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    Which TV Tuner to get?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by Sid1, Jun 20, 2007.

  1. Sid1

    Sid1 Notebook Consultant

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    I didn't get the tv tuner from hp because it was too expensive. I was wondering if you guys could recommend a good tv tuner which is cheaper than the hp expresscard? I don't mind if its usb but I was hoping in the $60 range. Would I need a digital one or would analog be good enough? Thanks!
     
    Sid1, Jun 20, 2007
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  2. AtLarge

    AtLarge Notebook Geek

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    Pinnacle USB HD. Comes with antenna for $60 or with wireless remote for $80. On sale at BB right now check out their add on the website. Cheap and works great on my machine. Does analog and digital. I'm amazed at the picture quality of the HD with the antenna just standing up in my living room.
     
    AtLarge, Jun 20, 2007
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  3. Sid1

    Sid1 Notebook Consultant

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    awesome..gonna go check it out today. thanks!
     
    Sid1, Jun 20, 2007
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  4. MikePolinske

    MikePolinske Notebook Enthusiast

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    With the Pinnacle do you have any problems with heat from the USB stick?

    Do you use the included software from Pinnacle or the Vista Media Center?

    I'm undecided between the Pinnacle and the Happauge USB TV tuner.
     
    MikePolinske, Jun 20, 2007
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  5. AtLarge

    AtLarge Notebook Geek

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    No heat problems that I have noticed yet The few times I handled it I didn't notice it even being warm. :confused:

    Only the OE software. I've only had it since the weekend so still working my way around. Haven't got around to trying it with the Media Center yet.

    It does come with another software application and the name escapes me now since I'm not at home with the unit. It allows you to use it for Movie authoring etc. I went to install it and Vista said not to. I went to their site and I couldn't find anything definitive about why it wouldn't work easily. It was getting late so I pooped out. It wasn't the main reason for the purchase anyway so I figured I'd dig into it later.

    I got the one with the remote. The regular price was $130 so for $50 off I felt like experimenting. ;)
     
    AtLarge, Jun 20, 2007
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  6. MikePolinske

    MikePolinske Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'll probably go to BB and get one just so I have it when my new laptop arrives. It'll be nice to get HD channels since I don't have an HD TV yet :)
     
    MikePolinske, Jun 20, 2007
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  7. f15hp

    f15hp Notebook Consultant

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    Nice, that sounds a good deal. I will provably get it to night since the store is not that far form my house. Since the prices will provably go up again and I really need one, since I don't want to have to bring a TV every time I move to the dorms.
     
    f15hp, Jun 20, 2007
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  8. AtLarge

    AtLarge Notebook Geek

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    My thoughts exactly. I'm not given up my 27'' or my 110'' until I absolutely have to. :D

    Yep! :cool:
     
    AtLarge, Jun 20, 2007
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  9. MikePolinske

    MikePolinske Notebook Enthusiast

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    The HD Pro Stick works pretty well on my current notebook, a dv1175with 1GB of RAM, but I'm sure on my new dv6500 it'll be excellent :)

    The HD comes in OK, but since I don't have a roof antenna there are some skips and junk, but I'm impressed I didn't try the recording yet, I'll save that for Vista.
     
    MikePolinske, Jun 21, 2007
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  10. ewh88

    ewh88 Notebook Enthusiast

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    is getting a usb tuner similar in quality to the hp expresscard tuner? I am debating what I should get when I buy my HP dv6500t.
     
    ewh88, Jun 21, 2007
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  11. David Horn

    David Horn Notebook Enthusiast

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    The HP ExpressCard tuner does seem to be faster and deliver better picture quality than my previous Hauppuage USB HVR-900 DVB-t tuner.
     
    David Horn, Jun 21, 2007
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  12. f15hp

    f15hp Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, guys I went to BB and got the Pinnacle USB stick, I tried out with the antena that came with it and I get 2 digital channels, 1 HD and about 3 regular local channel but reception wasnot that good for those channels. The images looks nice on my 14.1" dv2000z. I still have to play around with it more since I haven't had the time to do so. Have any one tried using the hp quick play tv feauture? I tried using it but it doesn't seen to work, or at least i don't now how to configure it.

    BTW, I got the $60 one without the remote control since my laptop came with the remote control, and it works fine with the pinnacle software.
     
    f15hp, Jun 21, 2007
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  13. Sid1

    Sid1 Notebook Consultant

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    thx for the info f15hp...I was about to leave and go get the one with the remote..but now that I know that the hp included remote works with the pinnacle software, i'll get the $60 one!! will post again later tonite after trying it out.
     
    Sid1, Jun 21, 2007
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  14. acitydweller

    acitydweller Newbie

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    I am debating between the Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Tuner Kit and the Onair GT, both run on Vista... Any one with experience with the Onair?
     
    acitydweller, Jun 22, 2007
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  15. David Horn

    David Horn Notebook Enthusiast

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    On a related note, I have had nothing but problems with Pinnacle devices on Windows Vista - even with things they claim to be completely Vista compatible. Worse, their technical support is non-existent.
     
    David Horn, Jun 22, 2007
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  16. brianstretch

    brianstretch Notebook Virtuoso

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    OnAir on WinXP has been great. I haven't played with it under Vista yet but they have 32-bit and 64-bit drivers and I'd expect no problems. Their tech support is excellent.
     
    brianstretch, Jun 22, 2007
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  17. prithive

    prithive Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can anyone tell me which one has a better picture quality both cable and OTA

    Pinnacle PCTV HD pro or Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 950
     
    prithive, Jun 23, 2007
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