TV Cards

ToxicPaddy

Im just wondering whats a good TV card to get.. dont need anything fancy that allows TV programs to be recorded or edited, just to watch them.

Any suggestions?

Tox

KdjaCL

Pc World have a cheap happage one €50 i think it was.

Can record with the software given but display loks good mate got one.
Handy for little windows tv viewing.
kdjac

hostyle

Hauppage are good. Get the most expensive PCI one you can afford.

CyberGhost

like KdjaC says, hauppauge is the way to go!

if you'll need a better quality go for pinnacle! but costs a little bit more

butts

I use a Hauppauge pci card with DScaler software for watching TV. Not sure if it was worth my while paying extra for the Nicam version, as Nicam reception seems to come and go on our cable connection (I'm with Chorus).

ToxicPaddy

Well its for company use and Im upgrading the graphics cards on the PCs so money
isnt that main issue but Im not willing to spend a fortune on crap cards..

willing to go up around the €100 mark..


Tox

CyberGhost

get Pinnacle PCTV Pro!

ToxicPaddy

Do I need a fairly decent graphics card for the PC aswell as the TV tuner card?

Tox

BoB_BoT

not really, you can use a geforce 2 if you want

daveg

I have/had an all in wonder 9000 pro. Does everything you need and you can use it as a PVR. Excellent card and not a bad graphics card as well (about Ti4200 standard?). I've just sold it unfortunatly Toxic.

subway_ie

Originally posted by CyberGhost
get Pinnacle PCTV Pro!

I've got one of of these, and unless they've changed them (bought it about a year ago in... CompuStore *shudders*) and they're not that great. Before I updated the drivers, it caused a lot of crashes and the recordings were *always* out of synch. After updating the drivers, the recordings are still usually out of synch (depends on what setting you use) but the system crashes have stopped. I'd avoid this one if I were you.

ToxicPaddy

ok, sounds good..

Well basically, there are 4 PC's.
Each with P4 2.4Ghz chips, 256MB RAM and all have 128MB Graphics cards..

So all I need is a 4 of these..

Has anyone here got these working with NTL standard service?

Tox

ToxicPaddy

Originally posted by daveg
I've just sold it unfortunatly Toxic.

NO worries mate, Im buying them new anyway as its for a company.

Tox

ToxicPaddy

Originally posted by subway_ie
I've got one of of these, and unless they've changed them (bought it about a year ago in... CompuStore *shudders*) and they're not that great. Before I updated the drivers, it caused a lot of crashes and the recordings were *always* out of synch. After updating the drivers, the recordings are still usually out of synch (depends on what setting you use) but the system crashes have stopped. I'd avoid this one if I were you.

I dont think they plan on recording anything on them, just need it to watch tv,
channels like Sky news and NBC..

Tox

CyberGhost

Originally posted by subway_ie
I've got one of of these, and unless they've changed them (bought it about a year ago in... CompuStore *shudders*) and they're not that great. Before I updated the drivers, it caused a lot of crashes and the recordings were *always* out of synch. After updating the drivers, the recordings are still usually out of synch (depends on what setting you use) but the system crashes have stopped. I'd avoid this one if I were you.

but it's quality of picture/tv is good! better than hauppauge Win TV series

celticfc

Yep, I agree the Pinnacle cards give a very good quality picture (even at full screen), I'd definitely reccomend them.

I have the Pinnacle Pinnacle PCTV Stereo Card that I got from SVP here (you have to scroll down near the bottom) for stg£29.99. (Their delivery prices are quite high, but I was buying tons of stuff from that site at the time so it didn't really seem as much)

I'm delighted with it, the sound is great, I think the stereo is well worth the money.

Oh, & BTW I use it with Basic ntl analogue too ToxicPaddy.

cormie

I got the WinTv usb with S.Video connection I connected my ps2 and when in fullscreen it's very pixelated and the clock is hard to read and when taking free kicks, the bar doesnt go up as it would on the tv. Is this a processor speed problem or maybe the fact I only have USB 1?

What can I do to improve the picture quality?? Graphics card? different software/encoder?

I use a laptop.

Thanks

tuxy

iv been trying to find this out for a while now with no success

has anyone got one of these to work with an indoor aerial?

i know the picture wont be great but would it be at least as good as a regular tv with indoor aerial?

hostyle

Originally posted by tuxx
has anyone got one of these to work with an indoor aerial?

i know the picture wont be great but would it be at least as good as a regular tv with indoor aerial?

What do you mean by "one of these"? I've got Hauppauge cards to work fine with an indoor aerial attached. Quality sucked, but I have really bad reception where I currently live. Was as good as or very close to the quality on the TV though.

cormie

any way to improve fullscreen quality to make it look as good as it would on a tv???

CyberGhost

use better program

like DScaler, it's really nice! and has lots of features! and quality is awesome! it sucks it doesn't support Pinnacle PCTV Pro

cormie

I downloaded Dscaler, looks good, but there are allot of settings and I'm not too sure which to pick. I haven't got the S.Video to display on the screen yet. Any suggestions?

celticfc

Originally posted by CyberGhost
use better program

like DScaler, it's really nice! and has lots of features! and quality is awesome! it sucks it doesn't support Pinnacle PCTV Pro

Yeah, I tried that with my Pinnacle PCTV Stereo, but it wouldn't recognise it, although it says it will support the Pinnacle cards here on the DScaler supported cards list.

CyberGhost

Originally posted by celticfc
Yeah, I tried that with my Pinnacle PCTV Stereo, but it wouldn't recognise it, although it says it will support the Pinnacle cards here on the DScaler supported cards list.

maybe in their future release ?

Have you tried ChrisTV?

It another awesome program! that supports PCTV fully!

it's much better than the pinnacle program supplied with those cards

celticfc

Originally posted by CyberGhost
maybe in their future release ?

Have you tried ChrisTV?

It another awesome program! that supports PCTV fully!

it's much better than the pinnacle program supplied with those cards

I'll give it a go,

thanks.