04-01-2004 13:03									#1
	TV Tuner Cards Put an end to popups!

Hey all.

I'm looking to buy a TV Tuner Card for my computer but I don't know diddlie squat about them.

So I'd really appreciate it if you techies out there, or anybody at all, can give me any advice on good cards out in the market that I can purchase.

Oh, also if you could please tell me anything that you think I should know regarding these cards. I want to get a good one straight off. Even if its don't buy one. Just make sure you include reasons aswell.

And yes, we do have TV in New Zealand, in fact we have colour aswell. We're slowly catching up

Thanks in advance people.

	04-01-2004 13:04									#2
	Remove this text

I thought New Zealanders were too busy with their sheep to bother with such fangled gadgets like TV tuner cards.

	04-01-2004 13:17									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Well we have to have something with which to watch our free to air sheep pr0n now don't we.

	04-01-2004 19:21									#4
	Tired of ads?

Beats me why don't you get a TV set instead.

	04-01-2004 19:29									#5
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Well, any card that has a bt8xxx chip inside... Don't get one.
Nothing actually wrong with it, but there are still better ones.

	05-01-2004 10:03									#6
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quote: Beats me why don't you get a TV set instead.

Because it'll be easier to have it as apart of my computer. TVs are bulky things when you don't have that much room. Plus I'm kinda aiming to make my computer a complete entertainment centre. Also just cause.

quote: Well, any card that has a bt8xxx chip inside... Don't get one. Nothing actually wrong with it, but there are still better ones.

Cheers.


So nobody knows anything at all. My God, I must have found the only topic nobody on 'poly knows anything about. Somebody must have some advice to share.

	05-01-2004 10:05									#7
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I have the ATI TV Wonder and it's good.

	05-01-2004 10:08									#8
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Thank you, one person who actually has a TV card. I'll look into that one on the net a bit.

	05-01-2004 10:08									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

The interference will likely be pretty bad for you on a Bt8x8 chip, especially since you are in PAL land. Well, the interference will be pretty bad for all of the tuners on these cards.

You will have better luck with a card that has a Philips chip on it or a Conexant CX2388x chip on it.

Good luck.

	05-01-2004 10:11									#10
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A better way of getting this done is by having a capture card rather than a TV tuner card. It's the same thing as the tuner card, without the tuner. Run s-video from your VCR or TiVo to the capture card in your computer. This will minimize the interference. Capture cards are dirt cheap here in the States. Don't know about NZ.

	05-01-2004 11:57									#11
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http://www.griffler.co.nz/cgi-bin/nz_store/00127.html

- Been checking out that tuner card. Looks good. Opinions?

Thanks if you reply.

	05-01-2004 12:03									#12
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quote: Originally posted by Asher I have the ATI TV Wonder and it's good.

I have the same thing and it sucks.... another ATI piece of ****

	05-01-2004 12:04									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Sava I have the same thing and it sucks.... another ATI piece of ****

What's wrong with it for you?

	05-01-2004 22:16									#14
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quote: Been checking out that tuner card. Looks good. Opinions?

Is this based on the bt8x8 chip series rather than the Philips or CX2388x chip series? Also, the price seems pretty steep.

	05-01-2004 22:54									#15
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quote: Originally posted by Asher What's wrong with it for you?

it doesn't work... it's collecting dust in my closet

	05-01-2004 22:59									#16
	Put an end to popups!

I have an ATI all in wonder in one PC and it works fine (even for games)

	06-01-2004 00:39									#17
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I've got this:

http://www.lifeview.com.tw/eng/pro_fly_2000.html

There's a certain amount of static but nothing that bothers me, and the new software is really really crap (switched back straight away to the old one which was much sounder, though with broken features and some stuff missing). Overall it's a product I use every day that I'm reasonably happy with, much cheaper and more convenient than a TV that's for sure.

	06-01-2004 04:08									#18
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I've started looking into them too. Mostly because I am too lazy to set up the VCR for every thing I want to record, this will make my life easier. Just click and the show is on the disc

Haven't decided on the model yet, but I'll spend 70$ max. Here you can find a functional card for that.

Filip McWho, you can find a lot of discussions about these cards on groups.google.com.

	06-01-2004 04:22									#19
	Remove this text

Thanks people.

quote: Is this based on the bt8x8 chip series rather than the Philips or CX2388x chip series? Also, the price seems pretty steep.

Fusion 878A is the chipset. Seems pretty good overall. The price is better in other places according to pricespy so I'm gonna go do some shopping. Actually the moment I've finished this reply I'm gonna go.

This is the official site for it:
http://www.leadtek.com.tw/multimedi..._deluxe_1.shtml

	06-01-2004 04:41									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Unless you've got less than a 20" screen, I don't think you'll be happy with that card, since it's part of the bt 8x8 chip family and that chip family tends to have interference problems. The Conexant cx2388x chip family is merely the newer version of the bt 8x8 chips.

	06-01-2004 04:43									#21
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I've got a 17". So it should be sweet?

	06-01-2004 04:45									#22
	Put an end to popups!

Also wouldn't it depend on your own reception? The quality of your aerial?

	06-01-2004 04:45									#23
	Increase the size of your Attachments

I don't know. Depends on a lot of factors. Can't guarantee it. Interference varies from machine to machine and which gods favor you, etc.

Again, I suggest trying another chipset. They're no more expensive. Or better yet, try the non-tuner approach that I mentioned above.

	06-01-2004 04:48									#24
	Put an end to popups!

Ok thanks. If I do end up getting it I'll let you people know how it runs.

"which gods favor you"
hahahaha