CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

And HTPC lovers. Smile

You should check this out:
http://www.frys.com/product/6124759?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Frys has the ATI/AMD TV Wonder™ HD 650 Combo USB TV tuner for $29. It was store only, but now it is available online. It is OTA and QAM. I plugged it in to Comcast and got 120 channels. A lot of those are duplicates and analog. I haven't checked the OTA signal, but it should be as good as my other ATI 600. Anyway, for $30 this is a cheap HD tuner box. If for nothing else, then one can use it when cable is out or a back up PVR.

VideoGrabber · Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 933 Location: Michigan

Thanks for the heads up, Spanky, but when I go to order one, it says "In Store Only". Sad

So you got me all excited for nothing. Smile

Is this because you're located in Comedy Central, and I'm stuck here in Michigan? Wink

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

Do they have the W7MC drivers figured out to allow these cards to do QAM?

I remember reading about the Hauppauge 2250 drivers but they weren't done and working stable last I knew.

One of my trusty PVR150's went bust so I do need a new one...plus wouldn't even have to open the case..great for laptops also!

Blocked while at work, so hopefully they have some left later.

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

Hmm, sorry about that. I know it says available and I thought I read were people had bought them online. I would buy one and ship, but I am headed out to Miami either Wed or Thu. Wan is close to a Frys, so maybe you could ask him to pick one up for you. There were probably fifteen on the shelf when I went to Frys on Friday. I don't think these are moving, as people have had problems with them. It is all software related from what I can tell. I am using the Totalmedia software and I have no problems. My best friend had a problem with WMC and switched to Totalmedia and it works fine now.

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

greg,
I don't know if it works, as I am not running 7. I am still using Vista, because I am not sure if Lenovo got my upgrade request.

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

I have only flipped through them. The locals are in both HD and SD. I don't think any of the HD cable channels are unlocked. Honestly, I haven't followed the whole QAM thing. I know one guy on AVS told me last year that Comcast only gives you the locals in HD. I was actually surprised to see all of the other ones come up. For me, I really only care about the networks. There are probably only about four or five shows that I watch on cable, so being in SD doesn't really bother me. I might add that I watched Caprica (a pretty good show by the way) in HD and played it in SD on my computer. I didn't see a huge difference. I realize there are a lot of variables, but based on that I could survive with SD cable.

dvh99 · Joined: 25 Dec 2009 Posts: 2158 Location: nederland

anyone ever heard of cardsharing
its quite popular in germany
you need a receiver like the dreambox which has a linux system a pc and an internet coonection plus some software of course.
its basically sharing your paid membership with lots of people and getting payed membership card info thru internet on your receiver(dreambox).
or when you ask o0n 1 of the forums they will give u their c line and you get mayby 1000 channels for free.

stefuel · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:04 am Post subject:

I don't hate HTPC's. They suck but I don't hate them Laughing