We've tested just about every application for watching TV on your PC, but our favourite is still Windows Media Center. As it's preinstalled on most Vista PCs, it has become tough for TV card manufacturers to differentiate their products.
Compro has clearly addressed this difficulty with its new VideoMate Vista T500F. It comes with a Media Center remote control, an accessory most Vista PCs lack. It's different from Microsoft's design. The big, black, slab-like shape doesn't fit comfortably in the hand, and the four-way navigation control is a bit awkward to use. However, it does a perfectly good job of controlling Media Centre and has all the buttons you need, including the green button. There's no IR blaster unit for controlling a set-top box, but an infrared receiver for the remote plugs into the rear panel of the card.
The card fits into a PCI slot and has a single hybrid digital/analogue tuner, so those still relying on the main five analogue channels are catered for, as well as those wanting to watch the extra channels available on Freeview. There's also an FM support, as well as an input for analogue video capture. A breakout lead is supplied with composite, S-video and stereo mini-jack inputs. It's also good to see Ulead's DVD MovieFactory 5 SE included for editing your footage and burning it to DVD.
Even if you're just buying a tuner to receive Freeview, there's a choice of viewing options here. The T500F works perfectly with Media Center, but there's also Compro's DTV application. This is not as slick as Media Center, with fiddly controls and a poorly designed EPG that displays only one multiplex of channels at a time. There's also a Vista sidebar gadget provided, but given its limited options you are better off reducing Media Center down to a small window instead of running it full-screen.
One advantage of using the DTV software is that it can use the card's hardware power control. By daisy-chaining your PC's power switch through the card, DTV can switch your PC on and off to match your scheduled recordings. It's potentially useful if you spend long periods away from home, especially as the DTV software can access scheduled recordings from Media Center. However, most users will find Media Center's use of your PC's hibernate function just as useful, and it starts up quicker when required.
A Microsoft-branded Media Center remote costs around £20, which means you're effectively paying only £25 for the TV card. It's a shame that this isn't a dual-tuner card, but if you only need a single tuner and don't already have a Media Center remote, the T500F is great value.
Single analogue/digital tuner, PCI interface, RF, FM, S-video, composite, mini-jack and IP inputsAuthor: Seth Barton
Compro VideoMate Vista T500F