Advantages: watch tv without a tv
Disadvantages: the software, weak reception

...heard on other web sites that some people have had problems viewing these files on other programs like Media Player, though I haven’t had this problem. I think it may be down to the type of CODEC installed (CODECs are software drivers that describe how to play the movie files). If you have this issue, try installing free CODECs packages like: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/KLiteCodecPack.htm The MPEG2 format is a standard, well known format, so you shouldn’t have this problem, but I don’t trust ArcSoft and their TotalMedia program. * ArcSoft’s TotalMedia * This is mostly a rant by me but I’ll try and write it on a practical level. To make the USB DVB TV Stick (or any TV-related hardware) work, you need software to run it to receive the TV signal. FreeCom gives you TotalMedia developed by a company called ArcSoft. Let... Read review

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Advantages: DVB TV, Recording, Time shift. Pause Live TV
Disadvantages: Software needs improving

.... The back of the unit has connections for the Aerial and the USB cable. The box is nice and re-assuringly heavy compared to the first DVB box I bought. The box the tuner came with had the unit, USB cable and the IR remote (with batteries). It also had the software CD and a user’s manual. Remote The remote is very impressive for this tuner. It’s a nice big, but not bulky unit. It is very much the same as the remote controls you see used with Windows Media Centre (and wouldn’t be surprised if that was the intention of this remote). The only complaint I have is that when combined with the software provided by Hauppauge, the remote does very little. All that you are able to do is change channels, the volume and pause and record the television channel. As I am aware there are plug-ins available for Girder (a third party... Read review

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Advantages: High quality image/internet via sat
Disadvantages: price, installation, PayTV

...Hauppauge specialises in TV reception cards for your PC, and so naturaly they also propose SAT-TV solutions. A Sat-reception card is really usefull beacause it allows you to do a great many things: time-shifting, digital recording, internet, multiple satellites, etc. Now, what is Time-Shifting you say: well you are watching your favorite football team at the finals. A pressing need occurs; you simply press pause, do your thing and return to the match where you left it. An on demand commercial break if you like, but this can also be used to skip commercials. for example As for digital recording the big plus is that it's digital and the copy IS as good as the original, if you are a movie buf it's a big plus. about the card: The WinTV DVB-s (DVB-s for Satellite, a DVB-t card exists for digital terrestrial) is based on a NEC... Read review

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Advantages: Small, portable, cheap
Disadvantages: Supplied aerial is effectively useless, temperamental

...I got this DVB-T stick as the one of the cheapest digital receivers for my computer so that I could watch and record TV in my bedroom. Installation and setup are relatively straight forward, with autoscanning for all available channels being one click away. However, reception was not great, and there were a few problems. First, even though I brought and installed a brand new Digital Aerial for weak reception areas, although my reception isn't that bad (it works with other normal set top boxes perfectly), when watching certain channels the video and audio froze and restarted multiple times making the program unwatchable. Also certain channels were not available, such as channel 5 (some would say no great loss there), and some tuned in but when you turned over to them they didn't play the video, only audio. Second, installation... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent picture quality, compatible with Windows Media Center
Disadvantages: Supplied software is buggy, internal fan produces a bit of noise

...I had been looking into TV tuners for a very long time to watch TV in my room on my laptop and convert VHS and camcorder tapes to DVD. After extensive research, I decided to buy the LifeView card. It has a good range of connections (dual coaxial aerial, composite and s-video) and receives Freeview digital channels. Information from manufacturer: "The FlyDVB-T Duo CardBus is the world's first and only CardBus TV solution with both digital and analog TV functionality." Features: Digital and analog TV Supports worldwide TV standards (PAL, NTSC, SECAM) S-video and composite imputs Watch analog and digital TV at the same time (picture in picture) Recording function Timeshifting Scheduled recording Still image snapshots Before it was due to be delivered, I installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 to make use... Read review

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Advantages: Digital TV, Good picture quality, Excellent remote, User friendly software
Disadvantages: Can't pay for some listed channels, No video editing software, Long recordings freeze the program

...one could get started right away without having to buy one. I bought a 2 way booster previously to use with my TV set antenna. SOFTWARE & PICTURE QUALITY Once I've scanned for channels and so long as DVB-T is selected as the source, you can watch TV. You can press the up or down buttons, the hidden number-pad in the main menu interface, or use the remote. The main menu slides open to reveal the number pad, which I think this looks really clever. There are navigation buttons on the screen window as well, which hides itself when in full screen mode until you move your mouse to the bottom to bring it back up. The interface looks nice and is laid out clearly with appropriately sized buttons, which have easily identifiable icons. If I forget what the icons mean, I can hover my mouse over a button to display the button function. I get... Read review

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Advantages: Digital TV, Very good picture quality, Aerial included
Disadvantages: Remote Control looks cheap, Software rubbish

...The JetWay DTV DVB-T PCI card is a Digital TV Tuner card for desktop computers. This means once you have installed it and its accompanying software, you can watch Digital Terrestrial (i.e. Freeview) TV on your computer. A USB version is also available but the one I have is the PCI version, which is installed inside a computer. I bought it for £54 including delivery off eBay but later found it at Ebuyer for just over £40. INSTALLING Installing it was pretty easy. I just turned off my computer, pulled out the power for safe measure, removed the back plate at an available PCI slot position, slotted the card in and then screw it down. That was the hardware installation done with. The rest was just to plug the power back in, fire up the computer and lastly install the drivers and software for the JetWay card from the CD provided... Read review

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