Confused and need clarification

[roger.wilkerson]

I'm in the process of adding a pvr card to my system(AIW doesn't cut it).

However, I'm confused partly by the difference between the pvr and pvr mce cards of Hauppauge. I know that the major difference between the two products are that the pvr's come with remote and the 350 is the only version with the fm turner built in;while all three mce versions are without remote and do come with fm tuners.

However, what's confusing me is the general disclaimer that is included with the mce version that an mpeg decoder isn't included. I see no such disclaimer with the 150/250/350 pvr.

What does this really mean?

[Pioneer4x4]

the pvr's come with remote and the 350 is the only version with the fm turner built in;while all three mce versions are without remote and do come with fm tuners.

Everyone please correct me if I'm wrong, but this is just a top of my head thing...
150 Remote and IR Blaster no FM new chipset.
150MCE FM nice av jacks no remote or IR blaster. (MCE Computers come with remote)
250 and 250MCE simular to 150 and 150MCE but different chipset, and I think MPEG1 in hardware, and can support Captions??? No irblaster.

350 Same as a 250 (nonMCE) PLUS a hardware DECODER with composite out to a TV. Best all in one card for a HTPC for recording and playback. The conposite out is limited to PVR type stuff (no desktop)

500 basically 2 150 tuners on one card.


Playback to a TV over a 350, MVP, Xcard (I don't know anything about those) is superior to TV out on videocards due to hardware mpeg2 decoding, and it leave the interlacing alone.

[roger.wilkerson]

OK, but what does the statement "mpeg decoder isn't included" mean? And does it mean that the non mce version do have a decoder? Is it just saying that there is no hardware decoder to play a dvd movie on?

[sub]

The retail version includes software which includes an MPEG2 decoder. You dont need this if you've already got an MPEG2 decoder installed (WinDVD, PowerDVD etc..)

[bgowland]

However, what's confusing me is the general disclaimer that is included with the mce version that an mpeg decoder isn't included. I see no such disclaimer with the 150/250/350 pvr.

What does this really mean?

The only card in the WinTV-PVR range that has a hardware MPEG decoder is the 350 as it is the only one that has any direct output connections (S-Video/composite). Having a hardware decoder means that whatever software you are using to playback MPEG files through the output only needs to shovel MPEG at the card and the hardware does the decoding rather than it having to be done with software before hand (urrrm - that's the simplified way of putting it. )

In short...

PVR350 = Remote, FM Radio, h/w MPEG decoder with S-Video/composite out.
PVR150/250 = Remote, no FM Radio, no h/w MPEG decoder or S-Video/composite out.
All MCE = No remote, has FM radio, no h/w MPEG decoder or S-Video/composite out (there isn't a 350MCE).

I think I got that right. All you have to do now is work out which is the latest (working) version of which driver for which card depending on where you are in the world at any one time. :eek:

[Pioneer4x4]

OK, but what does the statement "mpeg decoder isn't included" mean? And does it mean that the non mce version do have a decoder? Is it just saying that there is no hardware decoder to play a dvd movie on?

When it says mpeg decoder, not included, they mean the software.
Another reason the MCE's are cheaper. Less software to license. If you are going to use a MVP, no need for a decoder... Also like Sub said. If you have any software to play DVDs, you're set.

The MCE is meant to be bundled with a MCE edition computer which would have all software bundled with it.

[SFX Group]

PVR150/250 = Remote, no FM Radio, no h/w MPEG decoder or S-Video/composite out.

According to the UK site 150 DOES have radio.

Many Thanks
Ashley