TV tuner options?

**magnethead** · 11-10-2007, 01:57 PM

Being as i'm going off to college next year, I figure that using a TV tuner will be cheaper than having a TV in the dorm since i have a 17" TFT CLD flatpanel screen. What's the best TV tuner card that would be cheaper than having a TV and work with an nvidia 7800GT PCIE graphics card?

I'd like an internal so the video inputs would go straight into the computer for PVRing ect but like an external because i dont have to worry about hardware conflicts and have PiP..plus the gfx card will be DVI-I and external would be VGA and my flatpanel has both inputs so i could use it's source switch and do all kinds of things.

Which would be better? Honestly, i don't see myself doing much for PVRing.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...868&CatId=1427

Something like..can't beat 40 bucks either.

**tosh9i** · 11-10-2007, 02:51 PM

I've got just the thing for you:

ADS Technologies MCE Hardware PCI TV+FM Tuner Card Upgrade Kit - With Remote and IR Receiver - MCE-3000-EF - Add TV & FM + MCE Remote and MCE Receiver to your MCE PC

http://www.buy.com/prod/ads-technolo...203386682.html

Retail Price: $129.99
On Sale for: $29.99

Or, if you have never used Google Checkout before, you can get it for $19.99

HOWEVER, there's one catch:

Q. I dont have Media Center Edition Operating System, is there any other Software I can use?

Ans. Yes, here are a few pieces of software that are known to work with the card:

SnapStream BeyondTV
SageTV
Cyberlink PowerCinima
Intervideo Home Theater
Other 3rd party applications

http://www.adstech.com/KB/(3nx32empj...81&path=topten

Note: I ordered one to replace my $20 Sabrent card, which totally sucks. My new ADS card should arrive today or Monday. I'll let you know what it's like.

**magnethead** · 11-10-2007, 06:25 PM

COOL, do let me know!

**tosh9i** · 11-13-2007, 04:04 PM

My package was delayed til the 13th, which is why I haven't posted anything yet. However, it finally did arrive today. When I get home, I'm going to install it and I'll be sure to let you know what I think of it.

**tosh9i** · 11-13-2007, 08:00 PM

Okay, review time. I got the card. Even though, I'm pretty good with computers, I'm not entirely sure I got everything set up 100% correctly.

I have heard other people say that they get great reception on these cards.

Maybe I missed something. Afterall, this card is supposed to be better than the cheap card I had before. However, for me, it's not. It's possible that it's because of the area that I live in.

I'm going to send the manuf. an email asking them about this.

As for what you should do, based on what I've seen, I can't make any recommendations. You're "likely" to get better reception than me, but I can't be sure.

**magnethead** · 11-13-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tosh9i

Okay, review time. I got the card. Even though, I'm pretty good with computers, I'm not entirely sure I got everything set up 100% correctly.

I have heard other people say that they get great reception on these cards.

Maybe I missed something. Afterall, this card is supposed to be better than the cheap card I had before. However, for me, it's not. It's possible that it's because of the area that I live in.

I'm going to send the manuf. an email asking them about this.

As for what you should do, based on what I've seen, I can't make any recommendations. You're "likely" to get better reception than me, but I can't be sure.

I'd say check it first with a TV from another room, then plug it in the computer and see if there's a difference? Shouldn't be?

**magnethead** · 11-13-2007, 09:08 PM

I'd say check it first with a TV from another room, then plug it in the computer and see if there's a difference? Shouldn't be?

**tosh9i** · 11-13-2007, 10:11 PM

Well, I got a TV right next to me. And the tv works fine. I originally bought a tv tuner so I could record some tv series.

So the reception for the tv is fine.

11-10-2007, 01:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,568 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	TV tuner options? Being as i'm going off to college next year, I figure that using a TV tuner will be cheaper than having a TV in the dorm since i have a 17" TFT CLD flatpanel screen. What's the best TV tuner card that would be cheaper than having a TV and work with an nvidia 7800GT PCIE graphics card? I'd like an internal so the video inputs would go straight into the computer for PVRing ect but like an external because i dont have to worry about hardware conflicts and have PiP..plus the gfx card will be DVI-I and external would be VGA and my flatpanel has both inputs so i could use it's source switch and do all kinds of things. Which would be better? Honestly, i don't see myself doing much for PVRing. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...868&CatId=1427 Something like..can't beat 40 bucks either. __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System Last edited by magnethead; 11-10-2007 at 02:09 PM.

11-10-2007, 02:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: TV tuner options? I've got just the thing for you: ADS Technologies MCE Hardware PCI TV+FM Tuner Card Upgrade Kit - With Remote and IR Receiver - MCE-3000-EF - Add TV & FM + MCE Remote and MCE Receiver to your MCE PC http://www.buy.com/prod/ads-technolo...203386682.html Retail Price: $129.99 On Sale for: $29.99 Or, if you have never used Google Checkout before, you can get it for $19.99 HOWEVER, there's one catch: Q. I dont have Media Center Edition Operating System, is there any other Software I can use? Ans. Yes, here are a few pieces of software that are known to work with the card: SnapStream BeyondTV SageTV Cyberlink PowerCinima Intervideo Home Theater Other 3rd party applications http://www.adstech.com/KB/(3nx32empj...81&path=topten Note: I ordered one to replace my $20 Sabrent card, which totally sucks. My new ADS card should arrive today or Monday. I'll let you know what it's like. Last edited by tosh9i; 11-10-2007 at 02:53 PM.

11-10-2007, 06:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,568 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: TV tuner options? COOL, do let me know! __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

11-13-2007, 04:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: TV tuner options? My package was delayed til the 13th, which is why I haven't posted anything yet. However, it finally did arrive today. When I get home, I'm going to install it and I'll be sure to let you know what I think of it.

11-13-2007, 08:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: TV tuner options? Okay, review time. I got the card. Even though, I'm pretty good with computers, I'm not entirely sure I got everything set up 100% correctly. I have heard other people say that they get great reception on these cards. Maybe I missed something. Afterall, this card is supposed to be better than the cheap card I had before. However, for me, it's not. It's possible that it's because of the area that I live in. I'm going to send the manuf. an email asking them about this. As for what you should do, based on what I've seen, I can't make any recommendations. You're "likely" to get better reception than me, but I can't be sure.

11-13-2007, 09:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,568 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: TV tuner options? I'd say check it first with a TV from another room, then plug it in the computer and see if there's a difference? Shouldn't be? __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

11-13-2007, 10:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: TV tuner options? Well, I got a TV right next to me. And the tv works fine. I originally bought a tv tuner so I could record some tv series. So the reception for the tv is fine.