HVR-1600/1800 or ATI-650

[Thorbaden]

I was planning on going with the HVR1600 or 1800 when another guy said that those dont have great quality, instead he referred me to the ati 650 series. hes using the diamond ati-650 pci that has both digital and analog tuners etc etc. he also said hes outputting his computer onto a 70" plasma and the ati650 has better clarity than the hvr 1800.

anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? i just want to find a tv tuner with the best SD output (digital and analog), HD output is not what im buying it for yet i would like it to be decent.

[Djc208]

I've also heard that the ATI cards have better capture quality but I've never had two to compare. Just make sure both are the same, not all the ATI cards could do clear QAM originally and I'm not sure if they can use both tuners at the same time.

As for the digital side that's really a non-issue as the card is not doing any processing of the image, just tuning and translating the signal to the computer, it's already digital. The differences there lie in the tuner quality, and I don't know if anyone has compared how well the different tuners work.

[lbwtaylor]

I have an hvr 1600. I think the analog quality is crap. They have offered to RMA it but I have heard many complaints about the same symptoms I have so I don't think I am going to invest the shipping $$$ in the card.

I have an old ati e-home wonder and analog quality is as perfect. I don't have any experience with the new ati cards. Even so given your statement you want the best analog quality I would run, not walk, away from the hauppage cards. My hvr 1600 is truly horrible. Its funny, since I though that the hauppage were the best since they are the DVR specialist (and everyone seems to have them), but that is not my experience. Maybe I have a bad card, but I have read several forum posts about similar experiences.

[VinceInSeattle]

Hi - I bought a Diamond/ATI 650 card based on the advertised capability to receive ClearQAM. But I'm unable to tune in any QAM in Vista Media Center, SageTV, or ATI Catalyst Media Center. Have tried channel scans in all three, using either tuner, and defining the card as a TV Tuner or Digital Tuner. The card does work for analog cable (but so do a lot of cheaper cards).

Anyone know if ClearQAM actually works w/ this product? Or how to set it up?