[docplaster]

Please allow me to preface my question by saying that I spent from 1110-1524 today on the telephone with a Dell representative attempting to solve my problem only to be told after 4 hours that my tuner does not support a digital signal and will not be replaced as a result of purchasing this and an E521`online.My packing list list the tuner as a Dual TV Tuner Q/Remote, TVT3, MCEO5,DIM. My satellite system is from Dish network utilizing a DVR 622 receiver. I don't recall reading that this particular tuner would only support analog signals and not digital signals. Purchasing the proper tuner is not a problem, but the problem I have is that this wasn't made available when I placed my order. Just curious if anyone else has a similar problem. Also, not pleased that I could not talk to a supervisor at Dell, only listen to a relayed message through the lady who did her best to assist, albeit obviously limited in her expertise. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken almost four hours to arrive at the conclusion that the signal or lack thereof was the culprit. When I contacted the Dell Community Forum, I was told that this TV tuner should work as is. I am now more confused than ever. Any assistance appreciated.

[rgreen4]

docplaster - obviously Dell does not know what they are talking about. Yes Dish and DirecTv (which I have) are digital from the satellite to the satellite receiver, but the output from the receiver is both digital (HDMI and component) and analog (S-Video and composite).Now, we cannot use a TV tuner, in a PC or TV or VCR or DVR to tune in the satellite, but we can use the S-Video as line input to the TV tuner. The TV tuner in question should have an S-Video input, and I am sure that you Dish receiver has an S-Video output.No one makes a tuner with HD input except over the air. All line inputs are SD because of the digital rights limitations. They don't want you recording HD. Those tuners with both NTSC (SD) and ATSC (HD) will only bring in over the air HD. When connecting the Dish Recever to the TV Tuner with the S-Video you should be able to select line-in. You will have to read your instructions on how to do it, for every device I 've had over seems to do it a little differently.Unfortunately, those of us on Satellite have to deal with those who think it like either off the air, or cable, but of course it's not. It more like the old cable that had to have a set top box.

[smax013]

[quote name='docplaster']Please allow me to preface my question by saying that I spent from 1110-1524 today on the telephone with a Dell representative attempting to solve my problem only to be told after 4 hours that my tuner does not support a digital signal and will not be replaced as a result of purchasing this and an E521`online.> > My packing list list the tuner as a Dual TV Tuner Q/Remote, TVT3, MCEO5,DIM. My satellite system is from Dish network utilizing a DVR 622 receiver. I don't recall reading that this particular tuner would only support analog signals and not digital signals. Purchasing the proper tuner is not a problem, but the problem I have is that this wasn't made available when I placed my order. Just curious if anyone else has a similar problem. Also, not pleased that I could not talk to a supervisor at Dell, only listen to a relayed message through the lady who did her best to assist, albeit obviously limited in her expertise. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken almost four hours to arrive at the conclusion that the signal or lack thereof was the culprit. When I contacted the Dell Community Forum, I was told that this TV tuner should work as is. I am now more confused than ever. Any assistance appreciated.First, let me preface that all I say is based upon cable TV. I don't have satelite, but from what I understand, it works in a very similar, if not same, way.The overwhelming majority of computer tuner cards use analog tuners...just like most TVs use analog tuners. TVs are not required to have digital tuners until sometime in the next year or so. The end result is that if you buy a tuner card for your computer, it will more than likely be a analog tuner...unless you specifically buy a digital tuner based tuner card...assuming you can fine one.Beyond that, even if you did have a digital tuner on that tuner card, it more than likely would be useless to you. Cable companies (and I believe satelite companies) scramble their digital stations. This is so that you cannot just splice into your neighbors cable TV connect (or hijack a satelite signal) and watch stuff. In order to de-scramble the signal, you have to have a set top box (aka cable or satelite box). Now a days, you can also get a DVR in that set top box.The advantage of cable is that most cable companies have a portion of their channels in the analog range and don't require a box to de-scramble (they tend to use "filters" on the line to block premium stations in the analog range that you have not paid for). On my Comcast cable, all channels up to 99 are analog and thus I can hook the cable line directly to my TV or VCR or tuner card and get a signal. For my stations about 99, I must use a cable box to watch them as those are the digital stations and they are scrambled. So, if I did not have a cable box, then I would not get those stations. The downside (so to speak) of satelite is that ALL their stations are digital. Thus, you MUST have a satelite box in order to watch any TV by way of the satelite connection. Thus, the tuner in your TV, your VCR, and your tuner card are useless.This means that you will NOT be able to take advantage of the tuner aspect of the tuner card (i.e. use the tuner card to actually tune-in to a channel and change channels). In this the Dell rep is right (I will point out that it pains me to give Dell some credit).All is not lost, however, as rgreen points out, you can use a video/audio line out from your satelite box to a line in on your tuner card. This will allow you to get a video/audio stream to the computer. You will NOT, however, be able to use the tuner in the computer to change channels. You will be limited to what ever the satelite box is set to in terms of channel or DVR playback. The tuner card is only good for the line in that it will likely provide.Now, I will note that things are achangin'. The FCC now requires cable companies (don't know how satelite companies fit into it) to offer CableCards to their customers. And the FCC requires all cable companies to use CableCards with their set top boxes. The CableCard is the device that handles the de-scrambling. In theory, this means that a cable customer can get a CableCard from their cable company and then go buy what ever TV, set top box, or other device with a digital tuner that accepts CableCards and use the CableCard with their choice of device to watch their cable signal. This means that you are not stuck renting the cable company's set top box. It is supposedly for consumer choice. Now, in the practical sense, there is not a lot of choice yet in terms of devices that accept CableCards. And current CableCards only deal with one way communication from the cable company, so things like OnDemand, On Screen viewer guides and Pay-Per-View don't work with CableCards. In the computer world, there are not a lot of tuner cards that accept CableCards...I know of only one from ATI. And for you, I am not sure how satelite fits into this.

