Anyone Migrate from ATI to PVR-250?

[DJ-phYre]

I just recieved my ATI TV Wonder Pro on Friday, June 11. Already I am fed up with it. The software issues with MMC has frustrated me to no end. And when I try to upgrade to MMC 9.0 it quits right in the middle of the install. I read all the things on Rage3D forums, but I am not about to spend hours trying to fix a problem that ATI is to lazy to fix theirselves.

Anyways I am about to buy the Beyond TV3 + PVR-250 package. I am running Dish Network Satellite Reciever. And I was wondering will the software work hand in hand with the reciever so I can change stations and such via the software. With the ATI card I could never do this :rolleyes:.

I didn't see where the PVR-250 had a S-Video input either... so I am assuming the RCA inputs are good enough... anyways the main reason I am posting this is because I am undecided. I just spent $70 not even a week ago on the TV Wonder Pro, and about to spend $140 on some more software and a new TV Tuner card :o

Let me here some pros and cons :)

[theparanoid]

I had a ATI Wonder, and switch to a pvr250. With the ATI card i had dropped frames. It was hardly worth watching. Plus the picture was fuzzy. With the PVR I hardly even turn on the TV. Not sure about how it works with sat however.

You may want to try a return you ATI card and exchange it for a PVR if were you got it carries both.

[DJ-phYre]

I had a ATI Wonder, and switch to a pvr250. With the ATI card i had dropped frames. It was hardly worth watching. Plus the picture was fuzzy. With the PVR I hardly even turn on the TV. Not sure about how it works with sat however.

You may want to try a return you ATI card and exchange it for a PVR if were you got it carries both.
I ordered it from an online retailer that only offers RMA for replace/repair :mad:

I am going to be ordering the PVR-250BTV w/ Beyond TV package straight from Snapstream, because I do not have a retailer anywhere near me :o

I emailed the retailer hoping they will give me a return, but if not I will just sell the card on eBay. I have all the original box and manuals, I mean I only used it for 2 days :D

If anyone could provide info on how PVR works with a Satellite reciever it would be greatly appreciated!

[s1xandout]

i switched to the pvr 250, and as for the satellite, it works great. you configure it just like you would configure for the local cable channels. oh the pvr has s video input which is much better than composite video input. the btv3 and pvr250 combo is probably the best deal for a very good system. i got the ati, then got the pvr 250 ended up wasting time and money. guess the only other thing i got was an ir blaster so the computer could change channels for the different recordings. wonder if you thought about that? if you use the pvr 250 for cable it can decode the local cable using the coax input, but if you want to record from the satellite then you need something like an ir blaster ( a device that sends infrared signals to your satellite reciver) to change the channels. i guess you already have the rca to 3.5mm to get the sound into your computer also.

[DJ-phYre]

i switched to the pvr 250, and as for the satellite, it works great. you configure it just like you would configure for the local cable channels. oh the pvr has s video input which is much better than composite video input. the btv3 and pvr250 combo is probably the best deal for a very good system. i got the ati, then got the pvr 250 ended up wasting time and money. guess the only other thing i got was an ir blaster so the computer could change channels for the different recordings. wonder if you thought about that? if you use the pvr 250 for cable it can decode the local cable using the coax input, but if you want to record from the satellite then you need something like an ir blaster ( a device that sends infrared signals to your satellite reciver) to change the channels. i guess you already have the rca to 3.5mm to get the sound into your computer also.I am not using the card to watch TV so I don't need it to change channels. I am using it for merely recording my favorite shows and sports events. I have a TV sitting about 4 feet from me :o

EDIT: Could the card autotune to the channel w/ the IR Blaster? If so then it would really be nice.

As far as the RCA to 3.5mm ... The TV Wonder Pro used the composite A/V cables and then I went with a 3.5mm cable from the TV Wonder to the line-in of my Sound Card, so I don't have that converter... But I know what you are talking about and nothing I can't pick up at my local Radio Shack :)

[s1xandout]

what do you mean by autotune? when you get the pvr 250 it has a remote control, so if you use the btv3 ,the pvr 250's remote control, and an ir blaster or some other similar model.. it changes the channels, pauses, fast forwards etc while you watch tv. basically makes it work like a tivo or vcr. and when you have it programmed to record the tv shows it automatically changes to that channel. i guess i always forgot to program the channels when i had a vcr. then again some people have all sorts of problems with just beyond tv an extra component to fail might not be as reliable. if you are only going to be recording tv, then if you want to save money don't even buy beyond tv. just use the software that comes with the pvr 250. if you don't use it to program recordings/only what you're watching at the time does that mean you only want to use the pause fast forward rewind and record functions? sounds like you don't want to set it up to record shows ahead of time. if that is the case the only thing else the btv will do is shrink the recompress the video size to a smaller different format.

