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What's the best RF-based tuner currently?

post #1 of 11
2/23/07 at 9:32am
Thread Starter 
Currently I have the Saber 2020 and have been far from pleased with it. In the past I had a TV Wonder 550, but it had a horrible background whining noise.

What's the current standard for RF reception? Yes, I know RF is on the way out -- but I get it for free in my apartment...
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post #2 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:00pm
The new Hauppage 1600 looked decent, better than the Saber 2020 that I returned, but still not as good as the cable box natively. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, especially since it does OTA HD, which is also free, (- the antenna cost) but I'm definitely not comfortable calling it the "best". More like the "best I've seen so far".
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post #3 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:03pm
Quote:


I know RF is on the way out

Really? Where is it going?
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post #4 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Targus View Post

Really? Where is it going?

Sorry, I meant to say that analog is on the way out. I need an analog tuner.
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post #5 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:11pm
You DON'T need an analog tuner you can still tune and DVR SD channels via a digital tuner (aka ATSC tuner)

Are you looking for off the air tuning or via free basic cable tv tuning?

- Josh
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post #6 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by umdivx View Post

You DON'T need an analog tuner you can still tune and DVR SD channels via a digital tuner (aka ATSC tuner)

Are you looking for off the air tuning or via free basic cable tv tuning?

- Josh

Interesting... I didn't know that! I just need to be able to tune basic cable (Comcast).
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post #7 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:21pm
Basic able is different then. I though you were talking about over the air signals.

What DVR software are you using? what Mpeg decoders are you using? what video card? ect...

the Saber2020 is actually one of the better SD analog ntsc tuners out there, so not sure what the issues your having are? Are you playing back on a HDTV?

- Josh
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post #8 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by umdivx View Post

Basic able is different then. I though you were talking about over the air signals.

What DVR software are you using? what Mpeg decoders are you using? what video card? ect...

I'm using MCE 2005, NVIDIA PureVideo decoder, and Geforce 7600GS. I'm outputting to a 32" LCD TV.

Quote:


the Saber2020 is actually one of the better SD analog ntsc tuners out there, so not sure what the issues your having are? Are you playing back on a HDTV?

- Josh

Check out the Saber2020 thread... the card is causing headaches for lots of people, especially those using RF. I'd like to know if there are any more reliable options out there.
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post #9 of 11
2/23/07 at 12:52pm
ATI Theater 650, Nvidia DualTV, Avermedia Purity 3d 250.

I've got MCE and have used both the ATI and the Avermedia tuner cards. They are not dual tuner cards but have great playback quality but that is on SD tv's, when I playback on my 720p projector the SD quality is sub par, but thats because I am playing back SD on an HD set, which I belive is the issues your having as well.

- Josh
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post #10 of 11
2/23/07 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by umdivx View Post

thats because I am playing back SD on an HD set, which I belive is the issues your having as well.

- Josh

Unfortunately, the issues I'm having with the Saber go far beyond image quality. There are also issues of driver compatibility, blockiness when fast-forwarding, incomplete recordings... Regardless, the 550 had better picture quality on the same TV and I would have kept using it if the audio quality had been better.

Thanks for the alternative suggestions.
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post #11 of 11
2/23/07 at 1:32pm
if you have a local pc store or best buy, run there and pick up a ATI theater 650 test it out if you don't like it you can return it.

- Josh
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