Whirlpool

What would you guys recommend, no price limit Thanks :)

The Compro 700 or..

This is mean to be the best ATM Hauppauge HVR2200 MCE PCIe Dual Hybrid http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=553_554&products_id=6793&zenid=0f8d1edb12ff60c93c5d73d69ab89285

Can i watch one channel and record another at the same time with the 700?

You can with all dual tuner cards, such as the compro 700

Great thanks, Also anyone know off any cool Media keyboards with a tackball off somekind built in so you dont have to use a mouse?

Buy a remote for your HTPC...

Otherwise Microsoft have a range of media centre keyboards, some have touchpads like a laptop

The above tuner cards come with remotes, also that web site has lots of other HTPC gear ;)

http://www.pccasegear.com

Best keyboard for Media Center ever:

Logitech DiNovo Mini

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=113_257&products_id=6853

yea im going to get the Thermaltake Dh-101 :)

Does the Hauppauge HVR2200 MCE PCIe Dual Hybrid come with a remote? I read heard somewhere that it doesn't. Also, will it work without MCE? I only have XP without MC...

I've got two Nova-T 500's in my htpc with Sagetv, as my frontend and apart from having to get a decent splitter for the aerial connection, have had no problem with the setup.

Pieter writes...

This is mean to be the best ATM Hauppauge HVR2200 MCE PCIe Dual Hybrid

What makes it the best? Is this opinion only or based on solid evidence? I'm helping a friend with a HTPC build but I bought my tuner card a while back (AverMedia Duo Hybrid PCIe), it was the popular card back then.

DrillerXX writes...

Also anyone know off any cool Media keyboards with a tackball off somekind built in so you dont have to use a mouse?

Shintaro make a wireless keyboard with trackball mouse that works via RF rather than IR signals. Looks OK for the $$ but I haven't tried it myself.

ETA link – http://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/shintaro-24ghz-wireless-keyboard-p-5311.html

Also, visit xpmediacentre.com.au, heaps of advice and product experience over there.

I have been running with an E700 (via VMC) since last October, record two programs at the same time at least 5 days a week. Has not missed a beat. The image quality is average using the Compro software but under VMC it is as good as the tuner in my Pana 7A.

Loose Nut writes...

Does the Hauppauge HVR2200 MCE PCIe Dual Hybrid come with a remote? I read heard somewhere that it doesn't.

You are correct it doesn't, I just bought one.

It comes with it's own software and there is other software you can use with XP if you don't have MCE.

fido666 writes...

What makes it the best? Is this opinion only or based on solid evidence?

The guys over at XPMediaCentre rate it very highly (over the previous king – DigitalNow) and that was good enough for me.

Fire-Tech writes...

The guys over at XPMediaCentre rate it very highly (over the previous king – DigitalNow) and that was good enough for me.

Fair enough. How do you find it in general use?

fido666 writes...

How do you find it in general use?

Still getting the rest of the parts together. I'll know in a week or so :D

Fire-Tech writes...

Still getting the rest of the parts together.

Ah OK, let us know how it goes anyway.

fido666 writes...

Shintaro make a wireless keyboard with trackball mouse that works via RF rather than IR signals

I have it. IMO it is perfect.

fido666 writes...

let us know how it goes anyway.

The hauppagge card is far and away the best card you can buy for a htpc. Channel changes are virtually instant and works flawlessly with S3 sleep/resume. The only niggle I had with mine is that you need to alter the registry to allow Media Centre to recognise the two digital tuners and an analogue tuner(for radio) at the same time. This is probably more of a MC failing than a fault of the card though.

If you do get one, make sure you head over to xpmediacentre.com.au for a step by step guide to the registry fix and links to the latest drivers.