Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I run the Hauppage USB 950Q Tuner on a Windows Vista 32-bit system with a high end Nvidia 9800 640MB PCI-E video card, dual core Pentium 2.8ghz processors and a Creative Xi-Fi PCI soundcard, with 3GB's of system RAM.This is well above the minimum requirements.

My primary use involves plugging in the coaxial cable line directly to the USB Tuner, in order to record certains shows a couple of times a week.

I did some basic research and read the various reviews of what was out there.My video card takes up so much space, that I didn't want to fool with squeezing a PCI card inside the case, a USB card that I could even take on the road with my lap top easily, seemed perfect.

This version comes with (at this time) the latest Hauppage drivers on the CD. It's best to install the CD apps first before plugging the USB device in.If you don't, make sure to cancel the Windows prompt to find drivers on it's own.

I also had to install the WinTV application in order for Windows Media Center to recognize the signal.I prefer to use WMC because of it's very nice guide, genre summaries of "what's on" and the speed at which it operates.I still need to fool around a bit with the aspect ratio, as I have a widescreen 24" flat panel monitor.

After the 10 minutes or so it takes to scan all of the analog cable channels, I played the live TV and the picture was grainy, choppy, and kept stuttering out.It took me a while to figure out it was a bad signal from the cable line.Keep this in mind - if your picture is snowy, having blips or a white line running through it intermittently etc..., you probably need a Cable Signal Amplifier.I got a bi-directional cable TV amplifier from Radioshack for $34 and after plugging it in the right way, the signal and picture for analog channels was noticeably improved, and I am now reasonably happy with it.Make sure your fuzzy picture is not a result of this, if you have any splitters on your line, multiple TV's and an internet modem hooked up to your cable lines, an amplifier can work wonders.I haven't seen this obvious remedy mentioned in any other reviews, so wanted to make sure I put it in here.

I also tested the included atenna, and the local, free QAM or HD channels it picked up, looked fantastic, the analog channels were too choppy but clearer than the cable picture, I didn't spend much time with the antenna though.The problem is there are very few of these HD/QAM channels available, even here in a major city where I live, and they are just versions of the local network station (which I rarely watch).Literally 4-6 of these, if that.

If the day comes where everything is broadcast in HD, this card will make the picture rather remarkable, for obvious reasons being you don't have to convert an analog signal and the resolutions match hi-res PC monitors much more closely.

WinTV is very cumbersome and slow, I notice a slightly better picture with it at this point, versus WMC, but WMC's functionality make it the preferred application.

Unfortunately I cannot find a way to easily switch back and forth between the Antenna source and Analog Cable line, without having to re-scan everything - which takes 10+ minutes for WinTV, less for WMC.I don't think there is an easy way, even with another splitter.

So, buy a cable tv amplifier, (bi-directional if you use PPV or Indemand services etc..,) make sure you have a powerful video card (more important than your CPU - but they ultimately both work together) and at least 2GB of system RAM if you're on Vista ecspecially.

This should give you adequate results and feel this is probably one of the better, more affordable, PC TV with HD/QAM options out there, and should get better with time as broadcasts move to an all-digital signal.

Of course if you have a DVR or hi-def cable box, use the S-video connection if possible, and your HD channels and other digital channels will probaby look and play even better.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black)

Product Description:
The Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder will bring high-definition television directly to your PC. This handy device lets you watch your favorite TV shows through your computer, and record them digitally for future playback using high quality MPEG-2. More economical and versatile than a DVR, or digital video recorder, this PC Video Recorder, or PVR, gives you virtually unlimited options for saving and playing back your favorite TV broadcasts and clips.
The Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder offers:

Ability to watch television on your PC in a window or full screen.
Portable, small size for on-the-go television viewing on your laptop.
Compatibility with digital and analog signals.
Acceptance of video feeds from a camera or satellite box.

The small, pocketable size lets you easily take it everywhere. View larger. Play and Record Television Digitally
The WinTV-HVR-950 is a simple-to-use device that brings over-the-air high definition ATSC digital TV as well as analog cable TV directly to your PC desktop or laptop. With the additional included antenna, it can also receive analog TV broadcasts, and it can also accept video feeds directly from a camera or satellite box.
More versatile than a DVR, the WinTV-HVR-950 is a pocket-sized device that simply plugs into your PC's USB port. It features a built-in digital ATSC over-the-air TV receiver. If you live in one of the more than 200 cities in the United States that receives ATSC digital TV, you'll have immediate access to as many as 1500 digital TV stations. ATSC digital TV is the over-the-air HDTV standard for North America. ATSC broadcasts range in resolution from standard definition up to the high definition 1080i format. (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com.)
A portable digital TV antenna, which can be used to receive digital TV up to 10 miles from an ATSC transmitter, is included with the PVR . (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com) If you live in an area where you can't currently receive ATSC digital TV, the WinTV-HVR-950 can still be used to watch and record analog TV from cable TV or a TV antenna. (The WinTV-HVR-950 cannot receive digital cable TV or digital satellite TV.) With the included credit-card-sized remote control, navigating all these channels is easy.
Watch Clear QAM Digital TV
The WinTV-HVR-950 also has a built-in QAM tuner, allowing you to watch and record QAM programming. Clear QAM digital TV channels are digital cable channels which can be watched on a TV set without a cable TV set top box. are Many cable operators transmit the local high definition ATSC channels using clear QAM.. Some cable operators transmit additional non-premium TV programs using clear QAM. With the WinTV-HVR-950, you can watch these channels for free. Clear QAM channels range from standard definition to the highest 1080i definition.
Once the WinTV-HVR-950 is connected, you can begin to record your favorite shows in high-quality MPEG-2 directly to your hard disk using the Hauppauge SoftPVR MPEG-2 encoder. Television recordings will typically consume 5 GB of disk space per hour for ATSC high definition, while analog recordings will typically consume 1.5 GB of disk space per hour. You can also use the included WinTV-Scheduler to program your compute to record your favorite analog or digital TV shows for play back at any time.
Compatibility with Microsoft's Windows Media Center means that you can watch TV as well as your recordings with Windows Media Center. The included WinTV application also lets you watch your shows in a window or on full screen.


