Best TV Tuner

YankeeDeuce. You may want to check on the Sasem OnAir USB HDTV. It is an USB 2.0 external tuner that can receive HDTV. A little expensive - I believe $299. However, from what i have been able to research it is probably the best out there. There have been some software updates since its release early this year. I read through a lenghtly thread on this, about 20 pages or so - I don't have the exact link but you can search the following site www.avsforum.com. I would search for member rconn2 and thread he started "Sasem OnAir USB HDTV" I would suggest reading the entire thread to get a good perspective. I am about ready to purchase a laptop, probably the Sager 4750 with 17" WSXGA+ and believe this tuner would work well with this laptop. I could get an internal TV tuner with it but the Sasem OnAir is way superior - particularly if I want to view HDTV reception. I still have some questions regards resolution reception on the laptop with the "standard" HDTV resolutions. Good luck on your search. Let me know what you end up with and how it works.

Thought I would post a few comments of a review of the Sasem USB HDTV thread referenced above.


HDTV heaven on a Thursday night. First Reports...

I just finished my first night with the USBHDTV unit. I'm definitely impressed! I was able to watch CSI, Without A Trace (which I've never bothered to watch before now) and the Tonight Show all in stunning 1080i HD.

Of the three, The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno was particularly stunning - great cameras and lighting. While watching it on the Sasem (with my 1680x1050 widescreen laptop) I had the analog broadcast going on my 32" SD Sanyo CRT for comparison. As you might expect, the HD broadcast over the Sasem box was simply stunning compared to the analog from the Sanyo. And even though the laptop screen is only 15.4", the closeness at which you watch, combined with the panaramic effect of the HDTV 1080i broadcast cameras makes the screen appear much larger than the 32" across the room - It felt like watching a 50" HDTV.

Some visual highlights from the Tonight Show over the Sasem...

During cutaways to Kevin and the band, as well as camera pans over the audience, you really get the effect of actually being there - a very immersive quality.

During the Marc Walberg interview, you could actually make out the blue color of the viens in the biceps of his arms. During the same interview, there was a Sharpie on Jay's desk and you could almost read the word "Sharpie". It was actually clear enough to make out the logo on the pen.

During the Sarah McGloughlin performance, you could really see the texture of her skin during the closeups. And you could really make out the odd mascara line she had running above both eyelids - something I never would have noticed on the SD broadcast. Overall, the clarity is almost startling at first - I don't want to get used to this, but somehow human nature tells me I will. SD will never be the same.

Overall, I'm definitely glad I made the purchase. The visuals are simply astounding. Now some critical comments on the Sasem software...

Lonestar, how would you compare Sasem to Hauppage Wintv PVR2 ...? Because after your description sasem looks to be the better choice.. Can you explain to me what HDTV is and how you can get it? Btw does sasem record etc? ...Like for regular tv is the sasem much clearer? This is because I'm looking for a tv-tuner for my laptop and want to have the best picture quality...

What is High Definition TV ? It is what the would is migrating to. May be fully implemented by 2006 in the USA. The following link can help answer some questions about HDTV, http://www.avsforum.com/hdtvfaq/HDTV-FAQ.htm

Basically, many stations (and more every day) broadcast HDTV, I believe all the major networks broadcast HDTV at least during prime time and probably for special events like the Olympics coming up. If you have digital cable you are probably receiving some HDTV broadcasts. You can receive HDTV by simply using an antenna, OTA (over the air). You could do a search on the internet for stations that broadcast HDTV in your area.

As far as how does the Sasem compare with the Hauppage - I don't think the Hauppage has HDTV. The Sasem I believe can do everything the Hauppage can do, well, probably more considering the HDTV. Basically I just want the tuner to be able to watch HDTV, record some programs, amd maybe convert some tapes to DVD.
The Sasem OnAir USB product you will probably not find too many reviews on it. It is new, introduced in the states early this year. They have had some software revisions to it since then and have increased its capabilities. The software from what I ubderstand was good but still needed to work out some bugs and is better now than when introduced. The only source that I know of to purchase it is at copperbox.com. May want to give them a call and ask questions on the capabilities and comparisons to similar products. I plan on doing that myself. However, I have pretty much decided that this is the TV tuner I am going to get. The one thing I have found from three separate reviews I could find that was consistent in all of them - when viewing the HDTV on a laptop with this device - simply incredible.

Below I listed the features from the copperbox site.

Sasem OnAir USB HDTV Features:
HDTV timeshifting and live pause in full resolution!
New software version 2.700Beta supports recording QAM (digital cable, unencrypted feeds).
Interface with PCs or Notebooks through USB 2.0
Support Standard ATSC HD Format
Support NTSC Analog TV with Time Shifting
S-Video‚ Composite Input
Supports Dolby Surround & SPDIF (soundcard required)
Auto Power On/Off
Easy to install (Plug & Play)
Lowest CPU resource usage to decode HD streams by using InterVideo´s innovative HD decoder
Microsoft Media Center ready (MCE 1.x ; analog TV only)
PVR timeshifting and pause live TV (analog only).
Full HDTV support of 1920 X 1080i ATSC
ACS / AAC Audio Decoding output
Real-time or Schedule Recording
Hardware MPEG2 Encoding for Analog Video Source
Composite and Stereo audio input
Playback of HD Stream files (Random access)
D-VHS HD Stream playback or realtime recording (Windows XP only)
OnAir HD Editor
Intervideo WinDVD4 software bundle

Thanks for the info..
Btw so if we just have a cable wire (I don't know how to call it) coming into the room....because I will be in a dorm next year...I can just hook it up to a sasem, and I'll be able to watch tv? ..Basically it has the same features as a Hauppage but just with HDTV, but it won't show HDTV unless I set up an antenna or so right?

layzie, If the cable service is digital cable then you can receive HDTV thru the cable. Of course only for those programs that are broadcast in HDTV. Otherwise, yes will wanr to get an antenna. Should get anyway to take in your laptop bag. May wamt to check on a HDTV antenna called the Silver Sensor, heard they were good. Also in you have a window in your dorm may want to consider hooking up an antenna that goes outside. Should be able to get special coaxial cable that can slide under ehere the window closes. Other antennas will work UHF bowtie for example. May have to experiment to get the best reception. Don't forget to check for local stations that broadcast OTA in HDTV.

I'd recommend the Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250 or PVR-350. They are top of the line, and are highly compatible with the leading Tivo-like applications. I've got a Linux box HTPC running MythTV on Knoppmyth (custom knoppix distro just for mythtv) and a PVR-250 and the quality is excellent.