help with which tv card to have (1 Viewer)

[oldgit9]

hi all....

i am in need of a little help with which tv tuner card i should get....

basically, this is my very first HTPC build. i have build the system except from the tv card. originally, i was going to get a hauppauge 4000. but with me working from home (mainly i was at sea), i didnt get the card. the card is now no longer in production and has been replaced by the hauppauge 4400. but after reading some forums. im not too sure if this card can receive both the new freeview or freesat HD channels. as they are broadcast on the DVB-t2 and DVB-s2.

so after a bit more forum reading, i found the blackgold 3600. this card has a lot of good reviews. and on paper is a better card. and so it should be for the price. never the less, i placed an order for the blackgold. only to find out weeks later (and after some more research and digging around), that blackgold have changed their manufactures. as they had issues with the current ones. now the card that i ordered will not be ready for another month or so.

so the ultimate question is...should i wait for the better more expensive blackgold 3600 or should i go for the hauppauge 4400? or is there an alternative dual or quad tv card out there?

my HTPC specs:-
case - silverstone lc-16 case
motherboard - asus p8 z68-v pro
cpu - intel i3
ssd - 60gb sataIII
hdd 1 - 2tb (for tv and films)
hdd 2 - 250gb (for music and pictures)
os - win 7 (but am open for suggestions)

thanks in advanced for any advice.

 

[mm1352000]

Hi and welcome oldgit9

The Hauppauge HVR-4400 does *not* support Freeview HD, so if Freeview HD is a requirement then don't buy that card. On the other hand, it does support Freesat HD and basic Freeview...

I guess it would help to know more detail about your requirements. For example:
- do you want/need to receive both Freeview HD and Freesat HD?
- how many channels [from each platform] do you want to be able to view or record simultaneously?

Keep in mind that unlike WMC, MediaPortal allows you to view/record all of the channels available from a given frequency with one tuner. WMC requires one tuner per channel.

Also, there are quite a few dual DVB-S2 PCIe tuners available (see my comment -->here<--), however there are not so many DVB-T2 tuners (let alone dual DVB-T2 tuners) available.

The BGT3600 is a decent card. Unless it doesn't meet your requirements I would probably wait for it to arrive...

mm

 

[oldgit9]

thanks mm for the reply.

yeah i guess my requirements would be helpful for people to give me some recommendations. sorry for not giving it.

personally, i would like to receive all the available channels. both normal and in hd. but hd is not essential. i like to view programs in hd, but the wife and kids are not fussed what quality the programs are in. just as long as they are viewable.

a must , is that i can record one channel and watch another. or if i was being greedy, record two channels and watch a third.

i have already got a dish fitted on the side of the house, with two cables from it, feeding the Sky hd box. so no need to fit anything. i would like to receive both freesat and freeview and combine the two and be able to record on one, and view on the other or on both. thats why i went with the blackgold 3600. as "apparently", it can do the lot. all on one card.

but if anyone can recommend a better card/s or a better set-up , then i am open to suggestions.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

You might want to consider 2 cards = 3\4 tuners.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peak-DVB-T-Channel-Scheduling-Recording/dp/B0018D8J60

and then the tbs dual satellite.

This would give a fantastic range of recording\watching options.

 

[oldgit9]

You might want to consider 2 cards = 3\4 tuners.

Peak PCI DVB-T TV Tuner, Dual Channel, Real Time and Scheduling Recording: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

and then the tbs dual satellite.

This would give a fantastic range of recording\watching options.

thanks "Paranoid Delusion" for the suggestion. i will certainly look into what you have suggested.

i forgot to mention in my last post, that i would also like to pause, rewind etc the tv feed. is this possible?

 

[mm1352000]

i forgot to mention in my last post, that i would also like to pause, rewind etc the tv feed. is this possible?

Absolutely!

 

[porky996t]

@oldgit,

The cards that PD suggested are the exact ones I have in my system. Both are absolutely rock solid. I get the HD stuff via the satellite card. Channel change is quick and a very good picture too. I have been watching two channels (I have a multiroom setup all using MP) and recording four. I also use a version of MP that grabs the Sky EPG and allows series link too.

The GF uses it without any problems.


HTH,



M.

 

[oldgit9]

i've had a look at the cards that PD has suggested. but the card is a bit out of my price range.

in the mean time, i want to finish off my HTPC build and i have found this card "HERE". ok, it's not what i really want, but it will do until the blackgold arrives. and i could even use with the blackgold.

what do you all think?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again

Yep, TBS cards are excellent "bang for buck". Obviously that's only a single tuner so you can only view or record all the channels from one frequency. Assuming you have enough expansion slots you should be able to continue to use that tuner when the BGT3600 arrives. I'd say go for it.

mm

 

[oldgit9]

on your head may it be "mm"...i have taken the plunge and ordered the TBS 8920...and if it turns out to rubbish, i know who to point the finger at!!!!

only joking mate...i appreciate the advice...and for the short term...i think that the card will do us just fine. and when the blackgold does finally arrive (09/01/12 according to the website), i can add it to the system and get more recordable channels