please help selecting a tuner card in AU (1 Viewer)

[clint1010]

I am looknig at purchasing one of these cards: DNTV Live! Dual Hybrid PCI-Express S2. And would like to know if I need the software "DNTV Live!" that is optional with this card if I am using MP. Also, I have a Windows MCE remote and keyboard, can I use the Windows MCE remote to change channels on this card or will the card come with a remote to use? I have never used a TV tuner card in a PC and am a total noob with this stuff.

I have never used a card that has this port aswell "PCI-e X1". Looking at the picture its quite small, This isn't a PCI express port is it? hope not because my video card currently resides there.

I have been searching and reading through these forums and the above card seems to be a good choice for me. I live in Australia and want to recieve free to air digital TV and FM radio in MP.

Thanks

Clint

 

[Marcusb]

Hi Clint,
Welcome to the forums.

I have the same card and can tell you that it works very well for Digital TV.
If you plan on using Analog, I am not sure, since I don't use that side.
I can also tell you that you don't need to buy the software if you are using MP, since MediaPortal becomes the software. You're MCE Remote and Keyboard will work with it too.

It is a PCI Express card, but it's only a x1 slot that is required. Your gfx card should be in a bigger x16 slot. If you look at your board there should be at least two smaller x1 slots there.

I also can't comment on FM radio with this card, sorry.

I also don't know how the card works with MP built in TV system, since I (and lots of others) use the new TV server. I recommend you use that too, since it seems to work much better (programs will record even if MP is closed, etc).

Hope this helps,
Marcus.

 

[clint1010]

Thanks for the info Marcus, much appreciated. I will definately take a look at the TV server, sounds pretty good.

A friend of mine sugested this Dvico Fusion DVB-T Dual Digital 4 card today for me to use. Does anyone else use this card with MP or the TV server? Its a few more dollars but the specs seem the same as the one in my opening post.

Clint

 

[canarygsr]

I use Leadtek DTV1000S and A DTV1000T both work fine for me and are $50AUD they dont have Analog but the 1000T does have AV/ and SVid in (never tried) I dont think they have radio either I use my reciver for that. There 1 big plus is they are cheap so you can see if you want to go HTPC path without wasting too much money

 

[coopers]

Hi Clint, I have the same card as marcusb. It works perfectly, I get all channels (digital). Like him, I don't use analog or radio though. I did not purchase the crappy media center software that comes with the card, although there was a dvd included with drivers and somesuch.


A friend of mine also has that Dvico Fusion card you mention - he says it works fine in MP too, I can't really say what extra benefits you would get from the extra $$ spent on this one though. What else does it do, other than watch tv?

 

[clint1010]

I think I'll go for the DNTV Live! Dual Hybrid PCI-Express S2 mentioned in my OP, seems a safe bet. You make a good observation there Coopers;

"What else does it do, other than watch tv?"

All I want is digital TV, not interested in other fancy bells and whistles. If I get TV, mission accomplished. Radio through the receiver unit, good idea, might do that if the card turns out a no goer.

Cheers for your input guys, it is very helpful. I'll post up the details and results when I put the media PC together for others that might be interested.

Thanks
Clint

 

[daleski]

How did u go Clint?

Happy with that card?
How fast are the channel changes? no dramas setting it up with media portal?

 

[S.O.P]

I have the card, can't get Analog or FM to work but haven't really sat down and tried to make it work.

Works fine for all intents and purposes, Mediaportal works out of the box and I use the DNTV Live software as backup in case MP stops behaving (more for testing purposes than anything).

Channel changes are fine, not lightning fast but I seem to notice differences between each version of MP I run.

 

[Marcusb]

I should also point out that I originally bought the Dvico card mentioned in the early post and it was terrible. Since it's really two USB tuners built on a USB expansion card you may have issues when using hibernat/suspend.
I ended up buying the DigitalNow card to replace the Dvico P.o.s...

 

[S.O.P]

Who needs FM when I have 70+ radio channels unmetered through Internode? With no ads.