This is my first post here so please be patient with me until I catch on to the 'best' protocol for submitting a question and hopefully starting a useful thread.
Additionally, I HAVE searched this Forum and, although there is a TON of info here, I have been unable to garner ALL of the pieces I need to continue further in my quest. Thanks MUST go out to at least HammerHead, Ramrod, and BFisch06 for what I HAVE been able to glean here...Kudos guys, some Forums have a couple of 'dedicated' reps...THIS one has MANY.
I have an Aurora 7700 that was purchased used (7 kids, 6 female, 4 of those in college...I couldn't POSSIBLY afford a 'new' one...) about a year ago and have had little to complain about. The chassis was one of my reasons...I'm somewhat destructive with my techno-gadgets and this thing is a true tank...but I was most interested in the platform. I'm an A/V Engineer and the I/Os (a REAL DB9, Composite and S-Video Inputs S-Video Output, Tuner capable, yada, yada...) were an awesome plus. Unfortunately, mine did NOT come originally equipped with the TV Tuner thus rendering the CV and SV inputs moot. So, I went on a quest for a Tuner...which has been one of the most daunting tasks I have ever endeavored upon. Therefore, I'll state my question(s) and reveal what I (think I) know and have learned
My first understanding is that there were 2 different tuners available: the AveMedia M102 and a Yuan PVR MPC-622 MCE. I was since led to believe that there are several...if not many...Mini PCI Tuners that will function in this particular Laptop. Research raised so many more questions, and an eventual purchase that has caused much frustration, that now I am simply confused.
My GOAL is to get a Tuner so as to access the CV and SV INPUTS in the back of the unit...and AW, AverMedia, and other Tech Support resources have been almost useless in information regarding the compatibility (other than the 2 afore mentioned models) of ANY alternative Tuner Card (not that they didn't try...except for AverMedia...it seems that their access to the 'information' is simply minimal cross platform). Having the use of the actual Tuner itself would have just been a big bonus.
I have searched high and low for the M102 and the MPC-622 to no avail...probably to late to the punch, these models are just already out there in the 'wild' and not on anyone's 'shelf' anymore...so, after consulting with AW and Aver (with noted results), I acquired an AverMedia M103 on eBay (apparently NOT from a D900K) and installed it with practically no issues. Although finding the proper software was a nightmare, I did install the M103_3.5.0.47 version and was able to 'bring the card up'. The Tuner part works absolutely fine, but the CV and SV inputs are completely non-functional. Of course, I may be doing 'something' wrong but I am somewhat adept...and damn stubborn/determined...and I feel like I have exhausted my options. So here goes:
1) Is there a known list of Mini PCI TV Tuners that will ALLOW functionality of the CV and SV Inputs (I am aware that the CV RCA is ALSO used...with an adapter...for the RF Connection. That's the part I HAVE been able to get working)?
2) If so, does ANYONE know where I can purchase one of these devices?
3) Alternatively, is there a known version of the AverMedia software that is COMPLETELY COMPATIBLE with the Aurora 7700 (or any OTHER D900K variant)...or...is it known that the M103 will or simply will NOT work in this environment?
To be specific, here's the info on my Blue Box:
Alienware Aurora m7700 (D900K)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
2GB RAM
nVidia GeForce GO 7800 GTX
Hitachi SATA 100GB 7200rpm (x2)
Atheros MiniPCI SuperG Wireless Card (no Bluetooth)
Avermedia MiniPCI M103 Hybrid TV Tuner Card
Windows XP Pro SP3
Truly, I have many other questions about parts, software, and usability issues but I will opt for patience and 'one thing at a time' manners to address this issue before attempting other conflagrations. Thanks in advance for any and all information you may provide, and many thanks to all for simply being here.
Tribulated and Tuned Out...
RAF
Additionally, I HAVE searched this Forum and, although there is a TON of info here, I have been unable to garner ALL of the pieces I need to continue further in my quest. Thanks MUST go out to at least HammerHead, Ramrod, and BFisch06 for what I HAVE been able to glean here...Kudos guys, some Forums have a couple of 'dedicated' reps...THIS one has MANY.
I have an Aurora 7700 that was purchased used (7 kids, 6 female, 4 of those in college...I couldn't POSSIBLY afford a 'new' one...) about a year ago and have had little to complain about. The chassis was one of my reasons...I'm somewhat destructive with my techno-gadgets and this thing is a true tank...but I was most interested in the platform. I'm an A/V Engineer and the I/Os (a REAL DB9, Composite and S-Video Inputs S-Video Output, Tuner capable, yada, yada...) were an awesome plus. Unfortunately, mine did NOT come originally equipped with the TV Tuner thus rendering the CV and SV inputs moot. So, I went on a quest for a Tuner...which has been one of the most daunting tasks I have ever endeavored upon. Therefore, I'll state my question(s) and reveal what I (think I) know and have learned
My first understanding is that there were 2 different tuners available: the AveMedia M102 and a Yuan PVR MPC-622 MCE. I was since led to believe that there are several...if not many...Mini PCI Tuners that will function in this particular Laptop. Research raised so many more questions, and an eventual purchase that has caused much frustration, that now I am simply confused.
My GOAL is to get a Tuner so as to access the CV and SV INPUTS in the back of the unit...and AW, AverMedia, and other Tech Support resources have been almost useless in information regarding the compatibility (other than the 2 afore mentioned models) of ANY alternative Tuner Card (not that they didn't try...except for AverMedia...it seems that their access to the 'information' is simply minimal cross platform). Having the use of the actual Tuner itself would have just been a big bonus.
I have searched high and low for the M102 and the MPC-622 to no avail...probably to late to the punch, these models are just already out there in the 'wild' and not on anyone's 'shelf' anymore...so, after consulting with AW and Aver (with noted results), I acquired an AverMedia M103 on eBay (apparently NOT from a D900K) and installed it with practically no issues. Although finding the proper software was a nightmare, I did install the M103_3.5.0.47 version and was able to 'bring the card up'. The Tuner part works absolutely fine, but the CV and SV inputs are completely non-functional. Of course, I may be doing 'something' wrong but I am somewhat adept...and damn stubborn/determined...and I feel like I have exhausted my options. So here goes:
1) Is there a known list of Mini PCI TV Tuners that will ALLOW functionality of the CV and SV Inputs (I am aware that the CV RCA is ALSO used...with an adapter...for the RF Connection. That's the part I HAVE been able to get working)?
2) If so, does ANYONE know where I can purchase one of these devices?
3) Alternatively, is there a known version of the AverMedia software that is COMPLETELY COMPATIBLE with the Aurora 7700 (or any OTHER D900K variant)...or...is it known that the M103 will or simply will NOT work in this environment?
To be specific, here's the info on my Blue Box:
Alienware Aurora m7700 (D900K)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
2GB RAM
nVidia GeForce GO 7800 GTX
Hitachi SATA 100GB 7200rpm (x2)
Atheros MiniPCI SuperG Wireless Card (no Bluetooth)
Avermedia MiniPCI M103 Hybrid TV Tuner Card
Windows XP Pro SP3
Truly, I have many other questions about parts, software, and usability issues but I will opt for patience and 'one thing at a time' manners to address this issue before attempting other conflagrations. Thanks in advance for any and all information you may provide, and many thanks to all for simply being here.
Tribulated and Tuned Out...
RAF
encourages them to help)
