Hauppauge 1120CN WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid Video Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased one of these new USB tuners earlier this week and have been playing with it for about 2 days now.

For reference, I have an AMD 4000+ single-core system with 1 GB RAM and an nVidia 7800 GT video card.

Install was a breeze.Included documentation was minimal but sufficient to get you "up and running".

GREAT video quality, but taxes your CPU if you can not use video hardware acceleration. Must use a dedicated USB2 port for best results.Do NOT use a hub if you can avoid it, especially if you have a USB WLAN adapter already connected to it! Using video card hardware acceleration causes image corruption and I have not been able to resolve this issue with drivers, etc.Still working on it.However, the CPU is able to handle the load (barely) with excellent image quality.PVR function is awesome.The ability to use TitanTV scheduling is very helpful.Recorded image quality exceeds that of what is displayed "live" on my machine, at least in full screen.Works for both analog cable & ATSC (OTA HD).

The included antenna for ATSC is not very good - invest in a better, amplified antenna for best results.It would probably be great for sitting in a big city airport terminal, though.

Overall - very pleased with the purchase.

12/22/06 Update regarding hardware acceleration: I still have not been able to successfully make hardware acceleration work with the combination of an AMD 4000+ processer and nVidia 7800 GT or nvidia 7950 GX2 video cards.This does not impact standard def programming at all, but HD programming can get a little choppy using only the CPU.However, hardware acceleration works PERFECTLY on my older Dell XPS2 laptop with a 2 GHz Pentium M and an nVidia 6800 Ultra video card.

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Product Description:
The Hauppauge 1139 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder will bring high-definition television directly to your PC. This handy device lets you watch your favorite TV shows through your computer, and record them digitally for future playback using high quality MPEG-2. More economical and versatile than a DVR, or digital video recorder, this PC Video Recorder, or PVR, gives you virtually unlimited options for saving and playing back your favorite TV broadcasts and clips.
The Hauppauge 1139 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder offers:

Ability to watch television on your PC in a window or full screen.
Portable, small size for on-the-go television viewing on your laptop.
Compatibility with digital and analog signals.
Acceptance of video feeds from a camera or satellite box.

The small, pocketable size lets you easily take it everywhere. View larger. Play and Record Television Digitally
The WinTV-HVR-950 is a simple-to-use device that brings over-the-air high definition ATSC digital TV as well as analog cable TV directly to your PC desktop or laptop. With the additional included antenna, it can also receive analog TV broadcasts, and it can also accept video feeds directly from a camera or satellite box.
More versatile than a DVR, the WinTV-HVR-950 is a pocket-sized device that simply plugs into your PC's USB port. It features a built-in digital ATSC over-the-air TV receiver. If you live in one of the more than 200 cities in the United States that receives ATSC digital TV, you'll have immediate access to as many as 1500 digital TV stations. ATSC digital TV is the over-the-air HDTV standard for North America. ATSC broadcasts range in resolution from standard definition up to the high definition 1080i format. (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com.)
A portable digital TV antenna, which can be used to receive digital TV up to 10 miles from an ATSC transmitter, is included with the PVR . (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com) If you live in an area where you can't currently receive ATSC digital TV, the WinTV-HVR-950 can still be used to watch and record analog TV from cable TV or a TV antenna. (The WinTV-HVR-950 cannot receive digital cable TV or digital satellite TV.)
Once the WinTV-HVR-950 is connected, you can begin to record your favorite shows in high-quality MPEG-2 directly to your hard disk using the Hauppauge SoftPVR MPEG-2 encoder. Television recordings will typically consume 5 GB of disk space per hour for ATSC high definition, while analog recordings will typically consume 1.5 GB of disk space per hour. You can also use the included WinTV-Scheduler to program your compute to record your favorite analog or digital TV shows for play back at any time.


The WinTV application offers an elegant interface to watch TV in a window or full screen. View larger. Compatibility with Microsoft's Windows Media Center means that you can watch TV as well as your recordings with Windows Media Center. The included WinTV application also lets you watch your shows in a window or on full screen.
More about PVR Technology
PVR stands for PC Video Recorder. The WinTV-HVR-950 is a PVR that allows you to play television through your computer and record the broadcasts digitally. PVR doesn't use standard videocassettes; instead, it uses your computer's hard disk to store the broadcasts.
Once you record a television show to your PC's hard drive, you can burn a CD or DVD that will allow you to play the show back on another computer or on your television. With video editing software (not included with the WinTV-HVR-950), you can even edit the shows. This is a great feature if you want to save clips from movies or sitcoms, or keep your favorite player's grand slam or TD kick-off return for posterity.
And just like a typical VCR, the WinTV-HVR-950 offers you several recording options, depending on your play back needs. If you want the highest quality recording for playback through your HDTV, all you need is enough hard drive space to support high-quality recording. By using the lowest recording option, you can use your WinTV-HVR-950, along with an inexpensive video camera, as a low-cost on-site video surveillance system. In fact, the possibilities of how you can take advantage of the WinTV-HVR-950 are endless.
What's in the Box
WinTV-HVR-950 USB 2.0 TV stick with cable TV or ATSC antenna connection; USB extension cable; portable antenna; software on CD-ROM; and quick installation guide.

