LEADTEK WINFAST "DELUXE" TV2000XP TV/FM MULTIMEDIA CARD - RETAIL BOX (UPDATE: NOW $42.00 shipped!) @ Newegg!

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: Wildcats
Hi kgraeme,

I bought this for archiving VHS-C to a hard drive or CD...... I may have made the wrong choice. What would you recommend?

In any case, it looks like a cool toy!

Your recommendations are appreciated!

Thanks,
Wildcats

In the capture options, it does have "Uncompressed AVI", which I would suggest trying. It may be good enough for what you want to do. VHS really isn't the best source format anyway, so this card may not make that huge of an impact. The capture files will be huge, but then you can take it into editing software that will do better compression than the card is capable of. Good on-the-fly compression takes a dedicated card. At least something along the lines of the Miro DC30 Pro. With DV and FireWire, it's been a while since I looked at analog capture stuff.

I have to say that I'm exceptionally pleased with this card. The software is quite well put together, and the remote is wonderful. I'm much happier than I was with the Hauppage or ASUS software. It's still not perfect though.

The picture is just a little soft and the deinterlacing isn't always fast enough.

The ATI tuner software had the ability to size the window for several aspect ratios, either cropping or sizing. The WinFast does 4:3 and 16:9, but only stretching, not cropping. So I'm watching letterboxed Bladerunner right now on SciFi and I can't size the window to just the 2.35:1 size.

It supports double-clicking the screen to switch between fullscreen and small window. It supports using the scroll wheel on the mouse to adjust volume. It properly turns on and off the Line-In audio which my ASUS didn't do properly. And of course, the remote can do all this as well!

All the above is using the latest drivers and software off the Leadtek site.

My only disappointment is that it doesn't have a built-in EPG. That would make this card an absolute must-have. There is third party PVR software, but of course it won't work with the remote.

My ultimate dream card? This card with remote network programmable PVR, EPG, HDTV, and digital cable with DolbyDigital DMX music channels. A guy can dream, eh?

 

[Lord]

There is a beta EPG version of the WinPVR software on Leadtek's website and I have been using it for a while and it seems to be working ok. There are some installation problems but can be ignored.

 

[EXman]

Ding dong!

Who is it?

Fed Ex I got your goodies!

Schweet!

Mine came today easy setup in XP too.

love this card it is so fun! sounds great with my new Z640's for $67 from newegg as well it was Christmas all over again at my house today

 

[r1013a]

Is this a good choice for putting old vhs home movies onto cd or dvd? It doesn't have to exactly be professional quality but I want it to be really good as these tapes are very sentimental. If its not then what tv capture card is? Whats the best software to use with vhs tapes and altering videos. touchups ect..

 

[GregANDTCH]

Thanks for the post,
just had to order one.

 

[Ipno]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong. (I've had this card for about a month now)

My pictures look bad, even when taken from the DVD player via coax (I don't have SVIDEO out for the DVD yet).

The cable looks bad.

If I hook a playstation 2 to it, it is really unplayable the text is fuzzy and bad.

And the winfast PVR drops my system performance down about 10% on any games as long as its running, even if its not turned on.

Oh well.

 

[JellyBaby]

And the winfast PVR drops my system performance down about 10% on any games as long as its running, even if its not turned on.

Run msconfig and disable the WinFast autoloader. You lose the ability to turn on the "TV" using the remote but gain back that 10%.

 

[Technogeek]

Originally posted by: JellyBaby

And the winfast PVR drops my system performance down about 10% on any games as long as its running, even if its not turned on.

Run msconfig and disable the WinFast autoloader. You lose the ability to turn on the "TV" using the remote but gain back that 10%.

Or better yet, only when you want to turn off the WinFast autoloader, Ctr, Alt, Del, Processes page right click WinFast autoloader, click end process. When you want it back after your done gaming log off and back on. Or find the WinFast autoloader and create a shortcut to it when you want it back.

