Which Hauppauge tuners for most reliable setup?

[valnar]

What is more reliable or safer? Or does it matter?

Two PCI WinTV-HVR-1600 tuners
or
One PCIe WinTV-HVR-2450 tuner?

Now, I only need two tuners really, whether analog or digital, but I do want to mix and match depending what is on TV. The first solution would use four cable connections, the second would use one.

Is there a reliability difference between the two of them? How is the analog quality of the 1600 vs 2450?

[Djc208]

I tend to lean toward the 2450. It can be tricky to get one card working sometimes, let alone two. Plus the added cable splits and connections you have to make for the 1600s which can introduce their own issues into the mix.

I don't have a 2450 so I can't compare it to my 1600. I don't have a problem with the analog tuner in the 1600 other than the fact that it's SD and therefore never as nice as when I can get the recording in HD.

[starflight]

I'm assuming you meant a HVR-2250. I don't see a 2450 on the Hauppauge.

I have the HVR-2250 and really like it. The tuner provides good reception even on weaker signals. I really like the single Ant connection, but other have not as they wanted to split the tuners between OTA and Clear-QAM recordings. For me, I record OTA-DTV so no problem.

The HVR-2250 will work in any PCIe slot. My MB has a x1 and x16 PCIe slots. I have had the HVR-2250 working in both slots. It's currently in the x16 slot. I'm planning to add another one later this fall.

Be sure to get the latest beta drivers for the HVR-2250. I've noticed an improvement in the tuner's reception of weak signals. I've got one channel that I'm waiting for the June 12th cut over date. They said they are moving the DTV antenna higher and increasing the signal strength. It's an 1-edge path so the signal strength is quite low.

HTH,
Starflight