TV Tuner Cards

[canucklehead]

Does anyone have the Tuner card installed for a 926x series? How does it work? You just connect your tv cable to the notebook and you can record and watch tv? Support for High def?

[Doctor_WHO]

I have the MPC788 internal tuner. The lappy came with Cyberlink Powercinema software which works 'OK' for my use. It's a slimmed down version of their full suite and does not offer some of the audio out features a true 'mediaphile' would want.

The tuner features Analog and Digital. I assume the digital supports HD, but have not been able to test it. The analog tuner looks as you would expect - as good as the signal coming to it.

This came with a Ir Remote control that talks with the proprietary Ir receiver on the front of the lappy to the left of the audio jacks. I tried using this remote a little while, but was disappointed with the feel and available options of the included driver/software. I already had a ATI Remote Wonder RF remote, and I have since switched back to that one full time.

It was just as easy as connecting the cable/antenna, doing a scan for available channels, and then watch tv. You can skip the scan of course and hit the channels manually. Recording TV was pretty painless. Just remember the more you have going on, the slower everything gets. I was in the middle of playing ET:QW (moderately powered FPS game) when a scheduled record started (I forgot about it) My game went to hell, but the recording looked fine after the fact. So the software did some decent priority snatching.

Hope this helps. I'd be happy to answer any other Q's you may have.

[canucklehead]

Thanks for the response =)

So the Powercinema software is what you actually use to tune the channels and view the signal?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Vista has built in software for this?

[bargegod]

i think so, but windows media center has to be opened up to use the tv tuner and all, at least thats the only way i know how to do it...

[Doctor_WHO]

Thanks for the response =)

So the Powercinema software is what you actually use to tune the channels and view the signal?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Vista has built in software for this?

Yeah, I am using XP Pro still, so I don't use the media center. I am sure there is other software out there that you can use. Not sure which one would work best - I am guessing bargegod can answer that one best.

[bargegod]

yeah, with xp youd use power cinema and vista is media center. thats whats worked for me in the past.