Final Words
A TV Tuner card is a nice addition to any multimedia PC, and the NVIDIA DualTV MCE is a cut above most tuners because of its ability to record two sources at once. We especially like the fact that they do the signal splitting internally, rather than having two CATV inputs. The card is easy to install and sets up in a few minutes with Windows MCE. Of course, part of the advantage is that MCE practically sets itself up by auto scanning for the TV signal and then downloading the program guide for your specific area and cable service, letting you watch and record your favorite shows in no time.Not only is it nice to be able to record and archive as much video as your hard drive will allow, but having control over details like video quality are nice as well. On top of this, with a PC TV Tuner, the video that you capture can be edited and manipulated in limitless ways for projects ranging from home movies, show movie montages for creative purposes, or simply editing out commercials or unwanted scenes from your recordings. You can also burn the completed content to a DVD if you so choose. This is something that is just not possible with a service like TiVo, at least not without using a PC to do all the extra stuff.
Something we see as a bit of a drawback is that the DualTV MCE is marketed towards Windows XP MCE users to fully realize the card's potential, and you will need to purchase this version of Windows separately. However, the DualTV MCE does work with free (and not so free) TV tuner applications like SageTV, BeyondTV and Yahoo Go! for those without Windows MCE. The fact that the DualTV MCE is only marketed toward people with the Windows MCE is a bit odd, and we feel that they should perhaps offer a bundle package with the card and MCE, and even better would be the inclusion of a standalone application for viewing/recording in other versions of Windows.
As always, price will play a big role in which TV tuner is right for you, so lets look at this aspect for a moment. Right now, the DualTV MCE is being offered at the list price of $169 on the NVIDIA store website. This about twice as much as the ATI Theater 550 Pro, which is on the market for around $80. You could technically have two of these cards installed and recording at the same time to simulate what the DualTV MCE does, but it may be less than practical given the space it would take up on your motherboard (especially if building a small HTPC box). The Theater 550 Pro is an excellent TV tuner solution for those only needing to record one channel at a time, but we think the freedom of being able to record/watch an extra source makes the DualTV MCE worth the extra money.
For those who want to do some gaming but don't want any extra PCI slots used up in their system, one of ATI's AIW cards might be the right choice. The prices range from about $100 to $400 depending on what kind of graphics performance you want, but you will still only be able to record a single TV signal with these cards. You also run into the potential problem of losing the TV recording aspect if you have to upgrade your graphics card -- and given the rate at which GPUs are updated, that will probably happen within 18 months or less.
Separate TV tuner cards will ultimately be more versatile than an AIW when building a multimedia system, because they can be used in both gaming and non-gaming systems. This fact along with the dual recording capabilities of the NVIDIA DualTV MCE make it one of the best choices for those interested in buying a high quality TV tuner solution, especially for those with Windows MCE. About the only other competing dual-tuner solution we'd consider right now is the Hauppauge PVR-500. In terms of cost, online prices are slightly cheaper than the DualTV, but we expect similar pricing from the NVIDIA card once it hits the retail market, and at that point it's basically a tossup.
It's nice to know that there are alternatives to the cable companies' standard recording "services" like TiVo. These TV tuner cards provide the same service with more flexibility for those with computers, without an added monthly subscription fee. We predict that more people will be interested in integrating their TV and PC in the future, and cards like the NVIDIA DualTV MCE make this an attractive prospect for PC owners in the present.
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nullpointerus - Friday, May 19, 2006 - link
First, it was my understanding that MCE cards are sold sans PVR software. Frankly, I prefer it this way because I'd rather not pay the hardware manufacturer for developing crappy PVR software that I'll throw away in favor of something more serious like Sage. So there are people who view the lack of bundled software as a plus.Second, it's hard to understand why companies would be developing new analog tuners right now (at least in the U.S.). When the government-mandated switch to digital TV occurs, each of these analog tuners will require a converter box AND either a serial cable or an IR blaster just to keep working, right?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've already said that CableCARD requires Vista, and as we know that OS won't be out until the holiday season or even later (depending on who you talk to). And without CableCARD, there simply aren't any digital tuners for the PC that can completely replace the analog tuners currently in use.
GoatMonkey - Friday, May 19, 2006 - link
There you go.
derekblankmccoy - Sunday, May 21, 2006 - link
For those of us that live here in the first world, we have several dvb-t and dvb-s cards. I have a Sweetspot MCE in my machine, works like a dream, recieves Freeview, and if i want to watch and record 2 differenct channels, I just have to add in another one, simple!nullpointerus - Friday, May 19, 2006 - link
Nonsequitor. nVidia didn't have to enter the analog tuner market; what we're talking about is whether it makes sense to develop new products to enter a collapsing market. Your selective quoting didn't bother to address that.Look, would you buy a 3D card right now if i told you that in six months you'd need an expensive dongle, some luck, and a bit of spare time just to get it to work almost as well as it did when you bought it? It's insane.
