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nicksteel · 09-17-2006, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by feldon30:

It's too bad there's still so much mystery about getting HDTV tuners for PCs. It could be really easy if they tried.

Almost all the shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, WB, and whatever became of the UPN stations from 7pm-11pm are HDTV.

You can get an HDTV tuner for your PC for $99 *if* you have an ATI card with MPEG-2 decoder (most do) or a fast enough processor to do software decoding. Alternately you can get an HDTV tuner with on-board decoder for about $189. Add component video out (to drive an HDTV) for another $60-80 either as a daughter card or built in depending on model. There are several models out there.

I'd love to just get the $99 one but I don't want an ATI video card because of the free bonus feature it comes with: ATI Driver Nightmare Platinum Edition.

I have used a ATI OTA HDTV Wonder for some months now with no problems running with MCE. I use "Kram" drivers that allow me to run without an additonal tuner board. Lots of Houston stations, easy editing with VideoReDo. Think I paid 99 on ebay, it was some time ago. Picture and sound quality are great. I only use on monitor and have no HDTV out card yet - nor HDTV to out to!

09-17-2006, 10:09 AM	#30
nicksteel Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Mississippi (and no, I don't watch FOX!) Posts: 244	Originally posted by feldon30: It's too bad there's still so much mystery about getting HDTV tuners for PCs. It could be really easy if they tried. Almost all the shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, WB, and whatever became of the UPN stations from 7pm-11pm are HDTV. You can get an HDTV tuner for your PC for $99 if you have an ATI card with MPEG-2 decoder (most do) or a fast enough processor to do software decoding. Alternately you can get an HDTV tuner with on-board decoder for about $189. Add component video out (to drive an HDTV) for another $60-80 either as a daughter card or built in depending on model. There are several models out there. I'd love to just get the $99 one but I don't want an ATI video card because of the free bonus feature it comes with: ATI Driver Nightmare Platinum Edition. I have used a ATI OTA HDTV Wonder for some months now with no problems running with MCE. I use "Kram" drivers that allow me to run without an additonal tuner board. Lots of Houston stations, easy editing with VideoReDo. Think I paid 99 on ebay, it was some time ago. Picture and sound quality are great. I only use on monitor and have no HDTV out card yet - nor HDTV to out to!