Vista - [off topic] TV card advice needed (UK)

As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I want to
get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV card.
The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.

I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital signals
(will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some time in the
future in the UK)

So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/ comments
or links to products that would suite my needs.

Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.

NIK

Don't forget you will be subject to TV licence.

"nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
> As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I want
> to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV card.
> The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
>
> I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
> signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
> time in the future in the UK)
>
> So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
> comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
>
> Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
>
> NIK

I would sort that problem when it arose ;-)

NIK

"SpeedKing" <speedking@ntl.com> wrote in message
news:61333227-4E06-4FF3-B803-405B332210BC@microsoft.com...
> Don't forget you will be subject to TV licence.
>
> "nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
>> As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I want
>> to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV card.
>> The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
>>
>> I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
>> signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
>> time in the future in the UK)
>>
>> So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
>> comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
>>
>> Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
>>
>> NIK
>

Quality picture wise on a pc using a TV tuner card is not that good.
Plus you need good signal strength.

"nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:65973CB8-6C85-4C6A-9502-19311E7D05E2@microsoft.com...
>I would sort that problem when it arose ;-)
>
> NIK
>
> "SpeedKing" <speedking@ntl.com> wrote in message
> news:61333227-4E06-4FF3-B803-405B332210BC@microsoft.com...
>> Don't forget you will be subject to TV licence.
>>
>> "nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
>> news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
>>> As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I
>>> want to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV
>>> card.
>>> The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
>>>
>>> I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
>>> signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
>>> time in the future in the UK)
>>>
>>> So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
>>> comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
>>>
>>> Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
>>>
>>> NIK
>>
>

Try Overclockers.............
www.overclockers.co.uk

"nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:65973CB8-6C85-4C6A-9502-19311E7D05E2@microsoft.com...
>I would sort that problem when it arose ;-)
>
> NIK
>
> "SpeedKing" <speedking@ntl.com> wrote in message
> news:61333227-4E06-4FF3-B803-405B332210BC@microsoft.com...
>> Don't forget you will be subject to TV licence.
>>
>> "nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
>> news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
>>> As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I
>>> want to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV
>>> card.
>>> The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
>>>
>>> I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
>>> signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
>>> time in the future in the UK)
>>>
>>> So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
>>> comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
>>>
>>> Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
>>>
>>> NIK
>>
>

When you say that the analogue signals get switched off do you mean the air
(antennae) broadcast signals?
It will be a number of years yet before the quantity of channels that are
broadcast with cable could be broadcast as digital content because the
amount of data would be huge, requiring optical fiber directly to the home.
I am subscribed to 68 channels of analog TV, and there are many more offered
by my cable TV provider. I don't see analog disappearing any time soon.


"nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
> As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I want
> to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV card.
> The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
>
> I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
> signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
> time in the future in the UK)
>
> So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
> comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
>
> Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
>
> NIK

The quality will depend on what TV tuner card you get. Since the only ones
that work with Media Center have built in hardware decoding, the quality is
as good as any TV set can display as far as I can tell.

"Nero" <nero@rome.it> wrote in message
news:O4vTl7pBHHA.4024@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Quality picture wise on a pc using a TV tuner card is not that good.
> Plus you need good signal strength.
>
> "nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:65973CB8-6C85-4C6A-9502-19311E7D05E2@microsoft.com...
>>I would sort that problem when it arose ;-)
>>
>> NIK
>>
>> "SpeedKing" <speedking@ntl.com> wrote in message
>> news:61333227-4E06-4FF3-B803-405B332210BC@microsoft.com...
>>> Don't forget you will be subject to TV licence.
>>>
>>> "nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
>>> news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
>>>> As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I
>>>> want to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV
>>>> card.
>>>> The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
>>>>
>>>> I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
>>>> signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
>>>> time in the future in the UK)
>>>>
>>>> So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
>>>> comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
>>>>
>>>> Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
>>>>
>>>> NIK
>>>
>>
>
>

In the United States digital over the air of high definition and standard definition TV has already
begun.
In New York City ALL network, independent and public broadcasting channels are broadcasting over the
air digital content.
High Definition, 5.1 Digital Dolby Surround
I believe that in 2008 analog over the air TV transmission will be switched off in the US.
Fiber optics are NOT required. I receive several 1080i programs, 720p, 480p and 480i channels over
the air.
On the other hand, my cable service ONLY provides 720p signals.

