*Turned out to be dead card* (was: PCIe tuner card only sometimes being detected on new motherboard) (1 Viewer)

[RobNorthcott]

Thanks @Owlsroost - I was actually thinking of trying one of those cheap T2 tuners. As I said, I don't really use the terrestrial tuners much, so don't really need two of them. As long as it works for the times I use it it'll be fine. Sounds like you've tried those cheap ones and the PCTV ones - in your opinion, are the PCTV ones better/more stable? Slow tuning time won't bother me, as long as it works, so a cheapie is tempting, seeing as I mostly use the satellite tuners (we only get limited freeview here so mostly use freesat).

 

[Owlsroost]

I've only used the 'Astrometa' design tuners on my test system, and (apart from the slower tuning) they have been completely stable, as has the PCTV 290e on the main HTPC.

Since I have a good antenna signal they both seem to be OK on reception quality - not tested either on weak signals so can't comment on that situation.

 

[RobNorthcott]

Thanks. My terrestrial freeview signal isn't that fantastic, but not terrible either. Think I'll give one of the cheap tuners a go - got to be worth a punt for £16

 

[RobNorthcott]

Right, got the new tuners and all running fine

I went for a TBS 6982 dual DVB-S2 PCIe card, which seems excellent, and a cheap Astrometa-based USB DVB-T2 tuner as mentioned by @Owlsroost, which is slow to tune as he pointed out (had to increase the tuning timeout in TVServer to 5 seconds to be able to tune HD) but works very well (and as the DVB-T is mostly only used as a backup the slow tuning isn't going to annoy anybody).

The TBS card still runs pretty hot, but possibly not quite as hot as the BlackGold. Must be a thing with DVB-S tuners.

All in all very happy (apart from having killed by BGT3600 in the first place!)

 

[CyberSimian]

The TBS card still runs pretty hot, but possibly not quite as hot as the BlackGold.

I have two TBS 6284 quad-tuner DVB-T2 cards. One modification that I made to both was to remove the "TBS" sticky label stuck over each of the four dual-tuner boxes. This exposed ventilation holes in the tuner box. Since my HTPC tower case was designed to the unloved BTX standard, the cards sit with the tuner boxes (and hence ventilation holes) on the upper surface of the card, allowing the hot air to escape.

For your satellite card:

(1) Removing the sticky label will nullify the guarantee.
(2) The tuner box may not have ventilation holes.
(3) Your case may position the card so as to prevent the escape of the hot air from the tuner box.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[mm1352000]

The TBS card still runs pretty hot, but possibly not quite as hot as the BlackGold. Must be a thing with DVB-S tuners.

Satellite tuners have to supply power to the satellite dish in order to receive signal. That's why there's often an additional power connector on satellite tuner cards. The PC's power supply can't directly supply the voltages required at the dish, so voltage conversion must be performed as part of the tuner's circuitry. This takes more components, which naturally generate more heat.

Terrestrial and cable tuners have no such requirement.

 

[RobNorthcott]

Yes, the LNB needs 18v or something doesn't it, so there has to be a step-up from 12 to 18v, but I don't see why they need to run that hot. Still, it works

 

[RobNorthcott]

One modification that I made to both was to remove the "TBS" sticky label stuck over each of the four dual-tuner boxes. This exposed ventilation holes in the tuner box.

Thanks - I missed your post before somehow. The part that gets hottest on mine (and on the BG card) is at the other end of the card near where the power connector is. Presumably it's the voltage converters for the LNB power. I've not noticed the actual "box" part getting that hot on mine. My motherboard is horizontal, like in a desktop PC, so the tuner card is on its side - if the "boxes" seem to be running hot later I'll try your idea (although from memory I think only one of them has a sticker on it, and the other one has no holes that I noticed)