Vista - What Tuners Actually Work in Vista?

I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center works
fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have done
everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't recognize
the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should make it
work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point (frustration)
where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV working
with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or software/procedures I
need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
appreciated. Thanks.

Harpo,

I have installed Hauppage WinTV HVR-1600 NTSC/ATSC combo successfully.
(Compusa, $60 after rebate)

Installed only the drivers (the WINTV application will not scan channels for
me).

Media center scans (I only have digital antenna input attached) and
views/records just fine including using the remote controll.

(Vista Home Premium, clean install on a Dell XPS410 machine.)

Michael

"Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
> works
> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have done
> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
> recognize
> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should make
> it
> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point (frustration)
> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV working
> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
> software/procedures I
> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
> appreciated. Thanks.

AFAIK the WinTV application is only for analog channels which if true is why
it would not scan for you without an antenna connected.
"Michael" <mexxwalraven@verson.net> wrote in message
news:AE378C7F-53BE-4318-9C84-A0626E0232A6@microsoft.com...
> Harpo,
>
> I have installed Hauppage WinTV HVR-1600 NTSC/ATSC combo successfully.
> (Compusa, $60 after rebate)
>
> Installed only the drivers (the WINTV application will not scan channels
> for me).
>
> Media center scans (I only have digital antenna input attached) and
> views/records just fine including using the remote controll.
>
> (Vista Home Premium, clean install on a Dell XPS410 machine.)
>
> Michael
>
> "Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
>> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
>> works
>> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have done
>> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
>> recognize
>> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should
>> make it
>> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point (frustration)
>> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV
>> working
>> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
>> software/procedures I
>> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
>> appreciated. Thanks.
>

"Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
> works
> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have done
> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
> recognize
> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should make
> it
> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point (frustration)
> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV working
> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
> software/procedures I
> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
> appreciated. Thanks.

I have installed a Hauppage PVR-150 it works fine with Vista.

I am installing an ATI TV-Wonder 650 today in Vista. I'll post the results
here.

Art

The WinTV application has several hooks for digital, for instance it scans
analogue, says 0 channels, then scans digital and then says 0 (something,
not channels) found.

Their instructions on downloading the latest for Vista say only the drivers
are needed so I ended up following their instructions and using only the
drivers, not installing any of the 'user' level software, working like a
champ.

The major reason I actually wanted to use WinTV is that it has better
interface to see signal strength on a channel than WMP has.
I have used the WinTV with a USB hybrid tuner under XP and found it pretty
good.

Michael

"JW" <nospam@no.spam> wrote in message
news:uFpA4A%23aHHA.2300@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> AFAIK the WinTV application is only for analog channels which if true is
> why it would not scan for you without an antenna connected.
> "Michael" <mexxwalraven@verson.net> wrote in message
> news:AE378C7F-53BE-4318-9C84-A0626E0232A6@microsoft.com...
>> Harpo,
>>
>> I have installed Hauppage WinTV HVR-1600 NTSC/ATSC combo successfully.
>> (Compusa, $60 after rebate)
>>
>> Installed only the drivers (the WINTV application will not scan channels
>> for me).
>>
>> Media center scans (I only have digital antenna input attached) and
>> views/records just fine including using the remote controll.
>>
>> (Vista Home Premium, clean install on a Dell XPS410 machine.)
>>
>> Michael
>>
>> "Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>>>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
>>> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
>>> works
>>> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have
>>> done
>>> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
>>> recognize
>>> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should
>>> make it
>>> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point
>>> (frustration)
>>> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV
>>> working
>>> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
>>> software/procedures I
>>> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
>>> appreciated. Thanks.
>>
>
>

RealTek HD Audio manager works for me.
(Vista premium Home)

"Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
> works
> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have done
> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
> recognize
> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should make
> it
> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point (frustration)
> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV working
> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
> software/procedures I
> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
> appreciated. Thanks.

Thats good news.
You only need the drivers to support the tuner in MC. I also installed
WinTV2000 on my Vista system which has a PVR 150 card and I can use either
it or MC for TV.

"Art" <dont@email.me> wrote in message
news:A9435D80-CA54-4858-BE01-DE3B92584EC2@microsoft.com...
>
> "Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
>> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
>> works
>> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have done
>> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
>> recognize
>> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should
>> make it
>> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point (frustration)
>> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV
>> working
>> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
>> software/procedures I
>> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
>> appreciated. Thanks.
>
> I have installed a Hauppage PVR-150 it works fine with Vista.
>
> I am installing an ATI TV-Wonder 650 today in Vista. I'll post the
> results here.
>
> Art

"Art" <dont@email.me> wrote in message
news:A9435D80-CA54-4858-BE01-DE3B92584EC2@microsoft.com...
>
> "Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
>> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
>> works
>> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have done
>> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
>> recognize
>> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should
>> make it
>> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point (frustration)
>> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV
>> working
>> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
>> software/procedures I
>> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
>> appreciated. Thanks.
>
> I have installed a Hauppage PVR-150 it works fine with Vista.
>
> I am installing an ATI TV-Wonder 650 today in Vista. I'll post the
> results here.
>
> Art

Just an update. The ATI TV Wonder 650 installation went off without a
hitch. Vista drivers are available on ATIs site.

Art

I use the DVICO Fusion HDTV USB (external unit). Vista Drivers (32&64) have
been available since February. So far it works great in Media Center. I
used to have a buggy HDTV Wonder and was ready to make a switch (and glad I
did).


"Art" <dont@email.me> wrote in message
news:2FDAC4F9-5BA2-48F2-BED7-B621FD507A40@microsoft.com...
>
> "Art" <dont@email.me> wrote in message
> news:A9435D80-CA54-4858-BE01-DE3B92584EC2@microsoft.com...
>>
>> "Harpo" <Harpo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:45FAB840-CE75-4617-8F7F-CF6B7014A8EA@microsoft.com...
>>>I have a Sony VGC RA842G desktop. The machine more than qualifies for the
>>> Vista Home Premium upgrade - Which I did three weeks ago. Media Center
>>> works
>>> fine EXCEPT I cannot get Media Center to recognize the tuner. I have
>>> done
>>> everything Sony Helpline says to do and Media Center still doesn't
>>> recognize
>>> the tuner and then promptly crashes. Sony claims their updates should
>>> make it
>>> work. Maybe it does but NOT on my machine. I'm at the point
>>> (frustration)
>>> where I just want to buy whatever is needed to get Media Center TV
>>> working
>>> with Vista. Is anyone ABSOLUTELY sure what tuner and/or
>>> software/procedures I
>>> need to get Media center working in Vista? Any definitive help will be
>>> appreciated. Thanks.
>>
>> I have installed a Hauppage PVR-150 it works fine with Vista.
>>
>> I am installing an ATI TV-Wonder 650 today in Vista. I'll post the
>> results here.
>>
>> Art
>
> Just an update. The ATI TV Wonder 650 installation went off without a
> hitch. Vista drivers are available on ATIs site.
>
> Art