HDTV tuner card comparison

[carteriii]

I am going to get an HDTV tuner card to run with 4.0, but I have not been able to find any good data to use in deciding between the different cards. Sure, price is always one criteria, but what else can I compare? How could I compare the quality of the recordings, or should they theortically be exactly the same anyway? What about system performance during recordings?

If anyone has two different HD tuner cards, I'd love to hear your thoughts comparing the two. If you have even one tuner card, would you please tell me/everyone how you decided on that one card. Are you happy with your decision, or do you wish you tried another? Has anyone seen a decent review comparing different cards?

Aside from a pure comparison of the tuner cards, I'd also be interested in any comments on extras like the ATI remote or antenna that come in one bundled package. I already use the Firefly remote, but does anyone prefer the ATI remote and think that should be part of my decision criteria if I cannot distinguish between the tuner cards themselves? What about the bundled antenna? I can see the TV towers from the windows of the house, so I may be kidding myself that an included antenna is going to be worth anything.

In one previous thread it was mentioned that the ATI card requires installing ATI's Multimedia Center even though it isn't going to be used with BTV. This isn't necessarily a problem, but it's at least something to consider. Do other vendors require installation of similar software other than just the driver(s) necessary for BTV to function?

Thanks in advance.

[btvfreak]

Antenna - It depends on where you are located in relation to the broadcast towers. Check antennaweb.org to see what kind of antenna you'll probably need to receive a good signal. It also helps by showing you a map of where you are in relation to where the signals are coming from. Helps setup your antenna. I couldn't use the indoor antenna that came with the ATI HD Wonder, but a $25 amplified indoor RCA antenna from Walmart works like a charm.

Remote - Stick with the Firefly. The ATI Remote Wonder is IR and not as good to me.

HD Card - There's a bunch of cards out there. ATI HD Wonder, Fusion5, Vbox, Avermedia A180 are the popular ones. I'd get the Fusion5 Lite if you have an available PCI slot. It's only $99 and should work the best based on what I've read. If OTA HD continues to work for me, then I'm going to get a Fusion5.

3rd Party Software - I know from experience that you don't NEED to install the ATI MMC software. I just installed the drivers and the HD Wonder works with BTV4. Some people install the card's software to for since some come with better signal strength meters than BTV's wizard. Others install it to compare playback. Either way it is NOT mandatory. At least not for the HD Wonder.

[Kingjamez]

I've only used the Fusion 3 card, but it seems to work flawlessly with BTV 4.0 Since getting the first beta I've had no freeze ups, clear signals, smooth playback, and wonderfull picture. I highly suggest the Fusion cards.
-Jim

[clayfree]

I agree with Jim.

I just got my server rebuilt yesterday and I installed a Fusion5 Lite(no remote) and it seems to work perfectly. When I went through the set up wizard it showed a signal strength of 98-100%. The MyHD cards the I own always showed signals in the 70-90% range.

I found the Fusion cards for about $70 online. I got dual HD tuning for $140 which I think is a great deal.

[btvfreak]

Where did you find the Fusion5 Lite for $70?

[HomeyFour]

So I just got a Fusion5 USB, and I'm looking for an INDOOR antenna. (I live in an apartment and don't want the hassle.) Any recommendations? I've heard good things about a TERK TV5 antenna. Antennaweb says I need a "Yellow", but I'm thinking directional might be better since all of the broadcasts are coming from the same compass heading.

[wxboy]

TV5 is ok. Personally I have a Terk HDTVi, works great. I live almost 30 miles away from the transmitters, and after pointing the antenna correctly I can get every signal with over 90% strength.

[HomeyFour]

Well I went with the TV5 - I get every local HD station there is in the Detroit area. Highly recommended - but I'm only 15 miles away.

[Bully Dawg`]

Could someone with the fusion 5 HDTV answer a quick question for me? The specs on the card say that it has a software decoder. How does this impact cpu usage? Are there hardware based HD decoder cards and has anyone done a head to head comparison?

Thanks,
BD

[HomeyFour]

Originally Posted by Bully Dawg`

Could someone with the fusion 5 HDTV answer a quick question for me? The specs on the card say that it has a software decoder. How does this impact cpu usage? Are there hardware based HD decoder cards and has anyone done a head to head comparison?

I could be mistaken, but I don't think we're using the decoder part of the unit when we're using it with BTV. Essentially, it is just capturing a data stream (like copying a file from one hard drive to another) in this case just capturing digital data from ATSC and dumping it up the bus (USB cable in my case) and then BTV does what it needs to do with that data stream. Basically like copying a gigantic MPEG transport stream from the air to your hard drive - not doing any processing with it.

[Skydivr8]

I had the same question, but per the following article : http://kb.snapstream.com/?kbid=299

"
The terms "hardware encoder," "hardware encoding," or "hardware encode" and "software encoder," "software encoding," or "software encode" are used throughout many Knowledge Base articles. This article will help you to better understand what is meant by both of these terms, and the benefits and drawbacks of both types of systems.

Please note that HDTV is a special case that fits in neither of the above categories. HDTV capture cards do not encode at all. They receive an MPEG-2 Transport Stream and simply feed it to the PC. This results in no appreciable rise in CPU usage except for writing data to the hard drive.
"

[blitzkrg]

Originally Posted by HomeyFour

I could be mistaken, but I don't think we're using the decoder part of the unit when we're using it with BTV. Essentially, it is just capturing a data stream (like copying a file from one hard drive to another) in this case just capturing digital data from ATSC and dumping it up the bus (USB cable in my case) and then BTV does what it needs to do with that data stream. Basically like copying a gigantic MPEG transport stream from the air to your hard drive - not doing any processing with it.

how is the usb HDTV working out for you? i'm thinking of going the USB route..
just wondering if you have any issues with it
thanks

[civerson4]

I have the Fusion 5 USB (2 of them actually). Works great. Absolutely no complaints. I highly recommend it (as I think others do as well....)

Civerson4

[blitzkrg]

great.. thanks for the info!