The WinTV application offers an elegant interface to watch TV in a window or full screen. View larger. More about PVR Technology
PVR stands for PC Video Recorder. The WinTV-HVR-950 is a PVR that allows you to play television through your computer and record the broadcasts digitally. PVR doesn't use standard videocassettes; instead, it uses your computer's hard disk to store the broadcasts.
Once you record a television show to your PC's hard drive, you can burn a CD or DVD that will allow you to play the show back on another computer or on your television. With video editing software (not included with the WinTV-HVR-950), you can even edit the shows. This is a great feature if you want to save clips from movies or sitcoms, or keep your favorite player's grand slam or TD kick-off return for posterity.
And just like a typical VCR, the WinTV-HVR-950 offers you several recording options, depending on your play back needs. If you want the highest quality recording for playback through your HDTV, all you need is enough hard drive space to support high-quality recording. By using the lowest recording option, you can use your WinTV-HVR-950, along with an inexpensive video camera, as a low-cost on-site video surveillance system. In fact, the possibilities of how you can take advantage of the WinTV-HVR-950 are endless.
What's in the Box
WinTV-HVR-950 USB 2.0 TV stick with cable TV or ATSC antenna connection; USB extension cable; portable antenna; software on CD-ROM; remote control; and quick installation guide.

Get 33% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black) now ?

Mygica HDTV Thriller ATSC, QAM, NTSC, FM, HDTV PCI card for Desktop PC - PCI HD TV Tuner Card with Remote - Supports up to 1920 x 1080i Resolution Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Installed the Geniatech PCI tv tuner card into a system with Windows XP SP3 OS, core 2 duo 3 GHz CPU, and 2 GB RAM. A video card supporting Microsoft DirectX 9.0c is required. After turning on the computer, the OS recognized the new hardware, and requested CD with drivers. During driver installation, the OS warns that the software has not passed Windows Logo testing; click on "Continue Anyway" and the drivers are installed. The "Software Install" screen appears. After installation of the DirectX software, it was necessary to reboot. After the system rebooted, and Windows XP was restarting, the system hung up, showing a blank screen. Rebooted a few times with the same result. As a remedy, rebooted into "Safe Mode" by pressing and holding "F8" key during boot-up. This solved the problem. Next, installed the media center software, ArcSoft TotalMedia, included in the installation CD. The package includes a remote control requiring two AAA batteries not included in the package. It is necessary to plug-in the remote control cable with infrared sensor at the other end of the cable to allow line-of-sight remote control. Next, the remote control would not work; after testing the batteries to make sure they were good, turned to the installation CD to locate the infrared sensor driver, and installed it by clicking on the setup icon. An indoor digital antenna was attached to the tv tuner card BNC input and with the TotalMedia software, scanned the available channels, it worked, but an outdoor antenna would pick up more channels. Next, attached an "analog Cable" to test the QAM tuner; after a channel scan, got considerably more channels. The ArcSoft TotalMedia software works great, it allows recording to the current user's My Documents/My Videos folder. It is not possible to record one channel and view another channel at the same time. Video recordings are "software" encoded to mpeg; ergo a Pentium 4 2.4 GHz CPU or higher is required. The package includes an FM antenna, and the software includes a "Radio" FM digital tuner, which allows for listening and recording from the tv tuner card. The installation is not for a novice; but in my system the tv tuner card with ancillary software, works great.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mygica HDTV Thriller ATSC, QAM, NTSC, FM, HDTV PCI card for Desktop PC - PCI HD TV Tuner Card with Remote - Supports up to 1920 x 1080i Resolution

Product Description:
X8350A is the ultimate PC TV tuner which supports both digital cable (Clear QAM) and free-to-air HDTV with the built-in dual tuners. You can enjoy the crystal clear HDTV with resolution up to 1920 × 1080i. With its bundled player software Total Media by Arcsoft, your viewing experience is like a breeze. The player software also offers personal video recorder, picture viewer, music and DVD player capabilities. A fully functioning remote control is also included.

