Avermedia launches HD and analog combo PCI Express TV tuner

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Avermedia Technologies announced on March 13 the release of its AVerTV Combo PCI Express (PCIe) High Definition and Analog TV Tuner. The AVerTV Combo PCIe combines separate Analog and ATSC/QAM tuners on one card for desktop computers. The new TV tuner card is certified for Windows XP, XP Media Center Edition 2005 and Windows Vista Premium 32/64 bit, according to Avermedia.

The Avermedia AVerTV Combo is a PCI Express x1 low-profile TV tuner featuring combo high definition and analog TV tuners. Complete with an ATSC and unencrypted "Clear" QAM capable TV tuner, users can watch ATSC TV both over-the-air, or through a standard coaxial cable for unencrypted digital cable content. Featuring a world-wide analog TV tuner with advanced 3D Y/C comb filter with ghost reduction, as well as hardware compression, the AVerTV Combo PCIe enables users to watch/record both analog and high definition TV on their desktop PC using Windows Media Center or AVer MediaCenter Application

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News source: DigiTimes

(2 replies) #1 Kushan on 14 Mar 2007 - 13:52

I have an Avermedia TV tuner card from a few years ago and it's one of the worst peripherals I've ever bought. Their support is horrible and their drivers are buggy as hell. It causes blue screens every now and then and sometimes the application crashes in such a way that it's impossible to use task manager to end it due to it using 99.99% of system resources.

#1.1 beardedwonder on 14 Mar 2007 - 14:33

Pretty much my experience too, awful hardware, awful software and non-existent support.

#1.2 Hak Foo on 15 Mar 2007 - 01:43

Quote - (beardedwonder said @ #1.1)

I've owned an Avermedia card, two Hauppauges, and one Leadtek.

All had lame drivers and weak support.

Nobody makes good TV software. They all do the same thing all the other companies that make "sealed box" driver/app packages do: ugly, tacky software with too much glitz and too little usability.

I used to sort of like the old app that Hauppaugue had... it was just an ordinary Windows app, no custom decor.

#2 nekrosoft13 on 14 Mar 2007 - 14:45

i would get one, to bad my 8800s block the PCI-E 1x

#3 RyanVM on 14 Mar 2007 - 14:53

No mention of what chip they're using either. I'm still waiting for a Theater 650 based PCIe tuner card.

(1 reply) #4 IceBreakerG on 14 Mar 2007 - 15:08

That is very discouraging that both of you have experienced that. I had high hopes when I saw the headline (like FINALLY!!!

, then I read this. Guess I'll just have to keep waiting for a good card and continue to use my ATI HDTV Wonder with hacked drivers so I can use both tuners at once.

#4.1 shift4 on 14 Mar 2007 - 15:29

Same but it doesn't look like it supports cablecard so it's only for viewing unencrypted.

(2 replies) #5 acrophile on 14 Mar 2007 - 16:12

I have an A180 in my Vista Ultimate box and it works well in Media Center. I haven't tried Aver's applications at all since I just use MC. I was really excited to see a card that supports QAM, but from what I've read this doesn't work in Vista/MC yet as MS hasn't added support for QAM. Supposedly Aver is coming out with an application that will support QAM, but I can't find out when Vista/MC will support it yet. Sigh...

#5.1 Danrarbc on 14 Mar 2007 - 16:43

I dunno it might only when a CableCARD is involved.

#5.2 Express on 14 Mar 2007 - 16:44

Vista does support QAM-hardware.

#6 Danrarbc on 14 Mar 2007 - 16:43

To be honest I don't even use the analog part of my dual mode PCI tuner.

#7 SimpleRules on 14 Mar 2007 - 18:17

I've had a wonderful AverMedia card, no BSODs or anything, although I don't use the digital part ... just analogue input from an STB.

(1 reply) #8 Croquant on 14 Mar 2007 - 20:17

While it's great to finally see someone using the PCIe 1x format, I still don't see the point in having a separate TV tuner card. I'd rather have the display adaptor and the TV tuner all on one card.

#8.1 Osprey on 15 Mar 2007 - 01:15

The point in having them separate is that you don't have to continually re-buy the TV tuner every time you upgrade your display adapter. Display adapters with TV tuners built-in cost more than those without, so you're re-buying it each time. Also, they often take a bit longer to come out.

I learned a long time to separate out things like that. Almost 10 years ago, I wanted video input. I seriously considered an ATi All-in-Wonder. Instead, I went with a standalone PCI tuner card. Since buying that, I've gone through at least 5 video cards, and I'm still using that little tuner card. If I had gone with an All-in-Wonder, I would've had to pay $50 extra for the next All-in-Wonder, then the next, then the next, and so on. Clearly, I saved a lot of money and headache by having the TV tuner separate from the video card.

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