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ATSC NTSC Hybrid HDTV PCI TV Tuner /Digital Video Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)Hi, this package is great.I've used TV tuner cards for several years and seen them develop.This card is by far more mature than anything I've used.It's very easy to use, the interface is like a TIVO and the functions are fairly intuitive.Overall, I give it high marks and am satisfied with my purchase.

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Product Description:
X8000A uses the latest TV decoding chip from Silicon Valley. It supports both free-to-air HDTV and traditional NTSC TV signal decoding with the built-in dual tuners. You will enjoy crystal clear HDTV with resolution up to 1920

Avertv Hybrid Volar Max Tv Tuner Kit for Windows MTVHVMXSK Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using Media Center on a WinXP tower since 2004. My HP unit came with a built in tuner which could only receive analog channels and the 2004 version of MC that came with it only supported standard def TV.As the years passed, I was eagerly anticipating for a release of Media center that supported HD programming.Once that happened on Windows 7 (and perhaps Vista), I needed to find a tuner card that would work with it.

Over the years I would check release info on new products and read about one sad experience after another regarding the failure of available HD tuner cards on the market and issues regarding firmware, drivers, configuration settings, etc.

Knowing that most new technology needs a few years to get the bugs out, I didn't buy and waited. The last few months had me itching to try and finally set up a HTPC (Home Theater PC) system. When it comes to video quality, my assumption was that I'd get better performance from a PCI internal tuner card in a tower. Thing is, I don't have a new Windows tower but I do have an inexpensive netbook running Windows 7 Home Premium.As there's no way to install an internal tuner card I'm limited to using an external USB tuner.After reading the reviews on Amazon, I decided the Volar Max was my best bet (and at $55 I figured I could only go so wrong).

I remember going through error and configuration issues with Vista and XP in the past, the idea that this little flashdrive-sized gizmo was going to allow me to tune in analog channels, digital channels as well as actual hi res HD seemed suspect at the very least.I was dreading the thought of experiencing the usual whole night investment of getting a new peripheral up and running on Windows only to have it not work well.

I plugged the Avertv in the USB slot and it found & installed its driver automatically and quickly. It then gave me the option of installing it's own tuner/viewer software.I declined in favor of Media Center.

Now I can't say how this thing works with any other OS's but, with Windows 7 Home Premium, the Avertv Volar Max blew my mind.My laptop is connected to an LCDTV- I fired up Media Center, which found the Avertv right away.I selected it, went through the channel scan (like any tv) and was watching great quality analog & digital HD tv within minutes.It WORKED!And not only that, it worked without my having to do any manual installations or configurations. Windows media center rocks (and IMHO blows away Apple in this particular area).The picture and sound seems as good as any HDTV tuner I've seen built into HD televisions.I hooked up my HP Media Center IR remote and can now flip through channels, set DVR recordings, play music, etc. from my couch.

Maybe this shows my age, but I thought any kind of decent resolution tuner hardware needed to be relatively big in size. That this tiny unit does so much, so well and so easily is immensely impressive.

The age of HTPC's is definitely here.

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Product Description:
Thanks to the support of Digital TV (ATSC) or Unencrypted Digital Cable (ClearQAM*) reception;the AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX is the ideal travel mate for viewing High Definition TV on the go.With Microsoft Windows Media Center, users will enjoy breathtaking and glorious TV viewing. Add this TV tuner to Windows 7 (Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate) to turn your PC into a powerful Digital Video Recorder. Watch Analog and Digital TV channels plus radio and recordyour favorite programs.

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Hauppauge 1196 WinTV HVR-1250 PCI Express Hybrid High Definition TV Tuner Card Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
One of the lowest cost Hybrid Tuner Cards out there that can do both Analog and Digital Tuning.It works well, can view a clear picture on the computer, smooth, NOT choppy nor freezes.Includes WinTV7 which is needed to watch digital channels (ATSC or clear QAM), Windows Media Center only supports Analog (NTCS) Channels.The card is small (1/2 Height with 1/2 Height headers that can be swapped on) and its PCIe so it will fit a PCIeX1 or PCIeX16 slot.
64Bit supported just as well as 32Bit, running this on Vista Home Premium 64Bit.

