HD tv card for HTPC

[rett448]

I am looking to upgrade my current HTPC with a second TV tuner. I am currently using a theatre 550 based tuner card. My set up works well and I am pleased with the threatre 550, but I want to be able to record 2 programs at once. In addition I would also like to be able to watch and record HD broadcasts. I am running an AMD 64 3200, 1 gig of ram, 40 gig HD for the OS (MCE 2005), 250 gig HD for recorded TV, and a nvidia 6500 TC to a 30 inch HDTV via component (720p). Does anyone have any suggestions for a good HD tuner that does both digital and analog broadcasts to use as a second tv tuner card. It also must work with the MCE 2005 software.

Thanks

[halsboss]

If you're AUS based, I use a USB digital-only "DigitalNow tinyUSB 2 DVB-T" which works flawlessly on an AMD 3000 512Mb 333FSB box. Their "DNTV Live!" software is quite good and it works with WebScheduler and their free version of it "DNTV Scheduler Pro". Sorry, don't have MCE.

http://www.digitalnow.com.au/

I'm not associated with them.

Nice card comparisons table at http://wiki.dvbowners.com/index.php/Comparison_Of_Card_Features

[rett448]

I am based in the US so I will need an NTSC/ATSC/QUAM tuner. I would also prefer it to be internal because it looks nicer on my Home theater rack

[Video Dude]

I like my ATI HDTV Wonder card. It is PCI. Just make sure you download the updated drivers and software from the ATI site. It comes with an antenna and a remote control.

What is nice is that the ATI card has both a HD tuner and a regular SD tuner. Many HD cards only do HD and lack the SD tuner. It also has s-video and composite inputs so you can capture from a VCR.

I can capture OTA 1080i at 14-18 Mbps without dropping a frame.


Only real negative is the installation. You have to install about 5 different files in the correct order for it to work. (driver, decoder, etc).

[halsboss]

What is nice is that the ATI card has both a HD tuner and a regular SD tuner. Many HD cards only do HD and lack the SD tuner. It also has s-video and composite inputs so you can capture from a VCR.
Well, blow me down. I've seen other way around (SD but no HD) for set-top tuners, but not like that in cards... must be lucky.

[rett448]

After doing some research I found a tv tuner card, the Kworld ATSC 115 PCI. It has a standard NTSC, ATSC, and QAM 64/256 tuner built in. However there is not alot of information about it regarding MCE 2005. Has anyone had an experience with this card and does anyone know if both the NTSC and the QAM tuner will show up in windows media center 2005. I already have a theatre 550 installed as the primary tuner.

[rett448]

Does MCE 2005 support any QAM tuners and if not what about vista Media center