Highlights:
* Support both digital cable and OTA HDTV
* Let your LCD monitor do its second duty by displaying crystal clear HD pictures for you.
* The bundled software and the card also act as a PVR; you can record your favorite shows for later viewing.
* Listen to FM radio.
* Support video capturing for external video signals.
* Bottom-line, a big return for a little investment

Features:
* Watch digital cable HDTV on PC (QAM)
* Supports HDTV for ATSC over antenna(US/Canada/Mexico format)
* Supports up to 1920x1080i(HDTV)
* Supports NTSC/FM Radio
* Very easy to use interface (Arcsoft's Total Media)
* Support Electronic Program Guide(EPG)
* Fully functioning remote control
* Scheduled recording of your favorite show for later viewing
* Support still image capture in BMP or JPEG format
* Support multiple inputs (RCA and S-Video) for capturing external videos in DVD format (MPEG)

Specifications:
* Interface: PCI
* Digital TV Tuner: 75 Ohm (UHF/VHF) TV Antenna
* Video: -S-Video Input: 4-pin Mini-Din -- Composite input: RCA jack
* TV system Frequency: -54MHz-806MHz
* IR:Infrared Remote Control
* Dimension: 15×8 cm

Want to read more honest consumer review about Mygica HDTV Thriller ATSC, QAM, NTSC, FM, HDTV PCI card for Desktop PC - PCI HD TV Tuner Card with Remote - Supports up to 1920 x 1080i Resolution now ?

Toshiba DR560 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a review of the Toshiba DR560 Upconverting DVD Recorder with built in high def tuner.

BACKGROUND:
I bought this unit to handle a few needs with one piece of hardware:
1. I wanted a high def tuner for my tuner-less Sharp Aquos 26" LCD TV (purchased in 2007 before the new rule requiring tuners in TVs!)
2. I wanted to be able to take old analog home movie footage and transfer it directly to DVD with no editing.My old VHS tapes were approaching their shelf life limit.
3. I wanted to upconvert standard 480 resolution DVDs to make them look better on the Sharp TV.

SETUP:
The setup of the device was simple.I hate the fact that manufacturers still don't include HDMI cables with hardware that costs this much.So I grumbled for a minute and then purchased an HDMI cable for it (don't get me started on how most electronics stores charge an obscene price for digital cables!I bought one at a large discount retailer).All I had to do was connect the HDMI-out from the Toshiba to the HDMI-in on my high def Sharp.That's it.No audio plugs needed.I like having just a one wire connection.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
For the remote control I don't have many complaints.It does not appear to be capable of controlling my TV - I didn't see anything in the guide about programming other devices.Someone please comment and correct me if I'm wrong on that.The keys are not lighted.

When I first started the player I went through the simple setup prompts.The instructions said I might need to hit the HDMI button on the remote to match up to the display of my TV, but it automatically selected 1080 for me.(there are lighted 480, 720, and 1080 indicators on the player itself, so you can tell what mode it is in)If you are not connected via HDMI then these lights don't function.I initially tried a component video connection and noticed that the resolution selection was not available.

When I first opened the DVD tray I thought I had activated a paper shredder!It is the loudest, oldest sounding motor noise I have ever heard from a DVD player.To me it sounds like it is straining just to open the tray.I hope that holds up long term.

I found the disk read and startup time to be a little long.

SPECIFIC IMPRESSIONS:

UPCONVERTING DVD PLAYER:
I put in a DVD - "Star Wars Attack of the Clones" - to test the upconverting video quality.I was immediately concerned with how loud the motor was in spinning up the DVD.But my worry went away once I hit "play".Once you start playing the movie the motor noise goes away and is very quiet.

To test the upconverting quality I played a scene from the movie on the DVD player, and then switched over and played the same scene on an Xbox 360 connected to the same TV via a component video connection.To my untrained eye the upconverted picture was brighter and had a slightly higher level of detail.So I was satisfied with it.

DVD RECORDER:
I have only used DVD-R recording media.Once I try a DVD+-RW disk I will update this review.But using the DVD-R was very user friendly.You pop in a blank DVD-R disk and the machine has it ready to go in a few seconds.No interaction needed.

I then hooked up a VCR using the RCA video and audio ports (the recorder included RCA and S video cables).There's one set of inputs on the back and one on the front.I used the back ones because it was just as convenient for me.

Before recording I went into the DVD recording options menu and selected it to do automatic 5 minute chapter breaks.

All I had to do what hit play on my VCR and hit record on the DVD recorder.A little red disk of light displays on the panel so that you know it's recording.Going from memory I believe the recording quality options were 1 hour, 2, 4, 6, and 8.

I was able to record successfully from both VHS and a HI-8 Camcorder feeds (both using the RCA jacks).

Once the tape finished I hit stop on the recorder, and it finished writing the recording very quickly (less than one minute for 2 hours of recording).I then had the option to edit the title that appears on the menu, which is not the most intuitive process using the remote control.I had also expected it to create a DVD menu with chapters for every 5 minute break, but it only had one menu selection.When playing back the disk it did skip 5 minutes every time I hit the Chapter+ button.

As a final step I "finalized" the DVD to make it able to play on other DVD players.I tested the disks on a circa 1997 Sony DVD player, and also a 2005 Toshiba.DVDs that I created from VHS played fine on both players, but the DVD I recorded from the Hi-8 tape source would not play correctly on the 1996 DVD player.It played fine on the 2005 player.I still need to test more Hi-8 recordings to see it that was an isolated problem or not.

