[Maniaxe]

Since DVRs these days have monthly subscriptions, I want to find a cheaper option and use my PC to record TV instead. I want to record shows in standard or high quality, but without large file sizes. Which tuner and which software would you recommend me using? I remember using Windows Media Center before, but the file sizes were very large for even shows that were only half an hour.

[smax013]

Maniaxe, on 22 March 2012 - 06:08 PM, said:

Since DVRs these days have monthly subscriptions, I want to find a cheaper option and use my PC to record TV instead. I want to record shows in standard or high quality, but without large file sizes. Which tuner and which software would you recommend me using? I remember using Windows Media Center before, but the file sizes were very large for even shows that were only half an hour.

Unless you are recording at some really low quality, video files will be rather large. It is just the nature of the beast.

Beyond that, what do you use for your TV signal? Antenna? Cable? Satellite?

If you are dealing with either an antenna or unencrypted cable (i.e. ClearQAM), then this will work: http://www.silicondu...hdhomerun/atsc/

If you are dealing with encrypted cable and your cable company offers CableCards, then this will work: http://www.silicondu...dhomerun/prime/

Both of these devices connect to your network and then "record" the shows over the network to your computer's hard drive. They both work with Windows Media Center.

[nonseq]

Hauppauge has been around for a long time and, while it's been a long time since I used their gear they might be worth the look http://www.hauppauge.com/

This post has been edited by nonseq: 23 March 2012 - 08:32 AM

[compnovo]

I put one of these in my desktop:
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16815293006
It's out of stock now (too bad, it's an excellent tuner), I just mentioned it to give an example. The important thing is to get a tuner like this that receives both analog and digital cable signals so you have a choice between standard and high def. Recording in standard def mode will save a considerable amount a hard drive space, as long as you don't mind giving up quality.

I use Win7 Home Premium's WMC for viewing and recording because it's bundled with the OS, and the software that usually comes bundled with a TV tuner card has been pretty substandard and twitchy in my experience.

[Rommel]

compnovo, on 23 March 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

I put one of these in my desktop:
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16815293006
It's out of stock now (too bad, it's an excellent tuner), I just mentioned it to give an example. The important thing is to get a tuner like this that receives both analog and digital cable signals so you have a choice between standard and high def. Recording in standard def mode will save a considerable amount a hard drive space, as long as you don't mind giving up quality.

I use Win7 Home Premium's WMC for viewing and recording because it's bundled with the OS, and the software that usually comes bundled with a TV tuner card has been pretty substandard and twitchy in my experience.

I'll throw another card at yeah, http://www.newegg.co...N82E16815116037 this has been used, but not a whole lot, for 2 yrs now.
As smax said about the file size is the way it is.

This card has excellent HD picture quality that fills my 23" HD monitor.
WMC works excellent with it.

It does not come with software to view channels but if you use WMC you don't need it, just the driver that comes with it.

If you wish to use the composite/s-video input then you'll need to buy their software that was $10 a couple yrs ago.
WMC doesn't not offer an option for that input.

Also, fios will not allow all channels, at least in NJ.
You'll get about 25 clear quam channels. Not as many as I hoped for but the quality is amazing.

Smax has linked to interesting alternatives as well.