Cons:
Does NOT have a MPEG Encoder chip, so no hardware conversion of the Analog signal, your CPU will have to work harder to do a software MPEG conversion.With weaker CPU's that might be a problem, my Athlon X2 6000+ runs at 40%-50% utilization while watching analog channels.I'm pretty sure Digital Channels do NOT need a MPEG Encoder chip, the digital signal is already streamed as MPEG, and watching digital channels my CPU utilization is 15%-30%, more often at the lower end near 15%.

Like mentioned, WinTV7 can crash suddenly, but restarts and runs fine after a crash.Its NOT to often, but enough that its more than a fluke.Runs just as well 64Bit as 32Bit.Remember, you can't watch Digital Channels in Windows Media Center, only analog, you'll need WinTV7 or another 3rd Party Program to watch Digital Channels.

Other:
Windows 7 will support Digital Channels in Windows Media Center.
If your cable company offers clear QAM, Comcast in my area has a digital alternative for every analog channel as well, so I can get every channel they offer in digital, then there is NO reason to pay extra for a Tuner Card with a MPEG encoder chip onboard, its NOT needed for Digital Channels.I'm pretty sure its NOT used at all for digital channels.
Remember, this card is PCI"e" NOT PCI, it will NOT fit your PCI slots, its for PCI"e"X1 or even PCI"e"X16 slots.

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Product Description:
The Hauppauge 1196 WinTV-HVR-1250 lets you watch, pause and record both digital and analog television on your PC, in a window or full screen. With PVR software you can also record television onto your computer for viewing later without slowing down your computer. Thanks to MPEG-2 encoding, video quality is superb.
The Hauppauge 1196 WinTV-HVR-1250 offers:

Watch, pause, and record digital and analog TV on your PC.
Compatible with ATSC and QAM digital TV, and NTSC analog cable TV signals.
Convenient remote control.
MPEG-2 software encoder for analog TV.

WinTV software makes it easy to record your favorite shows. View larger.

Watch and record high-definition digital television on your computer. View larger. View ports. Watch High-definition Digital TV on Your Computer
The WinTV-HVR-1250 lets you watch ATSC digital TV as well as QAM digital TV and analog cable TV directly on your computer. ATSC digital TV, which typically requires an antenna for reception, is the over-the-air HDTV standard for North America. ATSC broadcasts range in resolution from standard definition up to the high definition 1080i format. (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com.)
The WinTV-HVR-1250 also lets you watch and record QAM channels, which are unencrypted digital channels broadcast by your local cable operator. If you don't have access to digital television channels yet, you can also watch regular analog cable television. And with the included remote control, you can control your cable TV or satellite set top box.
In addition to high-definition video, the card also features a dbx-TV stereo decoder for great TV sound. The card has S-Video and stereo audio inputs that allow for connecting VCRs or cable/satellite set top boxes.
Your Own Personal Digital Video Recorder!
With the included software, you can easily record TV shows to your hard disk using MPEG-2. Several recording options are available depending on your playback needs; higher quality video requires more disk space. Generally, 5 gigabytes of disk space is used per hour of ATSC digital TV recordings, and 1.5 gigabytes of disk space is used per hour of Analog recording using Hauppauge's SoftPVR for Windows XP and Media Center.
With the WinTV-Scheduler software, you can easily schedule the recordings of your favorite television shows daily, weekly, or just once. You can then play back the recordings at your leisure, burn them onto CD or DVD for playback on another computer or your television, or with video editing software (not included), you can even edit the shows. This is great for saving favorite movie clips, clips of your home team's dramatic last-second win, or your favorite player's grand slam.
The Hauppauge 1196 WinTV-HVR-1250 plugs into a PCI express X1 or X16 slot, and is compatible with Windows Vista, XP with Service Pack 2, and Windows XP Media Center Edition. With XP-MCE and Vista, you can add the WinTV-HVR-1250 as either the primary or secondary TV tuner. The Microsoft Media Center application supports up to two TV tuners so if you have a second tuner in addition to the WinTV-HVR-1250, you can watch one channel while recording another.
What's in the Box
WinTV-HVR-1250 PCI Express bus TV tuner, remote control with batteries, remote control receiver cable, WinTV software CD-ROM, quick installation guide, and half-height bracket for use in low-profile chassis.