UPDATE 05/30/08: I think it's just my 1997 Sony DVD player that just can't handle DVD-R media very well.After replaying VHS source and HI-8 source videos, they are both hit or miss as to whether they play correctly.I don't think this will be an issue for most people with newer DVD players.

I still need to test recording from a mini-DV digital source.

HIGH DEF TV TUNER:
I have a large UHF antenna mounted in my attic receiving local HD quality broadcasts (see my other reviews for that).I ran a coaxial cable from that antenna down to the DVD recorder and connected it to the antenna-in port.Then using the same HDMI-out feed to the TV I was able to tune in and watch local digital broadcast stations.I watched the season finale of American Idol on it (David vs David), and the picture quality was excellent.Changing channels does take about 2 seconds, as another reviewer said.That is a little slow, but I am willing to put up with slow channel changing for free high def!

Overall I would rate this DVD Recorder 4 of 5 stars.It certainly does serve the three needs I outlined at the start of this review.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba DR560 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner

Product Description:
DVD Recorder with 1080p Upconversion with Built-in Digital Tuner

Want to read more honest consumer review about Toshiba DR560 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner now ?

Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE 2-Tuner PCI-Based Digital Video Recorder (NTSC) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's great qualtity for the price. I had an EVGA dual tuner TV card prior to buying this one. The 500 MCE gives you a better picture and more connectivity. The colors are vibrant and the decoding is excellent. The only short coming is that MPEG decoder software is not included in the package and you'll have to purchase your own.

Word of wisdom: If your picture is choppy check if your hard drive speed is up to par. I wasted almost a week; formating my hard drive 3 times, replaced my tuner card twice and swapped my CPU. I was about to buy a new mother board before I realised my hard drive was the problem. I Bought a new SATA drive and it was smoooooooth sailing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE 2-Tuner PCI-Based Digital Video Recorder (NTSC)

Product Description:
Watch one and record another TV channel on your PC with the dual tuner WinTV-PVR 500 MCE. Yes the WinTV-PVR 500 MCE has 2 tuners on board to optimize MCE 2005.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE 2-Tuner PCI-Based Digital Video Recorder (NTSC) now ?

USB ATSC/QAM Digital Cable HDTV Tuner For Laptop and Desktop/Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)USB ATSC/QAM Digital Cable HDTV Tuner For Laptop and Desktop/Digital Video Recorder

Good idea with this product, decent design, the software is really slow and could use some work (computer is brand new and does everything else very fast) the remote that came with it does not work at all, but you can use the on-screen buttons just as easily. The antenna that comes with it seems to work ok but i tried a larger self powered antenna on it and all i got was static on every tv station, havent tried the cable settings yet, the FM radio works, just be sure you close the program out completely before unplugging this unit from the USB port, or it will cause ur system to crash about 1/4 of the time and freeze up the other 3/4 of the time.. all in all, i will continue to use it until it no longer works but i wont buy another one or recomend it to friends

Click Here to see more reviews about: USB ATSC/QAM Digital Cable HDTV Tuner For Laptop and Desktop/Digital Video Recorder

Product Description:
U6012A is the latest generation hybrid USB HDTV tuner for your laptop and PC. It integrates multiple tuners supporting following: Digital Cable (Clear QAM), ATSC free-over-air HDTV, traditional NTSC TV, and digital FM radio. You can enjoy the crystal clear HDTV with resolution up to 1920 × 1080i. With its bundled player software Total Media from Arcsoft, your viewing experience is like a breeze. The player software also offers personal video recorder, picture viewer, music and DVD player capabilities. A fully functioning remote control is also supported. Features: * Supports HDTV for ATSC (US/Canada/Mexico format), Analog TV for NTSC * Watch free Digital HDTV on PC * Supports up to 1920x1080i(HDTV) * Supports FM Radio * Very easy to use interface (Arcsoft's Total Media) * Support Electronic Program Guide(EPG) * Fully functioning remote control * Scheduled recording of your favorite show for later viewing * Support still image capture in BMP or JPEG format * Support multiple inputs (RCA and S-Video) for capturing external videos in DVD format (MPEG)Specifications:Input : 75 Ohm PAL-NTSC ConnectorClear QAM TunerFully ATSC 8VSB CompliantInput Signal Level (Channel power) : 0 to -75dBm 0 to -75dBmTuner Input Frequency Range: 48.25-863.25 MhzFM: 88 - 108MHzExternal Connectors: PAL-NTSC F Type FemaleIF Frequency: 44MHzSystem Requirements:Microsoft Windows XP/VistaP4 2.4 GHz and above, or AMD equivalent512MB RAM or aboveVideo card 128MB for HDTV and 64MB for SDTVUSB 2.0 CompatibleMicrosoft Direct X9.0 or aboveMicrosoft media Player 9.0 or aboveUHF/VHF Antenna for ATSC Terrestrial TV (A small bonus indoor antenna is included for strong signals) orCable TV for Clear QAM HDTV/NTSC broadcastingPackage Contents:Geniatech U6012AInfrared Remote Control Mini RF to F connector converterMini AntennaMultifunction CableSoftware CD (Driver and Total Media 3.5)* One year standard manufacturer warranty.

