USB based capture card recommendation

[Khurram]

I would like to add a usb based capture card to my setup. I have looked at the following 2:

1) Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-USB2
2) AVerTV Hybrid Ultra USB

I want to watch analog tv (pal) and connect my stb to one of the video in ports. What the experiences of users with configuration (with GBPVR), video quality, system stability etc?

I read on these forums that the remote for Hauppauge (in the MCE edtion??) is horrible, so I just might get the non-MCE version. What about AverTV? I have had good experience with the Microsoft MCE remote kit, so I might get that also. Btw, anyone knows where to get this MCE remote kit from in the UK?

Thanks,
Khurram.

[Saxtus]

I am resurrecting this thread because I've upgraded to Windows 7 x64.

What that has to do with it?
Simple: My Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-USB2 doesn't have drivers for that so I ended up without analog tuner.

I am thinking about AVerTV Hybrid Ultra USB because it's the only alternative I know with hardware MPEG2 encoder for analog signal, but I don't know if:
1) Works with Windows 7 64-bit?
2) Analog part of it is compatible with GBPVR?

Pre-thanx.

[sub]

The Hauppauge HVR-1900 is an external USB2 device, compatible with GB-PVR, which does DVB-T/Analog, and has a hardware MPEG2 encoder.

[Saxtus]

I have trouble finding it at stores in my country but thanks anyway.

[Saxtus]

afjueaswe, if you're talking for external MPEG2 compressing of analog signal, HD speed should not be an issue.

What PCI-E card you found?
Do you have Windows 7 64-bit like me?
Does it work there?

[Fatman_do]

I deleted the post due to spam in signature.

[orcus]

As of right now I am using the AVerTV Hybrid Ultra USB. It is OK for recording but for live viewing it is terrible. If you want live view you will be stuck with the AVerMedia codec and no other codec will work.

After about 8 months of work trying to get the live view to work and trying every codec known to man the only one that works OK is the AVerMedia codec. All the other codecs would seem to work fine then the audio would break up and then cut out completely almost like it was running out of buffer. I tried every thing to get it to work, drivers, OS, codecs, audio cards, and whole computers nothing worked same problem, install AVerMedia codec and it works.

I suggest you get the Hauppauge HVR-1900 like sub said it is about the only other USB tuner that will work with GB-PVR and you wont be stuck with this crap codec.

I mite be able to do a sample video of NTSC for you if you like but I am very busy most of the time and may not be able to.

[Saxtus]

As I couldn't find anywhere the HVR-1900, I've bought today the AVerTV Hybrid Volar HX and moved to MCE, at least until the DVB-T transition completes in my country.

I've seen an unexpected improvement at DVB-T too by switching: It appears that MCE's way of recording allows for correct rewind/ff seek, a thing that my GBPVR TS recordings was suffering from, even after passing them through PVAStrumento.

If only it wasn't using that terrible closed new container format...

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.

[imagn]

Just a thought incase you wanted to try GBPVR but did you ever try using the DVR-MS mux instead of the TS mux. there is a setting in config that will allow you to do this ( I think under one of the misc tabs). From what i have read it is pretty reliable and havent see complaints from it. This is basically what MCE2005 and Vista MCE use for their recordings, and is an mpeg2 container.

anyway just a throught

[Saxtus]

Yes, I know the setting, but enabling it, results into two things happening:
- Non open-standard container, isn't supported by majority of video editing applications without been transcoded first (just like the .wtv files I am getting now unfortunately)
- Turns off the excellent GB-PVR's ability to record multicast programs from the same tuner (like it happens with MCE, again unfortunately)

As I was unable to play live TV through GB-PVR, using VMR9, EVR or overlay manager and any combination of decoders I could get my hands on, I think I will live with the compromise for now.

I can't tell you lies, I miss very much some unique features that GB-PVR had and I will try it again once DVB-T switch happens to my country too.