[jkoon]

I just thought you might find this thread of interest

http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13341&highlight=ati+switchv

[DJ-phYre]

what do you mean by autotune? when you get the pvr 250 it has a remote control, so if you use the btv3 ,the pvr 250's remote control, and an ir blaster or some other similar model.. it changes the channels, pauses, fast forwards etc while you watch tv. basically makes it work like a tivo or vcr. and when you have it programmed to record the tv shows it automatically changes to that channel. i guess i always forgot to program the channels when i had a vcr. then again some people have all sorts of problems with just beyond tv an extra component to fail might not be as reliable. if you are only going to be recording tv, then if you want to save money don't even buy beyond tv. just use the software that comes with the pvr 250. if you don't use it to program recordings/only what you're watching at the time does that mean you only want to use the pause fast forward rewind and record functions? sounds like you don't want to set it up to record shows ahead of time. if that is the case the only thing else the btv will do is shrink the recompress the video size to a smaller different format.I have a TV sitting about 5ft away which I will watch my programming on. I have a remote for that TV. Does the PVR-250 have a video out or something to the TV so I can see it on the TV. I don't know you really confused me....

EDIT:

What I am getting at... it sounds to me like you think I will be watching the TV on my PC when I will actually be watching it on the TV screen.... I just want the PC to record the programs I watch regularly I guess :dunno:

[theparanoid]

Accutly my case it s-video to rca adapator which RSH sales for 23 dollars. Since both the monitor and tv are the same size, since the tv a 20 inch but a round tube and the montior is flat the viewing size is so close it not worth 23 dollars, more so since both are about the same distance when watch. Oh sure in one location the monitor is closer and the other the tv. But it the same.


As for recording. I have played games, such as Far cry on setting that give my machine a work out, forget i was schedle to record something go to watch the show when i am done and i was amazed to see almost no lose in quality. The ati card, if i moved the mouse i have probelms(ok not quiet mouse movement, but running any progarm)

With the PVR i pay no mind to when i am record. The other day i was using photoshop and no probelms there.

[artschul]

I am an ATI refugee. Since adding the Hauppauge 250 everthing works well with BTV. Also, the 250 has its own processer (hardware) whereas ATI is software based. With the 250, my processer doesn't have to work hard. Bottom line is that I just use the

[artschul]

I am an ATI refugee. Since adding the Hauppauge 250 everthing works well with BTV. Also, the 250 has its own processer (hardware) whereas ATI is software based. With the 250, my processer doesn't have to work hard. Bottom line is that I just use the ATI TV Wonder for output to the computer video, which is not as good as a pure high-power video card. I do most of my media watching via the home theater.

[artschul]

I am an ATI refugee. Since adding the Hauppauge 250 everthing works well with BTV. Also, the 250 has its own processer (hardware) whereas ATI is software based. With the 250, my processer doesn't have to work hard. Bottom line is that I just use the ATI TV Wonder for output to the computer video, which is not as good as a pure high-power video card. I do most of my media watching via the home theater.

[Kevin]

I did, and I can't get it to work!!! I bought 2 x PVR250s (for 3.5) based on this post and many others like it. Yet, I can't get either one to work. I follow the instructions to a tee, and nothing. Windows XP recognizes it, I install the drivers off the CD (also tried the drivers of their website, same result), and then try to set it up with BTV, and it says some error like "Unable to Build TV graph" or something. Then I try to load WinTV2000, and when I try to run it, I get an error message like "Failed to initialize - wTV=0" What is that all about?! That's not to mention that when I try to boot up every now and then, it won't go past the Windows XP loading screen and then automatically reboots. This instability never happened before installing this card. I installed them both at once, than ran that Hauppague software clear/removal thingy, then installed one at a time. I tried the first 2 PCI slots on the motherboard (as I've heard that with some M/B, it needs to be installed in the first 2 slots), and the last two, and everything in between. I can't figure it out!! Please, can someoene help me?! I too would like to be boasting about my increased picture quality and low CPU usage while recording, but so far my experience with this card as not been pleasant. Anyone's help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kevin.

[Y-ASK]

Hi Kevin,

I had problems when I tried to go to a PVR-250. The problem was my video card. In my case the video card was built into the Shuttle XPC motherboard and did not support 3D rendering (something like that). I re-installed my ATI card (with the PVR-250 as well) and everything started working correctly. It might be that your video card does not support the 3D stuff.

Y-ASK

[Kevin]

Well, I have an AIW 9000, so I assumed that 3D rendering is built in. I haven't tried uninstalling the Video Card and then re-installing it with my PVR250. I might give that a go tonite. I feel like I've tried everything, and still nothing. Any other tips you can think of would be appreciated. I'll let you know how it goes when I get home and try it tonite.

Thanks,

Kevin.