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Topic:
Tuner Cards For MCE2005
This thread has 9 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Tuesday December 13, 2005 at 19:56
stumped
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I am wondering if those of you who have MCE2005 prefer the windows version that you can order standard from the computer comapny or the ATI versions and if it is ATI what kind? (like the Wonder or the Wonder Pro, etc.)
What you should choose does not end in the here and now, but how much you want to deal with it in the futre
Post 2 made on Tuesday December 13, 2005 at 23:10
Daniel Tonks
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Sorry, not sure what you're asking... "windows version"? You mean software or hardware here?
OP | Post 3 made on Wednesday December 14, 2005 at 20:53
stumped
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The one that is Windows standard like the one your can get when you order a new PC from like dell or HP or Gateway or do you go and get an ATI tuner card is what I'm trying to say
What you should choose does not end in the here and now, but how much you want to deal with it in the futre
Post 4 made on Thursday December 15, 2005 at 06:03
Daniel Tonks
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Well, technically there is no "windows standard" TV tuner card. In fact, a MCE computer doesn't even *have* to come with a TV tuner to be called a MCE computer. But essentially all do.

Manufacturers will end up using any particular TV tuner card they want... could be an ATI or ATI-based one, could be something else. It all depends on the particular PC, but mass manufacturers like Dell, HP or Gateway aren't likely to tell you beforehand so you sort of get what you get and if you don't like it, upgrade! :-)

With that said I'm running a home-built MCE2005 PC with an ATI TV Wonder Elite, which is based on the Theater 550 Pro chipset with hardware encoding (you really do want a card with hardware encoding) and so far I'm fairly happy. I do wish the TV quality was better, but reportedly this is as good as it gets.
OP | Post 5 made on Thursday December 15, 2005 at 18:13
stumped
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So my best bet is to look for and ATI tuner card? The reason I'm asking is because I would like to be able to tune into the local HD stations because there are some shows I would like to record with my MCE2005. The only way I am getting TV now is with an analog antenna with ABC being the best picture quality but ringing in the audio background (hard to eplain but I will try. My home theater system, in the rear channels, there is a faint humming like interference in the adio maybe from the amplified antenna but I'm not sure, all I know is that it is only on the analog TV stations)
What you should choose does not end in the here and now, but how much you want to deal with it in the futre
Post 6 made on Thursday December 15, 2005 at 18:48
Daniel Tonks
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Well, HD is a totally different thing. MCE 2005 supports 2 SD cards and 2 HD cards. One card will not do both under MCE.

Sounds like you have a ground loop somewhere... which can be difficult to track down on a PC.
OP | Post 7 made on Thursday December 15, 2005 at 18:53
stumped
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Wait, Im still a little confused here. You said that you use and ATI TV Wonder Elite. I have found an ATI TV Tuner card that can record HD and SD mean NTSC and ATSC. I would like to do both and MCE2005. The only thing is where ever I find it on theweb, they say not for MCE or doesnt work well with MCE2005 or they say doesn't work good with MCE or regular Windows XP
What you should choose does not end in the here and now, but how much you want to deal with it in the futre
Post 8 made on Thursday December 15, 2005 at 19:00
Daniel Tonks
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The ATI card that does HD is the ATI HDTV Wonder, and while the card is capable of doing SD & HD, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere MCE will only allow it to install as one or the other.

So, if that's correct (I do not run the HDTV Wonder as I have no HD source near my PC) and you want both, you really need a TV Wonder Elite plus an HDTV Wonder. The bonus is you'll be able to record one HD and one SD show at the same time. I hear they can be a bit of fun to install under MCE but it does work.
Post 9 made on Sunday December 18, 2005 at 05:24
little_emmynem
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Dont go and stupidly search for TV Tuner Cards........just visit Windows MarketPlace....there u can get the best list of TV Tuner Cards compatible with Media Centre Edition 2005
Post 10 made on Monday December 19, 2005 at 15:50
MWHD
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MCE requires one analog Tuner for (SD). Therefore if you want to add a digital tuner (OTA HD), you will need at least one analog tuner.

If you are in Canada, Microsoft and ATI officially don't support OTA. Therefore, by default, MCE will not recognize the OTA card once you enter a Canadian Postal Code.

I met these guys at the a recent home show in the Toronto area. They just started a forum that is geared specifically for MCE.

http://mcehq.sensuz.com


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