A good HDTV tuner PCIe card?

Hello.

I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005, died
earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals from any antenna.
My other one is still fine.

Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in newer
motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It needs to be
compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian
stable).

Thank you in advance.
--
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Ant wrote:
Hello.

I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005, died
earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals from any antenna.
My other one is still fine.

Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in newer
motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It needs to be
compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian
stable).

Thank you in advance.

I think I'd start with some Linux web page of tuners,
and work it backwards. Whatever you get from the Linux
page, is bound to have Windows software as well.

http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_PCIe_Cards

*******

Another methodology is "networked tuners". These connect
to your Ethernet router or switch box. The idea behind
this, is no "low level driver" is needed for the tuner bits.
As a processor in that box takes care of it. The software
type you might use with this is DLNA based. They mention things
like Windows Media Center and MythTV.

"SiliconDust HDHomeRun - cable TV only version"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345006

(Ridiculously priced version with ATSC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345010

(Reasonably priced ATSC from the same company)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345007

I'm not sure why the middle one is so expensive.

*******

They also make some USB dongle style TV tuners, but those
tend to overheat.

*******

The single biggest weakness with any TV related hardware you
buy, is the software. You can have wonderful pieces of hardware,
rendered completely useless by a lack of a good driver or
controls package. So you don't buy those things without reading
the customer review section to see whether the software was
usable or not.

Paul

Paul wrote:
Ant wrote:
Hello.

I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005,
died earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals from any
antenna. My other one is still fine.

Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in
newer motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It needs to be
compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian
stable).

Thank you in advance.

I think I'd start with some Linux web page of tuners,
and work it backwards. Whatever you get from the Linux
page, is bound to have Windows software as well.

http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_PCIe_Cards

*******

Another methodology is "networked tuners". These connect
to your Ethernet router or switch box. The idea behind
this, is no "low level driver" is needed for the tuner bits.
As a processor in that box takes care of it. The software
type you might use with this is DLNA based. They mention things
like Windows Media Center and MythTV.

"SiliconDust HDHomeRun - cable TV only version"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345006

(Ridiculously priced version with ATSC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345010

(Reasonably priced ATSC from the same company)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345007

I'm not sure why the middle one is so expensive.

I'd assume it's the "enterprise" multicasting feature. So it can send the video
to multiple drives/computers at the same time.

From: "Ant"

Hello.

I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005, died
earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals from any antenna.
My other one is still fine.

Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in newer
motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It needs to be
compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian
stable).

Thank you in advance.

Hauppauge makes quality Internal and External devices.

http://www.hauppauge.com/



--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

On 10/2/2013 5:11 AM PT, Paul typed:

Another methodology is "networked tuners". These connect
to your Ethernet router or switch box. The idea behind
this, is no "low level driver" is needed for the tuner bits.
As a processor in that box takes care of it. The software
type you might use with this is DLNA based. They mention things
like Windows Media Center and MythTV.

"SiliconDust HDHomeRun - cable TV only version"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345006

(Ridiculously priced version with ATSC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345010

(Reasonably priced ATSC from the same company)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345007

I'm not sure why the middle one is so expensive.

Doesn't that require fast network? I only have a 100 Mb/sec Linksys
WRT54GL v1.1 router, with its latest stock firmware. Also, it is not
that stable (rare 1-2 seconds disconnections from rare reboots). That
could be a problem?
--
"Ants. There's a size for every picnic, a colour for every occasion, and
a bite to let you know that they are there. Apart from the bite, that
could describe a Basenji pretty well." --Len Reddie
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on this computer.

Ant wrote:
On 10/2/2013 5:11 AM PT, Paul typed:

Another methodology is "networked tuners". These connect
to your Ethernet router or switch box. The idea behind
this, is no "low level driver" is needed for the tuner bits.
As a processor in that box takes care of it. The software
type you might use with this is DLNA based. They mention things
like Windows Media Center and MythTV.

"SiliconDust HDHomeRun - cable TV only version"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345006

(Ridiculously priced version with ATSC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345010

(Reasonably priced ATSC from the same company)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345007

I'm not sure why the middle one is so expensive.

Doesn't that require fast network? I only have a 100 Mb/sec Linksys
WRT54GL v1.1 router, with its latest stock firmware. Also, it is not
that stable (rare 1-2 seconds disconnections from rare reboots). That
could be a problem?

I think I'd test it first, before buying any more hardware. Maybe
there's enough of a buffer inside it, to ride out a 2 second outage.

