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e1705/m1710 TV tuner

post #1 of 14
5/7/07 at 5:58pm
Thread Starter 
They have a Dell External USB Combo Analog/Digital TV Tuner available for these models and I had a few questions about them. Are these Over-The-Air HDTV/digital-cable compatible? And how good is the picture quality, performance? Or should I go with the Pinnacle HDTV USB tuner? I've been thinking about buying an XPS or a e1705 sometime July (hopefully if DX10 cards come out) so I can use it on my trip to NY.
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post #2 of 14
5/7/07 at 6:24pm
I would pick sling box over any tuner any day.
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post #3 of 14
5/7/07 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ACHlLLES
I would pick sling box over any tuner any day.

Maybe, though it is a bit more expensive and bulkier.
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post #4 of 14
5/7/07 at 7:20pm
You don't carry sling box around.. It sits right by your cable box, and as long as you have internet connection at home and on the road, you can watch what ever's on your cable at home on your laptop/phone.
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post #5 of 14
5/7/07 at 7:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ACHlLLES
You don't carry sling box around.. It sits right by your cable box, and as long as you have internet connection at home and on the road, you can watch what ever's on your cable at home on your laptop/phone.

True, but I'd also like to be able to watch TV on the laptop when there is no internet connection or a faulty one.
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post #6 of 14
5/7/07 at 7:42pm
You can still watch tv via home network. (I'm not sure why I keep trying to convince you.) Anyways go buy a tv tuner card if you like. I'm just saying you can do alot more than just a simple tv card can do with a sling box.
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post #7 of 14
5/7/07 at 7:47pm
Slingbox is nice if you want SD quality transmissions. you can find digital/HDTV recievers on hauppauge.com.
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post #8 of 14
5/7/07 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ACHlLLES
You can still watch tv via home network. (I'm not sure why I keep trying to convince you.) Anyways go buy a tv tuner card if you like. I'm just saying you can do alot more than just a simple tv card can do with a sling box.

Well, the slingbox is intriguing. Can it work without the use of networking/Internet and just be able to watch sans network/internet? I like that it can do a lot but if it doesn't do a simple thing like that, then it's not as useful.
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post #9 of 14
5/7/07 at 10:10pm
I'm happy with the video quality of my Dell Angel USB tunicago often.er, but unhappy that it doesn't work for live TV with other programs like Magix's Movies on CD's and DVD 5 programs. Maybe it doesn't work with other programs too, so I guess aftermarket is better.

I don't think you'd get true HDTV through a USB 2.0 tuner, maybe just a downgraded view. And free air HDTV signals suck / have low signal strentgh in Chicago often.
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post #10 of 14
5/7/07 at 10:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by InspiredE1705
I don't think you'd get true HDTV through a USB 2.0 tuner, maybe just a downgraded view. And free air HDTV signals suck / have low signal strentgh in Chicago often.
You can recieve 1080i over USB without any issues. USB 2.0 is capable of 480Mbit/sec. More than enough BW to handle it. I use OTA all the time when I am hom & on the road... Perhaps you should consider investing in a better OTA HD antenna. http://hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_hvr950.html
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post #11 of 14
5/8/07 at 2:07am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolApathy
You can recieve 1080i over USB without any issues. USB 2.0 is capable of 480Mbit/sec. More than enough BW to handle it.

I use OTA all the time when I am hom & on the road... Perhaps you should consider investing in a better OTA HD antenna.

http://hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_hvr950.html

Looks pretty good. I have a pretty good OTA HD antenna that I originally got for my HDTV Wonder PCI card. I live in LA and so far I've been able to get HD channels from even San Diego.
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post #12 of 14
5/8/07 at 2:39pm
Look at these reviews on that Hauppauge --

http://www.buy.com/articles/loc/6423...ype/1/150.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B000J1CCGA

One says it has pixelation at full screen and the other had problem with Win XP Media Center.

Do you get pixelation with yours?

I was thinking about getting one but I'll go for a desktop card instead unless the USB one is really good.
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post #13 of 14
5/8/07 at 3:04pm
TAke reviews with a grain of salt. Most people thatt have problems don't bother to see if there is anther issue causing the problem... When somone in a review (amazon) states that it's choppy & sucks because USB can't handle it & does not bother to note that he is plugging it into a USB keyboard thay only supports 1.1. ( you are going to get chop!)

I have it, love it... no issues...Make sure you go into the BIOS & set USB to High speed instead of compatible mode....
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post #14 of 14
10/8/07 at 2:37pm
This is a new TV tuner USB 2.0 stick:
Pinnacle PCTV HD Ultimate Stick

http://www.tvsnob.com/archives/013500.php#more

Advertised as NTSC, ATSC and "clear" QAM

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pinna...oductDetail.do

I am not sure how good it is. I have read some bad reviews about Pinnacle products, but this looks interesting.
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