[LUNI] TV Tuner Card

[bil]

On Thursday 11 December 2008 08:56:08 Andrew Close wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 9:27 PM, Samir Faci <samir at esamir.com> wrote:
> > Hello All,
> >
> >
> > I was looking at purchasing a TV tuner card to play with mythtv.  I know
> > Mythtv has their little list of "supported" card.  I was wondering if
> > anyone had any experience with any particular model, or any
> > recommendations.
> >
> > http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Video_capture_card#USB_Capture_Cards
> >
> > Mostly looking at USB models, unless someone has some spectacular
> > insight on how to install a PCI hard into my laptop.
>
> i haven't tried any of the USB options that are out there, but i do
> have a SiliconDust HDHomerun unit which connects via ethernet.
> (http://www.silicondust.com/)
> two tuners, handles OTA ASTC and unencrypted QAM so you're safe to use
> it after Feb '09 :)  they have their own forum for Q&A that appears to
> be somewhat active, and there is also help available via the MythTv
> mailing list and wiki
> (http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Silicondust_HDHomeRun)
>
> --
> Andrew Close

You can also use the HDHomerun to view unencrypted cable channels that the 
cable company transmits even if you don't have HD service from them.  I get a 
better picture this way then from the antana on the second tuner.  But it is 
not portable like a USB device would be.

Does a USB tuner handle the single processing itself, or is that off loaded to 
the CPU?  HD video can realy strain a CPU, so that is something to consider 
also.