Which DNTV tuner to buy

toovey · **12th June 2008, 03:19 PM**

So i want to upgrade to a 2nd (working tuner) in my XP MCE. I have a DNTV Hybrid card and the Hauppage 1300 installed. The Hauppage is great for analogue capture with foxtel but FTA reception is flakey at best. Constantly losing signal. I have tried latest drivers, changing aerials around etc but no good. The DNTV Hybrid rarely has any issues with FTA capture except maybe bad weather.

I've decided to get another DNTV tuner. I would like to get a dual tuner but this only comes in USB (to make 3 tuners total and I dont have PCI express slot) but I've heard stories of the tuner disappearing and having to reboot. PCI DNTV card is only a single tuner but I expect to be more reliable. So I guess the question is, what are everyones experience with USB tuner solution in MCE?

wallaceff · **12th June 2008, 03:40 PM**

I have MCE XP and have been using 4 Digital now USB tuners hooked up through a non-powered 4 port hub (but plugged into the USB backplate off the motherboard) with no tuner drop outs, and no issues.
I did have issues when the USB tuners were plugged into a PCI USB board (so I don't recommend doing it that way as I think XP puts PCI cards to sleep in standby).
My motherboard also doesn't have PCI-X, hence the USB tuners. I have no problems with the USB dual tuner, but I have no idea if there will be any issues with drivers/xp/other and you trying to use your Hauppage 1300, but from a question of "do usb tuners cause problems?", my answer is "no, they work fine".

toovey · **13th June 2008, 10:18 AM**

Thanks Wallaceff. I think I will go with the dual USB tuner. I can always get a powered USB hub should I have any issues.

wheelie007 · **16th June 2008, 07:35 PM**

I agree with wallaceff. I have a DNTV TinyTwin and it works a treat. Excellent value for money.

cheers

mrmac · **16th June 2008, 08:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by toovey

So i want to upgrade to a 2nd (working tuner) in my XP MCE. I have a DNTV Hybrid card and the Hauppage 1300 installed. The Hauppage is great for analogue capture with foxtel but FTA reception is flakey at best. Constantly losing signal. I have tried latest drivers, changing aerials around etc but no good. The DNTV Hybrid rarely has any issues with FTA capture except maybe bad weather.

I've decided to get another DNTV tuner. I would like to get a dual tuner but this only comes in USB (to make 3 tuners total and I dont have PCI express slot) but I've heard stories of the tuner disappearing and having to reboot. PCI DNTV card is only a single tuner but I expect to be more reliable. So I guess the question is, what are everyones experience with USB tuner solution in MCE?

I use 2 of their products in my Media Centre.

Just bought a Tiny Twin to add to my DNTV Live! Dual Hybrid PCI-Express S2 and couldn't be happier.

Everything works as it should. Highly recommend their tuners.

andczo · **17th June 2008, 03:35 PM**

sound slike you are on the right track.... so all i'll say is, add another vote for the tiny twins from digitalnow! been using these for a couple of years now and am very happy... seems like years anyway!