Want to read more honest consumer review about USB ATSC/QAM Digital Cable HDTV Tuner For Laptop and Desktop/Digital Video Recorder now ?

Hauppauge 1340 MediaMVP-HD Digital Media Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had a Hauppage HD PVR for about a year now, and I've been recording my HD TV programs (I have a library of TrueBlood, Lost and Heroes) from my Fios box and burning them onto a CD for playback on my Blu-ray player in my living room. But I've wanted to just simply play the recordings back to my HD TV in the living room instead of going through the "record/burn" steps.
So I picked up one of the MediaMVP-HD's. It basically did just what I wanted.
I hooked up the MVP up to my HD TV set in the living room (I used HDMI to connect to my Samsung "B" series LCD TV). I have an ethernet connection in my living room, so the connection for me was pretty simple. I then scanned my network and found both my PC where the HD PVR is connected and also my laptop computer. In about 5 minutes I was able to play the HD PVR recordings from my PC to the HD TV set.
I like the fast skip buttons (you hit 0 to 9 on the remote control to go to different spots in your recording) and I like being able to adjust the volume from the MVP remote control.
The video quality on my Samsung is incredible, I guess due to the HD PVR recordings but also (I assume) to the HDMI output on the MVP.
Wireless would be nice to have on the MVP, though I didn't need this on my TV set in the living room. I have another HD TV in the bedroom which does not have an ethernet cable, so I'd need wireless there.
Also, I liked the front panel USB port on the MVP, where I've been plugging in my digital pictures which I keep stored on my thumb drive.
In my opinion, if you have an HD PVR, you need to get a MVP so you can avoid burning blu-ray disks when you want to play your HD PVR recordings onto your HD TV set.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge 1340 MediaMVP-HD Digital Media Player

Product Description:
The Hauppauge MediaMVP-HD makes it easy to enjoy your favorite digital videos, music, and photos, at up to 1080p resolution, on your HDTV. The MediaMVP-HD plays digital content from a Windows PC or a USB drive. When connected to a PC, the MediaMVP-HD uses your existing local area network (wired) connection to play videos, music, and display digital pictures on your HDTV.In both cases, you can enjoy digital video recordings, photo slideshows, plus your MP3 music collection--all through the high-definition picture and superior sound of your home television. And for the ultimate, customized home media system network,you can connect up to 12 MediaMVP-HDs, each to a separate TV set, giving you practically unlimited play and record options.
MediaMVP-HD
Digital Media Player
At a Glance:

Get 25% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Hauppauge 1340 MediaMVP-HD Digital Media Player now ?

ATSC NTSC Hybrid HDTV PCI TV Tuner /Digital Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ordered this on March 20th, arrived the following Monday (23rd) with expedited shipping.The product works very nicely with Windows 7 x64 beta.

I'm a bit more familiar with Windows Media Center so I generally use it instead of what software was included.The included software works fine too, no hiccups at all with the Windows beta.

I purchased this to replace my analog only tuner card that came included with my HP Media Center PC.I'm glad I did.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ATSC NTSC Hybrid HDTV PCI TV Tuner /Digital Video Recorder

Product Description:
X8000A uses the latest TV decoding chip from Silicon Valley. It supports both free-to-air HDTV and traditional NTSC TV signal decoding with the built-in dual tuners. You will enjoy crystal clear HDTV with resolution up to 1920 × 1080i. With its professional grade playing software TotalMedia by Arcsoft, your viewing experience is like a breeze. Combined with the card, TotalMedia also functions as a personal/digital video recorder (PVR/DVR), picture viewer, music and DVD player, and more. A fully functioning remote control is also supported. Detailed Feature List * Supports HDTV for ATSC (US/Canada/Mexico format), Analog TV for NTSC * Watch free Digital HDTV on PC * Supports up to 1920x1080i(HDTV) resolution * Very easy to use graphics interface * Supports Electronic Program Guide(EPG) * Fully functioning remote control * Schedule recording of your favorite show for later viewing * Time Shifting * Captures home and other videos and burning them into DVD/SVCD/VCD, supports TV, AV, and S video inputSpecifications*Interface: PCI *Digital TV Tuner: 75 Ohm (UHF/VHF) TV Antenna *Analog TV Tuner.75 Ohm (UHF/VHF) TV Antenna*Video: -S-Video Input: 4-pin Mini-Din -Composite input: RCA jack* TV system*Frequency: -55.25MHz-855.25MHz(NTSC)*69 terrestrial digital channels (ATSC)*IR: Infrared Remote ControlSystem Requirements *Intel P4, Celeron, AMD Atholon or compatible, operating at 2.4GHz or greater *256MB of system memory or above*Available PCI slot for GENIATECH HDTV Thriller X8000A card*Graphics card with 128MB or greater of frame buffer and with Microsoft DirectX 9.0 support*Installation software requires CD-ROM drive *Sound card and speakers. *Antenna (indoor type is sufficient in most cases) Package Contents *Geniatech X8000A PCI HDTV tuner card *Infrared Remote Control*Mini RF to F connector converter*Multifunction cable*Quick Installation Guide*Software CD Warranty:*One year standard manufacturer warranty.

