Multiple tv tuners?

[egress1234]

I know SageTV supports multiple TV tuner cards. but how do I hook them up to my computer? I have one PVR-250 and ATI TV Wonder. Both require a wire to be hooked to the sound input port. Since I only have one sound input port, how do I hook them up? Do I need two sound cards as well?

Even if I somehow hook them up into one sound input port, when I record a show with one card and surf with the other, which sound would it use to record?

Please help me out.

Thanks.

[AndyS]

I can't speak for the TV-Wonder, but the PVR250 doesn't require that cable. Just plug it into a PCI slot and you're good to go!

Andy.

[egress1234]

Thanks for your quick reply.

My pvr-250 is quite old.. (maybe 3, 4 years old??) Will it matter?

If PVR-250 does not require the audio out port to be connected to the sound input port, what is that for? (I mean in what situation will I need this port to be connected to my sound card?)

Thanks again.

P.S.: My ATI card is called ATI TV Wonder VE.

[Opus4]

The 250's audio port should be a line-in, not out, as far as I know. The audio-in would be used if you are using the svideo inputs to get the video into the card. When using coax, the sound + video are arriving in that single cable.) Then, the PVR-250 uses its own hardware encoder to encodes the video + sound into the recording.

A software encoder card might use a sound card's input in order to get the sound to a point where the software encoder can then mix it with the video it is encoding.

(I don't remember which kind the ATI TV Winder is.)

- Andy

[Wheemer]

You should just purchase another hardware encoding card... The ATI is a software encoder and the result will pale in comparison to what your PVR 250 can capture.

[egress1234]

Originally Posted by Wheemer

You should just purchase another hardware encoding card... The ATI is a software encoder and the result will pale in comparison to what your PVR 250 can capture.

Would you recommend me a budget hardware-encoding card?

Thanks.

[Wheemer]

Sure man... A PVR 150 will fit the bill, and it's even supposed to be slightly better quality that your existing PVR 250!

[egress1234]

Originally Posted by Wheemer

Sure man... A PVR 150 will fit the bill, and it's even supposed to be slightly better quality that your existing PVR 250!

Thanks a lot! Now, I gotta find a good deal on Ebay!

[egress1234]

Originally Posted by Wheemer

Sure man... A PVR 150 will fit the bill, and it's even supposed to be slightly better quality that your existing PVR 250!

Hmm.. will PVR-150 MCE work OK with SageTV? I know the difference between non MCE and MCE version as far as the hardware.

[Wheemer]

Hauppauge usually uses that term to signify it comes without a remote & blaster.

Other than that the hardware is identical.

[egress1234]

Originally Posted by Wheemer

Hauppauge usually uses that term to signify it comes without a remote & blaster.

Other than that the hardware is identical.

Thanks a lot! I just ordered PVR-150 OEM version without FM tuner from pcalchemy.com for 50 bucks! I can finally watch a different channel while recording!!