Being limited to over the air broadcasts makes it easier to get a HD
tuner (HD cable is another can of worms) there are several HD tuners.
One that caught my attention was the Pinnacle Systems (a division of
Avid--most used pro video editing co.) PCTV HD Pro Stick (USB device):
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSi...PCTV+Analog_Digital+PVR/PCTV+HD+Pro+Stick.htm
It has a list price of $129.99, however I saw it last week in a Sunday
New York Times circular (Best Buy, Circuit City, or CompUSA --
not sure) for $99.95. And as of now it does not have Vista (x86 or
x64) drivers. Although the following chart says they will provide Vista
support 2/07 (doesn't specify x86 or x64):
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/vista/vista.asp
For an internal PCI card there is the ATI HDTV wonder:
http://ati.amd.com/products/hdtvwonder/index.html
But I cannot find ANY reference to Vista drivers.
During my web searches for an ATSC pc tuner, I came across
many tuners and a few with Vista support, but since none of them
had inputs that would accommodate my cable box, I didn't pay
that close attention. I believe the list prices were in the $150 to
$200 dollar range.
Where do you live? How many stations are broadcasting in
HD? Remember that in a few years analog NTSC will be
abandoned.
Good luck,
Would be interested in what you choose.
DCR
| I've thought about hi-def, but haven't really looked yet. I was still
| getting through the MCE/non-MCE issues first. Do you have any suggested
| cards?
|
| This is a convienence to be able to do TV viewing and basic PVR on the PC,
| so I'm not looking to spend multiple hundreds of $$. I'm currently limited
| to over-the-air broadcasts, so I don't want something that won't pick those
| up. I was looking at the Hauppauge 150's mainly because the price is good,
| and the analog broadcast stuff is still going to be out there for a while..
|
|
| | > nVidia will most likely have their Vista stand alone applications ready
| > at some time in the near future.
| >
| > Also, one difference between a MCE labeled turner card is the addition
| > of an MCE remote control. Although, the remote can be purchased
| > separately.
| >
| > I currently have the Hauppauge WinTV USB2 MCE tuner, I was able
| > to get the WinTV2000 and all the other bundled apps to work with
| > Vista x86, however, I have NO support for Vista x64.
| >
| > I believe that the PVR-150 is supposed to have x64 support, but I
| > have seen at least one post in here that the card was totally unusable
| > under Vista x64 with the current drivers.
| >
| > Have you given any thought to a HD or HD/SD capable card?
| >
| > DCR
| >
| > | > | Thanks for the reply, however since I want to use it in a non-media
| > center
| > | type Vista, it doesn't sound like it would work for me (unless I
| > purchase
| > | 3rd party software).
| > |
| > | - Mike
| > |
| > | | > | > One interesting option is the nVidia Dual TV tuner card (currently
| > | > on sale). For XP it has a playback and record application that does
| > | > not require Media Center, but is also compatible with Media Center.
| > | > It also has drivers (beta) for both Vista x86 and x64 that make it
| > | > compatible with Vista Media Center. So far, nVidia has not released
| > | > a stand alone player/recorder for Vista.
| > | >
| > | >
http://www.nvidia.com/page/home_entertainment.html
| > | >
| > | > DCR
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | > | I'm looking for a TV tuner card to install in a Vista
| > | > Enterprise/business
| > | > | system (64 bit). I don't have access to the media center versions.
| > | > |
| > | > | I know many of the Hauppauge cards are listed as compatible, but
| > several
| > | > of
| > | > | the versions show as "media center" version compatible
| > | > |
| > | > | I've always been a little confused on what exactly the media center
| > | > versions
| > | > | of Windows (XP and and Vista Ultimate, etc.) provide that are
| > different
| > | > from
| > | > | the standard windows. If a particular card is listed as
| > compatible
| > | > with
| > | > | Media Center, will it work with non-media center Windows? What
| > would be
| > | > | missing if it's installed in "regular" Windows system
| > | > |
| > | > | Any suggestions would be appreciated.
| > | > |
| > | > | Mike O.
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| >
| >
|
