Is There An Up-To-Date OTA Tuner Thread?

[Savage1701]

Just wondering if anyone can point me at an updated, centralized list of OTA tuner cards and USB sticks that work with Sage, both this latest build and the open source build.

Thanks for any help in this matter.

[wayner]

I am guessing that the most popular response is going to be an HDHR.

[Savage1701]

Yes, I was hoping more for a list than a most popular choice. I know Hauppauge has some newer dual-USB and quad-PCIExpress cards, but SageTV will only recognize 1 of their tuners.

Just wondering if there was a model-specific, up-to-date list.

[BobPhoenix]

The HVR-2255 works with SageTV. It appears to be better then my AVerMedia Duets as well. They are still being sold by Hauppauge.

[EnterNoEscape]

Perhaps this is an opportunity for someone to create a new page on the Github wiki:
https://github.com/google/sagetv/wiki

[Savage1701]

Bob:

Thanks for info on 2255; I am using an older 2250 dual tuner and I think its seen its better days. Signal will jump between, say, 5% and 100% and it's sort of become unreliable. I know it's not the signal or antenna because I have other card and USB tuners being fed off that antenna and they seem to receive those same channels at 95% to 100% all the time.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Savage1701

Bob:

Thanks for info on 2255; I am using an older 2250 dual tuner and I think its seen its better days. Signal will jump between, say, 5% and 100% and it's sort of become unreliable. I know it's not the signal or antenna because I have other card and USB tuners being fed off that antenna and they seem to receive those same channels at 95% to 100% all the time.

I still think you'd be better off with an HDHR than a 2255, if for no other reason than the ability to install it closer to the antenna.

[Savage1701]

Fuzzy:

Thanks for the info; I am fortunate that I have a small equipment room in my basement where my Sage Server and router and switches and such are rack-mounted. My outdoor antennas and DishTV also feed directly to that location. As such, I am only about 2 or 3 feet from each antenna's distribution amp/splitter, so the cable runs are virtually zero and the convenience factor is about 100%.

Honestly, though, I've lost more than a few PCI tuner cards over the years, lost a couple battles with USB tuner sticks getting the wrong drivers (and generally being less sensitive), etc. I've also had problems with tuners that could tune a local OTA channel suddenly refusing to, and what I call "tuner jump" when the signal goes from 100% to, say, 5% and then back and forth, essentially rendering the channel non-recordable. I wonder in general if PCI/PCI Express cards' tuner sections tend to over-heat and degrade with long-term use.

For those reasons, the idea of the HDHR or a "full-size" external Hauppauge tuner like the 1955 is of interest to me.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Savage1701

For those reasons, the idea of the HDHR or a "full-size" external Hauppauge tuner like the 1955 is of interest to me.

USB is far to finicky - I'd just stick with the HDHR - it's pretty tried and true over the years. Plus, the HDHR costs about the same as a 1955, and can record two streams.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Savage1701

For those reasons, the idea of the HDHR or a "full-size" external Hauppauge tuner like the 1955 is of interest to me.

Sorry to be a pest, but how does this negate using an HDHR which is quite small and is simpler to replace that a PCI card and doesn't have USB which can cause issues. IMHO the only downside is requiring an additional plug and power supply which are prone to fail.

[Savage1701]

Fuzzy - thanks.

Wayner - It doesn't; it's more of a "go with what you know," that's all. And since my rack is just a couple feet from my OTA feeds, HDHR less of a necessity for me. But if it's dual tuner, maybe I should give it a look. Not a pest question for sure. More just brand inertia on my part.