Which HDTV Tuner card to use as a DVR with digital cable

S

sab0276

New Member
I would like to use my Vista Media Center as a DVR using a Media Extender. I have digital cable (Comcast). I would be using it just to watch recorded shows on my HDTV using a Media Extender and would not be watching TV on my PC.
I want a HDTV tuner card that will record programs from my digital cable using Media Center Software, not proprietary software.

Any HDTV tuner cards fit this bill? Can be PCI or USB cards (my PCIe is taken by my graphics card.).

Thanks.

-Scott
 

My Computer

System One

As far as the HD Tuner goes, I like the huppauge tuners, they work well in my ultimate x64 system and look and work great. However, a few things you will have to consider...

1. With your comcast cable, will you be using a set-top box, or just standard cable signal?
2. With your HD tuner, will you be attempting to record OTA HD (Over-The-Air) as well as standard cable?

Just by getting an HD tuner does not make the signal quality HD. In fact, if you get an HD tuner, make sure its a Dual tuner in your case. Media center is written to accommodate HD cards before analog. Basically, if you buy an HD, all you will get is HD regardless of whether or not you use a standard cable signal. (Run into this problem numerous times). So, if you plug your comcast cable into an HD card running under Media Center, it won't see the analog stations but will try to find HD stations and fail.

Best solution is to buy one Dual ATSC tuner or one analog and one HD tuner.

Hope that helps
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 ; 1440x900
    Hard Drives
    3 160gb internal 60gb external 250gb external
Whats the issue?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 ; 1440x900
    Hard Drives
    3 160gb internal 60gb external 250gb external
May or may not be vista compatible. More than likely not. Any updated Drivers out there?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Core 2 Duo
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800 ; 1440x900
    Hard Drives
    3 160gb internal 60gb external 250gb external
Pbb321 said:
As far as the HD Tuner goes, I like the huppauge tuners, they work well in my ultimate x64 system and look and work great. However, a few things you will have to consider...

1. With your comcast cable, will you be using a set-top box, or just standard cable signal?
2. With your HD tuner, will you be attempting to record OTA HD (Over-The-Air) as well as standard cable?

Just by getting an HD tuner does not make the signal quality HD. In fact, if you get an HD tuner, make sure its a Dual tuner in your case. Media center is written to accommodate HD cards before analog. Basically, if you buy an HD, all you will get is HD regardless of whether or not you use a standard cable signal. (Run into this problem numerous times). So, if you plug your comcast cable into an HD card running under Media Center, it won't see the analog stations but will try to find HD stations and fail.

Best solution is to buy one Dual ATSC tuner or one analog and one HD tuner.

Hope that helps
Click to expand...

Ended up getting the Hauppauge 1600 Hybrid. It seems to work great so far. I am not using a set top box, just standard cable signal. I get channels 2-75, and 99.
I'd like to use the other tuner. Can I split the cable or do I have to get an antenna? How do I set MCE up with 2 tuners? Thanks.

-Scott
 

My Computer

System One

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