dvico fusion pci hdtv
This is a PCI card which I bought from salon Glow to complement my Windows Media Center PC (which I'm writing a "How" to a later date) to put in the room to take over from my DVD player, VCR, DVB-T tuner standard definition and high fidelity. It cost nearly  £ 105, You may think it's a bit pricey, but I will explain the reasons for my choice later.
What's In The Box?
PCI x1
Driver CD x1
MCE Remote Control x1
Infra Red Cable x1
Small Form Factor Bracket x1
Instructions x1
Analog input cable x1
Video Studio 8 x1
USB Cable x 1
Audio cable x1
Installation
Installation, as with Most PCI cards, is a relativley painless process to provide follow instructions. One thing to consider in placing the card in the computer that can reach to be quite hot, given that put the card in the bottom of my system and that was the extent of the graphics card, I did not want the graphics card and a tuner for mutual exchange of heat and potentially damage the other.
One of the things I do and that's just my preference is to ignore the CD that came with a card like this and download the latest drivers available from manufacturers site for 2 reasons: 1) Sometimes the card or anything that has been sitting on the shelf for months and during this period the manufacturer has already released several updates. 2) when the web page download the software manufacturer to choose only the software needs, against all the garbage that is usually installed with the drivers CD, I mean things like toolbars exasperating or adware that comes bundled with software that helps to slow down your PC. As I said this is just my preference.
This is not the cheapest DVB (Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial) tuner card out there but I chose it because it had certain features that seemed essential to justify the passage of a digital terrestrial tuner I a Windows Media Center-TV based. The first requirement is that there should be a dual tuner you can watch one program while recording another. The second requirement is that there should be an HD (high definition) card, so that they still work when HD television starts broadcasting in the UK, and of course when I upgrade to an HDTV or projector huge!
One thing that I was surprised about this card is the quality of the remote control that comes with it. Normally things like the design of the remote seemed to be an afterthought time is adequate, at best, this is definitley not for the Dvico card. The remote control is robust, well built, and it really feels like a proper remote control! I must confess that I do not use the remote control supplied with the card, I use the remote that comes with Logitech S510 Cordless Desktop purelybecause the scroll wheel on the control remote, it's faster to navigate through menus. If I had not already bought this desktop computer wirelessly so that definitley be happy with that REMTE Dvico supplies.
I used the software supplied with the TV card briefly but can not find it as good or as intuitive to use than Windows Media Center 2005, while I believe in the absence of Windows Media Center software always going to work. One thing you have not tried is the analogue of the functions of capture card, but if performance of the other features of the card are for something, then I'm sure you only do what it says on the tin!
I use this card with Windows Media Center 2005 for about 3 months and can say that this card is done without problems.
Key Features
Watch one channel while recording another
Watch digital DVB-T TV programs on your PC
Picture in Picture (PIP) and Multi-function display
Record TV programs on your hard drive, such as DVD format MPEG2
Scheduled recording hibernation / stand-by in PC mode on / off
Sample pause live TV and deferred (Time-shifting function)
Capturing analog video and digital recording
High-resolution still image capture
Compatible with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
With low CPU SW decoder DXVA
EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
Supports digital Teletext and subtitles (with excluding UK)
Form Factor Slim low profile PC
Supports HD DVD and Divx conversion
Switching Support of how SMEs
Supports logical channel number
Full function infrared remote contro
l
Specifications
I / O Connections 1 x Antenna
1 x USB
1 x SVHS / 1 x composite video input
1 x Internal Stereo Sound
1 x IR Remote Control Port
Minimum System Requirements Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows 2000
1 x USB 2.0, 1 x PCI Slot
DxVA based cards VGA
Pentium 3, 800 MHz (ATI Radeon series)
No basic DxVA VGA cards
Pentium 4 1.6GHz, with 128MB of memory
Cypress FX2 Drivers Drivers
Conexant Drivers CX2388x
DViCO own tuner / BDA driver
DViCO's own dual HDTV decoder (full s / w & mode DXVA)
Conclusion
It is the least expensive digital TV tuner card on the market, but if you are serious about building a decent life Home Theater PC (HTPC) with the account many features, this card is worth. The only thing left this card Down is the software that TV, but if you use Windows Media Center 2005 will not have a problem.
I had a little problem installing the cable, infrared provided with this card, this is due to the openings of the slot back into my case (Thermaltake Armor) are slightly smaller than normal, which means that the installation the IR Jack was quite difficult. Once installed, the infrared function which worked perfectly.
johnsreviews Note: 9 / 10
To comments or further technical assistance to go to www.johnsreviews.com
John
|
|
Fusion HDTV 3 Gold PCI Card with remote controller $149.99 8VSB/64QAM/256QAM reception support FusionHDTV3 Gold works either with free to air digital TV(8VSB) and unencrypted digital cable TV(QAM) broadcasting channels. Highly Cost Effective High resolution, crystal clear picture quality |
