Suggestions required to buy a TV tuner card

[Ambak]

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A TV tuner card allows a computer to a television capable of receiving DTT and / or radio. I am looking to buy a card that can offer listening to radio, recording, portability, etc. Depending on my usage, equipment and requirements I need some help to buy a TV tuner card, one that might fit my HTPC. I am using a a Windows Media Center PC. Looking for the facility with minimal investment on what points should i choose the card ?

[Orton]

You choose the tuner based on the type of TV signal you want to view. Some cards contain multiple TV tuners to fill different then receive different types of signals and / or record a different channel from that viewing. some solutions are external USB2 type while a majority are at the interface between PCI and models are PCI-e begin to appear. Specifically dedicated to laptops , TV tuner PCMCIA and Express Card also exist .

[jhon]

Originally Posted by Orton

You choose the tuner based on the type of TV signal you want to view. Some cards contain multiple TV tuners to fill different then receive different types of signals and / or record a different channel from that viewing. some solutions are external USB2 type while a majority are at the interface between PCI and models are PCI-e begin to appear. Specifically dedicated to laptops , TV tuner PCMCIA and Express Card also exist .

Although there alternatives to the software supplied by default with the card, be aware that the quality of the software provided can vary greatly depending on the brand. In this area, Leadtek cards are supplied with software rather honorable. Often the extra cost for DTT is not excessive and if you're covered areas, it will be a guarantee of continuity since, the term analog should disappear. TNT also has the advantage of offering more channels.

[Deep123]

If including Leadtek, Terratec and Hauppauge PCTV generally provide the right equipment, the fundamental criterion is difficult to quantify. This comes primarily from the fact that following the antennas used and the distance from the transmitter, the results in terms of reception quality can vary greatly.

In addition, some cards have a good hardware but are supplied with software that can not operate well. Number of advanced users, so replace them with satisfaction by alternative software and it becomes difficult to characterize the quality of product, especially since there is no alternative software "perfect" or even universal.

[Happy_To_Help]

If you want to watch a different program than what you save, remember that you must choose a model that includes multiple tuners: compatible models DVB-T/Analog generally you will. Be aware that if you cons want to save a TNT broadcast while watching another program at the same broadcaster, you must acquire a specific good physical model including multiple tuners TNT. I should mention one particular case an exception: with appropriate software ( MediaPortal 3.0 for example), to express terms of being on the same multiplex , it is possible to watch one channel and record another with one and same tuner.

[O'Brian]

In case you need to record a show, the digital stream will not have to be converted and compressed unlike analog: not only quality video such as audio, will be even better but more CPU time required will be very low. In this way, if you want to record an analog source and you do not have a very powerful processor (1 GHz for example) you will opt for a mandatory card with a hardware encryption capability which will greatly relieve the CPU .

[Arzaan]

Still on the record, even if it is more or less well supported by the software supplied, the "Timeshift" is a feature always present and is not a criterion for purchase. As a reminder, it is to pause a show being broadcast: Recording starts and then when you resume viewing of the show, so you do offline, from the registration also continues in the background. Since it is a recording all of the above when the source of flow and potential resources for compression will be applied.