Just bought a TV Tuner for my laptop

[Chewie48]

I was bouncing the idea around of either getting a small LCD TV for the PUP or buying a TV Tuner for my laptop. Well, since the laptop already has a dvd player in it, I decided to get the TV Tuner. I bought the Hauppauge 950Q.

I installed it and hooked up the antenna that came with it and it picked up about 12 digital channels. I then hooked it up to a small powered antenna that I already had and it picked up 16 channels. The software sucks but is usable. I only plan on using it if it rains or sometimes before bed.

I think I made the right choice as this saved me around $200.00.

My next thought is... Should I attempt an outdoor antenna mod?

 

[TwistedElvis]

So what tuner did you get?

 

[Chewie48]

I bought the Hauppauge 950Q.

 

[TwistedElvis]

Woops didn't see that thanks!

 

[Xolthrax]

Chewie, definitely try the outdoor antenna mod.

I have a Pinnacle Ultimate HD stick. When it's hooked up to the cheesey antenna it came with, I get the same results as you. An amplified antenna gave me a few more. But, when I hooked it up to my rooftop mast antenna, it picked up everything!

I use the Pinnacle software that came with my stick, but I also bought BlazeTV, which works better and is less of a strain on the computer.

 

[mtn_bikers]

We have the TV tuner on the laptop also, if you haven't thought of it already - pick up a set of small speakers. The built-ins on the laptop are really not loud enough when it is pouring rain outside and you are trying to watch a movie.

Joe - what type of amplified antenna are you using? So far we've only used the cable connection, the reception with the antenna hasn't been that great.

 

[drosengrant]

FYI : The digital signal does not have the distance of analog so reception will be based on how far you are from the transmiter. I am about 40 miles from NY city and we get no signal at all on digital and years ago with analog we did.

 

[Xolthrax]

Joe & Dawn, I tossed the amplified antenna, so I don't know what brand it was. It wasn't worth the hassle for 2 more stations. It's my old rooftop (house) antenna that works so well.

 

[bud121156]

The digital signal does not have the distance of analog so reception will be based on how far you are from the transmiter.

I dont have the tuner on the laptop, but we use a small television with a digital tuner.We are seeing that we get certain stations at some campgrounds, and different stations at other campgrounds, and the campgrounds are seperated by less than 30 miles....usually 8-10 channels at best.
I sit the antenna on top of the pop up and run he wire thru a zipper.

 

[theseus]

I have a Pinnacle HD stick and just use the cheap antenna that came with it . Like Donnie, I just stick it on the roof of the pup. I did, however, install an antenna input on the side of my pup so I don't have to go through the canvas. Works great!

 

[bud121156]

HEY Bruce, now theres another mod to work on......antenna input on the side of the pup!

 

[theseus]

Joe mentioned that BlazeTV is a lighter weight program than Pinnacle's. I just tried it out and can say that I am impressed. It allows me to watch HD on my 2.19 ghz processor laptop. Definitely a keeper program! Thanks Joe!

And Donnie, it is a cheap mod. The outside and inside plate set can be had for less than $10. I want to install a metal plate so that the magnet on the antenna will stick to it...

 

[Chewie48]

Thanks for the BlazeTV suggestion. I'm definitely going to check it out. The software called "WinTV" that came with my tuner is terrible and is a huge resource hog. It seems to be pulling 80 to 90 percent of the CPU processing and is very cloogy (Computer Programming term for buggy).

I think I'll look into the outdoor antenna mod. I make my DW nervous every time I mention doing something to the camper.

 

[dondford]

I have this tuner on the way; plan on using it with my laptop in my PUC. I have read many posts complaining of the bundled software and are looking for a better choice. I have found BlazeVideo
Blaze Video HDTV Player 3.5. Is this the BlazeTV you guys are referring to? If possible, please advise link for this software. Also, did you install the bundled software, than add blaze or installed only Blaze TV. How about the drivers.
Any help appreciated.

Don

 

[Xolthrax]

I have both installed. I figured it was just easier to let the bundled software to load so I didn't accidentally miss something I needed. I have Blaze set as my default, however.

I don't have the laptop fired up, but I think that is the version that I'm using.

 

[Krystilia]

I have just ordered this Pinnacle HD stick as well. Some reviews on the web say the software is good, some not. Why do you current owners think the software isn't good?

 

[Chewie48]

I have just ordered this Pinnacle HD stick as well. Some reviews on the web say the software is good, some not. Why do you current owners think the software isn't good?

I heard the Pinnacle software is better than the Hauppauge "WinTV" software that I have. The WinTV software is not intuitive and eats up too much of the processing power.

 

[theseus]

The pinnacle software is a huge resource hog. Since the Pinnacle tv part is owned by Hauppauge, I don't expect the shipped software to be any better than Hauppauge's original software.

 

[bmb]

FYI : The digital signal does not have the distance of analog so reception will be based on how far you are from the transmiter. I am about 40 miles from NY city and we get no signal at all on digital and years ago with analog we did.

I think it's more along the lines, digital TV is either all or nothing. Were as analog you might have gotten a horrible picture with static and bad audio, digital will be nothing. For me, I have found I get more channels from greater distance with DTV. Kind of like a CD vs Record... A really scratched up record you might get some noise out of, but a really scratched up CD will just result in an error message on the player.

 

[theseus]

I think it's more along the lines, digital TV is either all or nothing. ...

An excellent description of the differences.