Videoh! DVD Media Center any good?

Forrest

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I just bought an Adaptec Videoh! DVD Media Center card (PCI). I haven't
started using it yet (I'm a newbie) but have been searching around for some
reviews on it. As usual, some like it and some hate it. I have 3 weeks
before it can't be returned. I want something good but not costing an arm
and a leg. I like the ability to capture TV to the computer and am sure I'll
burn some VHS tapes to DVD. I have a P-4 ... 2.4 gig chip with a gig of
ram, 250 gig Maxtor drive (ATA 133) and a Radeon (I think 7000, 128 ddr ram)
video card. I sure would appreciate any advice on what card to get and any
comments on this one. I was also wondering about speed etc. when it comes to
PCI vs. USB.
I'm still a little confused about these cards' ability to tune in a TV
station. I have Comcast cable TV. One room has digital and the garage has
analog. I split each after the box and run both into my computer room to an
A-B switch. Can these things act as a box or does the signal to it have to
come after the cable box? If after the box it seems that it would only be
able to use the channel that is selected. Anywhooo ..... Thanks
 
G

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"Forrest" <REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5eydndnV8r3DMk3dRVn-hg@comcast.com...
> I just bought an Adaptec Videoh! DVD Media Center card (PCI). I haven't
> started using it yet (I'm a newbie) but have been searching around for
some
> reviews on it. As usual, some like it and some hate it. I have 3 weeks
> before it can't be returned. I want something good but not costing an arm
> and a leg. I like the ability to capture TV to the computer and am sure
I'll
> burn some VHS tapes to DVD. I have a P-4 ... 2.4 gig chip with a gig of
> ram, 250 gig Maxtor drive (ATA 133) and a Radeon (I think 7000, 128 ddr
ram)
> video card. I sure would appreciate any advice on what card to get and any
> comments on this one. I was also wondering about speed etc. when it comes
to
> PCI vs. USB.
> I'm still a little confused about these cards' ability to tune in a TV
> station. I have Comcast cable TV. One room has digital and the garage has
> analog. I split each after the box and run both into my computer room to
an
> A-B switch. Can these things act as a box or does the signal to it have to
> come after the cable box? If after the box it seems that it would only be
> able to use the channel that is selected. Anywhooo ..... Thanks
>
>
I have the PCI version. Overall, I like it. The biggest downside is the
software, specifically the DVD editing software. It's pretty bad. I use
DVD MovieFactory 3 with much better results. The Windvr3 can be a little
finicky but it seems to have calmed down and has been working fine for
awhile now. It's pretty nice with the TitanTV website, you just click a
button by a show and it adds it to the schedule. I've only transferred a
couple VHS tapes to DVD but they came out fine. Recording TV on best
quality one hour is about 3.3Gb, 1/2 hour 1.6Gb.

The tuner will only tune channels in the analog band, so no digital. I split
off my cable modem signal with a 1Ghz splitter and it looks good. There's
cheaper ways to go if you piece everything out, but it's kind of nice to get
it all in one box. HTH....
 

Forrest

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Jun 11, 2004
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Thanks for the reply, but I don't quite understand when you said that you
"split off your cable modem" . Are you referring to the "box" that decodes
the stuff coming in from the main cable and if so can you get channels other
than what it's set for? In my mind I can't see how the card is going to get
anything other than the channel that the "box" is sending to it. If you can
run the cable straight to the card then there might be a chance that it
could decipher what it has and give you a choice of channels. As I said I'm
a newbie and trying to get a grasp on how one can program things to record
etc., not to mention if this is the card to buy. Thanks again.

"Kill Bill" <a@b.c> wrote in message
news:jg7Ac.48059$wO4.28256@twister.socal.rr.com...
>
> "Forrest" <REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:5eydndnV8r3DMk3dRVn-hg@comcast.com...
> > I just bought an Adaptec Videoh! DVD Media Center card (PCI). I haven't
> > started using it yet (I'm a newbie) but have been searching around for
> some
> > reviews on it. As usual, some like it and some hate it. I have 3 weeks
> > before it can't be returned. I want something good but not costing an
arm
> > and a leg. I like the ability to capture TV to the computer and am sure
> I'll
> > burn some VHS tapes to DVD. I have a P-4 ... 2.4 gig chip with a gig of
> > ram, 250 gig Maxtor drive (ATA 133) and a Radeon (I think 7000, 128 ddr
> ram)
> > video card. I sure would appreciate any advice on what card to get and
any
> > comments on this one. I was also wondering about speed etc. when it
comes
> to
> > PCI vs. USB.
> > I'm still a little confused about these cards' ability to tune in a
TV
> > station. I have Comcast cable TV. One room has digital and the garage
has
> > analog. I split each after the box and run both into my computer room to
> an
> > A-B switch. Can these things act as a box or does the signal to it have
to
> > come after the cable box? If after the box it seems that it would only
be
> > able to use the channel that is selected. Anywhooo ..... Thanks
> >
> >
> I have the PCI version. Overall, I like it. The biggest downside is the
> software, specifically the DVD editing software. It's pretty bad. I use
> DVD MovieFactory 3 with much better results. The Windvr3 can be a little
> finicky but it seems to have calmed down and has been working fine for
> awhile now. It's pretty nice with the TitanTV website, you just click a
> button by a show and it adds it to the schedule. I've only transferred a
> couple VHS tapes to DVD but they came out fine. Recording TV on best
> quality one hour is about 3.3Gb, 1/2 hour 1.6Gb.
>
> The tuner will only tune channels in the analog band, so no digital. I
split
> off my cable modem signal with a 1Ghz splitter and it looks good. There's
> cheaper ways to go if you piece everything out, but it's kind of nice to
get
> it all in one box. HTH....
>
>
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

