inDtube...

[NoctisReitop]

A compact USB 2.0 Hybrid TV Tuner capable of decoding both NTSC and the newer ATSC signals as well as over-the-air Hi-Definition Television up to 1080i. Designed to be easily taken with you on vacation, business trips, or for use in your own backyard with a notebook computer, inDtube is the solution for a complete "TV anywhere" package. Not only a TV Tuner, inDtube will also capture video and audio from external sources. This feature allows you to save your older media in to a digital format which can easily be shared amongst your friends and family.
Features:

• ATSC NTSC Signals
• Hi-Definition (over-the-air)
• Electronic Program Guides
• DVR Functions
• Windows XP, MCE, Vista 32 support
• S-Video, Composite Video, Stereo Audio (AV-Input Cable)

This product can receive both NTSC and ATSC signals. It can also view hi-def up to 1080i when using an ATSC digital antenna to capture over-the-air channels. 1080i resolution will depend on the computer and its capable video resolutions. A cable set-top box or satellite box can be used when going through the MCX to F-Connector adapter. A coaxial cable is needed for this configuration. An AV-Input adapter is also provided as an accessory to allow capture of an RCA Video or S-Video based source. This feature allows you to capture and input from an external source and save them as a digital format. Macrovision is supported on inDtube for security reasons.

Here's the link.


I've been searching, when I get bored, for a good tv tuner. My research has been going really slow because I have so many tuners to choose from, and they all are relatively the same. This, is a bit different. From what I read, it supports both ATSC and NTSC (which is good because different places that I stay vary between the both), RCA connection (for consoles / dvd / etc), and it's external (which I haven't found one that worked for digital cable). On top of that, I'm an EVGA fan. And for $80! Sounds great on paper... but, that's on paper. What do you guys think?

[polobunny]

Just stay away from Hauppauge HVR-1800. The drivers are a mess.
As for the product you're talking about, i'm not sure it will be OK if you want to plug a console, there might be lag caused by the USB limited bandwidth.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by polobunny

Just stay away from Hauppauge HVR-1800. The drivers are a mess.
As for the product you're talking about, i'm not sure it will be OK if you want to plug a console, there might be lag caused by the USB limited bandwidth.

I disagree, I am running the Hauppauge HVR-1800 under Vista U. I just downloaded the drivers from the website (like every other piece of Hardware I buy) installed them, and vista picked it up with no issues. Runs great under Media Center, the only small complaint I have is the lag between changing channels, but that is the nature of the beast when dealing with DVR/PVRs, it takes a few seconds for the DVR to change channels so it can stop recording the current channel and start the next one.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Hitman

I disagree, I am running the Hauppauge HVR-1800 under Vista U. I just downloaded the drivers from the website (like every other piece of Hardware I buy) installed them, and vista picked it up with no issues. Runs great under Media Center, the only small complaint I have is the lag between changing channels, but that is the nature of the beast when dealing with DVR/PVRs, it takes a few seconds for the DVR to change channels so it can stop recording the current channel and start the next one.

Maybe I have a faulty one then. Every so often, no matter what drivers I use under Windows XP or Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit the image will freeze and I have to start over the program using it. This happens with all input, though it doesn't seem to happen on the NTSC one when using SageTV or WinTV.
There's also a static noise that will appear once in a while, but I could live with that if at least the picture didn't freeze...
I wrote to Hauppauge support yesterday via email and haven't received anything other than the auto-reply saying they have received my email yet.
I guess I will need to call them on Monday, and hopefully if I need to RMA
I won't have to jump through too many loops. It's been like that since I bought it, but I didn't care much as I didn't need it much back then and thought it was a driver issue.

Here's the main part of the email I sent

I have a Hauppauge HVR-1800, I am using Windows XP SP2 and driver version 1.27.26017.0 (01/17/2008).
My problem is this one. Whenever I use my HVR-1800 S-video port the image will freeze randomly. The only way to fix this problem is to restart the application using the HVR-1800.
I have tried several applications (Dscaler, KMplayer, WinTV, SageTV, VLC Media Player).
I tried older drivers 1.18.25127 (05/07/2007), 1.22.25200 (07/19/2007) and 1.23.25220 (08/08/2007) and tried the Hauppauge HVR-1800 under Windows Vista 64bit too.
Nothing seems to fix the problem, no matter what I do the screen will freeze randomly.

[azianai]

Yeah i was looking to get this too, maybe this is what im looking for to connect my PS2 to my notebook, ever since Gamebridge doesn't work for vista, i have nothing to play on my notebook =(

[NoctisReitop]

Is there a definite answer on whether or not a console would run slower because of the USB restriction?

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by NoctisReitop

Is there a definite answer on whether or not a console would run slower because of the USB restriction?

Yes it will, if you want to run a console system on a TV card it needs to be internal PCI/PCI-E, USB2 can not handle the dencoding and transfer speeds required by PS3/XBOX 360 game systems. You need a hardware decoder to decrease lag.

Originally Posted by polobunny

Maybe I have a faulty one then.

Have you tried running Vista U 32? Thats what I run with zero issues. Give that a shot, thats the OS that card is intended to run on. If that don't work I would go with faulty card, otherwise its a case of a company not being able to write drivers for more then one OS.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Yes it will, if you want to run a console system on a TV card it needs to be internal PCI/PCI-E, USB2 can not handle the dencoding and transfer speeds required by PS3/XBOX 360 game systems. You need a hardware decoder to decrease lag.



Have you tried running Vista U 32? Thats what I run with zero issues. Give that a shot, thats the OS that card is intended to run on. If that don't work I would go with faulty card, otherwise its a case of a company not being able to write drivers for more then one OS.

No haven't tried Vista 32bit as of yet. But frankly, even if it works I think I'll try getting another product instead. Can't be arsed changing OS simply for a TV tuner, which is supposed to be Media Center 2005 and Vista compatible yet won't work on the earlier...

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by polobunny

No haven't tried Vista 32bit as of yet. But frankly, even if it works I think I'll try getting another product instead. Can't be arsed changing OS simply for a TV tuner, which is supposed to be Media Center 2005 and Vista compatible yet won't work on the earlier...

Do some reading, the tuner is Vista compatible, but the IR blaster is not. It's Vista 32 only, that's probably you're issue. That would explain the driver lock ups. If you use the OS it's intended for, then you can't beat that card. All other cards have crapy picture, and other issues compared to that card. Read up on it.

[azianai]

Btw there's hardly any slowdown for the adaptec gamebridge when connected to a console, its just no vista support =(
almost makes me want to dual boot XP just for that LOL