008 1104
VTimings 540 542 548 563
Flags "+HSync" "+VSync"
This from the Amazon D40W20 product description:
RCA's 40-inch-diagonal D40W20 widescreen HDTV monitor gives you a
smooth, filmlike image when used with a progressive-scan DVD player (or
480p-output DTV set-top box). This projection set includes the latest
connectivity: a DVI input with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content
Protection), which allows transmission of uncompressed digital video
signals from an HDTV set-top box (not included) to the D40W20.

Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal
lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the
scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution
and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Both
of the set's high-definition (1080i/480p) component-video inputs
benefit from the Syncroscan system, which automatically performs
high-resolution pixel mapping from sources up to SXGA resolution.

Sorry for rambling on, but I would really appreciate some guidance.
Thanks in advance,

Eric