ATI HDTV wonder, is it worth it?

[edDV]

A piece of wire may work since you are only a few miles from the transmitter.

I've been experimenting with *.tp and *.ts files with Vegas-Mainconcept and so far have been able to convert 1080i, 720p to 480p and back OK (all MPeg2). 1920x1080 has alot of pixels and takes a long time.
1280x720 (720p) edits and converts reasonably fast. I prefer working with 720p. 720p is matched well to today's monitors and PCs.

[GeekFunk]

Since last December, I've been using the ATI HDTV Wonder in a Windows XP Media Center Edtion 2005 box, and it works perfectly.

I have it connected via DVI-to-DVI to a Syntax Olevia 30" wide screen LCD TV, and local hd channels come in brilliantly.

I agree that you must analyze your antenna requirements beforehand.

It is true that the HDTV Wonder could be a finicky card to install. See my Comment in the Capture Card section of Videohelp.com for an abbreviated step-by-step procedure to install in a Windows XP Media Center 2005 box.

But, if you have a good signal from your local HDTV stations, then you should get excellent results from this card.

[ima2hd]

I think all of these HDTV cards are a joke w/o a component or dvi/hdmi input. I got the ATI HDTV for $50 at CC discounted as an open box had not even been taken out of the static wrapper, but I sure would not pay $150 for any of these cards. The card works well for the one channel of HDTV CBS that is avaible in my area. Not sure why anyone would want to record HD for any of the major affiliates or even PBS for that matter.

[GeekFunk]

I think all of these HDTV cards are a joke w/o a component or dvi/hdmi input. I got the ATI HDTV for $50 at CC discounted as an open box had not even been taken out of the static wrapper, but I sure would not pay $150 for any of these cards. The card works well for the one channel of HDTV CBS that is avaible in my area. Not sure why anyone would want to record HD for any of the major affiliates or even PBS for that matter.

If you don't want the ATI HDTV Wonder card, give it to me. Let me know by email.

From your message, I don't understand whether you are disappointed in the HDTV Wonder or HD tv in your area.