Best TV card + software combo ?

[Defenestration]

Not sure this is the right forum for a TV card question, so feel free to move it mods, but...

What is the best reasonably priced TV card which can handle both analog + digital ?

It would be nice if it could handle teletext and possibly radio, although these aren't essential. I will also want to record some old VHS footage I have, along with recording new TV footage, preferably in H.264/AVC format, but MPEG-2 would also be nice.

I've know of a few brands brands, like Compro, Kworld, Hauppage etc., but don't have any experience of what the picture quality is like, software quality/features, driver stability (with XP x64 support), remote control, and there don't appear to be many recent TV card reviews about.

Any suggestions ?

 

[Defenestration]

I've also thought about getting a USB-UIRT w/additional 56KHz IR Sensor, a separate remote control (not sure which one though), to control my PC remotely (so I can select and play media files, change volume etc. remotely).

I was going to couple this with the EvenGhost software.

 

[leppard]

Hauppauge do good digital tv cards. I've got the Nova TD500. You can pick one up these days for £48 which is ok. You can get cheaper no-name brands but they are no where near the same quality of build. Amazon is a good place to check for reviews.

The picture quality is very good. Does all the freeview digital stations (which includes the analog channels) and also digital radio. The included software (WinTV) is rubbish I heard so I downloaded DVB Viewer Pro. You can record TV programs in MPEG 2 format.

You can also use Windows Media Centre but I find the program guide is incomplete when using vista, whereas DVB Viewer is flawless.

There is a remote but I can't get it to work.

Hope that helps.