Want to read more honest consumer review about ATSC NTSC Hybrid HDTV PCI TV Tuner /Digital Video Recorder now ?

LG DR787T DVD±RW Recorder w/Built-in Digital TV (DTV) Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Purchased unit June 2007 from best buy.

Returned Unit May 2008 would not read disks or play movies
LG paid for shipping and parts I paid $69.00 for labor

Called again Nov 2008 (Unit now out of warranty)
Unit still does not play movies or recognize blank disks
LG will send label I will pay $69.00 again they will repair.

Called again Oct 2009 (Unit still out of warranty)
Unit will not play or recognize blank disks, will not format.
Called talked to tech. transferred me to a supervisor.
They are telling me that I have to fax him the original receipt fax
and they will pay the parts again and I will have to send them $69.00 again, for labor. I don't think so. I chould have got a new one buy this time. Do not buy lg recorders. they do not stand behind their products.

Click Here to see more reviews about: LG DR787T DVD±RW Recorder w/Built-in Digital TV (DTV) Tuner

Product Description:
Super! This LG DR787T Super Multi DVD Recorder is a digital tuner Super Multi DVD Recorder that can both record and play back a wide variety of entertainment formats. Key features include ATSC/NTSC/QAM Clear Tuner, Super Multi Format Recording, 1080i Upconversion via HDMI Output, and XP/SP/LP/EP/Auto digital recording modes. The LG DR787T features a USB Media Host so you can experience your digital music and photo library. There are plenty of connections for hooking up those essential entertainment devices!Retail-box

Want to read more honest consumer review about LG DR787T DVD±RW Recorder w/Built-in Digital TV (DTV) Tuner now ?

Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)June posting

ok I would have given this 5 stars but this comes with current problem with it, this has optical in for 5.1DD recording at this time hauppuage can not get this to work so you are stuck with PCM 2.0 or audio from the analog imputs, now to the rest, it records video at 1920x1080 at same or near Blu ray discs, you have a choice of bitrate constant from 1 to 13.5 Kb or on variable all the way up to 20.2, this records in the same codeec (AVCHD) as blu ray and HD DVD discs, it will take any component imput, I have mine through my receiver where my Dishnet PVR HD, PS3, HD DVD and Oppo DVD player runs through, just for test purposes I tried all my devices and what I test recorded from dishnet, blu ray, DVD and HD DVD the test disc looked no different than the original source, once you capture your source you can then edit or add chapters then you get to add a real cheapo menu and then put in what disc you need to burn either a DVD-R or a dual layer DVD Disc, it takes about 10 minutes to author your recording to Blu ray standard and burn on your normal DVD as a true Blu ray playable Disc, beware once you burn your DVD as a blu ray playback DVD you will not be able to read it in your computer again unless you have a Blu ray Rom or Blu Ray Burner, once and if Hauppuage ever gets the 5.1 DD fixed this could be the killer to blu ray Discs, hauppuage claims by next driver release they will include the 5.1 fix. Beware this is Xp service pack 2 or Vista operating system only, also you must have a fast computer to use this device and its programs, I have a dual core 3.4 gig Intel, 2gigs of ram, 2 - 500 sata HDD and had to buy a nvidia 7600 512 meg video card to get this up to speed and at the fastest bitrate 13,500 I cant do anything else on the computer, but this is the problem with Hi def, its power hungry, now I can finally put my hi def movies of all 6 star wars and 3 lord of the rings on DVD for 1080i blu ray playback, you can also convert the finished files over to movie factory 6 to burn on a normal DVD for HD DVD playback also.

August update...
Ok been doing alot of capturing, have made 40 dual layer DVDs for blu ray playback and 10 dual layers for HD DVD playback. the video qua;ity is great if you keep it above 7.8 bitrate, only major drawback is no 5.1DD audio, I am now Beta tesing the 5.1DD audio driver right now, wow this makes a huge difference with the sound. Problems still, wont work with the arch software yet, sync problems, but works with TSmuxer. There seems to be heat related issues with some boxes, mine stays on 7, 10, 15 hours at a time never gets overly warm and never locks up. I have done well over 100 captures with this device. Having an Lg blu ray burner and blanks getting below $8 each, this might be the future for capturing and buring HD content at the PVR's full 13.2 to 20.0 bitrate in the future. If hauppauge can just tweak this 5.1DD driver a bit more I think this will be a great little device.

October update,
I am now a beta tester for hauppauge and I finally got 5.1DD drivers and TME software that works, so now I got a card that finally works capturing movies the way I wanted it to, 5.1DD and can also edit with the software and no more sync issues, burn to dual layers DVD's or $4 blu ray discs.

