UK people - decent TV tuner (stereo) + capture card?

[merkin]

Has anyone here who lives in the UK (PAL) found a decent TV tuner card that lets you watch TV in stereo? It's driving me completely crazy, I must have bought and sold 4 or 5 cards now thinking they were stereo but it turns out they're either mono for PAL or just are crap cards. Even the Leadtek Winfast TV2000 deluxe which everyone loves only allows mono sound for PAL. All I want is a TV tuner card, that allows stereo audio in PAL, and can capture as well... any ideas?!?!?

[Steve4467]

I've been using the AVerTV Studio card from Avermedia for 2 years. It is a BT878 chip based tv card with built in Nicam decoder for stereo PAL. Depending on your system you should be able to capture good quality DVD resolution (720x576 up to 10000kb/s @48kHz audio)files. Itend to do most of my captures via composite video in from my Sky Digibox as analog broadcasts aren't 16:9 anamorphic.
Visit: http://www.averm.co.uk/products/index3.htm

[merkin]

I've been using the AVerTV Studio card from Avermedia for 2 years. It is a BT878 chip based tv card with built in Nicam decoder for stereo PAL. Depending on your system you should be able to capture good quality DVD resolution (720x576 up to 10000kb/s @48kHz audio)files. Itend to do most of my captures via composite video in from my Sky Digibox as analog broadcasts aren't 16:9 anamorphic.
Visit: http://www.averm.co.uk/products/index3.htm

Righteo good stuff thanks Steve. Maplin currently have a "£20 off" offer!! Should I contact them to make sure they send me a Nicam stereo one, seeing as the feature is 'optional'?

[Steve4467]

Hi Merkin!
I'm not sure if Maplin supply the Nicam version. I had to purchase direct from Avermedia UK.
A few words of advice.Ensure your reception is as good as you can get it as capture can suffer from poor picture. I'm lucky I can see my transmitter. If you do get any problems Aver suport was always very good for me.A phone call to technical support was answered directly,no hold.(although I haven't needed support for a year). Also, if you decide to try other applications such as PowerVcr,Power Director or Ulead DVD Movie Factory,as I do,they don't appear to be compatible with Nicam stereo tuners and as such no audio is heard! However I tend to use external video/audio in with these.
Hope this info helps.Steve

[merkin]

Ok thanks Steve, I phoned up Maplins and was informed that they do indeed sell the nicam version, so I have ordered one. I intend to use something like VirtualVCR for my capturing needs - will I have to use those popular 3rd party brooktree drivers to do this? What software do you use to a) watch TV and b) capture?

[Steve4467]

Merkin.
I have tried countlessutilities in the past when I ran Win98 using vfw drivers-unable to capture to full res. Now using XP. I found the best capture to be Ulead DVD Moviefactory as DVD PAL@6000, however when i come to burn to DVD the picture on my Tosh player has a strobing/blurring effect on horizontal movement.Strange,don't know the answer! PowerVCR has a better picture than Aver application(slightly less grainy even at lower bit rate)I am currently using Power Director to capture my old VHS for archiving to DVD.In a side by side comparison of PoerVCR,Aver,and PD on a test DVD-RW Power Director has the best picture(no macroblocks on strong reds).
I am capturing directly to MPEG2 as I hate all the hassle of conversion. I have tried tweaked WDM drivers in the past (3rd party) but it caused problems with my card and I had to completely reformat and reinstall.
When it comes to watching TV I tend to use the Aver application and also for basic deletable capture. However,you cannot watch and capture with the full screen showing you return to 720x576. PowerVcr, however will let you watch then capture while keeping the full screen running.
Steve.
Ps just found new Aver drivers & app.will give them a try!

[REiREi]

If your area can get freeview, the Nebula DigiTV is a very good DVB tuner/capture card.

[energy80s]

Yes, if you are in a Freeview area, get the Nebula card. It costs £123 inc postage and the pictures are stunning. This is the future. Failing that, any ATI TV card will be Nicam stereo - but the pictures will pale in comparison to the DTT card!