13 replies to this topic

[PoolBloke]

Thanks for taking the time to reaf this topic.

I am seeking pricing on a new computer system at the moment to replace my main machine. As part of its functions I record TV on this machine and previously had two tuners. I found I was occasionally running out so thought it a nice idea to double it if I can.

I only have one PCIe available on the board, but still have empty PCI slots.

MSY is looking like they are offering the best bang for buck on the system to date. The list of tuners they have is:

MyGica T188 PCI / T1800B PCI
Avermedia Volar HD-USB / Volar-HD Green USB
Avermedia Volar HD-Pro-USB / Aver3D-USB
Avermedia Twinstar TS USB
Avermedia Aver-3D HD Capture & Hybrid PCI-E /Twinstar TS PCI-E
Avermedia HD HomeFree Duet F200 Dual DVB-T Network TV Turner
Avermedia HD HomeFree AV Plus F210 Dual DVB-T Network TV Turner
Compro VideoMate U620F / U650F / U680F / U2650F
Compro VideoMate E650F / E750 / E900F
Compro VideoMate C200+ / T750
Leadtek TV2000 Expert / DV2000-1394 PCI Tuner
Leadtek DTV1000S / USB Dongle Gold / VC100U
Leadtek DTV2000DS / DTV2000H+ / DVR3200H
Leadtek USB PalmTop DTV200H / DTV Dongle Hybrid
Kworld PCI DVB-TPC-160-T
Asus USB MyCinema U3100 mini Plus

They did make me nervous by asking me what TV Tuner to use as 'we don't know much about them'.

After looking through the sticky on what works and what doesn't I am afraid I am more confused as the model numbers do not tend to line up.

Thanks in advance for your help

[GlenR]

If you only have one PCIe slot available, have you considered a quad tuner?

http://www.digitalno...pages/Quad.html

I haven't used it, but it seems to have a pretty resonable reputation.

[logifuse]

The MyGica T1800B is essentially half a Digitalnow Quad (same chipset). The Quad is $200, so 2 x $52 sounds great. I have a Quad & it needs a strong signal, but I suspect that's due to it being split 4 ways on the card.

Justin

[Kazdalk]

Network tuners are somewhat liberating as they reduce the components needed inside your media centre. The HD HomeRun works well http://www.hdhomerun.com.au and has been around for some time. The price can usually be haggled down to around $150, you will find stores may not have it listed but they can source it from the distributor Kaiser Baas. Silicondust, who is the manufacturer, are also good supporters of Linux and OSX. I can't comment on the avermedia equivalents you had listed, avermedia has been doing tuners for quite awhile but they are relatively new players with network tv tuners.

Avermedia HD HomeFree Duet F200 Dual DVB-T Network TV Turner
Avermedia HD HomeFree AV Plus F210 Dual DVB-T Network TV Turner

The AV Plus model doesn't have a dual digital tuner according to the avermedia website. It does offer an interesting possibility to capture foxtel though and has a builtin IR blaster...

Note that a wired connection to you HTPC would be recommended and you will probably need a seperate network switch to have enough ports.

[PoolBloke]

I must admit network tuners appeal to me. My system is becoming decentralised and has been for the last 24 months or so, with a NAS, external blue ray, routers and gateways. This machine I am building is continuing down this path by default. So the Network tuners are of great interest to me, as they proceed further along this route. However I have never heard of them until mentioned above as I have been living in my own world for a while.

Has anyone been using them as pairs in the real world on a Windows 7 o/s?

[Kazdalk]

I must admit network tuners appeal to me. My system is becoming decentralised and has been for the last 24 months or so, with a NAS, external blue ray, routers and gateways. This machine I am building is continuing down this path by default. So the Network tuners are of great interest to me, as they proceed further along this route. However I have never heard of them until mentioned above as I have been living in my own world for a while.

Has anyone been using them as pairs in the real world on a Windows 7 o/s?

Yes, the benefits are often overlooked and the products poorly advertised.

