Newbee Which Freeview card/USB to buy for laptop??

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surththenet

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Hi,

Just wanted to say a quick hello as I have just joined this forum.

Im about to purchase a Freeview card/USB adapter for my Laptop, Which one is the best to buy for using different software and manually adjusting the channels (PIDs) so I can watch ALL channels.

I have got a Frecom USB and its a load of Rubbish and gets super hot when its been on for a while.

Any help please

Many thanks.
 
rolfw

rolfw

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None of them will get "ALL" of the channels, have a look at a few of the other threads and see what people are using to obtain a little free TV (one or two channels). :)
 
Topper

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surththenet said:
I have got a Frecom USB and its a load of Rubbish and gets super hot when its been on for a while.
Click to expand...

Well I have had my Freecom USB for about nine months now and am delighted with it, I will say that if you are using the aerial supplied then you will be disappointed unless you are close to a transmitter, I get 46 different TV channels and about the same number of radio stations but that is only achievable with a proper aerial. I have to confess that I have read many reports and some are bad but I honestly think the problem lies with people's
expectations from a crappy old laptop or trying to receive a signal with the shitty aerial from the middle of a concrete jungle.
 
PoloMint

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I've got the Hauppauge NovaT2 (USB2), it's about one and a half years old, there may be a newer version out now.

The supplied software is not great, but the hardware works well with Media Portal which I believe lets you set the PIDs manually. Live pause and scheduling etc are great.

As for reception, haven't really got anything to compare it to, I get better than expected results from a small indoor portable aerial. Receiving the two strongest local MUXes (10kw) with no problems, I don't get the rest at all, but they are quite far away (can't remember exact distance) and rated as below average.

Like Toppers comments on the Freecom, the only real criticisms I've seen of the Hauppauge are from people expecting fantastic results from a tiny aerial in the middle of nowhere.
 
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