[docplaster]

Thanks for the assistance. I suppose I will go the S Video cable route. This appears to be on of the gray areas of the computer age. My confusion arose when one person who was the Dell technical representative stated that the tuner on my system could only receive analog signals and the person on the Dell Forum even sent diagrams and stated that the tuner should work. Oh well, C'est la vie. Thanks again.

[rgreen4]

Satellite is not required to provide a card so you can buy your box anywhere. Since a DirecTV receiver won't receive the Dish signal, and vice versa, it would be an exercise in futility anyway.Besides, things have changed a lot since I had to pay $600 for my first Satellite receiver, (before either DTV or Dish). Now, they will almost give you the receiver if you sign up. The DVR, now is a little different, they do charge for it, but not that much.I have a cable card slot in my plasma TV, :lol::lol: for all the good it does. Out here in the boonies, not DSL, no cable. shoot its wasn't that long ago we had crank telephones.:lol: ever tried to connect a modem to a crank telephone? Maybe I should start a thread.:rolleyes:

[spike]

[quote name='rgreen4']docplaster - obviously Dell does not know what they are talking about. Yes Dish and DirecTv (which I have) are digital from the satellite to the satellite receiver, but the output from the receiver is both digital (HDMI and component) and analog (S-Video and composite).> > > > Now, we cannot use a TV tuner, in a PC or TV or VCR or DVR to tune in the satellite, but we can use the S-Video as line input to the TV tuner. The TV tuner in question should have an S-Video input, and I am sure that you Dish receiver has an S-Video output.> > > > No one makes a tuner with HD input except over the air. All line inputs are SD because of the digital rights limitations. They don't want you recording HD. Those tuners with both NTSC (SD) and ATSC (HD) will only bring in over the air HD. > > > > When connecting the Dish Recever to the TV Tuner with the S-Video you should be able to select line-in. You will have to read your instructions on how to do it, for every device I 've had over seems to do it a little differently.> > > > Unfortunately, those of us on Satellite have to deal with those who think it like either off the air, or cable, but of course it's not. It more like the old cable that had to have a set top box.

[smax013]

[quote name='rgreen4']> > No one makes a tuner with HD input except over the air. All line inputs are SD because of the digital rights limitations. They don't want you recording HD. Those tuners with both NTSC (SD) and ATSC (HD) will only bring in over the air HD. > > > > Not true actually...while it likely will not work with satelite (unless they adopt CableCard technology), there is this tuner card that works with CableCards and supports HD:[url]http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonderdigital/index.html_

[rgreen4]

Its so new that neither Newegg nor CDW has it.

[smax013]

[quote name='rgreen4']Its so new that neither Newegg nor CDW has it.Interesting. I also could not find it when trying to configure a new Dell or HP and they supposely list them as "partners". :?: :?: :?:

[spike]

it has not been released yet.

[smax013]

[quote name='spike']it has not been released yet.A press release on the ATI website said it was scheduled to be available Jan 30th...I guess they must be behind schedule.