Suggestions for TV Card Needed

[demichae]

I've got a custom built that has everything that I want with the exception of the ability to watch and record television shows AND to import home videos. I'm looking to spend $200-$300 for an internal device for my computer. I can't seem to find a top-of-the-line device. Any suggestions?

[firstadopter]

Beyond TV at http://www.snapstream.com/ is one of the leaders in PC PVRs. They have recommended TV capture cards too. I would read more about this before buying as I don't know much about PC PVRs.

[demichae]

I've narrowed it down to the Avermedia Ultra TV Media Center PCI 550 and the Hauppauge WinTV-DVR-500 MCE; both allow you to watch and record television, and both have inputs to record from camcorders. Does anyone have any experience with either of these devices?

[desertcoyote]

Don't get an ATI card. Their drivers are a pain in the butt.

[arogan]

One vote for Hauppauge. I own three 250's and have been very happy with them. There's a ton of user supported software out there for these cards.
http://www.shspvr.com/

If you are on a budget the 150's are nice at around $65.

[desertcoyote]

Well I gave up and returned the damned ATI card. After a couple of emails and combing through the ATI website I wanted to shoot their tech support and use the card as a skeet.

Today, after some research I purshased a Happaugue WIN-TV PVR 150 at www.PCAlchemy.com . I'm REALLY looking forward to getting this card, especially after the ATI mishap.

Cheers!

[arogan]

http://www.gbpvr.com/
It's free and works with the 150. It's like a complete tivo replacement. I haven't used it (I wrote my own tivo like program) but I've heard it's pretty good.

http://www.shspvr.com/smf/index.php?topic=7680.0
good command line recorder.