decent tv tuner

[amdwilliam1985]

Hello, I'm looking for a decent tv turner that ranging maybe from $30 to $50. I'm going to use it to route my cable tv into my pc system. Recording tv show is optional I guess. Any suggestion? It's going to be my first tv turner, and I have to say, it's not my domain, so any suggestion is greatly appreciated.

 

[Seekermeister]

It depends partly on the OS that you use. If x64, I have no recommendation. If x32, then a Hauppauge WinTV Go, would probably do okay. As far as others, I have no experience with them.

 

[dfuze]

I've got the Hauppauge PVR-150 and it looks really good. I've seen some versions of the card go for just over your range (mid 50s) I think at Provantage.

It might be worth it to spend a few dollars more. Granted I spent 90 (got the MCE version of the card), but this is after upgrading from a 30 ATI TV Wonder VE, and paying the extra money gives me a 1000% better picture; to me, worth it. I don't know about the other cards out there, but the 150 is hardware encoded, so it doesn't tax your processor. Try to find a card hardware encoded if possible

 

[Seekermeister]

The reason that I didn't recommend the PVR150 is because it doesn't work on x64 as it's supposed to, and the price is higher than the OP said that he wanted to pay. Considering the lack of support that I have received from Hauppauge about the x64 issue, it wasn't easy to recommend the WinTV Go.

 

[Paperdoc]

Consider this option from old tech. IF your computer already has a video card with composite video input (and a stereo sound input somewhere), how about one of those old channel-changer boxes they used to sell for TV's? Most of those had composite video and stereo outputs on RCA connectors (in addition to the TV cable out connector). Just hook it up. You might find, however, that some of those boxes do not handle ALL of the higher-band channels on cable now.

 

[Oyeve]

If you dont plan on capturing TV to your PC I would bypass a tuner card all together. I use external tuners (AverTV Box 9) and dont even need my PC, just connect my cable to it and output Svideo directly into my monitor. Also has a VGA passthru but I dont use it. But if you do want to capture video the products mentioned above are good. The reason I opted for external is because the video looks superior to a PCI card. No drivers, not overhead, just plain video directly to your monitor. Plus saves on electricity (dont need the PC on) and I can connect all of my game consoles to it thereby freeing up the other TVs in the house. Actually I have only 1 TV. I have the AverTV on my 20.1" monitor and another on my sons 19" monitor so he can watch cable or play videogames, I can watch all my sports and play games and the wife can watch "desperate housewive" on the main TV.