Help with cards for AVI capture please...

[Agent Yellow]

First, I've read through the "Capture Cards" section of the site listing user comments of various capture cards, as well as the "Comparisons" section of the site that compares various capture cards. I've also read through many of the posts in this forum. However, it was difficult for me to determine which capture card to get, since many of the reviews/comparisons deal with extra features, such as real time MPEG Capture, SVCD capture, and so forth (which I am not looking into).

I'm searching for a capture card (PCI connection) that I am planning to use to capture directly from my digital satellite TV receiver in AVI format, so that I can later convert the AVI file into NTSC VCD compliant MPEG files. The price range I'm looking around in is approximately $200 (US) maximum. Could anyone please assist me by suggesting some good capture cards for this purpose? I would appreciate any help that you have to offer.

[vhelp]

Yello,

Here is one suggestion, and I guess, my recommendation
based on MY experience!!

* ATI-TV Wonder ...a pci card

Does real-time MPEG1 only, but can capture in AVI format
via the HUFFY codec in AVI_IO or VirtualDub.
And the rewards will be great encodes! See a sample on my
website under SVCD. This is the kind of quality encodes
you can expect from the ATW card, but there are other
cards that can do just a good, as long as it's able to capture
in AVI.
As for real-time, IMO, you can believe what/who you want, but
in the long run, NOTHING beats a good AVI capture and encode!!
NOTHING!! See my sample and judge for yourlsefl!!!
Also, you don't need those expensive ATI Cap Boards that are
$199, $300 bucks! Fuweee!! My ATW was only $69 bucks!!
Oh, yes, almost forgot - - real-time mpeg1 captures sucks!

I dont' recommend VCD encodes if you're really after QUALITY!!
If not, then go with VCD. I use xSVCD and I capture at 352x480
in AVI_IO using the HUFFY codec. I have it down to a system now.
* Capture / Encode / Burn!!
* Capture 1hour, Encode 3hours, Burn in 10min.

That's my system!!

Good luck w/ your decision from other posters here!!