Questions about Dvico FusionHDTV5-RT Gold

[Lascivious1]

I plan to purchase this tuner card. but after reading around i think im not understanding how one of these cards work. i see people talking about using a antenna. what would i need this for. i was under the impression that the cable connection on the card would be all i need to get all the cable channels? atleast the channels i have available through my comcast provider.

wouldnt i be able to just hook this card up in my computer and connect the cable to it and see all the tv channels i want? and set and record shows i dont want to miss? whats a antenna for?

could someone please give me a in depth lesson on how this card or all tv tuner cards work and what i need to use it?

TY very much

Las

[redwudz]

The antenna is for over-the-air HDTV, which may or may not be available on your cable. My cable doesn't have it, so I use a antenna for that. The card also receives regular TV. But if you just want that, buy a cheap tuner card and they may work as well.

If you want to use it for HDTV, then check here to see what HDTV channels may be available in your area: http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

There is also general info there about HDTV.

BTW, Lascivious1, your signature is in violation of our rules for size. I'll send you a PM about that.

And welcome to our forums.

[edDV]

The primary purpose of that card is over the air ATSC digital TV tuning.

It also has analog tuning (can be used for lower analog cable channels 2-99) and 64QAM/256QAM tuning for use on digital cable channels. Note that all MPeg2 "digital cable" channels are normally encrypted so you won't see any of those.

If your cable system has been upgraded for HD, some local digital SD and HD channels may be available as unencrypted QAM channels. Best way to find if that is true in your neighborhood is to ask in your local AVS Comcast forum if anyone is successful getting local HDTV that way.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=ba8217467a485b1a90d3c04e489ef908&f=45

[Lascivious1]

ok i just erased my sig. no one needs to know my power lol

ok so in order to see HD channels i would need a antenna to get the signal because HD channels through the cable line are most likely encrypted...is this right?

and if so that would mean if i would want to watch the channels that are posted on antennaweb.org site for my location i would need an antenna to watch them?

well the channel that i saw on that site for my location really arent any interest to me.

i just want a tv tuner card to be able to get all the channels i get from 2-99 and record the shows i dont want to miss. the remote control is kinda cool too and the way it can turn on my system to get the shw recorded and turn it off when done is awesome. but the reaso i came across this card was because it was the only card i could find that had XP Pro X64 driver support. i cant seam to find any tv tuner cards with this drivers. if anyone knows of a cheaper card i would appreciate a link or 2 or more of cards i could buy. im not interested in having an antenna hanging around my room i just want to hook the cable line in and use it that way.

Las

[edDV]

...
ok so in order to see HD channels i would need a antenna to get the signal because HD channels through the cable line are most likely encrypted...is this right?

Lots of "ifs" here.

Antennaweb.org shows the Over The Air channels (distance, direction, signal strength) and recommends antennas to receive them. Analog channels will go dark in 2/2009 leaving only the digial channels on the air. This has nothing to do with cable.

Cable has analog channels (2-99). You can receive these with a normal analog tuner. Cable also has their MPeg2 "digital cable" (SD and HD) QAM channels that are normally encrypted and need a cable box to receive.

Then there are your local digital broadcast channels that are retransmitted by cable. These are modulated on digital cable QAM but are not encrypted per FCC ruling. These channels are known as "QAM in the clear". It is possible to tune these channels with a QAM capable tuner (stand alone or computer tuner) without the need for a cable box. These channels can be SD or HD per your local TV station programming.

The above is possible only after your cable system has been upgraded for digital broadcasting. The dummies on the cable tech support line won't know much about this. That is why you talk to people who know what is possible in your local AVS Forum.

All others should go get the HD cable box and pay the fees.

and if so that would mean if i would want to watch the channels that are posted on antennaweb.org site for my location i would need an antenna to watch them?

well the channel that i saw on that site for my location really arent any interest to me.

Some of the channels you saw on antennaweb.org will be carried on your cable as clear QAM. Others won't.

So it sounds like you need a cable box if none of those channels are of interest.

[Lascivious1]

Wait, your mixing me up... if none of the channels i saw on the antenna site arent any interest to me then why would i need a cable box?

let me ask in an easy way

if i just get a basic tv tuner card say with a few cool features. will i be able to get channels 2-60 and see them on my lcd and set recording times for those shows i want to see if they "are not" hd channels. for example i like the SCI-Fi channel which i believe is not HD so can i see it through my lcd and record shows from that channel on my comp with no problems?

Las

[redwudz]

You might look into a Hauppauge card. They are popular and work well. They have a tuner for the cable channels and hardware encodes to MPEG-2, which can be burned directly to a DVD.

This one is economical, though there are other units there which have more features. http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvr150.html

[Lascivious1]

yeh i was looking at that 1 card also but i dont see support for X64 drivers. thats why i ended up seeing the fusion.

the my whole problem is finding a card that has X64 bit drivers support

[edDV]

First you need a Comcast channel lineup. FX is on Ch57 here but was on a 100's channel before (encrypted).

A Hauppauge PVR card is a good way to record but you will need PVR software like Beyond TV (not free) or GBPR (free) for automatic recording.

If you don't like what Antennaweb shows, then you don't care about ABC ,CBS ,CW ,FOX, MY, NBC, PBS etc. I can understand that.

The good HDTV (DiscoveryHD, National GeographicHD, InHD, ESPN, FSN, UHD, HBO, etc.) are all encrypted. I'd at least put PBS in that league.

[edDV]

the my whole problem is finding a card that has X64 bit drivers support

Then you don't care about HD ?

Just buy a TV/VCR at Walmart. Those work next to a 64 bit computer.

[argylltech]

You may need to realize that the cable companies are beginning to turn off the analog signal, meaning, without a box or CableCard, you will not be able to get any channels outside of your local unencrypted stations, i.e. ABC, CBS, FOX and WGN. Those are the only stations you will get of the important ones, so no Food Network or Disney Channel, etc. without a set top box. And you will only get those channels with an ATSC tuner and the right software. If you are using MCE, then you can only get OTA signals with an ATSC tuner.