Tuners and Windows 11 (1 Viewer)

[MaccaHV]

I'm not sure where to post this query - I've been told, during a conversation about costs of upgrading, that W11 may not support my hauppauge tuners. And that they're not manufactured any more, as 'everyone' is streaming, so no replacements are possible. Presumably others have come up against this already. Is this advice correct? I don't stream, satellite is too expensive for that (don't suggest I support Musk), and I don't see that changing anytime soon, so I want to continue recording free to air TV. I'd love to hear from those who have upgraded already.
Thanks

 

[CyberSimian]

Some points:

(1) When you talk about upgrading, you presumably mean Windows. But do you need to change your version of Windows? I still use Windows 7 on my HTPC. I am happy to do that because I don't use it for anything else (no web browsing, no email, no social media). However, if you do use your HTPC for those other activities, I can understand that you want to use a version of Windows that is still updated by Microsoft with security fixes.

(2) I was under the impression that Windows 11 uses the same driver interfaces as Windows 10. Therefore if you are currently using Windows 10 with your Hauppauge tuners, they should still work with Windows 11.

A few weeks ago I wanted to test an ancient Twinhan USB tuner on my Windows 10 laptop. Windows 10 had no drivers for it, and searching the web found none. But I still had the original driver CD, and that had drivers for Windows 2000 and Windows XP. By running the installer in "compatibility mode", I was able to install the 64-bit XP drivers on Windows 10, and yes, the tuner works.

(3) SiliconDust make a network tuner that their web site shows as being available for Australia. The price is US$199.99 with free international FedEx shipping from the USA, although you would presumably need to pay Australian import taxes in addition. MP supports the SiliconDust tuner, although I have never used one myself.

(4) The users in this thread and this thread had problems with Hauppauge tuners, which remained unresolved. Older Hauppauge tuners seem to work with MP, but newer ones (apparently) do not.

(5) I use a TBS tuner card with MP, and this page shows that their current TBS6205se quad tuner works on Windows 10, and so should work on Windows 11. It is US$229, shipping from China. The TBS6281se dual tuner card is US$99. As above, you would need to add Australian import taxes to both of those prices.

Overall, I think that you stand a good chance that your existing Hauppauge tuner will work with MP on Windows 11. However, if it does not, I would advise against purchasing a newer Hauppauge tuner, as they seem to have problems with MP. Consider instead the SiliconDust or TBS products.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[MaccaHV]

1) I'm wondering if it is the updated computer that will be the problem? I said I wanted more RAM and he said my TV computer was many generations old. Intel(R) Core(TM) i5CPU 750 @ 2.67 GHz
2) Am using W10, tuners work fine. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2215(F123)

 

[CyberSimian]

I'm wondering if it is the updated computer that will be the problem? I said I wanted more RAM and he said my TV computer was many generations old. Intel(R) Core(TM) i5CPU 750 @ 2.67 GHz

The CPU in my HTPC is even older than that. It is an Intel Q6600, which preceded the i3/i5/i7 naming convention. HTPCs mostly have modest CPU requirements. You need a better-performing CPU only if you want to transcode your video in real time (for example, to stream it over your home network to a device that cannot handle TS files).

RAM is a more-significant factor, as each new version of Windows seems to need more RAM. If you want more RAM in your system, you need to find out the maximum size of RAM it can use. This is determined by the motherboard in your computer. For example, my HTPC (a Dell XPS 420) can use at most 8GB of RAM, whereas my ancient Sony laptop supports a maximum of only 2GB of RAM. Although your CPU and motherboard are old, it should still be possible to obtain RAM that will fit. There are several properties of RAM that must be compatible with your motherboard, so you would need to determine the specifications of the RAM that your motherboard uses.

The pricing of new RAM seems to follow a U-shaped curve. The very latest (and fastest) RAM starts at a high price, which decreases as the years pass, but then starts increasing again when the RAM is so old that the market for it is small. One source of RAM for older systems is secondhand RAM sold on Ebay.

If you definitely want to purchase a new system, you would need to check that it has the correct type of socket for your Hauppauge tuner card. I see from this page that the 2215 is a half-height PCI-Express card. This is the current standard, so most new computers should be able to use it (obviously not mini PCs).

If you are not especially knowledgeable about computers, it might be a good idea to ask a knowledgeable relative or friend to help you choose a new computer, or even (gasp!) the sales assistant.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[MaccaHV]

The reason I was thinking I needed more RAM is that TV now seems to be HiDef and so the files have grown. I edit the files before storing them, to reduce some size. It is finding that slower, I think. Or it could just be because I'm expecting more? The Baseboard manufacturer says ASUSTech Computer Inc; Baseboard product P7P55D-E; Version Rev 1.xx. Installed physical memory is 20Gb, available is 15.5; virtual 40Gb available 34.7G. Obviously I've added more over the years, just kept the case. There are three internal hard drives. I hadn't remembered I had increased the RAM to 20, I wonder if it can hold more?
I do have this machine on my network. I can't really make it standalone so that the old os wouldn't matter - the internet is on the network. (On this machine I only use a browser, not email or any non video programmes. And I have an internet security prog for two machines. But I realise that continuing to use W10 in the long term could get dangerous.)