 

[PagannagaP]

Got mine setup today, worked way better than I thought it would.

I have "digital" cable from those charlatans at AT&T and was a bit worried that I'd only be able to connect it from the box to the card which isnt too handy. Installation was a breeze, it uses the analogue cable signal, independant of the digital cable, so the wife can watch her crap and I can watch whatever I want instead, the remote works great too.

V good deal, n1 Corinthos.

 

[PagannagaP]

Double trouble

While I'm here, rare to see a product that looks good, feels solid, works great and installs first time without a hitch.

GJ Leadtek.

 

[Ruined]

Is anyone using this card with an antenna with sucess? I'm getting an absolutely horrible picture from the built in tuner, no matter where the antenna is and whether or not the FM antenna is attached. I've even tried it with and amplified antenna and moving the antenna 20 feet for the computer.....anyone have any suggestions?

thanks,
Ruined

 

[rky60]

I'm glad i got this, much more than i expected, thumbs up

 

[Rushour]

Originally posted by: RKYeager
I'm glad i got this, much more than i expected, thumbs up

WOW!!! I try to hook up with BlackBox it work!!!! It is over 100 channels... hehe

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Ruined
Is anyone using this card with an antenna with sucess? I'm getting an absolutely horrible picture from the built in tuner, no matter where the antenna is and whether or not the FM antenna is attached. I've even tried it with and amplified antenna and moving the antenna 20 feet for the computer.....anyone have any suggestions?

thanks,
Ruined

Haven't installed mine yet, but when I do, I anticipate the antenna connections will be my initial major issues. I want the best FM I can get out of it and wonder just how good the supplied FM antenna will be. I don't get cable or have a dish and use two rooftop antennas for my TV and VCRs, with an A/B switch. Hooking up two VCRs and a TV and TV-out from my video card is tricky, and I'm using an Audio Video switch with 4 choices of inputs and one out to the TV. It supports SVideo and composite and L/R audio. My RF signals from the antenna (whichever antenna I have selected at my A/B switch is routed to the equipment), are routed through VHF/UHF splitters, in one VCR and out to another, etc. and to the TV. It works pretty well, but splitting it again to provide an RF to the WinFast card, while necessary, will weaken the RF signal one more time. I guess I can see how it does and try a direct connection and see if there's a difference. Or, maybe I can run a separate RF cable (coax) from the antenna?

 

[sanjayraj]

Originally posted by: kgraeme

Originally posted by: Wildcats
Hi kgraeme,

I bought this for archiving VHS-C to a hard drive or CD...... I may have made the wrong choice. What would you recommend?

In any case, it looks like a cool toy!

Your recommendations are appreciated!

Thanks,
Wildcats

In the capture options, it does have "Uncompressed AVI", which I would suggest trying. It may be good enough for what you want to do. VHS really isn't the best source format anyway, so this card may not make that huge of an impact. The capture files will be huge, but then you can take it into editing software that will do better compression than the card is capable of. Good on-the-fly compression takes a dedicated card. At least something along the lines of the Miro DC30 Pro. With DV and FireWire, it's been a while since I looked at analog capture stuff.

I have to say that I'm exceptionally pleased with this card. The software is quite well put together, and the remote is wonderful. I'm much happier than I was with the Hauppage or ASUS software. It's still not perfect though.

The picture is just a little soft and the deinterlacing isn't always fast enough.

The ATI tuner software had the ability to size the window for several aspect ratios, either cropping or sizing. The WinFast does 4:3 and 16:9, but only stretching, not cropping. So I'm watching letterboxed Bladerunner right now on SciFi and I can't size the window to just the 2.35:1 size.

It supports double-clicking the screen to switch between fullscreen and small window. It supports using the scroll wheel on the mouse to adjust volume. It properly turns on and off the Line-In audio which my ASUS didn't do properly. And of course, the remote can do all this as well!

All the above is using the latest drivers and software off the Leadtek site.

