Some Concerns about HDTV tuners and MCE

S

someblackguy7130

Geek Trainee
hey im really new to watching tv on your PC so plz put up with me..
ok so im lookin into buying a HDTV tuner thing for my PC. i have windows media center edition 2005. ok so i was looking into this ATI HDTV Wonder TV and HDTV Tuner PCI Card
ATI HDTV Wonder TV and HDTV Tuner PCI Card 100-714127 at TigerDirect.com

and i was reading some and it said something about also having an analog tuner or something? all i want to do is be able to pick up HDTV signals from the Air and be able to watch TV on my LCD screen in Full HIGH DEF :) also to be able to view a guide, watch, pause and record HDTV. is this ati thing all i need to do this? OHH yea also be able to hear sound in 5.1 :) so is this ATI thing all i need to do all of this? also will it work with media center and Media center in the future Vista? also i was wondering if the antenna it comes with is able to pick up HDTV signals from midair and play it on my pc? is that one thing all i need pretty much? also what about an analog thing or whatever? or is that ATI doubles as one also?

thx a LOT!!!!
 
First, your tv or monitor, should be able to handle the high resolution of HDTV, so you can't use your ordinary 17 or 19" monitor, you have to use something like a 23" monitor that's HDTV ready. Also, you can use an antenna to receive HDTV signals, When it says analog or digital, or analog and digital, this means you can receive your local channels and HDTV channels as well. All in all, that card is fine but make sure you have an appropriate tv or monitor.
 
o ok, i have a 19' LCD monitor with a resolution of 1280x1024 u think that will be good? also if this doesnt work i do have a HDTV i can plug it up to with DVI. so this ATI card can do both local and HDTV channels? also what about the sound? how will i get 5.1 surround? and will the antenna comes with pick up HDTV and local channels or would i need to get another one?
 
no, that monitor won't do, the resolution of HDTV is 1080i. the max. if you're using a monitor, you can use your audio outputs from your computer for sound. any antenna should do coz the output is like the output on your normal tv. also, if you want to record HDTV, make sure you have at least 500gig of hd space coz their resolutions is 5 times better than dvd or more! if you want more info lookhere
 
its fine, i can enjoy it on this monitor and always put it on my hdtv with dvi later. or i can buy a widescreen hdtv monitor. but how will i make it work with windows media center? i read somewhere that i need an analog tuner before the MCE can detect the hdtv card?
 
that ati card looks like it's a hybrid card (two in one) alternately, try get a winfast dtv100t, it's compatible with mce and it's cheaper too.
 
cool i was looking at that winfast dtv thing and looks pretty good. so should i get the ati and winfast or just the winfast? also does the winfast do local channels to? like can u connect one thing up to an antenna for HDTv and the other port from ur wall to that port so u can get local cable also or is it only AIR broadcasts?
 
you sure can! it's exactly like that ati card. one card is enough, although there is a special kind of card that allows you to use two identical cards so that you can view two channels at one time. but in this case you can't use the ati and winfast together, so just get the winfast.
 
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