Best Sub $100 Tv Tuner?

[OPaul]

What is currently the best sub $100 TV Tuner (or there abouts)? I'm looking at the Hauppauge HVR-1800, but the reviews on the picture quality are not stellar. I will be using the card under Windows 7 and primary will be watching over the air HD. Not interested in recording, so a hardware encoder isn't particularly important to me.

 

[Binky]

If you're just watching live HD channels (one tuner) then just about any tuner will do just fine. You need to decide on PCIe, USB2, or ethernet connectivity from the tuner to the computer. The forums over at greenbutton are great, and missingremote has a decent amount of tuner reviews.

Edit: Just stick with the major (under-$100) brands, which I would list as Avermedia and Hauppage. Vbox has also worked well for me but they are more rare here in the U.S. Ebay has a Vbox 3560 up for bid right now for just $22. That's a good USB2 tuner that works well with Vista/Win7.

 

[OPaul]

Why if I'm watching HD channels would any tuner be fine?

 

[Binky]

If you're watching off-air ATSC channels, you don't have to worry about the Clear-QAM mess.

If you're only watching live TV, then dual tuners aren't important.

If you're using Win7, the apps included with the card get thrown in the trash and they don't matter.

If you're using Win7, compatibility is reasonably guaranteed for any card that works in Vista.

If you're doing this all on one computer, sharing the tuner isn't important.

To summarize, a single tuner in a single PC using a single tuning method (ATSC) is pretty much as easy as it gets. If you choose a USB tuner, be sure to have a powered USB hub ready if a direct connect fails (it might need more power than the port can supply). For a PCI/PCIe tuner, just make sure you have an open slot and remember that tuners tend to generate a reasonable amount of heat.

My #1 tuner suggestion is always the HDhomerun due to the crazy amount of options you have with it. Since its a networked tuner, you can use it (and share it) on any computer on your network. It's also a dual (ATSC) tuner and it can do clear QAM. Although, it's ~$150 so its out of your price range and probably more than you need.

 

[OPaul]

Cool, thanks for the info.

Right now, I'm looking at getting the AVerMedia AVerTVHD Bravo. It's looks like a pretty straight forward Digital only tuner that should work under Windows 7.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...2&Tpk=AVerTVHD%20Bravo
http://www.avermedia-usa.com/A...px?Id=475&tab=APDriver

 

[konakona]

Are there any notable differences in quality due to hardware?
The reason for asking is I see a k-world tuner offered for some $20 lower than the most competitors. My criteria are quite similar to OP's except I would rather want it to be usb (so I could use it on any of my computers at ease, including a laptop on the go), which the k-world is. My last experience with their stuff turned me into a bit of a skeptic, I could not get sound to work in dscaler with countless hours of fiddling, only in their proprietary crappy little app. Then again, I do plan on using a new tuner with kmp exclusively, so the whole point might be moot (as long as it is supported in vista/7).

 

[kaiser02]

Those made by ATI are pretty good. Like the old All-in-Wonder TV Tuner.

 

[weirdichi]

I just need to be able to watch football on the local channels on Sundays. Will this do for me?

KWORLD ATSC TV Stick UB435-Q USB 2.0 Interface - Retail

 

[Puffnstuff]

I went through this same thing not so long ago and ended up with a diamond tvwonder 650 pci-e card. It has a very clear picture and the radio works ok if the signal is strong. I have to use the ati media center for the digital tuner to work as windows media center can't pick up the digital signal.

 

[weirdichi]

Hmm.. that Diamond card is around $100. I needa cheapo solution.

 

[spdfreak]

You should be able to find a HDTV Wonder on ebay really, really cheap. I have 2 of them- one in a HTPC running xp and one in my office system running win7. Media center in win7 will detect it and you will be able to watch, time shift or schedule and record from the program guide. Both of mine are over 4 years old now and still working perfectly.

 

[L00PY]

Sorry for the semi old bump but it came up in a search so I thought I'd chime in. I've been using an ATSC HDTV tuner in my computer for nearly 5 years now. Right now I've got three hooked up -- two PCI cards and a USB stick. I'd strongly recommend against the ATI HDTV Wonder now, unless (1) it has the silver sensor clone antenna, (2) you need that antenna, (3) you're sure you'll be able to easily tune all the channels you're interested in, and (4) it's dirt cheap. The ATI card is old and very, very dated. Using the same antenna, cabling, etc, I can get two or three stations with it and dozens with either the slightly newer PCI card (a Hauppauge 1600) and the USB stick (Artec T14A). Given that the Artec stick can be bought for $37 shipped (with a so-so antenna), I'd probably recommend that solution out of the ones I've had personal experience with. . .

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: L00PY
Sorry for the semi old bump but it came up in a search so I thought I'd chime in. I've been using an ATSC HDTV tuner in my computer for nearly 5 years now. Right now I've got three hooked up -- two PCI cards and a USB stick. I'd strongly recommend against the ATI HDTV Wonder now, unless (1) it has the silver sensor clone antenna, (2) you need that antenna, (3) you're sure you'll be able to easily tune all the channels you're interested in, and (4) it's dirt cheap. The ATI card is old and very, very dated. Using the same antenna, cabling, etc, I can get two or three stations with it and dozens with either the slightly newer PCI card (a Hauppauge 1600) and the USB stick (Artec T14A). Given that the Artec stick can be bought for $37 shipped (with a so-so antenna), I'd probably recommend that solution out of the ones I've had personal experience with. . .

have you noticed any inconveniences/incompatibilities with the USB ones? I have two comps at home, and would like to switch between the two at will to watch TV... no need for recording at all. Is your usb stick every bit just as good?

 

[L00PY]

No real difference as far as I can tell. Minor difference in signal strength / tuning ability, but that's to expected with different chips in there.

The Artec USB tuner works fine with XP MCE and WatchHDTV. It takes a little tweaking but I'd strongly suggest the later if all you're doing is watching. I suspect the main problem you'll run into is pointing the antenna correctly when moving between the two computers, and that might not be a real problem at all depending on how far you are from the tower and what sort of multipathing you've got in your way.

 

[Binky]

The only thing you have to worry about with a USB tuner (assuming only one tuner) is the power source. You might not get good results if you expect the USB tuner to get its power from the USB port. A powered USB hub solves this potential problem.

 

[L00PY]

I really doubt the power requirements are anywhere near high enough to worry about that. All the stick is doing is tuning in the signal and sending the stream (undecoded) to your computer. I've never seen a USB HDTV tuner that requires an external power supply.

Two points of reference to support that point -- 1) they can make an external converter box that tunes the signal, decodes it, and creates a composite signal for your TV that uses less than 4 W of power, and 2) there are tons of USB wireless network sticks that need to receive signals and transmit them without power problems.

Granted, the USB HDTV tuner does get slightly warm to the touch, but no warmer than my USB wifi stick.

 

[manimal]

Stay away from kworld cards. Ive had 3 die on me in a year. The HD homerun is a fantastic product at 150. I just saw on Bestbuy.com that they had a version that was 99 bucks. The avermedia qam cards are great buys for the money as well.