What hardware needed for Set Top Box??

[rnewman]

I have used PVR-250 to capture s-video/audio for SageTV for NTSC before.
BUT a waste of a tuner.
Is there a cheaper way to capture ntsc video/left/right from a Time Warner Set Top Box?????
That works well with SageTV??
Thanks,
Ray

[Fuzzy]

What are your complaints with the 250? It seems to work great for most everyone who uses it (I used to, along with a 500, before switching to all HD)

[rnewman]

I am happy with PVR-250!
BUT
I need to add two more set top boxes to system
so I am looking for cheap/reliable equipment to buy.
NewEgg has some cheaper tuner cards with s-video input.
But I was looking for suggestions from SageTV users of cheaper alternatives.
BTW this is only for my NTSC server.
I do have a HD server as well.
Thanks,
Ray

[Fuzzy]

NTSC tuners are actually becoming hard to find. There aren't very many even made anymore. That said, You could probably find a Hauppauge PVR-500 on ebay for about $40 that would fit the bill nicely (use the same drivers as your 250, minimizing problems).

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

NTSC tuners are actually becoming hard to find. There aren't very many even made anymore.

Why is this the case? I realize that NTSC OTA has ended, but NTSC tuners, or at least tuners with S-video inputs, are still very useful to folks with cable or satellite boxes, which is a huge majority of the population.

[Fuzzy]

That same huge majority of the population could care less about watching their TV on a computer. Those that DO want TV on a computer, would prefer to have HD. Hauppauge, probably the largest of the manufacturers, no longer even MAKES an NTSC only capture solution - which is why i pointed to ebay.

[rnewman]

I have 4 analog tuners (CH1-99) and one s-video capture (PVR-350) (for cable box)CH100-999
on one server for my wife who does NOT want HD
She uses mediaMVP on her TV.
She wants sometimes 2 or 3 recordings above ch 99 at same time.
Thus I have to get at least one more cable box.
For one more cable box I need one more s-video capture device.
So....................
HD for my son and myself is done with another server using
2 dual HDhomeRun and one HD-PVR
Thanks,
Ray

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by wayner

Why is this the case? I realize that NTSC OTA has ended, but NTSC tuners, or at least tuners with S-video inputs, are still very useful to folks with cable or satellite boxes, which is a huge majority of the population.

It's been mandated that that all tuners be ATSC capable for a few years now.

[rnewman]

Again my need is JUST for NTSC video capture.
Via S-Video/stereo if possible.
Thanks,
Ray

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by rnewman

Again my need is JUST for NTSC video capture.
Via S-Video/stereo if possible.

The point is that you won't find a new capture card that just does NTSC. Those aren't made anymore since well before the digital switchover. If you want a new card, you'll have to get one of the analog/digital hybrid cards such as the Hauppauge HVR-1600. Or you can look for a used analog-only card such as the PVR-150, 250, or 500, all of which have S-Video inputs in addition to their onboard NTSC tuners.

If you're hoping to find a hardware-encoding card with just an S-Video input and no onboard tuner, I don't think such a thing exists. They all come with tuners.

[rnewman]

Sorry,
I did not mean I did not want tuner.
Just looking for cheap s-video/stereo board
hopefully with hardware encoder
that works with SageTV
Was looking at Newegg:
Kworld PVR-TV 7134SE $19.99
SABRENT TV-PCIRC $19.99
KWORLD PVRTV-PE360-A $34.99

Wondered if anybody used?

KWORLD USB Analog TV Stick II UB390-A USB 2.0 $29.99
any good?

Thanks,
Ray

[paulbeers]

You don't want to use Kworld or Sabrent. Seriously, go to ebay if an HVR1600/1800 is more than you want to spend. Look for Avermedia and/or Hauppauge 150's and pick that up.

Any of the ones on your list are not guaranteed to work with Sage.

[rnewman]

Thanks,
That was the answer I was looking for.
Thanks,
Ray

[Ender]

If you have not found a tuner yet, I noticed Evga has Nvidia dual tv tuners in their b stock for $24.


Evga Site

[rnewman]

Originally Posted by Ender

If you have not found a tuner yet, I noticed Evga has Nvidia dual tv tuners in their b stock for $24.


Evga Site

I can't find any details and the ad says:
B-Stock Products do not come with any accessories...."

Where can I get manual and software??
BEFORE I purchase?
Thanks,
Ray

[gplasky]

Search the nVidia site for the software. It may still have the manual there too. These were great cards. I still have two of them with one beibg used in WHS for the loopback video. Better quality than the PVR500s I thought. Make sure you use version 1.31 because that was the one that supported multiple cards in one machine.

Gerry

[rnewman]

I have been searching for manual and software on their website and the web.
On and off for about a week. No luck. But I will keep looking.
Thanks,
Ray

[rnewman]

Found one ad that says it has two s-video input and two stereo input.
Great!
Now to find drivers SageTV needs.
Ray

[rnewman]

I joined EVGA community and have found "WINXP Media Center Edition"
driver. Is that all I need?

EVGA's site only has:
Driver Version : 1.20.45

Found 1.34 on Nvidia's website!
Thanks again,
Ray

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by rnewman

I joined EVGA community and have found "WINXP Media Center Edition"
driver. Is that all I need?

EVGA's site only has:
Driver Version : 1.20.45

Found 1.34 on Nvidia's website!
Thanks again,
Ray

Yep-1.34 is the one you want.

Gerry