TV tuner recomeendations for MCE

MunkyHed

Hi,

I'm glad this forum has started, just setting up an MCE PC now and will need some help i think.
I have to install a good TV tuner with FM radio support, looking at the ones on Komplett, anyone got a recommendation?
Some of these cards come with a remote control, is this the only remote i will need to control all aspects of MCE?

spartacus93

I have the Hauppauge PVR150 and can't fault it. Don't really use the FM radio but it does work good.

My 150 did not come with a remote and I bought the Microsoft one. This includes a blaster that enables it to change channel on your NTL/SKY set top box. This is necessary if you want to record off sky or NTL.

However, Hauppauge now sell MCE kits, which includes their cards and a Media Centre remote, this will do the job perfectly. Just ensure they come with a blaster.

I bought them both on eBay.

PVR150 -> €85
Remote -> €45ish

subway

hauppauge's mce remote is crap imo.
feels cheap.

stick with the ms one.

the 150 is great if you have rf but steer well clear if your using it with composite cables

MunkyHed

I have just got the Chorus analogue channels coming into the house at the moment, don't really mind if the remote feels cheap as long as it works!
I'll just basically be using my PC as a tv and maybe recording the odd program. I'll check out the 150 in a while.

zAbbo

I'll be going with the PVR-500 MCE, i have a link somewhere on how to differenciate the model numbers.

spartacus93

subway wrote:

the 150 is great if you have rf but steer well clear if your using it with composite cables

I use it with composite cables, no other way if you have NTL digital. It's perfect.

spartacus93

zabbo wrote:

I'll be going with the PVR-500 MCE, i have a link somewhere on how to differenciate the model numbers.

The 500 has two tuners, that's about the only difference.

MunkyHed

So if you have two tuners you can slipt your co-ax cable and that way you could record one channel while watching and watch another ya?

subway

spartacus93 wrote:

I use it with composite cables, no other way if you have NTL digital. It's perfect.

how did you get around the noise distortion?

zAbbo

MunkyHed wrote:

So if you have two tuners you can slipt your co-ax cable and that way you could record one channel while watching and watch another ya?

Afaik a card with two tuners, takes one input, and splits it internally.

subway

zabbo wrote:

Afaik a card with two tuners, takes one input, and splits it internally.

2 tuners = 2 inputs

spartacus93

subway wrote:

2 tuners = 2 inputs

Not correct, that card in the picture shows two tuners, but only one input. There is however an available addition that allows another set of inputs to be added.

Also, I have never suffered any noise distortion on my PVR150

subway

audio problem -

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=6704

officially acknowledged by hauppauge so maybe your lucky?
drivers didnt fix the problem in mce for me unforutnatley

just noticed there that thats the fm input,
pvr 500 useless for someone with 2 ntl boxes then...

spartacus93

subway wrote:

audio problem -

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=6704

officially acknowledged by hauppauge so maybe your lucky?
drivers didnt fix the problem in mce for me unforutnatley

just noticed there that thats the fm input,
pvr 500 useless for someone with 2 ntl boxes then...

Trust me when it comes to computers, I'm not lucky!

pH on this thread links to an add on for the pvr500 that adds an extra set of inputs http://pie.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054918651

8T8

Question for any of you folks with the Hauppauge PVR-150MCE

Does it record widescreen content in widescreen ?
[Something to my dismay I found the ATI 550 Pro does not]

Does anyone have a scart set top box output->composite or s-video input setup confirmed working ?

spartacus93

8T8 wrote:

Question for any of you folks with the Hauppauge PVR-150MCE

Does it record widescreen content in widescreen ?
[Something to my dismay I found the ATI 550 Pro does not]

Does anyone have a scart set top box output->composite or s-video input setup confirmed working ?

Yep Scart output on the NTL box -> composite in works perfect for me.

8T8

Cool thanks, time to get one and ditch the ATI 550, very disappointing TV tuner card after the positive reviews I read of it.

SouperComputer

8T8 wrote:

Question for any of you folks with the Hauppauge PVR-150MCE

Does it record widescreen content in widescreen ?
[Something to my dismay I found the ATI 550 Pro does not]

Does anyone have a scart set top box output->composite or s-video input setup confirmed working ?

AFAIK it doesnt record in a widescreen res, its not mentioned on Hauppages's website anyway.

Of course it will capture the entire picture, but IIRC the file wont be in a widescreen res.

from hauppage website about PVR150 wrote:

NTSC format* at 29.97fps: Full D1: 720x480, MPEG1: 352x240
PAL format* at 25fps: Full D1: 720x576, MPEG1: 352x288

SCART with STB is not too bad and its handy enough to setup. Although ive found that some NTL boxes only have RGB and Composite wired up. To get the best quality you will need to get and RGB to S-Video adaptor.

quozl

subway wrote:

2 tuners = 2 inputs

I've got the card in question. The splitter is internal, the 2nd thing that looks like a co-ax input is actually for FM radio.

So I don't need to split the input cable from my NTL analogue setup to record two channels with the pvr-500. I think it's an excellant card personally.

Greg

Smoggy

Hauppauge PVR150 all the way

hshortt

I'm using a low profile case and couldn't use the 150 card, after Komplett shafted me with a tuner card I went out and got the Hauppauge USB2 Tuner. It's great, no issues.

cheerio
Howard

zAbbo

Is there not a low profile version of the 150 ?

hshortt

There is indeed, but I could'nt find it anywhere at the time. Not sure though if the 150 is on the Vista Compatibility list but the PVR-USB2 definately is, so that added to the value.

Cheerio
Howard

el Bastardo

I've used my PVR-500 with FTA satellite on S-video and analog terrestrial (don't know if it's possible to get them both working at the same time though). I can recommend this card.

center15

I'm looking for a USB tuner with s-video, I don't need great recording/epg software as I'll just be using it to record stuff from my sky+ box via s-video any recommendations?

dalk

subway wrote:

just noticed there that thats the fm input,
pvr 500 useless for someone with 2 ntl boxes then...

Not if you buy the extra av cables. Which gives you the extra imputs.

Some sellers of the PVR-500 have it bundled with the card as well... Komplett do i think.

HLF

Has anyone tried out the Terratec Cinergy 2400i DT MCE Dual tuner PCIex1. I got one and as far as I can tell it don’t work in Ireland as there are no digital terrestrial signals. It setup in MCE fine but when you do a Scan there are no channels.
Has anyone got one of these to work?

I got it direct from the supplier but Komplett have started to sell them now.


http://productsen.terratec.net/

quozl

The guy beside me in work tells me that they'll be starting trials of free to air digital from 3rock in dublin in august. Or if you're within range of the northern irish transmitters you may be able to pick up their fta signals and use them with that digitial tuner card.

His site at
http://www.pixelbeat.org/systems/aerial.html
gives some details of his own setup. He only installed the aerial to get CBEEBIES mind.

Greg

HLF

Thanks quozl, Looks like I’ll be waiting a while as I am down in the SouthWest.

My system expansion has only one PCIex1 and one PCIex16. The other card I was looking at was the PowerColor 550 pro PCIex1. Does any one know where there is an outlet for this card.

Or, know of any other PCIex1 tuners.