Which HDTV tuner works best with Sage?

[SubaruWRX]

Trying out OTA HD and I don't have a HD tuner card for the Pc right now but I want one that works fully with Sage since the SD card I brought I only spent $20 on it and it was only sorta supported in the last version of Sage but it has a software encoder.

[paulbeers]

Everyone seems to have their favorite cards, but the Avermedia A180 or the Vbox cards seem to be the most popular. I use a FusionLite 5 and it is fine. I think it is a little light on its signal strength but seems to do a good job capturing even when the signal is only listed at 75%. What seems to be one of the favorites though, is not a card at all. HDHomerun is a dual tuner network device that captures the HD stream via a seperate box and sends it via ethernet to your computer and the best part is if you are using Cable (rather than Satellite), it will even pull in any unencrypted Digital channels (HD and SD). It will be my next pick up for a tuner.

[camus]

I was using a VBox DTA-150 and it worked very well with Sage. Recently switched to a HDHomerun (it has dual tuners) and it works great too.

I used both for OTA and would recommend either.

[SubaruWRX]

Originally Posted by camus

I was using a VBox DTA-150 and it worked very well with Sage. Recently switched to a HDHomerun (it has dual tuners) and it works great too.

I used both for OTA and would recommend either.

does the Vbox just tune into digital stations?

[popechild]

I've got 2 Avermedia A180s working great for me.

[Paul H]

I'm using an ATI HDTV Wonder & a Hauppauge WinTV 1600. Both are dual tuners, each one has one std and one HDTV tuner. The 1600 also comes with a remote w/ IR receiver and a IR Blaster. Note that at this time the 1600s accessories will not work if another Hauppauge tuner is installed. Other than that both work fine. (BTW: I also have a Hauppauge WinTV 500 installed so I cannot use the accessories.)

[mattdcknsn]

I am currently using the Pinnacle USB tuner and Hauppage 950, both work just fine. Although I have noticed the Pinnacle is able to lock on to more stations. Both of these are USB 2.0 so no extra PCI slots necessary.

[Fastrack]

I have the HDHomeRun, the unit has 2 ATSC tuners... And works great...

[SubaruWRX]

wow never got a email update... but I think I will go for the Vbox

[popechild]

Is there a good dual tuner (1 ATSC, 1 NTSC) USB tuner out there? I've got two internal a180s, but might want to move one to USB to make room for a new video card in the x16 slot right next to it. Would be nice to add a NTSC tuner at the same time if possible.

[Paul H]

Tigerdirect has this one:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...32&CatId=1427#

[SubaruWRX]

Maybe this one would be better? since it has inputs?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...637&CatId=1427

does anyone own this model? Also I no longer need to run an audio cable from the tv tuner card to my sound card's line in for sound?

If so thats great news for me

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by SubaruWRX

Maybe this one would be better? since it has inputs?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...637&CatId=1427

does anyone own this model? Also I no longer need to run an audio cable from the tv tuner card to my sound card's line in for sound?

If so thats great news for me

That's one of the units I'm using, see my previous entry for details. Note that you can use EITHER the inputs (S-Video/Composite, Audio L R) or the STD tuner, but not both at the same time. Other than that and the IR detection problem (see above) I have no complaints about the board. BTW I thought you were looking for a PCI Express card or I would of suggested this one or the ATI HD TVWonder, also a good card, but people have reported problems with ths A/V inputs, search this site for more details.
Both of these cards connect audio thru the PCI bus, no cables!

[SubaruWRX]

Originally Posted by Paul H

That's one of the units I'm using, see my previous entry for details. Note that you can use EITHER the inputs (S-Video/Composite, Audio L R) or the STD tuner, but not both at the same time. Other than that and the IR detection problem (see above) I have no complaints about the board. BTW I thought you were looking for a PCI Express card or I would of suggested this one or the ATI HD TVWonder, also a good card, but people have reported problems with ths A/V inputs, search this site for more details.
Both of these cards connect audio thru the PCI bus, no cables!

I have to upgrade my motherboard to have pci express which I hope is soon...

I did not know it had a IR detection problem? let me guess it has a narrow range of seeing the remote?

[Paul H]

Happauge cards don't play well together. The IR software cannot determine, at this time, which card has the IR receiver/blaster attached. ATI & Hauppauge work Ok together, I only had problems when I attached another PCI Hauppauge card, (WINTV 500). If you only use the 1600 (PCI) there shouldn't be a problem.

[SubaruWRX]

I went ahead and ordered the WinTV HVR-1600

(Discussion continued in a new thread.)

[maclayer]

Originally Posted by Paul H

Happauge cards don't play well together. The IR software cannot determine, at this time, which card has the IR receiver/blaster attached. ATI & Hauppauge work Ok together, I only had problems when I attached another PCI Hauppauge card, (WINTV 500). If you only use the 1600 (PCI) there shouldn't be a problem.

I have a workaround for this. Let me know if you are interested, and I can post the batchfile.

I am running a WinTV500 and a WinTV350 on the same box and have been able to get the Remote for the 350 working using a simple batch file. It basically disables the WinTV500 once WindowsXP Boots up, which allows the 350 to detect the IR Remote, then it enables the 500 after the IR Remote is configured. After that is done, it starts SageTV.

[jensen18]

Originally Posted by maclayer

I have a workaround for this. Let me know if you are interested, and I can post the batchfile.

Could you post your batch file? I currently have a PVR150 and am looking into the HVR1600.