"Gary Mount" <gary_mount@telus.net> wrote in message
news:59A086BE-AF81-4FAD-A9B8-2846750256F5@microsoft.com...
| When you say that the analogue signals get switched off do you mean the air
| (antennae) broadcast signals?
| It will be a number of years yet before the quantity of channels that are
| broadcast with cable could be broadcast as digital content because the
| amount of data would be huge, requiring optical fiber directly to the home.
| I am subscribed to 68 channels of analog TV, and there are many more offered
| by my cable TV provider. I don't see analog disappearing any time soon.
|
|
| "nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
| news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
| > As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I want
| > to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV card.
| > The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
| >
| > I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
| > signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
| > time in the future in the UK)
| >
| > So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
| > comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
| >
| > Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
| >
| > NIK
|

Over the Air Analog channels must stop tranmissions in February of 2009.
Analog over cable will still be available if it wasn't the problem would be
huge when you considdr the very large number of people who have analog cable
connected directly to their TVs.
My Cox cable supplier provides the Primary digital channels of the local OTA
digital channels in whichever format the OTA brodcasts are in which is
normally 720p for ABC and FOX and 1080i for all others. They also provide
many SD digital channels in 480i and have also tested broadcasting some of
their analog channels (2-99) in 480i digital using different channel numbers
in order to improve their PQ.
"DCR" <dcr@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:W5%5h.17761$dN4.3865@news-wrt-01.rdc-nyc.rr.com...
> In the United States digital over the air of high definition and standard
> definition TV has already
> begun.
> In New York City ALL network, independent and public broadcasting channels
> are broadcasting over the
> air digital content.
> High Definition, 5.1 Digital Dolby Surround
> I believe that in 2008 analog over the air TV transmission will be
> switched off in the US.
> Fiber optics are NOT required. I receive several 1080i programs, 720p,
> 480p and 480i channels over
> the air.
> On the other hand, my cable service ONLY provides 720p signals.
>
> "Gary Mount" <gary_mount@telus.net> wrote in message
> news:59A086BE-AF81-4FAD-A9B8-2846750256F5@microsoft.com...
> | When you say that the analogue signals get switched off do you mean the
> air
> | (antennae) broadcast signals?
> | It will be a number of years yet before the quantity of channels that
> are
> | broadcast with cable could be broadcast as digital content because the
> | amount of data would be huge, requiring optical fiber directly to the
> home.
> | I am subscribed to 68 channels of analog TV, and there are many more
> offered
> | by my cable TV provider. I don't see analog disappearing any time soon.
> |
> |
> | "nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> | news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
> | > As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I
> want
> | > to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV card.
> | > The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
> | >
> | > I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
> | > signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off
> some
> | > time in the future in the UK)
> | >
> | > So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
> | > comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
> | >
> | > Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
> | >
> | > NIK
> |
>
>

"nicholas" <niknik1971NOSPAM@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:4DE26594-0931-43FE-B67D-007719E5EF24@microsoft.com...
> As I intend to buy the ultimate version of Vista when it comes out I want
> to get the most out of the OS and as such I am going to get a TV card.
> The trouble is I am at a bit of a loss on what one to get.
>
> I need one that that can pick up analogue signals as well as digital
> signals (will be needed when the analogue signal gets switched off some
> time in the future in the UK)
>
> So is there anyone in the UK who is running Vista have any advice/
> comments or links to products that would suite my needs.
>
> Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.


Out of three three twin-tuner DVB-T cards you can get (Terratec, Hauppauge
and Black Gold) only the Black Gold has already got working Vista drivers,
so I have just got one. It's also got twin analogue tuners, so it's a
twin-tuner *and* hybrid.

It's a bit more expensive than the Hauppauge, but it's worth it. The tuners
are more sensitive and the picture quality is great. It also will have HD
support. It doesn't come with a remote, so I'm going to get a MS MCE remote
to work with it.

http://www.gta-ltd.co.uk/TV_PCIe_Dual_Cards.html

ss.