T.V. Tuner Card

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by scadutomd, Oct 17, 2008.

  1. scadutomd

    scadutomd Member

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    Do T.v. tuner cards come with software that has live T.v like regular T.v providers would have like verizon or comcast if you had internet on your computer?
    Does anyone know if it is good and can record shows easily? Can someone recommend me a decent card thats affordable?


    thanks
     
    scadutomd, Oct 17, 2008
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  2. krj15489

    krj15489 Active member

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    most tv tuners come with their own software but most of the time the software sucks. it would be better to use windows media center or beyond tv. the software does not come with cable service. you have to connect the cable to the tv tuner card then you can view it in media center. this card can watch and record hdtv.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116010
     
    krj15489, Oct 18, 2008
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  3. scadutomd

    scadutomd Member

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    thanks...helped a-lot
     
    scadutomd, Oct 18, 2008
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  4. jony218

    jony218 Guest

    make sure you get a video card that has a built-in hardware mpeg encoder.

    Two good softwares are sagetv and beyondtv, they both cost the same about 70.00 (but it's a one time fee and you get lifetime tv listing). I have sagetv for the past 3 years and it work extremely well, records every tv show i want. On my computer I have 3 tuner cards installed (hauppagauge pvr150 cost about 60.00 each). I can record 3 shows at the same time. As long as you have hardware encoders on your tuner cards, the computer cpu is used very little. For instance I can record 3 shows at one time in the background and watch a dvd movie or listen to mp3's at the same time.

    I keep my computer on 24/7 and use it as a VCR. It records all the time just like a TIVO. The more tuner cards you install the better, one is too limiting but it will be a good starting point.

    The pvr150 is what I recommend because it's reliable (on my computer they been running non-stop for 3 years) and they are inexpensive for a hardware encoder cards. The newer tuner cards do HighDdefinition but only needed if you actually have HD available in your area.

    As far as software the newer version of beyondtv is very good, I tried the demo and it is very solid. I actually like it better than sagetv. You might want to give that one a try. I also tried the free tv tuner software but it was very hard to setup and recognize my tuner cards.
     
    jony218, Oct 18, 2008
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  5. scadutomd

    scadutomd Member

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    Sounds good its just i dont have cable in my apartment yet :( is there a way to get service?
     
    scadutomd, Oct 19, 2008
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  6. jbmcgee

    jbmcgee Member

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    Is this all a person would need, tv tuner card and additional software, to use their pc as a dvr while using digital cable?
     
    jbmcgee, Oct 21, 2008
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