Please recommend best TBS DVB card

[Manikm909]

The TBS6983 is no longer in production, if you are lucky enough to find one second hand in working order snap it up. It was one of the best cards they ever made in its day and is good today apart from no S2X. The TBS6903 which was the successor to the TBS6983 is still in production as far as I am aware, there are suppliers out there with it. If bought new, the TBS6903 is not a card for two bob merchants, it aint cheap at around £300+. I saw one go 2nd user on eBay a while back for £150, a real bargain.

Unless there is S2X or Novelsat guff that you need, I would steer clear of the TBS6903X card. It is slow to blind scan with Windows apps.
Under Linux, the TBS6903X comes alive when used with nuemodvb, @satesco has had some really good results with it. Again, it is not a card for tight wads, it is another £300+ job.

For USB, the TBS5925 is OK but no S2X and it runs hot, it still works though. The TBS5927 is just a TBS5925 with an internal fan to cool it, again no S2X
If you want S2X on a TBS USB device the TBS5930 is listed as doing this and it is cheap.

nice one @moonbase - happy new year mate

 

[moonbase]

nice one @moonbase - happy new year mate

Same to you mate, All the Best for 2025.

 

[Butacas]

I use the TBS 5927 USB unit with a laptop and it works very well. I dont feel I miss out on S2X. The only change I made was to disconnect the fan as it was very noisy. The GTMedia GTCombo is mainly used for blind scanning as it is quicker then PC software.

Is it safe to unplug the fan? Does it not heat up even if used for many hours at a time?

The TBS 5927 has ventilation slots, which I don't think the TBS 5925 has, it's a closed box.

 

[Manikm909]

Is it safe to unplug the fan? Does it not heat up even if used for many hours at a time?

The TBS 5927 has ventilation slots, which I don't think the TBS 5925 has, it's a closed box.

Noone can know the answer .,..but If it was "safe" the manufacturer wouldn't have fitted one ...

 

[Joolz]

Is it safe to unplug the fan? Does it not heat up even if used for many hours at a time?

The TBS 5927 has ventilation slots, which I don't think the TBS 5925 has, it's a closed box.

The unit has ventilation grilles and a large heat sink and runs cool until you push the upper limits of its capability for a longtime. As it is used on scanning and medium to narrow SR signals for short periods of time it runs a lot cooler then my old USB TBS QBox CI.

 

[EnoSat]

The TBS5590 V1 could have similar parameters to the TBS5925 and TBS5927, but due to its high price, few people bought it.

 

[7mdish]

I heard and read bad reviews about TBS5930, mainly drivers issues.
But never tested on myself.

 

[moonbase]

I heard and read bad reviews about TBS5930, mainly drivers issues.
But never tested on myself.

There seem to be driver issues with a few of the TBS devices that do S2X under Windows.