*******

You can arrange a four port switch after your router, and see if
that helps. If the traffic is local to the switch, perhaps a reboot
of the router doesn't harm things. I have one of these to connect
my computers together, so transfers between the computers are faster.
It cost around $40 when I got it. Four locally purchased network cables
were 4*$10 and equal in cost to the switch, so don't neglect the cost
of cables when planning it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...gear%20gs 605

I don't think a router reboot would affect the switch, as long as the
switch traffic remained local.

modem ---- 100BT_router --- GbE_switch --- up to four computers

The capture speed of one tuner (at 19 mbit/sec) or round it to
3MB/sec, is not using a large portion of the 12.5MB/sec of 100BT.
So it should work OK. If you had a lot of tuners, then add
a GbE switch between source(s) and destination.

HTH,
Paul

From: "Paul"

Ant wrote:
On 10/2/2013 5:11 AM PT, Paul typed:

Another methodology is "networked tuners". These connect
to your Ethernet router or switch box. The idea behind
this, is no "low level driver" is needed for the tuner bits.
As a processor in that box takes care of it. The software
type you might use with this is DLNA based. They mention things
like Windows Media Center and MythTV.

"SiliconDust HDHomeRun - cable TV only version"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345006

(Ridiculously priced version with ATSC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345010

(Reasonably priced ATSC from the same company)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815345007

I'm not sure why the middle one is so expensive.

Doesn't that require fast network? I only have a 100 Mb/sec Linksys
WRT54GL v1.1 router, with its latest stock firmware. Also, it is not that
stable (rare 1-2 seconds disconnections from rare reboots). That could be
a problem?

I think I'd test it first, before buying any more hardware. Maybe
there's enough of a buffer inside it, to ride out a 2 second outage.

*******

You can arrange a four port switch after your router, and see if
that helps. If the traffic is local to the switch, perhaps a reboot
of the router doesn't harm things. I have one of these to connect
my computers together, so transfers between the computers are faster.
It cost around $40 when I got it. Four locally purchased network cables
were 4*$10 and equal in cost to the switch, so don't neglect the cost
of cables when planning it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...gear%20gs 605

I don't think a router reboot would affect the switch, as long as the
switch traffic remained local.

modem ---- 100BT_router --- GbE_switch --- up to four computers

The capture speed of one tuner (at 19 mbit/sec) or round it to
3MB/sec, is not using a large portion of the 12.5MB/sec of 100BT.
So it should work OK. If you had a lot of tuners, then add
a GbE switch between source(s) and destination.

HTH,
Paul

If the Router has an E-Switch than the PC should be connected to it.

I recently dumped two Gig-E Switches and replaced them with 10/100 hubs due
to a severe degradation they introduced.

http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?t=85025

--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message ...
From: "Ant"
Hello.
I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005, died earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals from
any antenna. My other one is still fine.
Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in newer motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It
needs to be compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian stable).
Thank you in advance.
Hauppauge makes quality Internal and External devices.
http://www.hauppauge.com/

I have the hauppauge usb WebTv tuner
that come out for windows 98

Per Ant:
Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in newer
motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It needs to be
compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian
stable).

If nothing comes up, consider an end run: a SiliconDust HD HomeRun
tuner. It's claim to fame is that it lives outside of your PC and
connects to your router and not the PC. The PC then connects to it
over the LAN.

I've been using two of their twin-tuner boxes (4 tuners total) for at
least five years with zero problems. No slots used, totally fungible
between PCs... what's not to like? OK, at eighty bucks they might be
more expensive.... But they seem to be very good tuners.

TinyURS seems to be down or I'd post a link. Google "Silicondust
HDHomerun" and look at the NewEgg hit.



--
Pete Cresswell

If nothing comes up, consider an end run: a SiliconDust HD HomeRun
tuner. It's claim to fame is that it lives outside of your PC and
connects to your router and not the PC. The PC then connects to it
over the LAN.

I've been using two of their twin-tuner boxes (4 tuners total) for at
least five years with zero problems. No slots used, totally fungible
between PCs... what's not to like? OK, at eighty bucks they might be
more expensive.... But they seem to be very good tuners.

TinyURS seems to be down or I'd post a link. Google "Silicondust
HDHomerun" and look at the NewEgg hit.

