Wow, I really dont know if I should give this product a one star or five star. I'll settle for a three for the pain it caused me.
First, my system: Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz, 4GB DDR2RAM, 256MB ATI graphics card w/HDMI out, 640GB HDD, Vista Home Premium 32bit. I am located in the mountains of SoCal, where OTA doesnt quite work, and so ClearQAM from TimeWarner is my only option.
Let me start off by saying if you are looking for a dual-tuner for digital/analog viewing, this is one of your best choices. However, expect to spend a night or two of surfing forums, updating drivers, installing hotfixes, etc... The problem is that Vista Media Center (initially) doesnt recognize the ClearQAM tuner, only the analog tuners. How to fix this? Well, my 8 hours of pain can be your simple gain.
Disclaimer: you will be adding a value to Vista's registry if you follow this review, so anything you do is on you alone!
1) If you've been trying to get the tuner to work, wipe all the tuner's drivers off utilizing the utility on the CD (select total and the checkbox below it) and restart Vista.
2) Update Windows.
3) Install the HVR-2250 and the BETA drivers from Hauppauge's USA website.
4) Install TV Pack 2008 (search online for it)
5) Install PC Ready Play (from MS download site)
6) Install the 2 hotfixes (KB951585 and KB950754 from MS download site)
7) Update Windows. (there will be a cumulative update for TV pack)
8) Open the registry (run/regedit)
9) Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\hcw89
10) Add a new Folder (key) and name it: Parameters
11) Add a new DWORD to that and name it: AllowQAM_PowerToy
12) Make that value for the new string: 1
13) *Repeat 10-12 for: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\hcwPrx89
14) Reboot Vista
15) You should be good to go. When in Media Center, the automated set-up might still tell you that it found two analog tuners, which you then select manual set-up and go through the steps. You should see a choice for ClearQAM!
*Notes: the hcwPrx89 folder did not exist in my registry, so I had to create the folder and then add the DWORD.
For $130, I would expect Hauppauge to have either better drivers or better support. Scouring the forums will result in similar fixes like I describe above. I guess something similar to this works for Windows 7.
Oh, the good: it works like it's supposed to (after forementioned).
Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK! Hauppauge 1213 WinTV-HVR-2250 PCI-E x1 Dual TV Tuner
I had 2 requirments for a TV Tuner Card. It had to be half-height and it had to be a dual tuner (so I can record one show and watch another). This card meets the bill. So far it has worked great. Sometimes when I tune to a channel in Windows Media Center the screen is blue and I have to change channels and then go back for it to appear. I don't know if this is because of the tuner or because of something else. Other than that I really haven't had any problems. Possibly a driver update will fix that problem.
This product works perfectly with Snap Stream Beyond TV 4. [.........]
I have 2 digital tuners and 2 analog tuners on my pc. This records multiple inputs and automatically downloads the cable TV and local TV program guide. The picture is great. The software takes some time to tweek to your inputs and program guide. You must be willing to spend some time.
Ok, I ordered the Hauppauge 1213 WinTV 2250 on Amazon. The device arrived promptly and the price wasn't all that bad. However, this was to the full extent of my pleasant experience with the product.
The Receiver/Blaster would not work even after installing new drivers from the manufacturer's website. I called tech support (which, by the way, is available M-F 9 to 6PM ET only) simply to determine that the supplied cable was defective. The tech representative-a fella named Brice Junior-assured me that he would send out a new cable and I should be up and running in a 3 or 4 days.
Seven days came and passed. I received no cable. I called back tech support and stumbled on Brice Junior again. Except this time, he had no idea who I was and had no recollection of his promise to ship me a replacement cable.
So we went through the same diagnostics again-as if this time the repair fairy had come to my house and repaired the cable. Well, again the WinTV did not work. Then, Brice assured me, again, with absolute conviction that he would send a new cable and usb adapter for the device as soon as he got off the phone with me. Another two weeks went by, and...a BIG nothing arrived.
As I did some research on the matter on the Internet, I begin to uncover that the company engages in a policy of systematic lies to its customers to avoid honoring its obligations under its warranties. The technic is simple. They give the customer a round-around for a few weeks at which time it's too late to return the device to the store of purchase. And, since they are out reach, you, the unhappy customer, chase after them until you get tired and give up.
Meanwhile, Brice Junior, their scum tech support, is happily doing the company's bidding by lying to customers.
So in conclusion, buy the company's products only if you are sure (a) you can install them on your own, and (b) you can return them immediate if something is wrong them. Ignore the promise of the 2-year warranty that you read on the box. It is NON-EXISTENT.
This is the crown jewel in my HTPC project. It works perfectly with Windows 7 64-bit & Windows Media Center. I have basic cable with several standard definition channels, as well as several HD channels (the big networks/local channels). The dual hybrid tuners means that I can record any channel while watching any other channel without having to worry whether it's HD or not. I was surprised that all 4 tuners work off of the same coax cable. The other input is for the radio receiver. I thought I was going to have to go buy a cable splitter to take advantage of both tuners, but this is not the case.
I installed the driver only, Windows Media Center works so well on Windows 7 that there's no need to mess with the included WinTV, or any other software. - Dual Tuner - Hauppauge - Hdtv Tuner - Media Center'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