My only disappointment is that it doesn't have a built-in EPG. That would make this card an absolute must-have. There is third party PVR software, but of course it won't work with the remote.

My ultimate dream card? This card with remote network programmable PVR, EPG, HDTV, and digital cable with DolbyDigital DMX music channels. A guy can dream, eh?

I really bought this card to be able to convert my old VHS and 8mm tapes to VCD / DVD (when I get a DVD R). I have about 80 GB of free disk space and was wondering if experts like you will suggest the best way to transfer the tapes to VCD.
Thanks

 

[MrPabulum]

I'm off to purchase one right now..I hope they haven't jacked the price back up.

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: sanjayraj

I really bought this card to be able to convert my old VHS and 8mm tapes to VCD / DVD (when I get a DVD R). I have about 80 GB of free disk space and was wondering if experts like you will suggest the best way to transfer the tapes to VCD.
Thanks

Like I said, capture using the Uncompressed setting, then use editing/compression software to get it smaller with quality. Better to as your questions in the video and software forums.

 

[Massa2]

In case anyone is interested I found the card In Stock at MWave.com for $56 (plus shipping $7 std grnd). FYI, I've ordered from them several times and never had any problems.

 

[l31itz]

hot deal

 

[Ruined]

Haven't installed mine yet, but when I do, I anticipate the antenna connections will be my initial major issues. I want the best FM I can get out of it and wonder just how good the supplied FM antenna will be. I don't get cable or have a dish and use two rooftop antennas for my TV and VCRs, with an A/B switch. Hooking up two VCRs and a TV and TV-out from my video card is tricky, and I'm using an Audio Video switch with 4 choices of inputs and one out to the TV. It supports SVideo and composite and L/R audio. My RF signals from the antenna (whichever antenna I have selected at my A/B switch is routed to the equipment), are routed through VHF/UHF splitters, in one VCR and out to another, etc. and to the TV. It works pretty well, but splitting it again to provide an RF to the WinFast card, while necessary, will weaken the RF signal one more time. I guess I can see how it does and try a direct connection and see if there's a difference. Or, maybe I can run a separate RF cable (coax) from the antenna?[/quote]

if you notice much difference between the direct signal and the split signal use a RF distribution amplifer, it shouldn't run you more than $20 or so. Place it after the a/b switch and have the various tvs and the leadtek hook to it's outputs.

-Ruined

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: Ruined
Is anyone using this card with an antenna with sucess? I'm getting an absolutely horrible picture from the built in tuner, no matter where the antenna is and whether or not the FM antenna is attached. I've even tried it with and amplified antenna and moving the antenna 20 feet for the computer.....anyone have any suggestions?

thanks,
Ruined

Could be that you just can't get good signal at your location.

 

[Technogeek]

Originally posted by: Rushour

WOW!!! I try to hook up with BlackBox it work!!!! It is over 100 channels... hehe

What cable company do you have? Comcast?

 

[PunjabiJatt]

Ok people. I have the non-deluxe version which i bought in June from NewEgg and BOTH the TV and FM TUNER have STEREO sound. The only thing is when there is mono signal being sent on a TV channel (in my case CNBC) it automatically selects Mono and wont let you change even if you keep hitting the MTS button on the remote but if there is STEREO sound coming in it will still show MONO when you hit the Display button (on the remote) but the sound infact is STEREO (I have confirmed by listening to MTV and VH1 both stereo). I was in the same dilemma trying to figure out wether the TV tuner is stereo or mono. IT IS STEREO.:Q

 

[Deskstar]

Yes, my non-Deluxe version (bought in June) is also clearly in stereo in some situations. YMMV

 

[Rushour]

Originally posted by: Technogeek

Originally posted by: Rushour

WOW!!! I try to hook up with BlackBox it work!!!! It is over 100 channels... hehe

What cable company do you have? Comcast?

Adelphia Cable company. hehe!! Cool!!!!