Media Center and Dual HDTV tuners

macca77 · **15th April 2006, 04:52 PM**

Hi all,

I have been researching on Media Center for most of my easter break so far. I have seen some sites mention that Media Center will only support one HDTV tuner card... But then I see that heaps of people have the dual tuner card registered to this site!

Can someone let me know what the real limitations are to Media Center over say "Myth TV"... If any?!?!

If I am able to support dual HDTV tuners, is the catch that I am only able to record them and play them back on my server and not be able to burn them on a DVD?

Thanks

pistnbroke · **15th April 2006, 05:27 PM**

MCE will support two tuners out of the box or you can do some registry mods and add more if you like. There are plenty of people with 3 or more tuners installed...

gibbo9000 · **15th April 2006, 05:29 PM**

Macca,

Can't comment on Myth TV vs MCE

MCE supports dual HDTV tuner cards (I use the Terratec which takes up a single PCIe slot). Can record while watching etc. as you would expect.

I am not aware of a 'trap' with dual tuner cards. They are just two separate tuners on one card. They record to the hard drive in DVR-MS format. Recorded programs are easy to play back from there. If you want to burn programs off to DVD you need a add-on piece of software like SantaDVD. See thread here:
http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/comm...recording.html

There is a ton of information in this forum -- it takes some time to find your way around it. I remember the learning curve and all my early questions well.

Good luck -- a great way to spend Easter.

Gibbo

MSurge · **15th April 2006, 06:32 PM**

I have a dvicio dual and a hybrid installed and with a registry hack I have three tuners functioning (but now want four).

The MCE shell only supports one or two tuners (not more and two is a dual card not two dual cards) but with a registry hack this can be overcome. Just check the various threads for 'three or more tuners'.

If you are happy to use the Dvico software you can use more than two tuners no problems, but personally I like the MCe shell interface as it does MP3's and all.

I found Dvico claim multiple tuners etc but it wasn't until I purchased that I found that the claims were assuming a registry hack. Bit of a steep learning curve but it all mostly good now.

Now I'm looking at replacing the hybrid with another dual for four tuners. I always start recordings early and finish after time so four tuners can be useful.

macca77 · **15th April 2006, 10:44 PM**

Thanks everyone for the quick replies! That is all I needed to know to choose MCE over Myth... Now it is time to get to work...

Fingers crossed

Macca.

Omega · **22nd April 2006, 07:11 PM**

How exactly does MCE handle 2 tuners?

Is it just a matter of it allowing you to hit record on one channel, then change channels without the error message about the current channel being recorded popping up?

It doesnt have PiP does it?

Also, do the cards have to be the same? I have a Twinhan VP DVB-T card, would i need to find antoher one of these, or could i buy a DVICO, or perhaps even one of DigitalNow's new Quattros to go with my existing VP?