LAPTOP TV TUNER GUIDANCE PLEASE

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Romer

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Hi,
I'm looking to get a digital TV tuner for my laptop - probably one of the USB stick types. Laptop running Vista HP 64bit.
I don't know much about these and wondered what others had experienced.

Does the picture fill the screen (17" widescreen) or is it just a small screen like youtube?

If they do fill the screen, is it at normal resolution - ie not pixelated or anything and does the picture flow correctly ie not jerky?

What are the aerials like - performance wise - they don't look as though they be particulary effective.

Can anyone recommend any or suggest any to stay away from?


Any input would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance and all the best for the New Year.

Romer
 
I've had a USB tuner for a few years and it's great with Media Centre. The aerial was rubbish but I connected it to the one on the roof and the signal is great. Image quality is amazing too, the other day I hooked the laptop up to the tv via the HDMI at 1080p to watch a recording and I swear it was better than the Sky box :thumbs:
 
Yep, i second that, as long as you hook it up to your roof aerial, IE the socket on the wall, you get great quality.

My recommendation - Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T USB. Tis an excellent bit of kit, spech as you have Windows Vista.

Use Windows Media Center, not the crap they provide, by downloading just the drivers from their site, and you'll have the Freeview equivalent of Sky+!

While youre at it, spend about £10 more and buy the dual tuner version - looks the same but a bit fatter. You should find it about £50 but it's well worth the price.
 
Okay thanks for those replies.
Looks like they're no good with the supplied aerial then. Thought that would be the case, but rather beats the idea of what the tuner's are about!

Will have to have a think on this one - don't want to buy one if the aerials are no use at all.
Wonder if there's any way (without using another socket to power a signal booster) of increasing the aerials efficiency - used to build our own CB aerials years ago when it was the "new in thing" in the UK and worked damn well they did to!

Any further input still appreciated please.

Thanks.
Romer
 
I think generally digital doesn't work so well if the aerial is indoors. The supplied areial is probably ok outside though.
 
...mine works fine with the supplied aerial...just the software is a bit flakey on Vista 32bit. I guess it depends on what sort of signal you get in your area.

Chris
 
Do you mind letting me know which type you have please Chris ?


Regards

Romer
 
Sorry Chris, that link didn't work for me for some reason.
I have a Maplins close to me so could have a look see - do you know what the model number is or any other information by any chance??

Thanks for the pointers.

Romer
 
Ah, just put my reply and have seen that the word "M a p l i n s" seems to create a link automatically - but not sure what to.
I thought you had put a link to a product description at Maplins.

Romer
 
The picture quality depends on the reception, if the signal is good enough the supplied aerial will work fine, but signal quality varies enormously from place to place and the only way to be sure is to try it.

I have an Asus one which works 'ok' with the supplied aerial but I have to reposition it for different channels. If you want it to be truly portable then you'll almost certainly have to put up with some bad channels, although there are quite good set top aerials that you can buy which could make the difference if your signal is borderline with the supplied one. Avoid any kind of amplifier or aerial with one built in.
 
Generally the supplied aerials are a waste of time unless you're in a really strong signal area. I have one which works great through the main TV aerial. I also have it on my CarPC which has a booster aerial on it and that only works in a strong signal area.

Regards David
 
Just to echo the majority of replies here, the supplied aerial with any of the usb tuners will be rubbish and shouldn't even be unwrapped. If you are in a strong signal area you will be able to use a Telecam TCE2000, they are a tenner at Argos and they are the best indoor aerial going. Forget about all the powered jobbies, they are no good for digital signals and they aren't exactly portable. :lol:

Hope that helps.
 
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