What are the good digital TV cards?
Wednesday, 27 October, 2004
What is a good digital TV turner card? I've been trying to decide between all of the ones
AVERTV DVB
Visionplus VisionDTV TER
Nebula DigiTV PCI and
FusionHDTV DVB-T
Or are there better ones around. I'd be interested to hear what other readers have bought and if they're happy with them.
Michael Huggard, Daylesford, VIC
 PC User has done reviews of digital TV tuners over the last few months. You could look back at those reviews too.
One issue is that a certain card may be great but the accompanying software a dog. See this for example which covers the VisionPlus DVB-T card.
FWIW I just use a DGTEC 2000A external box connected to the auxiliary port of my TV tuner card. It's pricey but you can use it with a TV or any other PC that way and it works perfectly with all my video capture software as well.
(Another thought is that it might be worth waiting to see which cards are compatible with Windows XP Media Center. -PZ)
Readers - what are your thoughts on the merits of digital TV tuners on the market? Or on using an external tuner? John Hilvert
 Reader solutions
Sam AlburyPosted: 17/06/2009 re: What are the good digital TV cards? I used a DVico FusionHDTV DVB-T Nano USB, the software was ok but it could have been better. The worst part about it, it would overheat in lower signal areas which was very annoying as I live in a low signal area. NicPosted: 20/05/2008 re: What are the good digital TV cards? I use a DVICO Fusion PCI card and it must be said the software is awful, it's already failed twice this morning and the names of the channels are slowly dissapearing since reinstallation last week. Plus each update fixes 1 bug and include 2 more! So I am looking for a new card as well. David ByrnePosted: 10/06/2007 re: What are the good digital TV cards? Buyers beware! I have used the DVICO DVT-B Plus card for a few years and the software has been a dog. Each release produces new bugs and I have had a gut full. I am now in the market to find a robust and reliable solution. DVICO are definitely not to be considered under any circumstances.
(That's handy to know David. -PZ) Ross BrisbanePosted: 16/05/2005 re: What are the good digital TV cards? Been using DVB-T solutions for two years. Whilst I agree concerning immature software I must point out that some of conclusions are rather outdated now.
The Aver series of cards have improved dramatically with BDA compliant cards coming out.
The Australian DNTV Live! written frontend for DTv here is robust and delivers quality exceeding the STB's.
The DVICO DVB-T are also far more stable and seem to work in more in systems then any other card. The software is also very stable. Stable enough to even repelace a STB box in the lounge room. Remote pickup is also very reliable. Errors are very rare as with DNTV Live! software.
Many popular PC magazines in reviews I've read seem to lack good basic in these areas. Often their computer centricity works against them.
John BinhPosted: 11/11/2004 re: What are the good digital TV cards? I bought the DPANDA.com.au card when it emerged as the first SD/HD card to come into Australia.
It has served me well under both Windows and LINUX.
It's now in my dedicated HTPC.
Also have a Hauppauge Nova-T at work which is also very good. steve wardPosted: 29/10/2004 re: What are the good digital TV cards? I was using an AVer card and it was ok but the software was iffy. They offered Beta software that was a little better with the bonus of HDef reception. But that was still dodgy. Out of sync sound rec. and only direct to mpeg.
Check out Dvba forums on the web for lots of info. FWIW I put in a Fusion HDTV and find it excellent quality and better for recording editing. |