Help Choosing TV Tuner Card

[ASB]

My husband just wants to watch TV (mainly football) on his PC while doing
work (basically in Word and Excel) at the same time.

We have Time Warner Cable TV from Cable Cord in the wall. Internet Road
Runner and is a separate dedicated cable from same provider. There is no
DIgital or HDTV box in use. TV is old without inputs but another newer TV
can be put in its place.
I don't know if the current system will support the Tuner products.

Current System is:
Windows Version: Windows 5.1 SP2 (Build 2600)
Windows XP Pro V.2002 SP2
Machine Type: AMD Athlon(tm) SP 3200+ [AT/AT Compatible]
System BIOS Version: Nvidia - 42302e31
System BIOS Date: 09-23-03
Processor Type: X86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0
Processor Vendor: AuthenticAMD
Physical Memory: 2.19ghZ and 512 MB
New MONITOR: 19" Dell S199WFP, Widescreen
RESOLUTION 1400x900 60HZ

I'm looking for the simplest, internal PCI card which will allow him to
watch TV on the PC. I do not know which of the products is the best as I
cannot figure out the difference between HVR, PVR, Dual Tuner, etc...
PLEASE ADVISE SOON AS I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THIS PRODUCT FOR CHRISTMAS.
Please let me know if any other system info is needed.
Thank You,
ASB

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My husband just wants to watch TV (mainly football) on his PC while
doing work (basically in Word and Excel) at the same time.

We have Time Warner Cable TV from Cable Cord in the wall. Internet
Road Runner and is a separate dedicated cable from same provider.
There is no DIgital or HDTV box in use. TV is old without inputs
but another newer TV can be put in its place.
I don't know if the current system will support the Tuner products.

Current System is:
Windows Version: Windows 5.1 SP2 (Build 2600)
Windows XP Pro V.2002 SP2
Machine Type: AMD Athlon(tm) SP 3200+ [AT/AT
Compatible] System BIOS Version: Nvidia - 42302e31
System BIOS Date: 09-23-03
Processor Type: X86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0
Processor Vendor: AuthenticAMD
Physical Memory: 2.19ghZ and 512 MB
New MONITOR: 19" Dell S199WFP, Widescreen
RESOLUTION 1400x900 60HZ

I'm looking for the simplest, internal PCI card which will allow
him to watch TV on the PC. I do not know which of the products is
the best as I cannot figure out the difference between HVR, PVR,
Dual Tuner, etc... PLEASE ADVISE SOON AS I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THIS
PRODUCT FOR CHRISTMAS. Please let me know if any other system info
is needed.

http://www.videohelp.com/

Much better place to look around, ask in their forums, compare products than
here will ever be in your case.

Like their 'capture card' section:
http://www.videohelp.com/capturecards

Or their forum:
http://forum.videohelp.com/

 

[BigJim]

go to www.newegg.com they have a bunch of tv cards.
read the reviews on them, that's how I decide what to purchase if I don't
know.

 

[Andy]

Hauppauge WinTV-Radio (Model 401)
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_401.html
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/support/support_pci_881.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hauppauge-WinTV-Radio-Model-401_W0QQitemZ220263912148QQcmdZViewItem
Offer $20.

 

[peter]

The problem is "doing work" and watching TV at the same time on the same
computer.
The TV Tuner would still send the video signal to the video card to output
to the TV/Monitor.
Does you Video Card have the capabilities to output to 2 monitors??
Having a small window open on one monitor to watch football is not a
satisfying experience.
Having one monitor open for work and another for "the Game" is ideal.
The Hauppage series of TV tuners work very well and come with a Tuner
Program...
Most of the complaints stem from the Software not the hardware .
Shenan has the right idea as more research on your part is required.
Personally I would run a new Cable into another TV close to his Computer.
peter

 

[beamish]

My husband just wants to watch TV (mainly football) on his PC while doing
work (basically in Word and Excel) at the same time.

We have Time Warner Cable TV from Cable Cord in the wall. Internet Road
Runner and is a separate dedicated cable from same provider. There is no
DIgital or HDTV box in use. TV is old without inputs but another newer TV
can be put in its place.
I don't know if the current system will support the Tuner products.

Current System is:
Windows Version: Windows 5.1 SP2 (Build 2600)
Windows XP Pro V.2002 SP2
Machine Type: AMD Athlon(tm) SP 3200+ [AT/AT Compatible]
System BIOS Version: Nvidia - 42302e31
System BIOS Date: 09-23-03
Processor Type: X86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0
Processor Vendor: AuthenticAMD
Physical Memory: 2.19ghZ and 512 MB
New MONITOR: 19" Dell S199WFP, Widescreen
RESOLUTION 1400x900 60HZ

I'm looking for the simplest, internal PCI card which will allow him to
watch TV on the PC. I do not know which of the products is the best as I
cannot figure out the difference between HVR, PVR, Dual Tuner, etc...
PLEASE ADVISE SOON AS I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THIS PRODUCT FOR CHRISTMAS.
Please let me know if any other system info is needed.
Thank You,
ASB

Hello,
Have installed a inexpensive tv tuner card ($23.00) in a unit with less
capabiltiy then the information for the unit posted. (AMD2200, 512MB memory,
video card 64MB memory). Works without problem, good picture. Uses about
18%to 25% of the CPU.
On a second unit (Pent.4 3.0 GHz, 1.5 GB ram, video card 128MB ram) had an
old Hauppauge USB tv tuner installed, worked without problem. Changed to a
newer Hauppauge USB2 tv tuner, works without problem. Uses between 25% to 40%
of the CPU.
Some differences; the card has a better picture then the older Hauppaugge
USB unit. New USB unit excellent quality.
The card has two views (small and full screen).
The USB unit has adjustable capability.
Both are connected to a tv cable using a splitter.
Installing the correct drivers and software in relation to the computer is
key to the tv tuners. There are several packages availible.
On the tv tuner card I tried three different packages before finding one
that worked.
On the USB units I downloaded the latest driver-software package.
For use I place a 5"x6" screen in the lower right corner and use the rest
of the monitor for whatever. Have used OpenOffice Suite, IE7 browser, OE6
mail client, several small graphic applications and a MP3 player while using
the tv tuner.
Never tried CPU intensive programs such as ( cad, video editing,3d graphic
design) while using the tv tuner.
Hope this is of some use.
take care.
beamish.