Good TV tuner?

wildest_jjk · 9 Dec 2011 at 21:27

Hey guys,

I want to record TV on my computer instead of buying a PVR, wondered if you guys know of any good TV tuners?

Thanks

bobbyspangles · 9 Dec 2011 at 21:42

How much are you willing to spend? Also what type of aerial are you going to be using? Cards that require a satellite dish seem to be cheaper. Single tuner (watch or record, not both) or dual (watch and record at the same time)?

wildest_jjk · 9 Dec 2011 at 21:47

Hi there, thanks for your response.

I know exactly what you mean, I do not even know where to start!

I would probably spend up to £50, from the house aerial we have a booster box so just a coaxial cable from that. If that's what you mean? And single tuner is fine, my TV is next to computer, it is just to record really!

Thanks again

bobbyspangles · 9 Dec 2011 at 22:02

This is the type you will need. Single tuner DVB-T, it uses the normal house aerial and will allow you to watch or record Freeview channels

Reviews seem good too.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-008-CP&groupid=701&catid=1915&subcat=169

Or there is this card with a dual tuner so you can either watch and record at the same time or record two channels simultaneously. However, it requires two seperate lines from the aerial.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-014-CP&groupid=701&catid=1915&subcat=169

panyan · 9 Dec 2011 at 22:57

from personal experience, unless you live in an area with FANTASTIC reception, dont go with a compro

personally i;d go black gold - but they are rather expensive

Duke_ · 9 Dec 2011 at 23:32

I had one of these and it was fantastic. Sold it when I got rid of the HTPC. As Panyan says, they are rather expensive ~£100 when I bought it this time last year. You might find one second hand for a more reasonable price though.

bobbyspangles · 9 Dec 2011 at 23:47

Don't believe a black and gold can be had for £50 though? Not even for £100...

olivier renault · 10 Dec 2011 at 12:08

I've got crap reception and I have a BlackGold dual tuner card, does the job. Drivers are a bit fiddly, and seems to work only with Media Center. Not big on TV though (MOTD, F1, that sort of things).

Hagar · 10 Dec 2011 at 12:08

We live about 50 miles from the Winter Hill transmitter and get about 60% quality signal on Freeview according to my Humax recorder. I had a compro Vista T220 which picked up all the channels connected to an outdoor ariel.

I now use a pinnacle dual tuner PCIe (£19.99 bare card) as I ran out of PCI slots and this works equally well.

Use Windows media player for TV, it works much better than the supplied applications.

olivier renault · 10 Dec 2011 at 12:10

bobbyspangles said:
Don't believe a black and gold can be had for £50 though? Not even for £100...

Nope. they are expensive. Not sure otherwise, but really hated USB tuners. Could never find one that didn't have a problem of some kind (last one seem to overheat and loose reception).

Duke_ · 10 Dec 2011 at 12:33

bobbyspangles said:
Don't believe a black and gold can be had for £50 though? Not even for £100...

olivier renault said:
Nope. they are expensive. Not sure otherwise, but really hated USB tuners. Could never find one that didn't have a problem of some kind (last one seem to overheat and loose reception).

Perhaps consider following the link before randomly speculating!? :rolleyes:

You can buy it from BlackGold direct for £89 now.. and it was £110 last year.

bobbyspangles · 10 Dec 2011 at 13:35

Duke_ said:
Perhaps consider following the link before randomly speculating!? You can buy it from BlackGold direct for £89 now.. and it was £110 last year.

That's £89 before VAT and postage

Duke_ · 11 Dec 2011 at 15:51

The next one will be a business expense and I'll pick it up