Looking for a cheap multirecord USB ATSC tuner

[mikeh49]

On ebay, there's a lot of crap USB tuners. I think you don't want one of the SDR (software defined radio) types, and there zillions of those. There is a Monoprice and a K-world in the $30 range, that I would expect to work. The K-World is from TigerDirect, so that might be a good sign. And, Monoprice is a reliable source. You might check on their sites to see the price, and if they have BDA drivers. I think the BDA drivers are the key for NPVR. People have mentioned K-World here, but I don't recall if they were good or bad.

[sfatula]

Yes, I read some messages in the forums on the K-World, it appears to work from what I can tell of the messages. BDA, that's what I want for sure. Thanks for the tips.

[johnsonx42]

I had a couple of K-World tuners. They worked ok, but eventually they died. My Hauppauge tuners work year after year.

[Graham]

I had a couple of K-World tuners. They worked ok, but eventually they died. My Hauppauge tuners work year after year.

Ditto. A K-World USB tuner worked for about 2 or 3 years then died. I have been using the same 2 Hauppauge PCI tuners for about 10 years.

[jksmurf]

Might not be what you are after, but I thought I'd add a comment on USB vs PCIe all the same. I am currently on my 5th Hauppauge DMB-T USB Ministick, the USB versions lasted only about 1 year, maybe 2. They must overheat eventually and go TU.

I'm not that happy about it, and I guess I should have bought an HVR-1280 PCIe card version when they were available, as they should be more robust but they are simply not produced any more. I'm in the awkward situation of being locked into DMB-T (HK and China only) and no-one uses TV Tuners here in HK anymore, they are all into the Android Smart TV Boxes over the Internet. I previously had 2xPVR-250 tuners - they were good, but analogue, so old tech.

k.

[mikeh49]

There is a Hauppauge 950Q on ebay right now for $45 free shipping.