A Report on the Dvico FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Digital 4, black pcb card

[User]

This is a small card measuring 120mm by 55mm, 60mm, including the pins. It has a blue bulb for each tuner, which light up part of the interior of the computer case. I have the side of mine at the moment, while getting the setup right.

My first surprise, was that it will only run, using the “bad arsed” 6.2.00 driver, not the reliable 6.1.13.0 driver.

I knew then, that it was going to be fun and games setting it up, with my MediaPortal software.

After a few days of hit and miss, I finally have come up with, what seems to be, a totally reliable setup.

1. Double uninstalled the DVICO version of the 6.2.00 driver. First used Add or Remove programs, then used the DVICO Driver removal software.
   
2. Turned the computer off, turned the power off at the wall, to make sure that both tuners would be active. Turned power back on, then restarted the computer.
3. The message reference new hardware came up, did not close this message. Installed Windows Hot Fix, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894480.
4. Then used the new hardware message, to download the Windows approved version of the 6.2.00 driver from the internet.
   
5. Immediately used both tuners to record for half an hour.
   
6. Installed Windows DVBFIX, http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/ge...ndows-xp-6344/, after reading MediaPortal requirements. This fix is not required for XP MCE, or Vista MCE, as it is already incorporated.

I have been stress testing the latest, untested, svn version of MediaPortal 1.0 RC1 software, along with the DVICO black pcb card and have been running this setup for over a week, doing numerous scheduled recordings. Also, deliberately multi tasking the system, to the point of crashing. In this time I have only dropped one of the tuners twice, and that was before the DVBFIX. It only required stopping and starting the computer, not having to turn the power off and on, to recover the tuner.

Since DVBFIX it has been 100% reliable.

The picture quality of this card is absolutely crystal clear, that is, excellent.

It manages to pull in 100% signal on all channels, with no stutter at all.

I have my recording folder on a separate drive.

I have the 3.65 version, came with the card, of the DVICO operating software installed.

Using the DVICO software the channel changes are instantaneous. With the MediaPortal software, the changes are significantly faster, than the green pcb card.

I must admit in the first few days, I was on the verge of returning the card. Was able to randomly lose Tuner 1 or Tuner 2, and occasionally both tuners.

But I now think this is one excellent card, will install in my HTPC, and can only get better, with updated drivers.

I have two computers, one based on a HP t250a, which I am contemplating upgrading , and a brand new, well it was 6 - 8 weeks ago, HTPC. I have MediaPortal 1.0 RC1, latest SVN, software in the HP t250a, and use this computer for compatability, acceptance testing, and general use. I have MediaPortal 0.2.3.0 in my HTPC.


Computer 1, the innards of a HP Pavilion t250a, inserted into a Coolermaster 690 chassis.

One of the reasons I did this, besides future development, is that my PC is in an enclosed cupboard, complete with extractor fan, but in the original HP enclosure, ran quite hot.

The system is a 2.6 Hyperthreading P4 CPU and 1 GB of ram running Windows XP, Service Pack 2. I have added SATA drives, the Mobo even though 2000 vintage had two 1.5 SATA connections, an ASUS Nvidia GeForce 7600GS Graphics Card, an add on card that has two SATA connections and two E SATA connections and a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Extreme sound card plus the Dvico FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Digital 4, black pcb card.


Computer 2, HTPC, an ANTEC Fusion HTPC Silver case using;

Windows XP with Service Pack 2

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD780G 5200HT DDR2 VGA PCIE2.0 RAID GbLAN 1394

AMD Athlon™ 64 5200+AM2 Processor Retail Dual Core AM2

DDR2 2048MB(2x1G)PC6400 800Mhz Blue Heatspreader 4-4-4-12 G.Skill

Asus EN8500GT Silent Magic 512MB DDR2 666MHz PCIEx16 VGA HDTV DVI-I Video Card

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Card PCI Express

Dvico FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Digital 4, green pcb card, Dvico FusionHDTV DVB-T Plus, and MediaPortal 0.2.3.0.

[User]

Still working fine.

[Wolf]

I'd like the record to show that I purchased this same card today, a few hours ago. Got home, uninstalled my Hauppauge 150, shut down. Installed the Dual-Digital. Booted up, let Vista do its thing, threw in the CD when it asked -- Everything works fine, out of the box.

Scanned channels slowly but they're all there, both tuners are working fine, and I didn't do any of these complicated steps; just a regular, good ol' PCI card installation.

Still working fine, has been for an hour now.

I guess Dvico should change their motto to "Your mileage may vary"

[User]

Good news, however, I found that this card tuned the stations in extremely quickly.

Vista probably includes fixes that are not included, as standard, in XP.

See this thread;

FYI: Dvico responds on USB disappearing act.

[Aldo]

Originally Posted by Wolf

Everything works fine, out of the box.

This makes for a change from the living hell of previous incarnations of this card... Best of Luck