It's a TV tuner card, you plug the same cable you'd plug into the back of
your TV. Then use the Windvr3 it comes packaged with.
http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVR_Profile.jsp

"Forrest" <REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:puKdnWOySt4ypUzdRVn-gg@comcast.com...
> Thanks for the reply, but I don't quite understand when you said that you
> "split off your cable modem" . Are you referring to the "box" that decodes
> the stuff coming in from the main cable and if so can you get channels
other
> than what it's set for? In my mind I can't see how the card is going to
get
> anything other than the channel that the "box" is sending to it. If you
can
> run the cable straight to the card then there might be a chance that it
> could decipher what it has and give you a choice of channels. As I said
I'm
> a newbie and trying to get a grasp on how one can program things to record
> etc., not to mention if this is the card to buy. Thanks again.
>
> "Kill Bill" <a@b.c> wrote in message
> news:jg7Ac.48059$wO4.28256@twister.socal.rr.com...
> >
> > "Forrest" <REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:5eydndnV8r3DMk3dRVn-hg@comcast.com...
> > > I just bought an Adaptec Videoh! DVD Media Center card (PCI). I
haven't
> > > started using it yet (I'm a newbie) but have been searching around for
> > some
> > > reviews on it. As usual, some like it and some hate it. I have 3 weeks
> > > before it can't be returned. I want something good but not costing an
> arm
> > > and a leg. I like the ability to capture TV to the computer and am
sure
> > I'll
> > > burn some VHS tapes to DVD. I have a P-4 ... 2.4 gig chip with a gig
of
> > > ram, 250 gig Maxtor drive (ATA 133) and a Radeon (I think 7000, 128
ddr
> > ram)
> > > video card. I sure would appreciate any advice on what card to get and
> any
> > > comments on this one. I was also wondering about speed etc. when it
> comes
> > to
> > > PCI vs. USB.
> > > I'm still a little confused about these cards' ability to tune in
a
> TV
> > > station. I have Comcast cable TV. One room has digital and the garage
> has
> > > analog. I split each after the box and run both into my computer room
to
> > an
> > > A-B switch. Can these things act as a box or does the signal to it
have
> to
> > > come after the cable box? If after the box it seems that it would only
> be
> > > able to use the channel that is selected. Anywhooo ..... Thanks
> > >
> > >
> > I have the PCI version. Overall, I like it. The biggest downside is
the
> > software, specifically the DVD editing software. It's pretty bad. I
use
> > DVD MovieFactory 3 with much better results. The Windvr3 can be a
little
> > finicky but it seems to have calmed down and has been working fine for
> > awhile now. It's pretty nice with the TitanTV website, you just click a
> > button by a show and it adds it to the schedule. I've only transferred
a
> > couple VHS tapes to DVD but they came out fine. Recording TV on best
> > quality one hour is about 3.3Gb, 1/2 hour 1.6Gb.
> >
> > The tuner will only tune channels in the analog band, so no digital. I
> split
> > off my cable modem signal with a 1Ghz splitter and it looks good.
There's
> > cheaper ways to go if you piece everything out, but it's kind of nice to
> get
> > it all in one box. HTH....
> >
> >
>
>
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 13:36:48 -0700, "Forrest"
<REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I just bought an Adaptec Videoh! DVD Media Center card (PCI). I haven't
>started using it yet (I'm a newbie) but have been searching around for some
>reviews on it. As usual, some like it and some hate it. I have 3 weeks
>before it can't be returned. I want something good but not costing an arm
>and a leg. I like the ability to capture TV to the computer and am sure I'll
>burn some VHS tapes to DVD. I have a P-4 ... 2.4 gig chip with a gig of
>ram, 250 gig Maxtor drive (ATA 133) and a Radeon (I think 7000, 128 ddr ram)
>video card. I sure would appreciate any advice on what card to get and any
>comments on this one. I was also wondering about speed etc. when it comes to
>PCI vs. USB.
> I'm still a little confused about these cards' ability to tune in a TV
>station. I have Comcast cable TV. One room has digital and the garage has
>analog. I split each after the box and run both into my computer room to an
>A-B switch. Can these things act as a box or does the signal to it have to
>come after the cable box? If after the box it seems that it would only be
>able to use the channel that is selected. Anywhooo ..... Thanks
>
I would have gone with Hauppauge PVR 250 or 350...
The Adaptec is most likely very good too...
I have the Hauppauge Win TV-PVR USB 2 and it is excellent...
The Hauppauge cards work great with Beyond TV3 and Sage TV...
I went with the USB 2 card due to no free slots and I run dual tuners
with Sage TV... there is no loss using the USB 2 ( I would not use it
with USB 1.1 though)
The Hauppauge blows the ATI TV card out of the water....and the
hardware mpeg is far superior to ATI software encoding IMHO...
Regards,
Glenn M



A GREAT DAY FOR FREEDOM...Pink Floyd
 

Forrest

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Jun 11, 2004
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Do you have the 250 or the 350? I still haven't had a chance to try this
puppy out. I guess I have about another week or so to decide. What should I
be looking for as far as defects or weak points in this card? Thanks for the
feed back. We all know how it is .... buy something now ... do the homework
later and wish that we had bought something different.

