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    TV Tuner?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by michaelearth, Sep 19, 2011.

  1. michaelearth

    michaelearth Notebook Geek

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    Im looking for a quality USB TV Tuner for my laptop since i no longer have DVR now that im in college dorms.

    Anyways, I have no idea what makes a good USB TV Tuner so does anyone have any recommendations? Id like a pretty decent one...

    Thanks
     
  2. h8isgr8

    h8isgr8 Notebook Consultant

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    What country are you in? US/Canada needs ATSC, Europe needs DVB-T.

    Do you have an expresscard slot?
     
  3. michaelearth

    michaelearth Notebook Geek

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    Im in the US and i dont think i have an expresscard slot.
     
  4. lmanlo

    lmanlo Notebook Consultant

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  5. michaelearth

    michaelearth Notebook Geek

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  6. lmanlo

    lmanlo Notebook Consultant

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    The quality has been good. I haven't used the provided software because WIndows Media Center has worked real good and somewhat easier to schedule recordings. But if you want a universal format that might work on other devices then I would suggest doing it on the provided software as WMC records it in the .wtv format.

    I have the 850 model and got it somewhat 2 years or more ago. I think when they where coming out with the 950. Before that I had a AVerMedia AVerTV CARDBUS, that one was horrible and sold it and got the WinTV 850.
     
  7. michaelearth

    michaelearth Notebook Geek

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    Yeah I think ill just use Windows Media Center as far as software goes. Now i Heard that recording TV on your laptop is pretty CPU intensive. Now i have a i7 2820qm and 8gb ram. Will my system be pretty bogged down to the point where i cant do anything on my laptop while its recording?

    thanks
     
  8. lmanlo

    lmanlo Notebook Consultant

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    Not with the I7 CPU's. As I had a dv4-1000 with a dual core 2.0GHZ processor that would bog down. But with the I7, I have played games while it has been recording TV. So you will still be able to use the computer while it is recording.
     
  9. michaelearth

    michaelearth Notebook Geek

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    Awesome. Ok i have one last question:

    Does will that TV Tuner be able to pick up all my channels that I pay for? (channels 1-75) I dont care if they are in HD or not but i just want to make sure that Ill get all my channels that i pay for. Also does Hauppauge make a usb tuner that allows 2 recordings at once?

    Thanks and again sorry for all the questions.
     
  10. lmanlo

    lmanlo Notebook Consultant

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    Not sure if they make one but they have some hd pvr, I would suggest checking their site.
    Yes you will receive all the channels from 1-75. I have comcast, the only ones that I cannot are those that they have to be channeled through the cable box. So usually those that are more than 100 or up.
     
  11. shasta7

    shasta7 Notebook Evangelist

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    I use a pinnacle hd tuner I run cable from my satellite to. My locals are where they normally would be. For satellite i scan for an analog channel
    in my case the sat is channel 3. I get all sat channels and use my sat remote to change channels
     
  12. Izagaia

    Izagaia Notebook Evangelist

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