TV cards again... For DSTV

P

PostmanPot

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Thinking about getting a TV card as my 15yr old faithful Philips CRT is acting up.

Except I know nothing about TV cards, I just want to be able to watch DSTV on my PC's 24" and maybe record things now and then.

What is a set top box, and how does it compare to a USB TV card?

External vs. internal?

Compro, Hauppauge...?

Most of them are under R1k, budget is under R1k.

Thanks in advance.
 
By the way, I don't intend on using Windows MCE.

Assuming I need DVB input and not analogue...

DVB-S digital:

COMPRO videomate S500 , external palm size Usb digital satellite ( DVB-S) TV tuner with remote control , with pc power-up scheduling + pc power on/off on remote , support DiSEqC Version 1.2 , HDTV , 1080i HD ; philips chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video+rca ) + audio in/out ( 3.5mm ) ; support timeshifting, channel surfing, still frame capture, digital EPG, subtitle and Teletext , Picture Purifying Technology ; support PIP/POP up to 4 sub channels watching , support TV screen as wallpaper , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer 8.5SE

COMPRO videomate S300 , internal pci digital satellite ( DVB-S) TV tuner card with remote control , support DiSEqC Version 1.2 , HDTV , 1080i HD ; philips chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video+rca ) + audio in/out ( 3.5mm ) ; support timeshifting, channel surfing, still frame capture, digital EPG, subtitle and Teletext , Picture Purifying Technology ; support PIP/POP up to 4 sub channels watching , support TV screen as wallpaper , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer 8.5SE

COMPRO videomate S350 , internal pci digital satellite ( DVB-S) TV tuner card with remote control , with pc power-up scheduling + pc power on/off on remote , support DiSEqC Version 1.2 , HDTV , 1080i HD ; philips chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video+rca ) + audio in/out ( 3.5mm ) ; support timeshifting, channel surfing, still frame capture, digital EPG, subtitle and Teletext , Picture Purifying Technology ; support PIP/POP up to 4 sub channels watching , support TV screen as wallpaper , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer 8.5SE

External set top box

COMPRO W800F set-top box with front usb for pc-free video / audio playback via usb flash drive , pearl white , pc-free external Hybrid DVB-T + analog tv-tuner with FM radio , support 16:9/16:10 wide screen display , support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , support upto full HD 1920x1200/1920x1080 , stereo sound , with credit card-size remote control , video in ( s-video+rca+component ) , audio in ( RCA + 3.5mm ) , built-in speaker ; sleep mode timers

External USB

Asus mycinema US2-100/PT/FM/RC Hybrid DVB-T+analog , with FM radio , usb 2.0 , usb-powered , tv-tuner with remote control ( 21 keys ultra slim design ) , with atnenna extension , with powercinema 5.0

COMPRO videomate U750F + Mce - Hybrid DVB-T + analog , usb 2.0 , usb-powered , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4 mode) , tv-tuner+FM , with MCE remote control ( 43 keys - slim size ) , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video or RCA - 1080i HDTV ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD

COMPRO videomate U2500F stick - Hybrid DVB-T + analog , flash drive size ( 94x32x18mm ) , usb 2.0 , usb-powered , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4 mode) , tv-tuner+FM , no remote control , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video or RCA - 1080i HDTV ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD

COMPRO videomate U2600F stick - Hybrid DVB-T + analog , mobile-type digital TV antenna , flash drive size ( 94x32x18mm ) , usb 2.0 , usb-powered , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4 mode) , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control ( 32 keys - credit card size ) , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video or RCA - 1080i HDTV ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD

COMPRO videomate U2800F Mce stick - Hybrid DVB-T + analog , mobile-type digital TV antenna , flash drive size ( 94x32x18mm ) , usb 2.0 , usb-powered , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4 mode) , tv-tuner+FM , with MCE remote control ( 27 keys - credit card size ) , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video or RCA - 1080i HDTV ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD , with mobile-type digital TV antenna ; bundle software : Ulead movie factory

Internal PCI-E

Hauppauge WinTV-hVR 2200 MCE , standard + low-profile bracket , with Hardware MPEG encoding , Dual channel hybrid - dual analogue + dual digital (DVB-T) , internal pci-express (1x) , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , s-video video in + 3.5mm audio in ; support teletext , timeshifting - oem pack

COMPRO videomate E650F Mce , hybrid analog+digital (DVB-T) , support MCE in DVB-T , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + pc power on/off on remote ( 37 keys ) , internal pci-express (1x) , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , conxant chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video+ rca+ YCbCr-component 480i/576i/1080i ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer , movie factory- include low-profile bracket

COMPRO videomate E650 , hybrid analog+digital (DVB-T) , support MCE in DVB-T , MCE remote control with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + pc power on/off on remote ( 37 keys ) , internal pci-express (1x) , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , conxant chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video+ rca+ YCbCr-component 480i/576i/1080i ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer , movie factory- include low-profile bracket

COMPRO videomate E800F Mce , with Hardware MPEG encoding + built-in 32mb memory , for hybrid analogue+digital (DVB-T) , support MCE in DVB-T , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + MCE remote control with pc power on/off on remote ( 51 keys ) , internal pci-express (1x) , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , conxant chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( S-video+ rca+ YCbCr-component 480i/576i/1080i ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer , movie factory ..- include low-profile bracket