<Glenn M> wrote in message
news:vt07d0t52mqlhgaqbiltauqghb76ms7m3q@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 13:36:48 -0700, "Forrest"
> <REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >I just bought an Adaptec Videoh! DVD Media Center card (PCI). I haven't
> >started using it yet (I'm a newbie) but have been searching around for
some
> >reviews on it. As usual, some like it and some hate it. I have 3 weeks
> >before it can't be returned. I want something good but not costing an arm
> >and a leg. I like the ability to capture TV to the computer and am sure
I'll
> >burn some VHS tapes to DVD. I have a P-4 ... 2.4 gig chip with a gig of
> >ram, 250 gig Maxtor drive (ATA 133) and a Radeon (I think 7000, 128 ddr
ram)
> >video card. I sure would appreciate any advice on what card to get and
any
> >comments on this one. I was also wondering about speed etc. when it comes
to
> >PCI vs. USB.
> > I'm still a little confused about these cards' ability to tune in a
TV
> >station. I have Comcast cable TV. One room has digital and the garage has
> >analog. I split each after the box and run both into my computer room to
an
> >A-B switch. Can these things act as a box or does the signal to it have
to
> >come after the cable box? If after the box it seems that it would only be
> >able to use the channel that is selected. Anywhooo ..... Thanks
> >
> I would have gone with Hauppauge PVR 250 or 350...
> The Adaptec is most likely very good too...
> I have the Hauppauge Win TV-PVR USB 2 and it is excellent...
> The Hauppauge cards work great with Beyond TV3 and Sage TV...
> I went with the USB 2 card due to no free slots and I run dual tuners
> with Sage TV... there is no loss using the USB 2 ( I would not use it
> with USB 1.1 though)
> The Hauppauge blows the ATI TV card out of the water....and the
> hardware mpeg is far superior to ATI software encoding IMHO...
> Regards,
> Glenn M
>
>
>
> A GREAT DAY FOR FREEDOM...Pink Floyd
 
G

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Guest
Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:45:14 -0700, "Forrest"
<REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Do you have the 250 or the 350? I still haven't had a chance to try this
>puppy out. I guess I have about another week or so to decide. What should I
>be looking for as far as defects or weak points in this card? Thanks for the
>feed back. We all know how it is .... buy something now ... do the homework
>later and wish that we had bought something different.

I have the Win TV-PVR USB 2 which is the external USB model... it
works exactly the same as the internal PCI as long as it is connected
via USB 2.
The only difference is that the 350 will also out put to a television
set...if you don't need the decoder to output to a TV then the 250 PCI
or the TV-PVR USB 2 are the way to go...
There are no defects or weak points that I can find...all reviews are
excellent...in the Snap Stream Beyond TV forums this is the brand that
most want and or have... all I read seems positive...
From personal use I am glad I spent the extra money...
Glenn M

A GREAT DAY FOR FREEDOM...Pink Floyd
 

Forrest

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Jun 11, 2004
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You say that "if you don't need the decoder to output to a TV " ...... I
have an ATI video card that outputs to TV. I sometimes tape things that I
downloaded so as to be able to watch them on the VCR in the bedroom while
kicking back. Would my video card be doing what the "out to TV" on this card
does? If so, is there another step or process to do? Should I get the 350
(don't care about the FM radio) or would the 250 work just the same for me?

<Glenn M> wrote in message
news:s6qgd01b30q04lih290hec0ijqtaf70dop@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:45:14 -0700, "Forrest"
> <REMOVETHISrunforrest1@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Do you have the 250 or the 350? I still haven't had a chance to try this
> >puppy out. I guess I have about another week or so to decide. What should
I
> >be looking for as far as defects or weak points in this card? Thanks for
the
> >feed back. We all know how it is .... buy something now ... do the
homework
> >later and wish that we had bought something different.
>
> I have the Win TV-PVR USB 2 which is the external USB model... it
> works exactly the same as the internal PCI as long as it is connected
> via USB 2.
> The only difference is that the 350 will also out put to a television
> set...if you don't need the decoder to output to a TV then the 250 PCI
> or the TV-PVR USB 2 are the way to go...
> There are no defects or weak points that I can find...all reviews are
> excellent...in the Snap Stream Beyond TV forums this is the brand that
> most want and or have... all I read seems positive...
> From personal use I am glad I spent the extra money...
> Glenn M
>
> A GREAT DAY FOR FREEDOM...Pink Floyd