Dvico Fusion Dual HDTV DVB-T Tuner Review

This can be a PCI card that I purchased from The Glow Lounge to finish my Home windows Media Middle PC (which I will write a information for at a later date) to position in my lounge to make use of from to take over my DVD participant. Video recorder, DVB-T tuner in customary definition and Hello-Fi. It price round £105, which you would possibly assume is a bit expensive, however I will clarify the explanations for my alternative later.

What’s within the field?

PCI card x1

Driver CD x1

MCE distant management x1

Infrared cable x1

Small kind issue bracket x1

Directions x1

Analog enter cable x1

Video studio 8 x1

USB cable x1

Audio cable x1

set up

Set up, as with most PCI playing cards, is a comparatively painless course of offered you observe the directions offered. One factor to remember when putting the cardboard in your laptop is that it could actually get fairly sizzling. With this in thoughts, I positioned the cardboard on the underside of my system in order that it was away from the graphics card as a result of I did not need the graphics card and tuner exchanging warmth and probably damaging one another.

One factor I do, and that is simply my desire, is ignore the motive force CD that comes with each card like this and obtain the most recent drivers from the producer’s web site for 2 causes; 1) Generally the cardboard or no matter sits on the shelf for months and in that point the producer has already launched a number of updates. 2) Whenever you obtain the software program from the producer’s web site, you solely choose the software program you want, versus all of the junk that normally comes put in with the motive force CD. I am speaking about issues like annoying toolbars or adware bundled with software program that helps decelerate your PC. Like I stated, that is simply my desire.

That is on no account the most affordable DVBT (Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial) tuner card I’ve in the marketplace, however I selected it as a result of it had sure options that I felt had been important to creating the change from a standalone digital terrestrial tuner to justify a Home windows Media Middle-based TV. The primary requirement is that it must be a twin tuner so I can watch one program and document one other on the identical time. The second requirement is that it must be an HD (excessive definition) card to ensure that it to nonetheless work when broadcasting HD TV within the UK and naturally if I improve to an enormous HD TV or projector !

One factor that stunned me about this card is the standard of the included distant management. Often with issues like this the design of the distant appears to be an afterthought and is sufficient at finest, that is positively not the case with the Dvico card. The distant is chunky, effectively constructed and really looks like a correct distant! I’ve to admit that I do not use the distant that comes with the cardboard, I exploit the distant that comes with the Logitech S510 Cordless Desktop just because the scroll wheel on the distant hastens menu navigation. If I hadn’t already purchased this wi-fi desktop I’d positively be pleased with the distant that Dvico provides.

I used the TV software program that got here with the cardboard briefly, however did not discover it nearly as good or as intuitive to make use of as Home windows Media Middle 2005, though I believe the software program that got here with it might do the job with out Home windows Media Middle. One factor I’ve but to attempt is the cardboard’s analog seize capabilities, but when the efficiency of the cardboard’s different options is something to go by then I am certain it can do precisely what it says on the tin!

I have been utilizing this card with Home windows Media Middle 2005 for about 3 months now and I can say that this card works with none issues.

Key Options

Watch one channel whereas recording one other

Watch digital DVB-T TV applications in your PC

Image-in-Image (PIP) & Multi-View perform

Report TV applications in DVD/MPEG2 format to HDD

Scheduled recording from hibernation/standby/PC off mode

Pause and replay reside TV broadcasts (time shifting perform)

Analog video recording and recording in digital kind

Excessive-resolution nonetheless picture seize

Suitable with Microsoft Home windows XP Media Middle Version 2005

Low CPU consumption with DxVA-SW decoder

EPG (Digital Program Information)

Helps digital teletext and subtitles (besides UK)

Low profile kind issue for slender PC

Help HD to DVD or Divx format conversion

Helps energy on as PME

Helps logical channel quantity

Totally useful infrared distant management
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specs

I/O ports 1 x antenna enter

1 x USB port

1 x SVHS/ 1 x composite video enter

1 x inside stereo sound connector

1 x IR distant management port

Minimal system necessities Home windows ME, Home windows XP, Home windows 2000

1 x USB2.0 port and 1 x PCI slot

DxVA based mostly VGA playing cards

Pentium3 800MHz (ATI Radeon Collection)

Non-DxVA based mostly VGA playing cards

Pentium4 1.6GHz with 128MB reminiscence

Driver Cypress FX2 driver

Conexant CX2388x driver

DViCO’s personal tuner/BDA driver

DViCO’s personal twin HDTV decoder (full B/W mode and DxVA mode)

Conclusion

Not the most affordable digital TV tuner card in the marketplace, however in the event you’re critical about constructing a good, feature-packed House Theater PC (HTPC), then this card is value contemplating. The one factor that lets this card down is the TV software program that comes with it, however if you wish to use Home windows Media Middle 2005 you will not have an issue.

I had a little bit of a difficulty putting in the infrared cable that got here with this card, it’s because the rear slot openings on my case (Thermaltake Armor) are a bit smaller than typical, that means putting in the infrared jack was fairly tough. As soon as put in, the infrared perform labored completely.

Score by johnsreview: 9/10

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