Recommend a TV Tuner card? (WINDOWS 7) (XMBC)

[R504]

Hi all,

I currently use a cable box for my cable and a Windows 7 HTPC running XBMC for downloaded movies/tv/music. My cable company (Cox) has been upping the charges to use their cable box so I'm fixing to get rid of it, since the only benefit to me is the menu and show recording. I would like to merge that TV viewing/recording functionality to my HTPC, and I think that Next PVR + the pending "Frodo" release of XBMC + a compatible TV tuner card are the way to go. My question is this: What is the most compatible (read: easiest to get working with minimal hassle and configuring) TV tuner card for the setup I've described on the market. The card must be "low profile" and compatible with PCI 1.x.

Here are my system specs:

Windows 7 32 bit
Pentium 4 2.8 GHz
3GB RAM
512MB Geforce Video card (8400 I think)

-Price limit should be around 100 USD.
-HD NOT needed!

Thanks in advance!

-Rob

[SickBoy]

I've done essentially what you're looking to do - I haven't had (or needed) a cable box from Comcast for over a year now.

SiliconDust HDHomeRun's work pretty great. They're not "low profile" (because they don't go inside your PC) but maybe that's not a problem.

Without a box, though - you're looking at ClearQAM only, anything encrypted would be pretty much untouchable. That works just fine for me - my cable package is such that I only get local channels plus a few national cable networks (CNN, CSPAN, TBS, WGN) in the clear.

[BrainStormer]

You might look into the SiliconDust Prime. Then all you'd have to do is get a cable card from cox. but you'd have to check if they have there channels marked copy freely. Comcast Does and only the premium channels like HBO etc are copy once (ie only Media Center can record)

[R504]

Thanks for the suggestion guys, but they look a bit out of my price range. Also I don't think I have a problem with encrypted streams, because I have another older card (Winfast TV2000) that works fine with the cable I receive. Unfortunately in addition to being older than dirt it is not low profile and will not fit in my machine.

-Rob

[SickBoy]

$100 is out of your range? You've got a pretty narrow range.

[BrainStormer]

Also note the number of tuners you get. The Prime has 3 tuners.

[stustunz]

Yeah pay the money now for the right device (ie follow someone with a setup that is working above)
How much do you pay your cable company a month the thing will be payed off in no time once your not paying them.
Plus you get free support from here and answered pretty much straight away

[R504]

$100 is out of your range? You've got a pretty narrow range.

Where are you finding those devices listed for $100? The ones I'm pulling up are 150-200. I'd like to keep it close to 100.

> Also note the number of tuners you get. The Prime has 3 tuners.

I suppose this is a plus? What is the benefit of multiple tuners?


Also to all you suggesting separate boxes instead of a tuner card, are you sure they will be able to be controlled from within XBMC? That is my goal here.

[Graham]

The Prime has 3 tuners.
I suppose this is a plus? What is the benefit of multiple tuners?

NextPVR can simultaneously record from one frequency per tuner. For analog broadcasts that means one show per tuner or three simultaneous recordings. For digital broadcasts (which I suspect is where you are at) NextPVR can record all shows on one frequency per tuner. Over the air broadcasts might have about six channels per frequency, allowing up to 18 shows to be recorded simultaneously. Cable probably has fewer channels per frequency.

Edit: But I have just realised that we are talking about Homerun type devices that may do things a little differently than I am used to and may only be able to record one show per tuner.

[pcostanza]

I have the Ceton InfiniTV internal card that works very, very well and their customer service is top notch.
I just started using Media Center as an extender for the tv in the upstairs bedroom so I wouldn't have to pay for a cable box. We already have a DVR for the 'main' tv (which I don't want but the wife won't budge on this) and I refuse to pay the cable company any more money.
I only pay $1.98 a month for a cable card but the tuner is expensive. However, I can record 4 HD shows (premium and encrypted) at the same time. Add in my HDHR QAM and I'm set.