Most dual-tuner TV cards have a PCI-Express interface. However, some PCs don't have the requisite PCI-Express x1 slot, or the only such slot is blocked by a large graphics card. Compro's VideoMate Vista T750F has a PCI interface and should fit in almost any PC.
The Vista T750F's dual tuners are hybrid, so they can receive either digital or analogue broadcasts. It's ideal if you're waiting for the digital TV switchover. As there are two tuners, you can record one programme while watching another, or record two programmes at once. As with most hybrid TV cards, it can receive FM radio and capture analogue video.
The Vista T750F is best suited to media centre use, so the bundled Media Center remote is a handy addition. However, it's ugly and not as comfortable to hold as Microsoft's more curvaceous version. A small IR receiver connects to the back of the card, but it doesn't include an IR blaster to control a set-top box. If you don't have a PC with Media Center, you're stuck with Compro's own DTV application. This has a very poor interface by comparison, with fiddly buttons, confusing icons and an EPG that only displays one multiplex of channels at a time. A better option for those without Media Center is Terratec's Cinergy DT USB XS Diversity.
As with all digital tuners, picture quality is dependent on the MPEG2 codec used rather than the card itself. The supplied codec produced good-quality images and the tuners were sensitive enough to pick up a consistently good signal from our aerial. No mini antennas are supplied and, sadly, it doesn't support diversity mode, where both tuners are used for one channel to improve reception in areas with poor signal strength.
It's possible to connect the Vista T750F to your PCs power button. The Compro DTV software can then power up your PC for recordings and shut it down again afterwards, and you can import scheduling information from Media Center to make things easier. You might make some power savings, but they will probably be minimal, as your PC should hibernate between recordings anyway.
The card has two separate RF inputs and a simple adaptor is provided to connect an aerial cable to both at once. There are S-video and composite inputs for capturing analogue video from camcorders and VCRs, plus a mini-jack for audio capture. Ulead's DVD MovieFactory 5 SE is included for editing your footage and burning it to DVD. Video captured from the S-video input and converted to MPEG2 looked reasonable, but you'll get sharper results from a hardware encoder such as TerraTec's Grabster AV 400 MX.
The Vista T750F is a versatile product, and a bargain considering it comes with a remote. The DTV software is poor, however, and so we cannot recommend it to anyone without Media Center. Still, Vista Home Premium users need look no further for an internal TV tuner.
System Specifications
Dual analogue/digital tuner, PCI interface, 2x RF, FM, S-video, composite, mini-jack audio-in and IR inputs
Author: Seth Barton
Computer Shopper Online