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MSI AE2220-25SUS 21.6-Inch Black Desktop PC (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

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(More customer reviews)This review is being updated as of late March 2010 to maintain accuracy.MSI has added models to their already long lineup.The TV tuner in my first 25SUS failed, the keyboard was DOA, and Amazon replaced the entire unit.More on that below, but I have to give Amazon 5 stars for their outstanding customer service. As always, be sure of your warranty and return policies. Plus: Lots of good user comments at the bottom of this review.

This review is about MSI's Wind Top "Multi Touch" (touch screen) AE2220 25SUS. The 2220 Series now apparently has seven models, the 25, 26, 27, 66, and 69SUS, and now the 236 and 237US. You can also find the 1900, the 2010, the 2020 and the 2200 series in MSI's ALL-In-One line of PC's. The here reviewed AE2220 25SUS probably qualifies as the top model of the entire line as of this date (now see AE2220 237US also). If you do a search for this specific model you will find a very good (and very positive) review at Benchmark Reviews, one which also links to an exhaustive Lavalys EVEREST configuration report.And as noted below, check YouTube.

Not to confuse the issue, but there is also an "AE 2220 Hi Fi" glowingly reviewed on the web, although the model is NOT listed on MSI's U.S. website as of this date and does NOT appear to be available in the states."Hi Fi" elements may be built into the 25SUS.A highly configurable and more expensive AE 2240 model is supposed to appear in the second quarter of 2010. MSI has also shown concept 3D and hybrid projector machines. MSI breeds computers like rabbits. There are 21 models in the Wind Top line on MSI's US site (msicomputer) right now, and it ain't gonna get any simpler unless they start shooting some of them.

Be aware that as of the date of this review the AE2220 pictures on Amazon are outdated, including those of the rear panel. I have posted some user pictures which should be of some help.If you do a search for this unit you will find pictures of a black rectangle mounted in clear plexiglass, and that seems to be what is shipping. It is what I received. Further, the specifications listed on Amazon (and elsewhere) are sometimes incomplete and incorrect. Go to msicomputer (the U.S. site, not the Global) to very carefully check the specifications of the All-In-One model you are considering. Some have touch screens and some do not; some are XP, some Vista, some Win 7, now there are three 64 bit models; there is a variety of processors, hard drives and on-board memory in the Wind Top line, and I have found no way to do a side-by-side comparison. The 25SUS and the 2220-237US may be the only ones with a built-in hi definition capable TV tuner.

What is it? This is an "All-In-One" (AIO) PC, that new generation of computer which combines all of its components--save for the keyboard, mouse and power supply--into the same space occupied by (in this case) a 21.5" diagonal monitor. It really is a hybrid: It is a quite powerful "multi" touch screen PC running Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit; it is a computer monitor, because it has inputs; it is a high definition capable television with a built-in tuner; it is a high definition video playback device with a built in Blue Ray DVD player and it is also an advanced audio playback device with incredible on board sound. Wireless 802.11b/g/n integrates it seamlessly into your network.

AE2220 25SUS: Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit, Intel? Core 2 Duo T6600 (2.2GHz), NVIDIA? GeForce 9300 Integrated Graphics (256MB VRAM), 21.5" Multi-Touch Widescreen (16:9), 1920 x 1080, 1080p, 4GB DDRII 800MHz SDRAM, 500GB SATA2 Hard Disk Drive, Blu-Ray Disc(tm) playback, CD/DVD playback/burning (no Light Scribe mentioned), 802.11b/g/n (Wireless), HD Audio, 2.0 Speakers with SRS Premium Sound, 1 x S/PDIF-OUT, 1 x Microphone-IN, 1 x Headphone-OUT, 1.3MP Webcam with Microphone, 4-in-1 Card Reader, 6 x USB 2.0, 1 x eSATA IN, 1 x VGA Monitor-IN, 1 x HDMI Monitor-IN, 1 x LAN jack (RJ45). Dimensions 21.81" W x 15.89" H x 2.42 D", about 26 pounds.

Ships with the All-In-One CPU, wireless keyboard and mouse, external power supply, remote control, HD TV antenna, antenna to coax adapter, documents, NO OS media.

You can put it on your desk, which is really cool, but this thing is just begging to be placed on your kitchen counter or hung on a wall. It's being sold as a piece of interactive art, and it's an attractive idea. You must disassemble and remove the support standto install a standard VESA wall mount. I will send you a link to this information if you ask in the comments below.In the kitchen or den it becomes a touch screen source for news, weather, sports or whatever, be it on TV or the Internet; a beautiful display for digital photographs; an Internet radio, with superb on board sound; a complete media center with high definition DVD playback and, well, on and on. Further, among competing models by other manufacturers the MSI Wind Top line offers exceptional value.

