USB TV Tuners

[jeep991]

Hi, does anyone have one of these? I've been thinking about getting one for my laptop but there don't seem to be too many places in town that sell them. How well do they work and what's a good brand? Thanks for your help.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by jeep991

Hi, does anyone have one of these? I've been thinking about getting one for my laptop but there don't seem to be too many places in town that sell them. How well do they work and what's a good brand? Thanks for your help.

they are sold in basically every electronic store, computer store, big box store, and I've even seen them in wal-mart before. I don't know where you get the idea that not many places sell them.

I picked a hauppage one up off the open box table at futureshop a few weeks ago for $30, I didn't really need it but I thought maybe I could convert some of my videotapes with it in the future because I used to do it with a PCI card USB tuner but I nolonger have a spare slot for it.

Most of them these days also come with HD antennas but it's useless for Calgary since we have no over the air HDTV broadcasts and won't have any real coverage for the next year or two or more...and even then it'll be the crappy channels we have like CFCN, CBC, A-Channel, CICT, etc.

Normally decent ones will cost you about $70 brand new in town. Buy them online at places like dealextreme.com and save some money. They are mostly all the same, not much variation or best brands. Hauppage is probably the biggest name in North America for these but a chinese brand one would work the same. Some have features that make them more expensive like built in remotes, etc. All should have PVR function software bundled.

What is the purpose of getting one of these for you? Regular NTSC SDTV will look pretty crappy on your computer monitor because SDTV resolution is so low.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

they are sold in basically every electronic store, computer store, big box store, and I've even seen them in wal-mart before. I don't know where you get the idea that not many places sell them.

I picked a hauppage one up off the open box table at futureshop a few weeks ago for $30, I didn't really need it but I thought maybe I could convert some of my videotapes with it in the future because I used to do it with a PCI card USB tuner but I nolonger have a spare slot for it.

Most of them these days also come with HD antennas but it's useless for Calgary since we have no over the air HDTV broadcasts and won't have any real coverage for the next year or two or more...and even then it'll be the crappy channels we have like CFCN, CBC, A-Channel, CICT, etc.

Normally decent ones will cost you about $70 brand new in town. Buy them online at places like dealextreme.com and save some money. They are mostly all the same, not much variation or best brands. Hauppage is probably the biggest name in North America for these but a chinese brand one would work the same. Some have features that make them more expensive like built in remotes, etc. All should have PVR function software bundled.

What is the purpose of getting one of these for you? Regular NTSC SDTV will look pretty crappy on your computer monitor because SDTV resolution is so low.

Actually Calgary does have an OTA HD channel up and running with more to come.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Actually Calgary does have an OTA HD channel up and running with more to come.

I've scanned for it and can't find it. Maybe I need to mount an antenna on the roof?

[jeep991]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What is the purpose of getting one of these for you? Regular NTSC SDTV will look pretty crappy on your computer monitor because SDTV resolution is so low.

I just want it so I can watch some shows that I like. We only have one tv in the house and my wife always seems to pick what we watch.

So is NTSC SDTV like the digital cable channels I get from Shaw? If so, is the picture quality so bad that it would just be a waste of money to buy one of these? Sorry, not really knowledgeable about this stuff.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I've scanned for it and can't find it. Maybe I need to mount an antenna on the roof?

Yeah since you're in the abyss, you'll need one MFB antennae.
Other people are getting results with rabbit ears though if that doesn't work maybe try a Silver Sensor or clone. If you haven't read about it, it's here. After CTV, Global is coming in May, they say.

If you want an antennae, I've read that the Channel Master 4221 is recommended but check out that site from that link for antennae recommendations.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by jeep991

I just want it so I can watch some shows that I like. We only have one tv in the house and my wife always seems to pick what we watch.

So is NTSC SDTV like the digital cable channels I get from Shaw? If so, is the picture quality so bad that it would just be a waste of money to buy one of these? Sorry, not really knowledgeable about this stuff.

Picture quality would vary depending on your signal strength but if you can get a HD tuner, with the new,and coming on track HD OTA channels, your picture should be great.

[jeep991]

Thanks for your help.