FM Radio tuner

[newfiend]

Was wondering about adding FM Radio to my HTPC.. Can anyone suggest a good PCI card that is either just a FM tuner or TV/FM Radio tuner? I don't need the TV portion as I'm just looking to add FM Radio.. Thanks..
newfiend

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[mcewinter]

I think not needing the TV portion is where it gets hairy. There is no "FM tuner" set up in MC as it's tied to TV setup. The only FM tuners I have are built into analog tuners so therefore I don't have FM.

I believe some QAM tuners have FM so you would have to set up those tuners and edit them out of your guide if you wish to not use them.

I would also like a reasonable solution but it seems that I'll have to invest in a QAM tuner that I'm not going to use.

[newfiend]

That's what I was affraid of.. So .. Any suggestions on a brand.. Hauppauge? etc..??

[soccerdad]

Most models of the Hauppauge HVR 1800 and 1850 (PCIe 1) have FM. I have an 1800 and it works great in WMC. It finds the radio side automatically. It has a single QAM/ATSC tuner and an analog tuner. They can be found cheap on ebay, just make sure you get one with FM capability. I have it working along side my DCR-2650 cablecard tuner and they play fine together. For PCI, I know the older PVR150 cards had FM as well. They should be really cheap on ebay. THe HVR 1600 is just like the 1800 but has PCI. Many also have FM. ~$20

[newfiend]

Thanks soccerdad.. I'll check eBay..
newfiend

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[STC]

Just quickly going off on a tangent, but have you considered Internet radio or is your source FM only?

[mcewinter]

Just quickly going off on a tangent, but have you considered Internet radio or is your source FM only?

A lot of stations are no longer streaming by conventional methods derailing the convenience of Radiotime.

WXRT in Chicago moved to their own web player making RT useless for me along with a few other stations owned by the same parent company.

[mcewinter]

Most models of the Hauppauge HVR 1800 and 1850 (PCIe 1) have FM. I have an 1800 and it works great in WMC. It finds the radio side automatically. It has a single QAM/ATSC tuner and an analog tuner. They can be found cheap on ebay, just make sure you get one with FM capability. I have it working along side my DCR-2650 cablecard tuner and they play fine together. For PCI, I know the older PVR150 cards had FM as well. They should be really cheap on ebay. THe HVR 1600 is just like the 1800 but has PCI. Many also have FM. ~$20

FM is detected "automatically" only if you choose to use that TV tuner in the mix. I don't even have coax going to my HTPC so setting up a QAM tuner is a no go. I would have to hook up an antenna and set it up as an ATSC tuner then edit out those channels...not so automatic...but not a show stopper I guess.

[newfiend]

Just quickly going off on a tangent, but have you considered Internet radio or is your source FM only?

I use MCShoutcast.. Its great. Just wanted to add a FM tuner for some of the local stations that don't stream.



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[brantmacga]

i use the hauppauge hvr-1600 PCI card as an FM tuner. I got the last one on ebay for $35.

[barnabas1969]

I'm curious. I have a couple of FM tuners in my HTPC, but I don't have a coax cable connected to the "FM" input on either of the tuner cards. Is it possible to record FM radio stations in Media Center? I'm not sure I would use FM radio even if I connected it... my AVR has so many options for Internet streaming that I chose not to connect an antenna to it either. I suppose the kids might enjoy listening to FM radio on their extenders while they're in their bedrooms.