TV tuner recommendation

[tigerwoods]

Tiger, how long is the warranty for ya Volar HD?
I read MITMIT's post in another thread that warranty for HX is 2 years.

only 1 year

 

[tigerwoods]

I need a tuner for my HD Ready LCD monitor(not TV), which model should i get if I want to watch HD channels but do not want to go thru my PC, straight to the HDMI input if the monitor, is this possible?

u need a tv tuner box

 

[surefire888]

I need a tuner for my HD Ready LCD monitor(not TV), which model should i get if I want to watch HD channels but do not want to go thru my PC, straight to the HDMI input if the monitor, is this possible?

You need to get an external tv tuner box that can handle digital broadcasts (not the USB types that connect to the tv). Also, try to look for one with an HDMI output. The ones recommended by tigerwoods will work but they only have DVI output so you will need a DVI to HDMI converter.

The main difference between the standalone tuners and the USB tuners (other than the need for a PC for USB tuners) is that the standalone tuners will not allow you to record programs since there is no hard disk attached.

 

[hermes76]

You need to get an external tv tuner box that can handle digital broadcasts (not the USB types that connect to the tv). Also, try to look for one with an HDMI output. The ones recommended by tigerwoods will work but they only have DVI output so you will need a DVI to HDMI converter.

The main difference between the standalone tuners and the USB tuners (other than the need for a PC for USB tuners) is that the standalone tuners will not allow you to record programs since there is no hard disk attached.

Thanks, so the official device name is call TV Tuner Box? Any model for example? How much on average for such standalone tuners?

 

[surefire888]

Thanks, so the official device name is call TV Tuner Box? Any model for example? How much on average for such standalone tuners?

I am afraid I have not researched standalone tv tuners - I already have 2 of them, both analog only. I believe they should range from $150 - $200, depending on whether they are digital only or hybrid (digital + analog), FM radio, support widescreen 1080i, HDMI etc. Try browsing around SL - Fuwell, Videopro & Cybermind have products on the shelves which you can browse - that's half the fun!

 

[petshopboys]

I bought a USB TV Tuner from Carrefour yesterday...brand name EMTEC S825.

I only able 2 view TVmobile.....after scanning the channel under Singapore....
What abt TV5 and TV8 and channel U?

Can anyone help?

 

[tigerwoods]

I bought a USB TV Tuner from Carrefour yesterday...brand name EMTEC S825.

I only able 2 view TVmobile.....after scanning the channel under Singapore....
What abt TV5 and TV8 and channel U?

Can anyone help?

how much it cost?

put the antenna near your window for better reception

 

[surefire888]

I bought a USB TV Tuner from Carrefour yesterday...brand name EMTEC S825.

I only able 2 view TVmobile.....after scanning the channel under Singapore....
What abt TV5 and TV8 and channel U?

Can anyone help?

From reading through the posts here, it's apparent that TV Mobile is the digital channel with the strongest signal islandwide and the one that most people in Singapore can receive. Whether you can receive other digital channels or not depends a lot on your location. You can try moving the antenna nearer the window but if this doesn't work, I suspect even getting a powered antenna may not help a lot (unless it is a really high-gain antenna - don't bother with the $20-$30 type, I have already thrown away one).

 

[surefire888]

Got my AverTV Volar HD today from Fuwell. Decided to get a pure digital tuner since I already have 4 analog tuners (2 standalone and 2 PCI). No regrets - I can receive all the digital channels. Only thing I haven't figured out is why my HD5 has no audio - strange!

Here are the screen captures:-

 

[kai_87]

Got my AverTV Volar HD today from Fuwell. Decided to get a pure digital tuner since I already have 4 analog tuners (2 standalone and 2 PCI). No regrets - I can receive all the digital channels. Only thing I haven't figured out is why my HD5 has no audio - strange!

Here are the screen captures:-

Very clear. What software u using?

 

[tigerwoods]

select audio 2 for HD5 audio



sigh...my pc too slow to play HD5 smoothly

 

[ERT]

tiger & surefire, your Volar HD unable receive okto & Channel U right? Coz it has only DVB-T reception capability.....

 

[cyuxiang]

My TV tuner GFX finally gave way after 5 years, and now I'm looking for a USB TV tuner. (Seems like AMD stopped making all-in-one GFX cards... )

I'm looking for something that can work with both analog and digital, and also with Starhub paid channels. Does anyone know if I can switch Starhub channels without using the set-top box (just through PC software and the USB TV tuner)? Also I've read something about watching a channel and simultaneously recording another, the poster said this can only be done if Windows Media Center is installed. Can the same be done on Starhub channels, or only on free-to-air channels?

 

[tigerwoods]

tiger & surefire, your Volar HD unable receive okto & Channel U right? Coz it has only DVB-T reception capability.....

u r right

i also have a analog tv card in my pc

 

[hermes76]

noob qn: to watch TV on your PC via a tuner, do you need a good gfx? i'm on a GeForce 8500 GT & 3GB ram, do these suffice?

 

[surefire888]

Very clear. What software u using?

just the bundled software AverTV6

 

[surefire888]

select audio 2 for HD5 audio



sigh...my pc too slow to play HD5 smoothly

how do you select Audio 2? i tried but couldn't figure out how to change the audio mode.

 

[surefire888]

tiger & surefire, your Volar HD unable receive okto & Channel U right? Coz it has only DVB-T reception capability.....

yes, you are correct - okto & channel U do not have digital transmission (yet!)

 

[surefire888]

My TV tuner GFX finally gave way after 5 years, and now I'm looking for a USB TV tuner. (Seems like AMD stopped making all-in-one GFX cards... )

I'm looking for something that can work with both analog and digital, and also with Starhub paid channels. Does anyone know if I can switch Starhub channels without using the set-top box (just through PC software and the USB TV tuner)? Also I've read something about watching a channel and simultaneously recording another, the poster said this can only be done if Windows Media Center is installed. Can the same be done on Starhub channels, or only on free-to-air channels?

You need to get a hybrid tuner that can also accept AV input for eg the AverMedia Volar HX or the Leadtek PalmTV. The Starhub paid channels will have to go through the set-top box first for decoding then into the hybrid tuner via the AV inputs (otherwise nobody will subscribe to Starhub ). You will need to use the set-top remote to change channels for the subscription cable channels.

 

[tigerwoods]

noob qn: to watch TV on your PC via a tuner, do you need a good gfx? i'm on a GeForce 8500 GT & 3GB ram, do these suffice?

your p4 3.0 pc is good enuff for normal digital ch but for HD5 i think u need a faster cpu to decoder 1080 video.

my p2.6 dont play HD5 smoothly.