USB HDTV tuner

so i'm on the market for a usb hdtv tuner


i'm particularly interested in this:

http://www.compuvest.com/Desc.jsp?iid=1026173


or can you folks suggest something better for a similar price?

 

AverMedia Volar Max
- Hybrid version for around 50-70 (ATSC, QAM, NTSC)
- non hybrid version for around 45 (ATSC, QAM)

Hauppauge 950 (Q)
(Q) includes QAM, obviously more expensive than non-Q...

these two products have high reviews.

 

I personally have one of these:
ATI TV Wonder™ HD 600 USB HDTV Tuner

I picked it up from Best Buy for about $39.99 (after $20 IR + $20 RewardZone Discount). You can get it for about $44.99 these days and it shows up on woot! quite frequently for $34.99 to $39.99.

I have no complaints about it's performance though the CyberLink Media Center software they bundle with it leaves much to be desired. The Remote is not a MCE specification remote either and will not function with programs a MCE remote will. In example, I have an ExpressCard MCE Remote a friend with an HP gave me. I can use it to control Winamp, and my preferred TV program: SageTV. The ATi remote however, cannot control neither of these but does work with Windows Media Center. It also does not feature an IR blaster. This is not an issue for me as I have a UHF remote which I can control my STB with, but it certainly means that persons with Windows Media Center will have some issues setting things up. It also does not have an FM tuner.

The card tunes well and works great. I can't complain about it and would recommend it if someone wants it.

I also am disappointed that most usb devices at this price range seem to lack Component Input. I would love a capture card at $49.99 that supported Component. Unfortunately, the only decent usb card I've found starts at $150.

In all honesty, the card you've posted seems to be a pretty good card based on the specifications I see there. That's a pretty nice looking remote there too.

 

and what about the channels that you're getting with your ati or haupauge card?


At home i have FiOS, now obviously i don't get all the channels, but the one's i'd really like to watch on the go is USA, and NBC, and CBS
are those air broadcasting channels?

 

if fios airs them in analog or unencrypted qam (clearqam), then you can get a clearqam-capable tuner and watch them...

otherwise, you will have to use the settop box to decrypt the channels and feel the cable to the usb tuner