Recommended OTA HDTV Dual Tuner

[RedCoat999]

Been using Sage since time began in one form or another. Getting rid of Dish as soon as I can in September, and switching to good'ol Over The Air (OTA) HDTV. Haven't been using Sage for my "TV" since I had the Dish and HD, but now would like to get recommendation for dual HD OTA tuners. I have one PCIe and 3 PCI slots available. Hardware encoding is probably a must, and recording in mpeg4 would be a bonus too.

Thanks

[ChaOConnor]

I use the HVR-2250. Only issues I've ever had is in a WHS box w/ more than 4 gigs of ram it's touchy, but in my old XP/Vista/Win7 Box, it worked like a charm. Good luck! OBTW, I use an OTA Antenna into my 2250 as well, I run my Fios line into my HDHR.

[razrsharpe]

HDHR

[Fuzzy]

Those two are about the only two I'd even consider. HDHomeRun, or HVR-2250.

[RedCoat999]

Originally Posted by razrsharpe

HDHR

So after reading on their website, I could connect two of those in my basement next to my router (and near the antenna), and all 4 tuner signals would go over my hardwire network to my Sage server in my office, correct?

[razrsharpe]

Originally Posted by RedCoat999

So after reading on their website, I could connect two of those in my basement next to my router (and near the antenna), and all 4 tuner signals would go over my hardwire network to my Sage server in my office, correct?

yup... that's exactly what i do... granted the router, hdhr's, and server are all in the same rack in the basement but the idea is the same

[Fuzzy]

That is probably the single best feature of the HDHR, the fact that it can be located easily near the antenna...

So.... are you saying your antenna is in your basement?

[RedCoat999]

What kind of network load does 4 TV channels produce from that device? I am using ethernet over electric wires (Netgear X103/104). Think its rated at >60 mbps or something in that neighborhood.

The antenna wires come in the house there. No antenna will be in the basement!
Thanks

[razrsharpe]

Originally Posted by RedCoat999

What kind of network load does 4 TV channels produce from that device

each hd stream can be 19.4Mbps according to the ATSC Spec... so 4 simultaneous recording streams can theoretically consume ~80Mbps. I am not sure of the actual usage but i think it's usually close to the max when recording HD content.

PS Fuzzy - No my antenna isn't in the basement but it was easier to run coax from the attic to the basement then power + ethernet to the attic...

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by razrsharpe

each hd stream can be 19.4Mbps according to the ATSC Spec... so 4 simultaneous recording streams can theoretically consume ~80Mbps. I am not sure of the actual usage but i think it's usually close to the max when recording HD content.

Not usually unfortunately. Most stations seem to like cramming subchannels on rather than maximizing quality, so the HD stream (which when Sage is recording is all that's sent, well technically just the subchannel that's desired) is usually "significantly" lower than 19.4Mbps, like probably on the order of 12-16Mbps.

[RedCoat999]

Now there's an ol'time Sage user 'Stanger89'! Forum member number 166! You've been very helpful over the years from member number 431!

[drewg]

Originally Posted by razrsharpe

HDHR

Watch out if you have multipath (which is signal bouncing caused by hills, trees, buildings, airplanes and in analog broadcasts resulted in "ghosting"). The HDHR is terrible at multipath rejection. It is the worst digital tuner I've seen in years. I have 5 year old PCI tuners and a $29 USB stick that will hold a signal that my HDHR won't.

On the plus side, their drivers and support are top notch.

Drew

[Fuzzy]

I live in hills, 45 milers from the towers, (shooting THROUGH a granite and iron hill) and have no problems getting full signal quality on my HDHR).

[drewg]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I live in hills, 45 milers from the towers, (shooting THROUGH a granite and iron hill) and have no problems getting full signal quality on my HDHR).

Not everybody is as lucky. Search the Silicon Dust forums, there are tons of people who have no problems with other tuners, but poor reception with the HDHR. I live 17 miles from our local towers, 4 miles from an international airport, and my HDHR isn't usable for local channels, while a $29 P.O.S. Kworld UB435Q USB tuner does fine (as does a 5 year old DVICO Fusion HDTV5 Gold, and a Pinnacle 800i). And it is not as if I haven't tried. I moved my CM4228 antenna around in my attic for the first time in 5 years just for the HDHR. I really, really wanted to like the HDHR and dump my internal tuners.. As it is, I'll probably have to deal with QAM if I want to really use the HDHR.

Also, maybe being a long way away helps. The HDHR is almost as good as my other tuners at pulling in channels from a neighboring market, so I use it to get a higher bitrate ABC from ~50 miles away.

Drew

[razrsharpe]

just to add my experience with reception... i live about 10 mi from the tower, 2 mi from an international airport, and the signal goes through hills, trees, and urban sprawl to get to the tower. My antenna is in the attic and does a fantastic job rejecting ghosting, multipath, etc

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by drewg

Also, maybe being a long way away helps. The HDHR is almost as good as my other tuners at pulling in channels from a neighboring market, so I use it to get a higher bitrate ABC from ~50 miles away.

I wonder if your issue is too much signal... I had roughly the opposite problem as you, I had a heck of a time getting a reliable signal until I got the HDHR. But like Fuzzy I'm like 30+ maybe 40+ miles away from the towers. It's possible your HDHR is getting overloaded by your proximity.

[babgvant]

I have an AverMedia Duet and the HVR-2250, been happiest with the Duet - and it was 1/2 the price.

[drewg]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I wonder if your issue is too much signal... I had roughly the opposite problem as you, I had a heck of a time getting a reliable signal until I got the HDHR. But like Fuzzy I'm like 30+ maybe 40+ miles away from the towers. It's possible your HDHR is getting overloaded by your proximity.

Anything is possible, but I've tried all kinds of setups (amps, no amps, different splitters, etc, moving the HDHR to a closet by itself with a power filter, hours in the attic mounting the CM4228 in different spots). All other tuners do fine. HDHR fails, even on a clear day. Swivel the CM4228 180 degrees to get my neighboring market (or switch to my west pointed CM4228) , and all is well for the strong stations in that market. When the HDHR has problems, the signal strength is generally in the 80s or 90s and the SNQ varies wildly. For the stations in my neighboring market, signal is in the 60s, but the snq is steady in the upper 90s.

Well, at least one thing the HDHR was good for was tuning the antenna setup. I used to get occasional glitches in storms on my other tuners. Now they're perfect even in a gully washer with 70Mph gusts.

Drew

[RedCoat999]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I wonder if your issue is too much signal...

Reading the antennaweg.org website, it says to be careful you don't have too much antenna for the job either as that can cause just as many issues with reception

[teedublu]

you could try an attenuator, if you suspect overload. They're available in the std cable F connector format. 6 to 12db (stack a couple is reasonable) should do it.

TW