PCI Digital TV tuner / PVR software for TV in Sydney

[C3]

I would like to be able to record digital TV programmes on my PC, and
schedule recordings.

I do not have a digital TV tuner card, and am open to suggestions as to
which ones have better software/driver support. I am also looking for 3rd
party software that can record TV, and preferably be able to launch a
transcoding to a smaller video format.

What is the state of the art in PCI digital TV tuners? Are most 3rd party
applications likely to work with most tuner cards?

With analogue TV tuners you had to deal with noise reduction, deinterlacing
etc. Is digital TV recording as simple as getting a support TV tuner and
then transcoding?

Suggestions please.

[Mr Tinker]

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 19:04:15 +1100, "C3" <_> wrote:

>I would like to be able to record digital TV programmes on my PC, and
>schedule recordings.
>
>I do not have a digital TV tuner card, and am open to suggestions as to
>which ones have better software/driver support. I am also looking for 3rd
>party software that can record TV, and preferably be able to launch a
>transcoding to a smaller video format.
>
>What is the state of the art in PCI digital TV tuners? Are most 3rd party
>applications likely to work with most tuner cards?
>
>With analogue TV tuners you had to deal with noise reduction, deinterlacing
>etc. Is digital TV recording as simple as getting a support TV tuner and
>then transcoding?
>
>Suggestions please.
>

Microsoft Media Center


http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au and check the forums

[Byron Forbes]

"C3" <_> wrote in message
news:420f09fe$0$22846$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
>I would like to be able to record digital TV programmes on my PC, and
> schedule recordings.
>
> I do not have a digital TV tuner card, and am open to suggestions as to
> which ones have better software/driver support. I am also looking for 3rd
> party software that can record TV, and preferably be able to launch a
> transcoding to a smaller video format.
>
> What is the state of the art in PCI digital TV tuners? Are most 3rd party
> applications likely to work with most tuner cards?
>
> With analogue TV tuners you had to deal with noise reduction,
> deinterlacing
> etc. Is digital TV recording as simple as getting a support TV tuner and
> then transcoding?
>
> Suggestions please.
>
>

Spend at least $150 or so and you'll be happy.

[Mike]

C3 wrote:

> What is the state of the art in PCI digital TV tuners?

They all do the same thing, except that some require a stronger radio
signal - see recent threads.

> Are most 3rd party
> applications likely to work with most tuner cards?

They do if you use Linux. Windows??

> With analogue TV tuners you had to deal with noise reduction, deinterlacing
> etc. Is digital TV recording as simple as getting a support TV tuner and
> then transcoding?

Why transcode? Just keep the broadcast mpeg-2. You can play it with your
DVD-playing software, or general media player. Rate is around 2.8GB/hr.

Transcoding, e.g. to divx/mpeg4, is easy for most new programs, but
sometimes old movies etc can be noisy, and difficult to transcode.
But its still easier than from analogue source, and you needn't do it
in real-time.
If the TV program was shot on video, it will usually need
de-interlacing, but thats easy. (ie good results with little CPU time.)

[Garry Ozols]

don't waste your money on a Microsoft Media Centre, you can get exactly the
same set-up for about $1000 less from any local white box vendor, Shuttle
make a great range of Home Theatre set-ups
Garry
--
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." - Lazarus Long
..

"Mr Tinker" <here@not.there.com> wrote in message
news:vpcu01th81525nrdgdbn42q4gm5958uoi2@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 19:04:15 +1100, "C3" <_> wrote:
>
>>I would like to be able to record digital TV programmes on my PC, and
>>schedule recordings.
>>
>>I do not have a digital TV tuner card, and am open to suggestions as to
>>which ones have better software/driver support. I am also looking for 3rd
>>party software that can record TV, and preferably be able to launch a
>>transcoding to a smaller video format.
>>
>>What is the state of the art in PCI digital TV tuners? Are most 3rd party
>>applications likely to work with most tuner cards?
>>
>>With analogue TV tuners you had to deal with noise reduction,
>>deinterlacing
>>etc. Is digital TV recording as simple as getting a support TV tuner and
>>then transcoding?
>>
>>Suggestions please.
>>
>
> Microsoft Media Center
>
>
> http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au and check the forums
>