Cheapest 'n Best Tv Tuner Card

**bronco** · 10-29-2003, 11:16 AM

Hi guys.

Im after a decent Tv Tuner card any ideas whats good?

Another thing, can anyone tell me if they have a Tv-out option a'la a gfx
card, or do only gfx cards have Tv-out??

Cheers

**Xanex** · 10-29-2003, 11:28 AM

Bog Standard TV-99 tuner card, can get for about £30

it has a remote control also!!!

made by the mysterious company Mentor

http://www.gladiatorcomputers.com/support/...de=ACCMENTVCARD

**bronco** · 10-29-2003, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by Xanex@29 October 2003 - 10:28
Bog Standard TV-99 tuner card, can get for about £30

it has a remote control also!!!

made by the mysterious company Mentor

http://www.gladiatorcomputers.com/support/...de=ACCMENTVCARD

Looks pretty good.

Question? Iread in the descrption this: "External input sources include one Composite AV (via RCA connector) and one Super VHS via 4 pins Mini-DIN connector".

Does this mean it has a Tv-out output, where's i can hook it up to my TV
and watch movies on it etc.

Bit confused with it saying input thats all

**cwctv** · 10-29-2003, 12:14 PM

One here too http://195.224.29.130/cgi-bin/Light.storef...en/Catalog/1007

Sounds to me like it does you will have to hook it to Svhs socket on the Tv or video if that as one OR get phono's with sound and vision to go to your scart socket I use my front inputs where the camcorder would go haven't got around to putting it in permanent yet.
If your video card is old get a new one like I did with video out I didn't want a TV card just video out,use to use the laptop but this is better for me.
At the fairs the cable cost me £6 for everything.

**3RA1N1AC** · 10-29-2003, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by bronco@29 October 2003 - 03:49
Does this mean it has a Tv-out output, where's i can hook it up to my TV
and watch movies on it etc.

nope, sorry. tv-output is a feature of VGA cards and mpeg-decoder cards, not capture/encoder cards. if you want tv-out, you'll have to get a VGA card that includes it.

**bronco** · 10-29-2003, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by 3RA1N1AC@29 October 2003 - 12:06

nope, sorry.  tv-output is a feature of VGA cards and mpeg-decoder cards, not capture/encoder cards.  if you want tv-out, you'll have to get a VGA card that includes it. 

Bingo! thats the answer im after 3RA1N1AC

i was a little unclear on this.

So gfx cards only have Tv-out, saved me some cash there then, as i was looking
thru the links given by Xanex and cwctv!

Thing is my pc does not have a Agp slot, so i can only use Pci cards ( unless i
upgraded my Mobo/Ram etc, etc

)

I'll confess, ive been down the Ati all-in-wonder (7000ve model) route and i couldnt get it to receive a signal when i put my aerial into it, had to send it back.

**3RA1N1AC** · 10-29-2003, 02:22 PM

unless you play video games or use 3D art/architecture programs, a PCI card should be no worse than AGP. if you need a VGA card with tv-out, i still would not hesitate to recommend a Radeon or Radeon 7000 for your monitor/tv display even if an All-In-Wonder didn't do the job for tuning your tv signal.

since you've already had problems with getting ATI's capture card to work, i wouldn't suggest their TV Wonder card to you (although it is a decent card, imho) since it is uses the same parts & drivers as the All-In-Wonder.

one of Leadtek's Winfast TV 2000 XP (yes, the name is longwinded) or Hauppauge's WinTV cards ought to be acceptable for your purposes.

http://www.leadtek.com/multimedia.html

http://www.hauppauge.com/html/selector.htm

although i wonder if your problem didn't have to do with signal strength. i think these cards are designed primarily for use with coaxial leads from cable tv or VCRs, which prolly have stronger signals than a typical aerial. if that is the cause of the problem, you'll likely run into the same thing with a different tv tuner. so you might achieve better results by putting a signal amplifier between the aerial and the capture/tuner card. or use a self-amplifying aerial. i'm just guessing at a solution, though.

**bronco** · 10-29-2003, 03:14 PM

Thanks a lot 3RA1N1AC, some great advice there, appreciate it mate

To pick up on your signal strength point. I don't think that was a problem as my aerial
going into the card is from the main 'from the roof' not a indoor job if you know
what im saying.

I get a perfect picture on my tv and all the wiring is brand new.

Again ( i think your reading my mind lol!

) ive looked at the WinFast TV2000 XP Expert and it looks to have what i want however it wont have Tv-out will it,
it being a tuner/capture card and NOT a VGA/Gfx card.

...Or maybe it does

Just read this:
"10 bit video decoder with adaptive comb filter, give you high quality video output"

Or... have i misunderstood this?