Multiple TV tuners are a necessity for any self-respecting HTPC. We've all grown up being able to watch live TV while recording another channel on the VCR, so having just one tuner in your PC media centre seems like a step backwards.
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 brought with it support for multiple tuners, but to install multiple TV tuners, your PC needs to have multiple expansion slots, and many HTPC cases aren't exactly roomy. This is where DVico's FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Digital card comes in. It shoehorns two digital TV tuners onto one low-profile PCI card.
Not only is the FusionHDTV a low-profile dual digital TV tuner card, but the package also includes a Windows XP MCE remote, something that usually costs around £30. Standalone PVR software is included, as is MCE-compatible MPEG-2 decoder software, saving you the need of obtaining one from a third party.
We tried the FusionHDTV in two test configurations. One was a ready-built machine from The Glow Lounge, running Windows XP MCE 2005, and the other was a Shuttle XPC sporting regular Windows XP, so we could try installation from scratch, and with the bundled software. Using the FusionHDTV with Windows XP MCE, you're best advised to install the entire FusionHDTV software suite, as this includes the IR remote applet that allows you to use the Fusion remote with MCE. We found that the latest drivers from DVico's website made the dual tuner function work seamlessly. MCE picks up two tuners with different names during setup, which is a bit disconcerting, but it worked just fine.
With our regular Windows XP box, initial installation was also relatively straightforward. You install the software, which includes all the necessary drivers, first. Then, once the card is plugged in, you'll be clicking away merrily while six devices are detected. Perhaps the strangest aspect of installation is the fact that you also have to plug in an external USB cable, although you can use an internal jumper cable for this as well. It isn't made terribly clear in the manual why you need this, but without it, the AVStream driver won't install, and this was necessary for dual tuner functions in Windows XP MCE. It also appears to handle analogue capture via the composite, S-Video and RCA audio breakout cable.
Without MCE, all of the FusionHDTV's TV viewing and PVR functions are accessed through the FusionHDTV application. Once the initial channel scan is complete, we found that you could use this software for straightforward tasks without any recourse to the mouse or keyboard. The IR remote allows you to change channels, or access and control file and DVD playback. It also drives the built-in EPG, although the latter uses information from the DVB-T broadcast signal, so info can be a bit patchy. It also lacks any description other than the programme title. However, you can easily use FusionHDTV to schedule recordings, again entirely with the IR remote. It can even perform picture-in-picture viewing of two channels, using one tuner for the main screen and another for the inserted one.
Overall, we found FusionHDTV a bit unreliable, whereas performance with MCE, for instance, was rock-solid. Scheduled recordings would appear to take place, but the video couldn't be found anywhere on the system. This is a shame, as the software's interface is about the best executed we've seen, even surpassing that of Leadtek's WinFast DTV1000 T. It also gives you the ability to turn your PC on and off using the IR remote. This can use either PME, if your system supports it, or you can route the power switch physically via the FusionHDTV card itself, rather like Compro's VideoMate cards. It's also worth noting that while the HDTV in the name refers to support for high-definition DVB-T broadcasts, this is for the Australian market, and we won't be seeing it in the UK for the foreseeable future.
CONCLUSION
The FusionHDTV software has potential, with a very IR remote-friendly interface, but we found it too finicky in its current iteration. However, the card comes into its own when it's allied with MCE. Considering that you get a compatible remote and an MPEG-2 decoder in the box, all you need to build your own MCE box with the FusionHDTV is the OS itself - and the PC, of course. As it's a low-profile card, it keeps your chassis options open too. The only downside is its cost.The Leadtek card can be found for about £43, so two of those will set you back a lot less than the £130 that a FusionHDTV will debit from your bank account. Frustratingly, unless you really need two tuners on one card, this is one time when the obvious beats the ingenious.
Author: James Morris
DVico FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Digital