Question on TV Tuner and video input ports

[bg55]

I am customizing a Gateway system DX430X. You have the option of getting a tv tuner with it. If you do get the tuner, they say you also get front video ports on the tower. My question is, what are these ports used for and do they serve a different purpose from the firewire ports that are already on the front of the tower?
Their website say's the following...
Optional Front Video Ports
"Easily transfer video from camcorders and other devices with handy video input ports at the front of the PC, when upgraded to an optional TV tuner."

Thank you!

[edDV]

If just looking to transfer camcorder video, you are covered with the firewire port*.

The primary purpose for the tuner is to tune analog video. Secondary is composite or S-Video capture as uncompressed.

If you want TV capture we can advise other options.


* for MiniDV or Digital8 formats only.

[ntscuser]

This is a sore point with me. I once bought a Hewlett-Packard PC with "full video input and output". It turned out to be bog-standard USB 1.1 ports which were useless to me as a home video user.

[bg55]

edDV,
Thanks for the info.
Yes, I have a camcorder that records on digital8 tapes and I am wanting to burn those to DVD's. I'll use the firewire like you stated.
I wanted the tv tuner so I could record tv shows, football games, etc.
So what are the video ports that come with the tv tuner for?
Thank you.

[jagabo]

You can use the tuner to tune RF (cable, antenna). It probably also has composite and/or s-video (and probably stereo audio) inputs for connecting other analog video equipment like a VCR or analog camcorder.

[edDV]

edDV,

So what are the video ports that come with the tv tuner for?
Thank you.

A better solution would have hardware encoding like a Hauppauge PVR-150 or 250.

Remember that analog NTSC (via antenna) will be shut off Feb, 2009. Cable NTSC will continue a few more years.

The Hauppauge HVR-1600 adds ASTC tuning for digital over the air reception including SD and HD. It will also hardware encode analog S-Video inputs.

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_hvr1600.html

[rallynavvie]

The Hauppauge HVR-1600 adds ASTC tuning for digital over the air reception including SD and HD. It will also hardware encode analog S-Video inputs.

I'll be picking one of those up this weekend to see how well it does OTA HD content. My analog cable doesn't provide HD signal (obviously) so I'm going to try with a simple ATSC antenna. If anything it's another tuner for my HTPC (in addition to a Hauppauge PVR-250 which I'm already very happy with).

FYI the Hauppauge HVR-1600 is a dual tuner on its own. It has one analog RF input and one input for the ATSC source (antenna). There have also been good reviews on the Hauppauge USB HD tuner (I think it's the 800?) and it even comes with its own portable antenna. Not the greatest but if you want portable TV on your laptop it'd be pretty cool. The USB one isn't a dual-tuner though. Both are about $80 at CompUSA. NewEgg doesn't seem to be carrying either yet

[edDV]

The Hauppauge HVR-1600 adds ASTC tuning for digital over the air reception including SD and HD. It will also hardware encode analog S-Video inputs.

I'll be picking one of those up this weekend to see how well it does OTA HD content. My analog cable doesn't provide HD signal (obviously) so I'm going to try with a simple ATSC antenna. If anything it's another tuner for my HTPC (in addition to a Hauppauge PVR-250 which I'm already very happy with).

FYI the Hauppauge HVR-1600 is a dual tuner on its own. It has one analog RF input and one input for the ATSC source (antenna). There have also been good reviews on the Hauppauge USB HD tuner (I think it's the 800?) and it even comes with its own portable antenna. Not the greatest but if you want portable TV on your laptop it'd be pretty cool. The USB one isn't a dual-tuner though. Both are about $80 at CompUSA. NewEgg doesn't seem to be carrying either yet

The only thing the HVR-1600 lacks is "clear QAM" capability for tuning unencrypted digital cable channels. I'm looking forward to your progress report. I can't test it here since most OTA signals are blocked by a ridge.