This is not really a gaming machine, although it will run up to mid-level games quite well. True gaming machines generate a lot of heat and therefore need lots of cooling, and the All-In-One configuration is not yet where serious gamers should be looking. This low power consumption PC--something like 90 watts under full load--was NOT built with gamers in mind, and criticizing the 25SUS on this basis is not only silly but a waste of time. One can, however, theoretically hook up a gaming console to this machine through the HDMI port (I have not personally done so) and use it as a 1080p gaming monitor.

Unfortunately I both love this machine and am shaking my head. It should be a 5 star product, but I am docking it 1 star for documentation and 1 for hardware issues to give it a 3.

I started my search for a new desktop with several criteria in mind: I wanted a reasonably powerful Windows 7 64 bit machine (the 25SUS is 32 bit) and I really wanted a built-in TV tuner. I looked at everything in the all-in-one genre, particularly Sony and HP; I liked the Sony, and then came across this one. It seemed to have everything I wanted in a compact design and at an incredible price point for what was offered, particularly the port configuration where HP was lacking. Plus, it was cutting edge, sort of. I know MSI components very well, MSI has a terrific reputation and this one was getting very good ink.

Now for the problems.The first lies in MSI's documentation, which is absolutely abysmal ("Yeah, we hear that all the time" an MSI tech told me on one of my calls). When you are looking to buy a product of this caliber you want very good, highly accurate and detailed pre-purchase information, and preferably a simple way to do comparisons among models. You CAN get what appear to be accurate technical details on specific models at MSI's U.S. site (msicomputer), NOT the Global--this is another source of confusion--and I strongly suggest that you do. Still, much of the information on the web is generic, lacking in critical detail, sometimes conflicting and occasionally written in poor English.

Take the operating system. It is listed almost everywhere as "Windows 7 Home Premium", with no reference online or in the manual as to whether it is 32 or 64 bit. You may see the CPU listed as "64 bit capable" but this is irrelevant. Most new computers in this league, including laptops, are today shipping with 64 bit systems. This is not a minor detail. The 25SUS is shipping with a 32 bit system (now three AE 2220 64 bit models at msicomputer, see below), and the only way you can ascertain this is to go into the machine's functions and directly check the specification.I ran the the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor on my machine and it states that the system is 64 bit compatible.Why MSI chose to ship a 32 bit system is anyone's guess, although they may have had reasons for so doing.Further clouding the issue, MSI lists 64 bit drivers on its website alongside the x86 drivers for this machine.So, don't be surprised if 64 bit systems suddenly and spontaneously appear in the Wind Top line...

UPDATE:Apparently in "MSI Speak" if the system spec doesn't specifically state "64 bit" you can assume it's 32 bit.MSI is now listing three "Windows? 7 64 bit Home Premium" models at msicomputer, the AE 2020-098US, the AE2220-236US, and the AE2220-237US.The 237US appears to most closely match the 25SUS in hardware specs, but may now be the top of the line unit given a slightly larger hard drive and the 64 bit operationg system.

A 64 bit bump on the 25SUS would not be for the faint of heart, given the MSI support mess, although we'd like to hear from any of you who are so brave.

OK, so you go to the manual and download it in advance, right? The "manual" for this unit, if it can be called that (Revision V1.1), is for the AE 2220 "series" and is an absolute disaster.It makes no distinction among five models, even though there are significant differences among them.Worse, the "information" therein is incomplete, conflicting and downright inaccurate. Update:MSI now lists a manual Revision 1.2 downloadable for the AE2220 series at msicomputer.The manual is a definite improvement, but is still sorely lacking.

And now let's move on to the hardware problems, which are exemplified in Revision 1.1...

...like MEMORY. The manual specifically states that "2 DDR2 667/ 800 SO-DIMM slots (200 pins/ 1.8V)...Supports the maximum of 8 GB".BUT, online specifications for the 2220 series state that the amount is fixed and CANNOT be changed. In fact there is a removable cover on the back of the machine concealing two 2 GB (4 GB total) chips and no open slots. Whether these can be bumped to 2 x 4 = 8 GB is anyone's guess; as of today Crucial's scanner comes up blank and support is quoting...Read more›

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Product Description:
Msi 22 multi-touch screen all-in-one pc (21.5 wsxga+ widescreen). Intel pentium core 2 duo t6600 nvidia 9300 ddr2 4gb ram 500gb hard drive blu-ray hdmi-in vga-in 6 usb ports e-sata 802.11n windows 7 home premium. Keyboard and mouse included. Vesa mountable (wall bracket sold seperatly).

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