Myself and 4 of my friends have been using HD HomeRuns with Windows 7 for sometime, but only as a single dual-tuner. I also have 2 friends using them with Myth and 2 using them with Macs (EyeTV). None of us have ever had an issue. I do have a second HomeRun (a DVB-C capable one) but up until recently it was doing f*tel duties, it is to be repurposed as another dual DVB-T unit. I forsee no problems doing so, it simply appears as another tuner card in Device Manager and WMC supports 4 DVB-T tuners out of the box.

Edited by Kazdalk, 06 January 2012 - 02:01 AM.

[pistnbroke]

I use 2 x Homeruns in my LAN with my Macmini as well as the Elgato USB tuner. They have performed very well, all Homerun tuners in action at once from time to time..


Nice and easy to use for the other Mac's in the house and also an old windows machine I used to use...

[PoolBloke]

Okay, so listening to you wiser ones, it makes sense to me to go down the path of a pair of HD Homeruns, or Avermedia Dual Netowrk Tuners.

This raises a point I confess to not understanding at all. That is the antenna business.

I have had a look at Dick Smiths and see they sell a 4 out junction for antenna leads. This would no doubt provide enough connections for the pair of HD HR's. However will this not overload the antenna connection in the wall when I also have to plug in another digital TV?

[pistnbroke]

Okay, so listening to you wiser ones, it makes sense to me to go down the path of a pair of HD Homeruns, or Avermedia Dual Netowrk Tuners.

This raises a point I confess to not understanding at all. That is the antenna business.

I have had a look at Dick Smiths and see they sell a 4 out junction for antenna leads. This would no doubt provide enough connections for the pair of HD HR's. However will this not overload the antenna connection in the wall when I also have to plug in another digital TV?

The Homeruns only have 1 antenna connection, it is split inside. Why not purchase one unit and test it out....

[PoolBloke]

Took the plunge and purchased two HD Homeruns, after the Avermedia one failed to respond on my network. I was lucky in that a price descrepency on the ticket displayed meant I paid a lower price which was great. Installation into the network couldn't have been easier. In fact I couldn't believe how easy it was, and the free tv guide is being grabbed as well.

Now just waiting for my new laptop to come and I can finalise the completely different set up my computer as become. Currently it looks like an octopus, but soon it will all be tucked away tidily. Between the NAS, the two tuners, the external DVD and so on, it is a completely decentralised system. Now where can I get a netowrk printer?

[pistnbroke]

Now where can I get a netowrk printer?

I bought one from Officeworks, HP laser wireless..$99..works great, there will be colour inkjets if you want as well...

[aja07]

Took the plunge and purchased two HD Homeruns, after the Avermedia one failed to respond on my network. I was lucky in that a price descrepency on the ticket displayed meant I paid a lower price which was great. Installation into the network couldn't have been easier. In fact I couldn't believe how easy it was, and the free tv guide is being grabbed as well.

Now just waiting for my new laptop to come and I can finalise the completely different set up my computer as become. Currently it looks like an octopus, but soon it will all be tucked away tidily. Between the NAS, the two tuners, the external DVD and so on, it is a completely decentralised system. Now where can I get a netowrk printer?

Hi poolBloke, may I ask where you bought the HDs and what you paid for them pls. Also does each unit have 1 tv aerial input or 2? Thanks.

[PoolBloke]

Hi poolBloke, may I ask where you bought the HDs and what you paid for them pls. Also does each unit have 1 tv aerial input or 2? Thanks.

Hi Aja

I bought them at JB Hi Fi. They were marked at $167.00 on the box, but the shelf sign was $107.00, so they sold them to me for $107.00 I was just lucky. One aerial input.

[Dean1M]

About a month ago one of my dual(internal)tuners, died(or so I thought). Gone from device manager, sources etc. I bought a new identical unit(DTV2000DS) and away it went. Today the new one is gone as surely as if it had been pulled out physically.

I was a bit miffed at this and so downloaded and reinstalled the latest drivers from Leadtek. After a bit of thought and with the drivers installed 7MC found the lost card and everything was back to where it was yesterday. Out of interest I swapped the old card in and away it went!

This type of behaviour is really making the idea of a network tuners look much more appealing. I mean really we shouldn't have to be unplugging cards in the 21st century. I would be really interested in how the "octopus" ends up working for you. If you have a mo please keep us posted.

Deano