Experiences with AOpen VA2000?

[Acolyte57]

Hey all, I've just installed MediaPortal and I'm very satisfied with it's functioning so far, I use it mainly for music playback and video file playback. But I'm intrigued: My parents have an MCE based HTPC and the TV function rocks there. So I want to try that too.

I've been looking around for a tv card with hardware mpeg2 encoding and the cheapest I've found is the Aopen VA2000-P179. I saw the Aopen on the supported list but can't find any reference to it in the forums, except for one person experiencing problems with his VA2000N - apparently a different card, since he complains about the NVTV chipset but AOpen's site says it has a LSI MPEG2 Enc chip.

So can anyone tell me if they're using the VA2000 and how well it functions in their setup? It's the cheapest, but it's still a lot of money to blow on just a test

[dooda48]

Hey Acolyte57, I have one of the NVTV Va2000N's, and while i love the picture when i can get it to work (I have been trying to get MP working properly with this card for almost a year) its one i would currently say stay away from. The card you have seen with the LSI chip on will probably be similar if not the same chip.
MediaPortal is a great app but I think having a TV card that works on its own properly like one of the PVR150's or something more popular would be a better choice. the only reason i have the NVTV is because i picked it up in the UK for about 20 pounds (compared to the $150 the PVR150 would cost me here in NZ).

Apparently this card works perfectly in XP MCE, but not going to spend $250 on that to make a $60 card work.

I did actually get the NVTV card working really well for a while, using MP 0.2 RC1, PVR Scheduler to start up the pc and shut down when done. But, did a reinstall of a kosher version of XP Pro and now I cant get it to work as well as it did before, even using 0.2 RC1 version of MP (wont work in anything later (RC4)).

Good luck in your quest, but brace yourself for many, many wasted days/nights getting your chosen TV card to work....
Dooda48

[dipswitch]

The hw encoder cards based upon the NVTV chip are for as far as i could see allmost all the same. I'm currently using an xfx card, wich looks exactly the same as the aopen or innodv cards. The actual encoder chip on the card was manufactured bij lsi, the card itself and other components put together bij nvidia, wo also delivers the driverpackage.

When i baught the card and put it in my htpc, i naturally didn't work ;-) So i've tryed something like four or five driver versions. To discover that the innodv driver does work with rc4 (latest cvs). It's still i bit unstable, but the picture and sound quality is great and timeshifting works.

It is a bit of a hassle to get it working, but once you got it figured out, you have a really nice card working in your htpc.

greetz,

dennis

[dipswitch]

The nvtv card really did work for about one evening! So, after having tryed everythinh within my capacity, i got myself an rma on the card and traded it for a hauppauge wintv pvr150mce. Plugged in the wintv and all my troubles dissappeared.

So, don't hurt yourself with this card, spend a few more bucks and get a hauppauge!

[rictec]

i have to stick with nvtv my card is working ok and i cant get one of those hauppauge wintv pvr150mce anywhere here

so if you wont to stick with it, maybe my other post can make it work at least until someone makes changing of contrast and saturation inside mediaportal a possibility


well i dont have another option at least for now

Rictec

[joslo]

Hi, I'm using the Aopen VA2000 P179 and have no problems. It runs fine and the quality is perfect. A good cart for al low price!!

[Nostacyber]

Hello,

I'm also using a aopen va2000. No problems here. Fine card. Just can't use the recording quality settings.
XFX is cheaper and the same hardware. (€25,- Alternate)

Greetz...