Expresscard TV Tuner Vs. Slingbox Vs. USB TV Tuner

What are some pros and cons of each?

I am looking into buying an HP Pavilion dv6275us with the following specs:

- Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology featuring Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5600; 1.83GHz
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
- 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM
- NVIDIA GeForce GO 7400 with discrete 128MB
- 160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
- LightScribe Super Multi 8x DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
- 15.4" WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen (1280x800) Display
- Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
- 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader
- HP Imprint Finish & HP Pavilion WebCam with Integrated Microphone

This set up comes with HP's Expresscard Tuner for Vista shown here:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/notebook/notebook_hp/audio_video/1/accessories/RM436AA%2523ABA

But I am wondering if this is the best option or if I should consider either a slingbox or USB TV Tuner.

I will mostly be using this feature to DVR programs straight to the HD and watch them later, so this feature is most important to me. Would I be able to DVR with Slingbox or does that strictly relay live TV to the laptop.

Any help on the issue would be great including experiences and pros and cons of each option. Thanks in advance.

Dave

 

If you have a broadband connection + cable at home, and know that you will have a broadband connection whenever you are traveling (or on your notebook) then get the Slingbox. It saves you a port, some money, and you can share cable with others.

Otherwise, getting a EC/USB TV tuner means you need a cable connection (or HD-OTA) where ever you travel and/or take your notebook.

 

Whatever you get should be HDTV capable. I'm a big fan of AutumnWave's USB HDTV tuner. It can handle both over-the-air and unencrypted digital cable.

 

Is Slingbox able to DVR though? This is going to be my laptop for college, so I will have a boradband connection throughout campus, so thats about all I need. I will have cable in my dorm room. So this sounds like a good option as long as it has DVR capabilities.

How exactly does the Slingbox work, could I get TV on my Laptop no matter where I am?

How does this set-up effect battery life? Also, how is the reception using the antenna only. Odds are I will only have one cable jack in my dorm room, so will I need to have it plugged into a jack most of the time or what?

 

speedsterdm,
I noticed that you didn't receive a response to your question about the OnAir tuner. I'm AutumnWave's Technology Manager, and I'm making myself available if anyone has any further questions about it.

Essentially, any TV tuner (including the OnAir tuner) is going to eat up battery life, especially if it is an HDTV tuner. (Your computer must work extra hard to display HDTV... but for most people, the incredible clarity is worth it.)

There are 2 reasons why the OnAir HDTV tuners will use less battery power.
Reason #1 - The tuner uses less than 460mA. Often you'll see other tuners using a lot more than that. (In fact, some tuners exceed 500mA, the maximum load that USB components in computers are meant to handle.)

Reason #2 - The OnAir HDTV Program (included with purchase) includes a license to the industry-leading PureVideo Decoder. It is superior to the decoders provided by other vendors. CPU usage is reduced substantially, which leads to increased battery life.

As mentioned... any TV tuner is going to eat battery life... but you're going to get a bit more out of the OnAir GT.

If you have any further questions, let me know.
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America
http://www.autumnwave.com/

 

do all digital tuners support qam or just certain ones like yours?

 

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/ONAIRUSB-HDTV-GT.html the best one other than their more pretty lookin ones

 

Very few digital tuners support QAM. Most tuners out there support only 'Over-The-Air' (8VSB), but not Digital Cable (QAM).

Thanks for the question!
- Ryan Pertusio

AutumnWave Technical Support
OnAir Solution North America
http://www.autumnwave.com/

 

What are the pros and cons of expresscard TV tuners vs USB?

It it just a matter of personal preference? Do Expresscard tuners have a higher bandwidth? Do they use less, or more power generally?

 

Make a MythTV server out of an old desktop (P3 level might work, P4 or above would be excellent) and a PCI card. The HDTV Wonder is a fairly cheap PCI card that is supported by MythTV and has support for QAM.

You'll also want a video card that supports XvMC. It can do much decoding in hardware as opposed to software. Not sure if it would save power but it should as dedicated hardware designed just for video decoding should be more efficient.