COMPRO videomate E850F Mce - with 2D+3D Y/C + with Hardware MPEG encoding + built-in 32mb memory , for hybrid analogue+digital (DVB-T) , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + MCE remote control with pc power on/off on remote ( 51 keys ) , internal pci-express (1x) , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , philips chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( S-video+ rca+ YCbCr-component 480i/576i/1080i ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , timeshifting ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer , movie factory .. - include low-profile pci bracket

COMPRO videomate E900F Mce - dual channel with 2D+3D Y/C + with Hardware MPEG encoding + built-in 32mb memory , for dual analogue + dual digital (DVB-T) , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + MCE remote control with pc power on/off on remote ( 51 keys ) , internal pci-express (1x) , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , philips chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( S-video+ rca+ YCbCr-component - 480i/576i/1080i ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , timeshifting ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer , movie factory .. - include low-profile pci bracket

Internal PCI

COMPRO videomate T500F Mce - Hybrid - analogue+digital (DVB-T) , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + MCE remote control with pc power on/off on remote ( 51 keys ) , internal pci , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , Philips 7131 chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video+ rca - 1080i HDTV ) ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD , vista 64bit certified ; bundle software : Ulead MovieFactory

COMPRO videomate T750F Mce - Dual channel Hybrid - dual analogue + dual digital (DVB-T) , watch/record 2 channel at the one time - , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + MCE remote control with pc power on/off on remote ( 51 keys ) , internal pci , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , Philips 7131 chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video+ rca - 1080i HDTV ) ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD , vista 64bit certified ; bundle software : Ulead MovieFactory
 
DVB-S card aint going to help dude... small issue of smart cards and encryption
 
so - what are you going to use if not MCE? Might help in suggesting somethign
 
I know a guy with a tv tuner that receives DSTV. Think he needed an old smartcard, like for a DSD720i.
 
From my humble opinion and what from what I understand, Hauppage are awesome.
 
PostmanPot said:
Do I have to use MCE?



I've already got a working decoder with line/feed to above the PC (currently in a CRT TV).
Click to expand...

no. most cards come with software that you can use.
i just bought a kworld 210 hybrid card and it works very well on my 24" lcd. native res also higher than usual ie 1024 x 768. most other cards are 800 x 600?
 
native res of the card?

Sorry what?

We broadcast in PAL in this country which as far as I know maxes out at 576p (except of course we're so backwards we still broadcast in 4:3 aspect ratio)
 
um i know this is kinda off topic but im kinda dissapointed in my dvd recorder quality..... does anyone know if one of these external tv cards will do a better job?
 
PostmanPot said:
COMPRO videomate U2800F Mce stick - Hybrid DVB-T + analog , mobile-type digital TV antenna , flash drive size ( 94x32x18mm ) , usb 2.0 , usb-powered , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4 mode) , tv-tuner+FM , with MCE remote control ( 27 keys - credit card size ) , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( s-video or RCA - 1080i HDTV ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , teletext , timeshifting , Straight-to-Disc for direct burn TV shows on VCD and DVD , with mobile-type digital TV antenna ; bundle software : Ulead movie factory

Internal PCI-E


COMPRO videomate E900F Mce - dual channel with 2D+3D Y/C + with Hardware MPEG encoding + built-in 32mb memory , for dual analogue + dual digital (DVB-T) , with pc power-up scheduling ( from S3/S4/S5 mode) + MCE remote control with pc power on/off on remote ( 51 keys ) , internal pci-express (1x) , stereo sound , tv-tuner+FM , with remote control , philips chipset , MPEG 1/2/4 encoding , video in ( S-video+ rca+ YCbCr-component - 480i/576i/1080i ) + audio in ; support PiP/PoP/video as desktop , timeshifting ; bundle software : Ulead photo explorer , movie factory .. - include low-profile pci bracket
Click to expand...
For what it's worth, I currently run both of these. Both get their feed from a normal analog coax cable. The U2800F floats between my spare home PC and the one at work (both 19" LCD). Quite handy for those Super14/Test Cricket days :) The E900F is installed in my Windows7 PC and, with its twin tuners combined with dual monitors (22" and 19" LCD), is a pleasure to use.


Then I also use an external box similar to this (same brand and specs, just an older model) in the bedroom, linked up to a Samsung T260. Same feed as the tuners above. Obviously no recording functionality in this one, but excellent when you have a spare monitor floating around ;)
 
Luke7777 said:
For what it's worth, I currently run both of these. Both get their feed from a normal analog coax cable. The U2800F floats between my spare home PC and the one at work (both 19" LCD). Quite handy for those Super14/Test Cricket days :) The E900F is installed in my Windows7 PC and, with its twin tuners combined with dual monitors (22" and 19" LCD), is a pleasure to use.


Then I also use an external box similar to this (same brand and specs, just an older model) in the bedroom, linked up to a Samsung T260. Same feed as the tuners above. Obviously no recording functionality in this one, but excellent when you have a spare monitor floating around ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. :)

Are there any advantages/disadvantages in USB external vs. PCI/-E?
 
If you just watching TV, I'd say the simplicity and portability of the USB stick is quite nice. If you play around with the video capture side of things, or need more than a simple TV feed, then the PCI-e should be the logical choice. But, as with most things, it depends on how much you want to spend ;)
 
I've never needed to really record stuff, so perhaps I don't need a TV card that can record. Taking a guess, are USB/external top boxes not able to record? Does one need this "hardware encoding" thing on PCI/-E cards in able to record?
 
Heh okay... :)

And the difference between record vs. video capture? Sorry, total TV card noob. :D
 
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