December Update
Ok Hauppauge support finally has Drivers and software out for general public that makes this device work properly. you can capture 1080i from any component ouput using the 5.1DD and you get a great captured TS or M2TS file ready to burn to a blu ray or dual layer DVD with or without menu. since october I have captured and burned over 50 movies onto disc in 5.1DD and they look great, the ones from the 1080p sources look really great. Now I manually record all my movies, so I do not know how this works with a timer or sageTV.Feb Posting

some here wanted me to post to let you know of known problems with this anddishnet, I find there is no exact problems per say with the PVR1212 and Dishnet, you should know that sometimes when you use this device with the dishnet you get out of sync problems and digital tears in the picture, most, if no all is the blame of dishnet or most likey the channel the show is broadcast from.Example: I have tried 7-8 times to capture and recordSpaceballs from MGM HD channel every time its out of sync and every time its being played out of sync on MGM HD over dishnet before I even capture it. Please keep in mind when using this device, HD content is never perfect and they "big hollywood" does not want you to capture and record their programs. So dont be surprised if "they" are always trying anything to foil you capturing a Hi Def Digital program, be it dish, cable, PS3 or HD-DVD. so far I have captured and burned onto dual layer DVD's130 movies from all such sources all coming out perfect, be it analog, 2DD or 5.1DD audio. yeah where else can you watch on a disc, star wars, lord of the rings, batman, star trek movies in hi def, way to go hauppauge. :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder

Product Description:
The Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder is the world's first high-definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i. With the HD-PVR, you can schedule and automatically record your favorite shows in high definition directly from cable TV and satellite set top boxes. As an added feature, the HD-PVR also includes S-Video inputs so you can convert all your old home video tapes into Blu-ray DVD recordings.


This personal video recorder makes real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i. View larger.
View front connections

Plug your VCR directly into the 1212 HD-PVR and record old home video tapes into AVCHD format. View larger.
View rear connections The Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder offers:

Recording direct from cable TV and satellite with quality up to 1080i.
AVCHD format for burning Blu-ray DVD discs.
Standard definition composite and S-Video inputs.

High-Definition Quality Recordings on Your Schedule
At long last, a personal video recorder, or PVR, that offers high quality recordings of high-definition television shows. Now you can start building a personal archive of your favorite high definition TV programs without losing the broadcast quality.
At the heart of the HD-PVR is an H.264 high-definition encoder that's built-in for high-performance, high-quality TV recordings at up to 1080i resolution, 720p or VGA/D1. The box includes a component video input for use with most high-definition cable TV and satellite TV receivers, as well as optical or stereo audio inputs. (Audio is recorded using AAC of Dolby Digital.)
The HD-PVR records in the AVCHD format, which can be used to burn Blu-ray DVD discs. Two hours of high-definition recordings, recorded at 5 Mbits/sec, can be burnt onto a standard 4.7 GB DVD-R or DVD-RW disk for playback on any Blu-ray DVD player. (You have the option of recording at datarates from 1 Mbs to 13.5Mbs, constant and variable bit rate.)
The recorder also includes Hauppage's WinTV scheduler that lets you schedule your TV recordings, and a built-in IR blaster that automatically changes TV channels for your scheduled recordings. The included remote control lets you change the stations in your set-up box. And for even greater convenience and performance, the HD-PVR features an audio / video component video loop so you can record and watch your television at the same time.
Convert Your Home Videos to Blu-ray DVDs
If you've been wondering what to do with all your home videos, the HD-PVR has the answer. Thanks to the included standard definition composite and S-Video inputs, you can plug your VCR directly into the box and record your old home video tapes into an AVCHD format, which you can then burn onto a DVD for playback on your Blu-ray DVD player.
Also included with the HD-PVR is Arcsoft's "TotalMedia Theater," a video player that lets you play back your TV recordings to your PC screen, and "MediaConverter" to convert your H.264 HD recordings onto other formats.
The HD-PVR measures a scant 7.8 x 6.8 x 2.8 inches, so it will fit snugly in your home theater set up.

What's in the Box
HD-PVR, remote control (with batteries), IR Blaster transmitter cable, component video cable set, audio cable set, USB cable, and 5V power supply. Also includes the following bundled software applications: Arcsoft "TotalMediaExtreme"; Arcsoft "TotalMedia Theater," Arcsoft "MediaConverter," and Hauppauge WinTV Scheduler.

Get 13% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR High Definition Personal Video Recorder now ?

MAGNAVOX H2160MW9 HDD and DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)TIP: read the "original review", then SEE the update history at bottom
** 05/05/2010 UPDATE newly released firmware update to correct the E19 error
** 11/10/2009 UPDATE: "workaround" for the known "Finalize disc bug fix")
** 9/25/2009 UPDATE regarding my defective unit)
--------------------------- MY ORIGINAL REVIEW ---------------------------
The Magnavox H2160MW9 is is a mixed bag of fantastic abilities and a few disappointing failures rolled into one product. My 4-star rating is very generous, considering the negatives.

If you've invested time doing research on HDD recorders, then you know how limited the choices are. With further research, you'll find that the problems I'm having are not isolated incidents. Google the model number and you'll see.

FAILURES:
*** DVD player does not - will not play DVD discs: --> see the UPDATE 9/25/2009 <--
I tried 14 discs - 2 from Blockbuster, 2 from Netflix, 4 store bought, and 6 created on my computer.
Most discs are not recognized and will not load. Magnavox will say "no disc". Some will play up to 30 seconds. The record breaker for me - Star Trek Generations, played for 4 minutes before crashing.