The only thing about network one is that my network isn't that stable
and is onl 100 Mb/sec. especially if I am going to do basic heavy file
transfers. Also, my network connection likes to disconnect. What
happens if that happens if I am recording to my computers? $80 isn't bad
though.
--
Quote of the Week: "Now I have you where I want you... where is my jar of Bull ants?" --unknown
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail. If crediting,
( ) then please kindly use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.

On 10/2/2013 11:09 AM PT, Hot-Text typed:

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message ...
From: "Ant"
Hello.
I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005, died earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals from
any antenna. My other one is still fine.
Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in newer motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It
needs to be compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian stable).
Thank you in advance.
Hauppauge makes quality Internal and External devices.
http://www.hauppauge.com/

I have the hauppauge usb WebTv tuner
that come out for windows 98

Aren't USB(2) too slow and unreliable for serious HTPC/media center users?
--
"I have to sit up with a sick ant." --unknown
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on this computer.

Ant wrote:
On 10/2/2013 11:09 AM PT, Hot-Text typed:

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message
...
From: "Ant"
Hello.
I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005,
died earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals from
any antenna. My other one is still fine.
Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in
newer motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It
needs to be compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and
Linux (Debian stable).
Thank you in advance.
Hauppauge makes quality Internal and External devices.
http://www.hauppauge.com/

I have the hauppauge usb WebTv tuner
that come out for windows 98

Aren't USB(2) too slow and unreliable for serious HTPC/media center users?

USB2 is fast enough.

For ATSC, the MPEG2 stream of packets is 19.39Mbit/sec which
is 2.4MB/sec. USB2 when used for mass storage is 30MB/sec.

For NTSC, if the capture chip was "dumb" and no compression
was used, that would be a higher rate. Perhaps 20MB/sec from
a BT878 for example. And that would still fit in a USB2 pipe.
I don't think the capture mode captures simple RGB 24 bit color,
and the capture mode uses something a bit more economical than that.
I can't find any details on it.

Paul

Per Ant:
The only thing about network one is that my network isn't that stable
and is onl 100 Mb/sec. especially if I am going to do basic heavy file
transfers. Also, my network connection likes to disconnect. What
happens if that happens if I am recording to my computers? $80 isn't bad
though.

By "my network" do you mean your internet connection or your home LAN?

If #1, that's moot.

If #2, I'd be surprised if it could not be easily remedied.
--
Pete Cresswell

"Paul" wrote in message ...
Ant wrote:
On 10/2/2013 11:09 AM PT, Hot-Text typed:

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message ...
From: "Ant"
Hello.
I think one of my old Air2PC-ATSC-PCI HDTV tuner cards, from 2005, died earlier today since it can't seem to get any signals
from
any antenna. My other one is still fine.
Does anyone know what's a good PCIE (PCI slots are hard to find in newer motherboards these days) HDTV tuner card to get? It
needs to be compatible with both Windows XP+ (use DVB Viewers) and Linux (Debian stable).
Thank you in advance.
Hauppauge makes quality Internal and External devices.
http://www.hauppauge.com/
I have the hauppauge usb WebTv tuner
that come out for windows 98
Aren't USB(2) too slow and unreliable for serious HTPC/media center users?

USB2 is fast enough.
For ATSC, the MPEG2 stream of packets is 19.39Mbit/sec which
is 2.4MB/sec. USB2 when used for mass storage is 30MB/sec.
For NTSC, if the capture chip was "dumb" and no compression
was used, that would be a higher rate. Perhaps 20MB/sec from
a BT878 for example. And that would still fit in a USB2 pipe.
I don't think the capture mode captures simple RGB 24 bit color,
and the capture mode uses something a bit more economical than that.
I can't find any details on it.

You a 100% Right Paul

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message ...
Per Ant:
The only thing about network one is that my network isn't that stable
and is onl 100 Mb/sec. especially if I am going to do basic heavy file
transfers. Also, my network connection likes to disconnect. What
happens if that happens if I am recording to my computers? $80 isn't bad
though.

By "my network" do you mean your internet connection or your home LAN?
If #1, that's moot.
If #2, I'd be surprised if it could not be easily remedied.


Pete Cresswell

Old PC LAN or 10 mdps

Home Network LAN today is
Speed: 100.0 mdps to 400.0 mdps

Now Internet Network Modems
for a IDSN
22.0 kbps to 144 Kbps
for a DSL
Speed: 10.0 mdps to 100.0 mdps
for a Cable
Speed: 10.0 mdps to 200.0 mdps
for a T3
Speed: 10.0 mdps to 700.0 mdps

Some where in that Speeds