I can't wait to see the tech support calls:
techrep: Hi! blah blah blah What can I help you with today?
user: Yes, my TV tuner stopped working a week after I bought it. I can't get no signal on any of the stations. It's all staticy.
techrep: Can you verify that you still have cable on your other TVs?
user: Yes, they're all working fine.
techrep: I'll give you a ticket number. It's 493027583.
techrep: Have you tried reinstalling the drivers?
user: I don't understand what would have changed.
user: Oh, sorry, I'll try that now.
*lost connection*
techrep: Hi! blah blah blah What can I help you with today?
user: Yes, my TV tuner stopped working a week after I bought it. I can't get no signal on any of the stations. It's all staticy.
techrep: Can you verify that you still have cable on your other TVs?
user: Yes, my ticket number is 493027583.
techrep: Oh...wait a sec.
techrep: OK, I'm reading your chat log.
*several minutes pass by*
user: Hello?
techrep: Yes, I'm still here. What software are you using to watch TV on your PC?
user: Windows XP MCE SP2
techrep: Have you tried reinstalling it?
user: No, but I don't think that's the problem. It records OK - they're just static.
techrep: I think you need to reinstall MCE.
user: Isn't there anything else we can try?
techrep: Can you play the files back in Windows Media Player?
user: Just a sec.
techrep: OK.
user: Yes, they play back, but the sound and video is just static.
techrep: I think your system has been infected by a virus. At this point, the only thing you can do is to reinstall MCE.
user: OK, whatever.
*several hours pass by*
techrep: Hi! blah blah blah What can I help you with today?
user: ticket number is 493027583
techrep: Oh...wait a sec.
techrep: OK, I'm reading your chat log.
user: Reinstalling MCE didn't work.
techrep: OK, I think I know what your problem is. In compliance with new FCC rules, your cable provider has switched from an analog signal to a digital signal. The tuner card you purchased last week can't handle the new signal.
user: You mean I didn't need to reinstall MCE? Darn.
user: So how do I update the firmware?
techrep: I apologize for the inconvenience of reinstalling MCE. We're updating our support department on these new cases as we speak.
techrep: There is no new firmware. The tuner simply won't work with a digital signal.
user: What the...? I just bought the damn thing last week!!
techrep: I'm sorry, sir, but it just won't work.
techrep: Some people have gotten it to work by purchasing a serial cable or IR blast.
user: Where can I get one of those?
techrep: We don't provide any support for that.
user: What?! How the **** am I supposed to fix this stupid ****?
techrep: I'm sorry, but we don't support third party products like those.
techrep: Is there anything else I can help you with today?
*lost connection*
What fun.
GoatMonkey - Monday, May 22, 2006 - link
It's at least 3 years away.I would hope that I wouldn't be using any video card for that long.
NegativeEntropy - Friday, May 19, 2006 - link
The mandate in the US to switch from analog to digital is for Over The Air only. Oh, and it is currently set for Feb 17 2009. It has already been pushed back several times. I think the original date was 2002.Cable companies own their networks (line sharing not withstanding) and thus can do whatever they want. Hence your worries will be all based on your provider, unless you're a big user of OTA broadcasting. I don't know about you, but the only people I know that use an antenna are:
1) People that only want 4-7 channels total
2) People that use it for local channels that choose to not or cannot get via sattelite
3) People getting OTA HD (which is analog?)
Trisped - Sunday, May 21, 2006 - link
Of course the fact that my cable company has been tring for years to get us off analog and all onto digital doesn't do much for my desire to own another TV tuner. When they come out with one that does HDTV, DTV, and SDTV and uses a PCIe slot I will start looking into getting it, not before.nullpointerus - Saturday, May 20, 2006 - link
Really? Man, I was terribly confused. Thanks for clarifying that!From what I can tell, OTA HD is digital, not analog. I've read about the signal either being on or off - IOW not staticy - and then there's this site which I found this morning:
http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#howdoiget">http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#howdoiget
...which gives advice on how to get OTA DTV.
gplracer - Friday, May 19, 2006 - link
I thought that I read somewhere that the cablecard tuners will only come with systems made by manufacturers. If one is building a computer he/she will not be able to purchase this tuner. I find it hard to believe this will happen but who knows.nullpointerus - Friday, May 19, 2006 - link
Oh, one more thing: As for why there isn't a version bundled with MCE, think of the support issues. People expect software bundled with a piece of hardware to "just work" when it is installed, but having to replace your OS or install it on new hardware? It's just too much work - MS should handle the MCE problems. This would be different if MS figured out that MCE is just an application and should be sold as such. Application solutions such as Sage or BeyondTV often sell software+hardware bundles through their store especially with Hauppauge cards.