Best TV Tuner Device?

[pakratt]

Hello All,

I'm currently using a Diamond XtremeTX PVR660 (USB) for my recordings but am not very happy with the video quality. Since I have a new computer (to replace the laptop) with internal PCI and PCI express slots I don't need a USB device. What seems to be the best device now for video quality? I'm thinking HD for the future would be a nice option.
I should also ask what the recommended video card is as well...

thanks.

[debbie]

I did the same thinking, what with analog turning to digital soon. I looked into ATI, since I had a wonderful experience with an analog all-in-wonder, so I went with the 650 pro with the remote, and have regretted it since. It has alot of drivers and software that is not included on the cd, and if you Google the card, there is page after page of problems. Some people can get them to work flawlessly, and God bless them, but after 7 months, mine still gives me one problem after another. That's how I ended up on this forum, trying to troubleshoot yet another issue. I can't tell you what to buy, but I can tell you what to stay away from!

[Anthony]

I'm currently using the Hauppauge HVR-1600 tuners. These are standard PCI cards (I think the HVR-1800 is similar, but PCIe based). Overall, I've been fairly happy with them.

I recently tried an OnAir GT tuner (USB based). While it was much faster at scanning the available channels, it had a much harder time locking onto the signals. It had lots of signal dropouts and stuttering.

I also tried a HDHomeRun a year or so ago, and never could get it to work with GBPVR. They have newer drivers now, so maybe things are working better, but first impressions left me unimpressed.

The HVR-1600's don't seem to have tuners as good as what's in my Samsung plasma TV, but it's the best I've found so far. As long as you have a strong, good quality signal, they work great!

Anthony

[TornadoTJ]

Although I've had issues with my DVR based on the ATI Theater 650 Pro, I'm not sure the capture card is the issue. I think my issues have been from trying to do HD on inferior hardware. It really seems to take a lot of horsepower to do HD.

If all you are doing is SD, the Hauppauge cards do well. My PVR150 has worked well for me.

[RichDunc]

Yah .. for sd cards I have 2 Hauppauge cards... Always work and never fail.

[LouCypher]

(I think the HVR-1800 is similar, but PCIe based)

I have the WinTV-HVR-1800 and it works beautifully with GB-PVR. GB-PVR is vastly superior to the bundled applications from Hauppauge.

[peter t]

I recently purchased a Hauppauge Nova-T-500 it works fine alongside a PVR150 and a PVR350, getting great results using PVRX2 with both Digital SD and HD. I still use the PVR 150 line in and the PVR 350 line in for a Pay TV Satellite Reciever.

[Loomy]

Honestly they all suck. So you have to get the one that sucks least in the way that matters to you.

I tried a Hauppauge PVR500 and was like "man the quality sucks and the drivers are sketchy". I tried a HVR1600 and was like "man the quality still isn't great". What I didn't realize is that even with these downsides, at least there was plenty of software that was compatible with those cards.

I went on to try a Vista View Saber and was like "shit, the analog channels don't change as fast and the QAM isn't supported in any software!"

So now I'm thinking "wow maybe the ATI 650 Pro switches channels quickly, has good quality, and is supported by software??!?" Maybe not though.

So the truth is that none of them are anywhere close to perfect. I think if you want the least hassle, the Hauppauge cards are the way to go, JUST because they are more common and might have more problems worked out.

Only last month did the Vista View card that "supports qam" on the box finally actually support qam in one program.

[pakratt]

Thanks to everyone for the great input - sounds like I'll be trying the Hauppauge.

Now - Anyone want to suggest a good reasonably priced GBPVR compatible video card? I'm thinking Radeon HD3650...

[whurlston]

Now - Anyone want to suggest a good reasonably priced GBPVR compatible video card? I'm thinking Radeon HD3650...

That should work just fine.