Tv On The Move

oldcro · February 5, 2007

I've been looking at getting a Hauppauge WinTV HVR900 USB TV card for use on my Sony Vaio laptop and wondered if they are any good. I am a bit concerned that the supplied aerial may only work if you are next to the transmitter, and carrying a full size aerial around is somewhat impractical.lol

If anyone has or is useing one of these USB TV cards I would be very interested in your comments whether good or bad.

Continunity · February 6, 2007

Normally the supplied arials, are to be frank.. Crap.

I have never got mine to work with the supplied arial, although i do live in the sticks. Maybe if your in and around major citys you may be o.k, but i would doubt it.

Kazi · February 6, 2007

Yeah, Ive got one of the USB thingies for my Mac, and the supplied aerial is rubbish!

Think its an eyeTv...good bit of kit though when it does get signal! :D

oldcro · February 6, 2007

Thanks Continuity and Kazi, it's as I expected, the tuner fits in your shirt pocket but you need a van to carry the aerial around.

Is there a small afermarket aerial available which gives the best results?

Kazi · February 6, 2007

Yeah, far as im aware their just coaxial aerials. Just the ones you get are short and not much cop....try eBay for the aerials. Think the digital signal is not as strong and wide spread as anologue. Bit like mobile phones. Back in the day, anologue was much better coverage than digital.

Another aerial should do the trick....one of the things I need to get round to doing....let me knopw what the outcome is mate. :D

Continunity · February 6, 2007

yes they are just co-ax arieals :D I plug my wintv into my house areial if im to lazy to go downstairs and watch :D

oldcro · February 10, 2007

Yeah, far as im aware their just coaxial aerials. Just the ones you get are short and not much cop....try ebay for the aerials. Think the digital signal is not as strong and wide spread as anologue. Bit like mobile phones. Back in the day, anologue was much better coverage than digital.
Another aerial should do the trick....one of the things I need to get round to doing....let me knopw what the outcome is mate. :D

With the stubby little aerial that came with the tuner I get the following results.

Analogue is very snowy and not worth watching.

Digital is quite good as the picture is certainly watchable.

Just to clarify, I am situated eleven miles from the local transmitter and in line of sight. I'm not sure what the power of the transmitter is, but believe it is much less than those down south.