Need Help With Tv Tuner Cards.
 

Alrighty here's my deal, I'm trying to make a HTPC (Home Theater), but it's gonna have a sub function of being tivo so I can get tv shows I like overseas.. I need help selecting a video card that can do the TIVO function.. I'm getting Windows Media Center Edition for it so that takes care of the Home theater part..



Any help will be a +rep rampage :)


Thanks,

Seth

Re: Need Help With Tv Tuner Cards.
 

just curious. Why not just buy a tivo? your going to end up paying about the same either way.

unless of course you get a cheaper tv card and find a free program to do the tivo functions.

Re: Need Help With Tv Tuner Cards.
 

Thats is what I'm trying to accomplish because in the end I'm going to turn the parts into a computer that is going to be attached to my tv in a custom built wood case that I've already started on.. But I can't find programs that will do TIVO unless MCE will.. I'm going to have to find out but for the time being, Any help on good TV IN Cards +rep :)

Re: Need Help With Tv Tuner Cards.
 

i had thought i read that ATI's tv cards had tivo controls with em. Plus came with a wireless remote (looks exactly like a TV remote)

But i believe the better ones of thoes come with the All In Wonder graphics card. so you'd be getting a graphics card with a tv card built in.

altho they have some normal Tv cards one of thoes has a remote too i dont know how good they are tho. I have an old ati tv wonder tv card. works fine and all. picture isnt the best, but never tried displaying it on a TV with the lower resolution.

i had a program i downloaded that did tivo functions. i'll try and find out what that program was again.

tho i still think you'd almost be better off just buying a tivo box. lol

Re: Need Help With Tv Tuner Cards.
 

Well, I'm not sure what exactly "Tivo functions" include, since I don't have Tivo. But I'm assuming that this includes recording tv shows, rewinding live tv, etc..

I bought a Winfast 2000xp like 2 years ago for like $63. I'm sure it's cheaper now. But I can record my tv shows just fine. I can set up recording schedules, etc.. As for rewinding live tv etc. There is a feature on my card called time shifting, where it records tv while you are watching it, so that you can rewind etc. However, it does take a fairly powerful computer for this feature to work smoothly (I now have a A64 3000+ w/ 9800pro and it works jsut fine).

Granted, I got this card 2 years ago, or it might even be older. I don't know anything about what the cards of today can do or how well they perform. But my card serves my purposes beautifully.

I know that this topic is like 9 days old, but I thought I'd reply anyway just in case. Hope it helped.

Re: Need Help With Tv Tuner Cards.
 

The Radeon All-In-Wonder has a lot of tv functions, but I am not too saavy on if it does the tivo stuff that you want it to do. I do know it is one of the better TV In cards out there. They can run fairly pricey for the newer ones.