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TV Tuner for Laptops

post #1 of 13
10/31/02 at 12:25am
Thread Starter 
Do you guys know of any TV Tuner options for laptops? I am already getting Sager 5660, which does not have it built in. I have heard of some USB options. How good is the quality?

Ascence
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post #2 of 13
11/1/02 at 2:25am
OK, I hope this isn't a stupid question. Even if it is, oh well, I'm asking anyway.

Do you guys know if either of these TV solutions can be used to connect a console system to ones laptop? I have looked on both websites posted, and I could not tell one way or the other.

Basically, do these things have an s-video/composite video in with matching rca audio in, as well as a "video-in" channel on the tuner?
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post #3 of 13
11/1/02 at 10:47am
The 888x series does have S-video input.
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post #4 of 13
11/1/02 at 12:53pm
Quote:
The 888x series does have S-video input.
I realize this, but seeing as I have just ordered a 5660, I am looking for another way to hook up a console to my laptop.

Also, I don't NEED an S-video input. Composite (yellow rca plug) will work just fine for my purpose.

Of course the IDEAL solution would be one that let me use my laptop as a 480p HD "monitor" (via a vga-box or something of the sort)
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post #5 of 13
11/1/02 at 6:37pm
Try this one. I got one, and for $57 you can't get much better. http://www.audioexchange.com/usbtvbox.html
It has FM in, Composite in, S-Video in, RCA in, and it encodes mpeg1-2. It can also capture Radio signals to Wav format.
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post #6 of 13
11/2/02 at 1:44pm
Are there converters or solutions for component out video?
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post #7 of 13
11/4/02 at 6:34pm
As long as you can get a cable from the laptop to a std Coax one (RCA?) then your alright, I know you can get them for all the consoles over here.

NS
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post #8 of 13
11/4/02 at 8:46pm
Quote:
Originally posted by vanfanel
Are there converters or solutions for component out video?
That seems like unneeded expense. You won't get any higher video quality b/c at best you'll be converting from the lower quality S-video output on the computer. Also, component video cables are ludicrously expensive! I don't think you'll notice a difference in quality by using component video out. Just use an S-video cable! Any TV that has component video input should have S-video.

Although I have to admit there is the show-off factor: "Look, my computer has component video output!"
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post #9 of 13
11/4/02 at 9:33pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Kendalf
That seems like unneeded expense. You won't get any higher video quality b/c at best you'll be converting from the lower quality S-video output on the computer. Also, component video cables are ludicrously expensive! I don't think you'll notice a difference in quality by using component video out. Just use an S-video cable! Any TV that has component video input should have S-video.

Although I have to admit there is the show-off factor: "Look, my computer has component video output!"
You're right about the bragging rights

Btw, component video cables should not be any more expensive than regular RCA cables. Although the quality of the cable can be argued as the extra expense...e.g. monster cables
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post #10 of 13
11/4/02 at 10:49pm
I could be mistaken but I think he meant a converter for the s-video out to component.

Converting s-video to composite requires an expensive adapter, I don't know about component though I would guess $$$ as well.
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post #11 of 13
11/4/02 at 11:58pm
That raises a good point... the inspiron 8200s come with a hybrid s-video to s-video/component/SPDIF adapter. Do the 5660s come with a similar adapter? Or will they work with the Dell adapter?
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post #12 of 13
11/5/02 at 9:53pm
5660s don't come with an adapter. I am not very familiar with the dell adapter you are referring to, but I can tell you this.

If it is a standard S-video > component adapter (meaning it takes an S-Video (Y) signal and passes it along, and the (Pb + Pr) signal and breaks it into (Pb) (Pr), then yes it will work.

However, since you said the same adapter also outputs SPDIF, I'm thinking that the Dell can sense when the adapter is being used and then passes additional information through the S-video port. Chances are that the Sager doesn't do this (or if it could they would probably have included a similar adapter or made one available as an option)
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post #13 of 13
11/5/02 at 9:57pm
I had a look and the Dell one has some extra pins on the S-video output (for the SPDIF I suppose). I guess all I need is a S-video to composite adaptor, like you say. The only thing the Dell has over the 5660 is the Type III cardbus slot and an audio line-in. Is the mic-in suitable for use as a line-in or is it handled differently?
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