Do dual DVB-T2 USB exist?

Help with tuners from ATI, Hauppauge, AverMedia and more.
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justjax

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Do dual DVB-T2 USB exist?

#1

Post by justjax » Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:45 pm

Okay so I'm moving and need a much smaller WMC than I have currently. I'm thinking of buying a Lenova IdeaCentre mini PC http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AXYAXUK but I want to have the same recording funtionality as my current WMC PC which has a dual DVB-T2 TV card. Do dual dvb-t2 usb exist? The also comes loaded with Windows 8. I know I have to buy Media Center as an extra option and I'm fine with that, but beyond no longer being able to boot into WMC, is there any other issues I should be aware of if I go with a Windows 8 machine?

foxwood

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#2

Post by foxwood » Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:15 pm

Amaxon.co.uk has this dual DVB-T2 USB tuner: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TBS5280-DVB-T2- ... B008EFHUFQ

As far as I can see, the manufacturer only offers Win7 and XP drivers: http://www.tbsdtv.com/download/#tbs5280

Also bear in mind that you'll have to spring for the £75 "Windows 8 Pro Pack" to get WMC - the cheap $10 Media Center Pack only applies to the Pro version of Windows 8.

Given that you can get a copy of Win7 that includes WMC for under £50, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Windo ... 004Q0T10A/, you might want to see if you can get an IdeaCenter with Win7 pre-installed, or at least verify of Lenovo proviodes any Win7 drivers for that box.

justjax

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#3

Post by justjax » Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:42 pm

foxwood wrote:Amaxon.co.uk has this dual DVB-T2 USB tuner: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TBS5280-DVB-T2- ... B008EFHUFQ

As far as I can see, the manufacturer only offers Win7 and XP drivers: http://www.tbsdtv.com/download/#tbs5280

Also bear in mind that you'll have to spring for the £75 "Windows 8 Pro Pack" to get WMC - the cheap $10 Media Center Pack only applies to the Pro version of Windows 8.

Given that you can get a copy of Win7 that includes WMC for under £50, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Windo ... 004Q0T10A/, you might want to see if you can get an IdeaCenter with Win7 pre-installed, or at least verify of Lenovo proviodes any Win7 drivers for that box.
Hi Foxwood, thanks for the links. I actually saw the TBS box but didn't read the info properly as assumed it was more of a stand alone box and that WMC wouldn't recognise the two tuners, but looks like that's not the case so could be exactly what i'm looking for. In terms of drivers I'm actually now considering going with Windows 7. I have a copy I can install so that'll save me money, but beyond that I've been reading up this afternoon on Windows 8 and Media Center and there are more negatives than positives in going with Win 8 (can't boot up into WMC, can't use Green button to start, etc) and it looks no different so as you suggest, I might see if I can find last years model with Win 7 pre-installed as it may be cheaper too.

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#4

Post by foxwood » Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:11 pm

You might have to jump through some hoops, but you should be able to get Win7 running on the Q190 - it's a nice bit of kit, at least on paper.

This thread in the enovo forums suggests that there are problems, but people have gotten it working:
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/IdeaCentre- ... 303/page/2

justjax

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#5

Post by justjax » Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:57 pm

foxwood wrote:You might have to jump through some hoops, but you should be able to get Win7 running on the Q190 - it's a nice bit of kit, at least on paper.

This thread in the enovo forums suggests that there are problems, but people have gotten it working:
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/IdeaCentre- ... 303/page/2
Yeah I found this thread too. Be looking online for an older model with Win7 but can't seem to find any. :evil:

Meant to add also that in that thread one of the last post someone seems to manage to do it fairly easy using the drivers linked in the thread so I might just go with the Win 8 version, especially as it appears the version with a Blu Ray drive wasn't released until Jan 2013, so the older model most likely wouldn't have a Blu Ray drive anyway and possibly a lower spec too.

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CyberSimian

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#6

Post by CyberSimian » Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:20 am

justjax wrote:
foxwood wrote:Amaxon.co.uk has this dual DVB-T2 USB tuner: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TBS5280-DVB-T2- ... B008EFHUFQ
I actually saw the TBS box but didn't read the info properly as assumed it was more of a stand alone box and that WMC wouldn't recognise the two tuners, but looks like that's not the case so could be exactly what i'm looking for.
The tuner referenced by Foxwood above is indeed a DVB-T2 dual tuner, but it seems not to be available from a UK retailer. The seller on Amazon UK is located in France (at least it is not the far east!), but that might mean that you would receive a power supply with a continental mains plug.

I recently purchased an Android smartphone from a UK retailer that was selling German stock (the phone is not officially imported into the UK), and the charger did indeed have a continental plug. The UK retailer (to his credit) supplied a continental-to-UK plug adapter as part of the package, but it is all extra bulk!

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

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#7

Post by Space2 » Wed Jul 03, 2013 8:15 pm

There is now a review on Amazon confirming the TBS5280 working with Windows 8. The TBS5280 is £79.99 + £5.13 UK delivery = £85.12
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews ... ewpoints=1

"5 STARS: Perfect, does what it says on the box, 25 May 2013

Purchased to use with Zotac Zbox and Windows Media Center on Win8 for always on media player setup.
I was worried being USB there might be some intermittent problems or occasional weirdness but running now for a month and working flawlessly.
Little to no hit on host PC CPU and if it matters to you I measured approx 2.5 watt power draw.
Remote is average but does the job, has all the required WMC buttons.

Would highly recommend this, love it when things just work!

As a bonus the IR receiver built in can be used to pick up any IR remote you have with a quick reg edit and Intelliremote.
I really liked the LG TV remote I had and a good universal remote is big money.

If you want to do this you'll need to do two things. Google Use a Zune Remote Control with Windows Media Center and for the registry change and Intelliremote to remap the remote functions. It's that easy!"

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TBS also do a 'USB Stick" style terrestrial tuner too but it's only single tuner DVB-T2 the TBS5220
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listin ... dition=new

The cost of two of theses to form a dual tuner would be TBS5220 Stick £39.99 + £4.19 UK delivery = £44.18 x 2 = £88.36 or there abouts depending on whether they charge you two lots of carriage.

Are there any other options regarding getting live HD UK TV into a laptop running WMC?

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