Advice on TV-card purchase.

[Homercleese]

Hey folks

Right first up, I'm a complete beginner, but I want to setup a HTPC system to replace my now dead samsung DVD-HR725.

The base PC I have is just a small form factor ThinkCentre A51 type8109 78G. These have integrated audio and video, but only one PCI slot so I need a single card that does everything. I'll be using Mythbuntu as my OS. My television provider is NTL (Ireland) but I don't have a digital package at the moment, just the basic 13 or so channels and all inputs are coaxial cables. I'm pretty sure it must be a digital signal though because all that's required to access the digital stations is the addition of a decoder box.

Soooo, I just want to run the feed through my PC tuner card and into my TV, to allow me to use the PC as a HDD recorder/DVD player. Or at least I assume that's the most obvious setup. As you can probably see, I've only the vaguest idea of what I'm doing so any advice at all would be appreciated, but especially advice on what card to buy. I'm looking at this selection on pixmania,

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/775/xx/xx/103/9/criteresn.html?s=775&m=xx&t=xx&categoriei...C&orderBy=Prix

which includes,
- LEADTEK WinFast DTV1000 S TV Tuner Card
- ASUS My Cinema-P7131 Hybrid PCI TV Tuner Card
- LEADTEK PXDVR3200 H PCI TV Tuner Card
- HAUPPAUGE WinTV-NOVA-T-500 PCI TV tuner Card
- HAUPPAUGE WinTV-HVR-900-HD USB Digital TV Recorder
- HAUPPAUGE PCTV 340e Hybrid Pro Stick - USB 2.0 + Remote Control
- HAUPPAUGE TV PCI Hybrid WinTV-HVR-1300 - Freeview/Analogue/Radio/Teletext Tuner Card
- HAUPPAUGE WinTV-HVR-3000 PCI TV Tuner Card- Satellite / Freeview / Terrestrial /Analogue / Radio / Teletext

There are some USB options there but I think I'd prefer to stick with the PCI cards.

So in short, any advice at all, as well as recommendations (not necessarily from that list), and any further accessories (cables, etc.) that I might need. As I said I'm in Ireland, so most of the flashy features such as TV listings won't work here and so aren't a priority.

Thanks!
Alan

[redwudz]

Just from my experiences with the Hauppauge cards, I would probably recommend one of them. Someone more familiar with the TV system over there might be able to give you a more exact model. If your PC is small, make sure the card will fit. Some small form factor PCs use half size PCI cards and the larger cards won't fit.

And welcome to our forums.

[Homercleese]

Thanks for the welcome and reply, I expect I'll be asking alot more questions when I push ahead with this.

As for the technology I use at the moment, I should have said more. The signal is divered to the TV over a coaxial cable so I guess that makes it analogue.
Edit - I had just been about to say that it was DVB-T as well without thinking how that could be. That would ("obviously") be a contradiction in itself, eh... right? Right, cause I don't think DVB-T is rolling out here until sometime in 2010.

Looks like I need for someone to tell me about that as well.

Shouldn't be any problem with the PCI slot, it a full sized slot thanks to an extension card that turns it sideways but means there's only room for one.

Cheers.

[Homercleese]

Ok after a bit MORE research it seems most likely that I get my ANALOGUE TV through a analogue and DVB-C capable cable network. And when I say cable in Ireland that just refers to the actual physical connection not a HBO like package.

Finally some almost-certainty. So I reckon what I'm looking for is an analogue/DVB-T/C hybrid tuner, possibly with two tuners for dual recording/watching. And if that turns out to be too much to ask then I'll probably just wait for the DVB-T/C switchover.