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Best value for dosh TV card (pci and usb)?

pieman109

pieman109

pieman109

Soldato
Joined
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As title. i'm gonna have a dabble at an htpc thats gonna be used for DVD playback and as a PVR using an EPG function. Firstly, whats the best one to use, USB2 or PCI and offers the best vfm (cheaper is better :D ) up to £50.
Secondly, when using the remote supplied, can you navigate your desktop with this or do you have to use a mouse and keyboard first to open the desired software?
Sorry about the noobish question here.
 
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The Leadtek DVT1000-T ( Leadtek Winfast DTV1000-T Digital TV Tuner Card (GX-074-LT) ) does all of that, as I'm sure many of the other recent TV cards do.

The remote control will start the TV application from a button. Other software can be found to use the remote for other purposes.
 
ns400r said:
The Leadtek DVT1000-T ( Leadtek Winfast DTV1000-T Digital TV Tuner Card (GX-074-LT) ) does all of that, as I'm sure many of the other recent TV cards do.

The remote control will start the TV application from a button. Other software can be found to use the remote for other purposes.
Click to expand...

I'm a bit strapped for space (case height) so would a leadtek USB2 TV dongle
DTV tuner (GX-075-LT) work just as well and give the remote functionallity the same as the card you suggested?
 
I found Avermedia (hybrid PCI) the second best TV card I have used, really good ! Only beaten by my latest Terratec Cinergy 2400i DT - wholeheartedly recommend this, if you can stretch the pennies.......

Never got on so well with KWorld (driver issues), Hauppauge software is old (wonky, too), Leadtek (DTV-2000H, big brother to DTV1000H) had less strong signal reception for me.....but Compro always served me well too.

Enough ? ;)
 
I have a Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T PCI Freeview TV Tuner and I can say its pretty crap. Everything is so slow and it takes ages to change channels, you have to wait a few seconds each time you want to change (very frustrating). However is was very cheap and you cant fault the picture quality.

Btw does anyone get a feature on their TV card where they can view some sort of TV guide while theyre watching? Like real freeview boxes do
 
kevpuk said:
I found Avermedia (hybrid PCI) the second best TV card I have used, really good ! Only beaten by my latest Terratec Cinergy 2400i DT - wholeheartedly recommend this, if you can stretch the pennies.......

Never got on so well with KWorld (driver issues), Hauppauge software is old (wonky, too), Leadtek (DTV-2000H, big brother to DTV1000H) had less strong signal reception for me.....but Compro always served me well too.

Enough ? ;)
Click to expand...

Now funnily enough, I was going to ask what "compro" gear is like. Theres a coupla low profile jobbies there that with a bit of "adjustment" can be made to fit me case (I need a low profile rear mounting bracket as well). is it's software relaible/non-bug ridden, easy to use, etc and most importantly, whats the picture quality like? (bear in mind I live in west London with a rooftop aerial so reception is perfect. :)
 
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I found the Compro pretty good on the whole, but have not used their later cards......the earlier software was a bit moody, but 'version 2' stuff worked much better. I always found the picture to be great quality, I had the Gold+ version with de-interlacing hardware built-in too, and even the cheapy PVR model seems pretty fine.

Worth noting, though, that all recent cards I have used have been more or less exclusively used in MCE builds, so I tend not to use any included software. One of the main reasons for changing the Compro Gold+ model was lack of MCE support.....but the newer DVBT200/T300 are supported.... :)
 
The one I'm looking at is the DVB-T200 PCI as it happens, it'll fit (with modifications to the rear mounting plate) and its cheap too. Think I'll have one of these.
With regards to DVD playback, what simple to use, reliable, bug free software is available that allows playback at, or near, the native res of the screen ie: 1366 x 768, or does the screen naturally upscale form say 1024 x 768 to it's native res, oooh, :D and free
 
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