*** If you plan on recording or dubbing to DVD disc, there is a known bug; the DVD recorder cannot FINALIZE a disc IF you have ANY upcoming recordings pending in your "LIST". (like a repeating Thursday favorite weekly program) The Magnavox will give you an "E19" error message. This is NOT a problem until you want to play the recorded disc on a different player, such as a computer or a DVD player at a friends house. This problem can be solved by deleting ALL of your pending upcoming recordings ... OR ... if FUNAI, the actual manufacturer of this product ever decides to create a firmware patch, which so far is not likely even though they are aware of the problems. (the older Magnavox models worked fine)
---> SEE the UPDATE 11/10/2009: an easy workaround fix <---

*** Only records one program at a time and NO, you cannot watch a DVD disc movie while it's already recording - even if it's recording in HDD mode (but you CAN WATCH an already recorded program in your saved "LIST" while Magnavox is recording the current aired program). NOTE: for maximum viewing flexibility: connect your ANTENNA CABLE to the INPUT jack of the Magnavox - then connect a 2nd CABLE from the OUTPUT jack of the Magnavox TO the TV INPUT. Now use the TV remote "SOURCE" button to switch between the Magnavox or your TV tuner. In a nutshell, this gives you the ability to use your TV and/or other devices connected to the TV (PS2, Wii, Blu-ray, etc) while the Magnavox is busy recording shows.

FANTASTIC:
*** This model does a flawless job of recording upcoming shows AND will even WARN a family member if they attempt to change the channel while a recording is in progress or upcoming within the next hour.
*** You too can now pause live TV! Imagine being able to go to the bathroom, answer the door, make a call, turn the oven down, all without missing one second of your favorite program.
*** Fire your cable or dish company! No more monthly bills if you're satisfied with your available off-air local channels - absolutely FREE by installing an off-air antenna. (that old antenna on the roof will actually work)
*** Who needs the DVD recorder? Even though it's able to record to a blank DVD disc, why bother when you have a built-in HDD! You'll agree after owning this machine for a while. However... and on the plus side, you can dub from HDD to DVD - to save a copy of a favorite HDD recording. (and send this disc to a friend if you can deal with the "finalize problem")

In summary, this Magnavox is a bit of a mess but there's a lot to like. I ordered a replacement and maybe that DVD player will actually work. The way I see it, I would keep this Magnavox just for its HDD recording ability - EVEN IF it had zero DVD functionality. I'd simply buy and connect an LG Blu-ray disc player. Blame it on China if you wish.

Good luck,
Jeff

---------------------------- UPDATE HISTORY -----------------------------------

~~> UPDATE 9/25/2009:
I'm happy to report that Walmart quickly sent me a 2nd replacement Magnavox which does play EVERY single DVD disc I've tried. (Amazon was out of stock)

I must mention that I'm a loyal Amazon fan, with over 250 orders in 12 months, but Walmart was also very gracious and made it easy to return my defective product (drop it off at any store, including online orders) PLUS they even refunded my $25 one-day shipping cost for the 1st unit! (they don't cross-ship; you buy a 2nd unit, wait for delivery, and return the 1st unit within 30 days)(same as Amazon policy)

~~> UPDATE 11/10/2009 BUG FIX!!! (finalize disc bug workaround) Thanks to Wajo from AVS Forum!!!
In order to finalize a disc WITHOUT deleting all of your upcoming program timers:
1) - Press the SOURCE button on the remote and choose "L3 (DV) input"
2) - Insert the disc, go to the "Disc Edit Menu" and choose FINALIZE.
------- Notes -------
*** It is NOT necessary to delete your upcoming timer programs with this workaround.
*** Do not finalize a disc IF you have an upcoming program to record within the next hour.
- OPTIONS: wait until later OR change/set the clock forward 1 or 2 hours but RISK losing an upcoming recording
*** You can also FORMAT and ERASE RW discs while on INPUT L3.
(tune to L3 BEFORE inserting the disc - it starts automatically)
*** You can DUB several recordings onto 1 disc - depending on the quality/size of recording.
*** Funai recommends using DVD+R or DVD+RW discs rather than DVD-R or DVD-RW

~~> UPDATE 5/5/2010 FIRMWARE UPDATE RELEASED!
Thanks to "ieee488" for discovering the recent firmware update information.
Funai Statement:
"For problems finalizing the disc while a timer recording is intact. (error code E19). This firmware update is for model number H2160MW9A only. If you attempt to upgrade another model or model number of Magnavox DVD recorder, the firmware disk will be ejected. **Please follow the instructions carefully. A failed update may result in voiding the manufacturers warranty."
---------------------------------
DIRECT DOWNLOAD "Instructions" file, READ before installing the firmware update:
- find this file link in my May 21, 2010 post (click "Comments" - bottom right)
DIRECT DOWNLOAD "Firmware" file:
- find this file link in my May 21, 2010 post (click "Comments" - bottom right)
(I had file hyperlinks here but Amazon removed them - they ARE in my post though)

ATTENTION --> I have NOT tested this firmware update. Proceed at your own risk!

Click Here to see more reviews about: MAGNAVOX H2160MW9 HDD and DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner, Black

Product Description:
HDD and DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner

Want to read more honest consumer review about MAGNAVOX H2160MW9 HDD and DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner, Black now ?