Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Clear QAM and Remote Control (Black)

Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Clear QAM and Remote Control (Black) The Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder will bring high-definition television directly to your PC. This handy device lets you watch your favorite TV shows through your computer, and record them digitally for future playback using high quality MPEG-2. More economical and versatile than a DVR, or digital video recorder, this PC Video Recorder, or PVR, gives you virtually unlimited options for saving and playing back your favorite TV broadcasts and clips.

Customer Review: Warning: Does not work for Mac (Only for PC)
1) Not for Mac
I bought this product because the under technical details it says:
“System requirements (Mac): OS X version 10.4 or later; Intel processor or PowerPC G5 or faster CPU; available USB 2.0 port; CD-ROM drive; Internet connection”

However, it is not the case. After going to the company Web Site, I found that only model Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 950 Hybrid TV Stick (with a WHITE case) supports both Mac & PC.

2) Does not Support QAM
As a previous reviewer mentioned, this product HVR-950 does not support QAM, but the similar HVR-950Q.
Hauppauge 1191 WinTV-HVR-950Q TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Clear QAM and Remote Control (Black)
For less than a $1.26 difference in price, it is worth it.

Fortunately for me, even though I my box said WinTV-HVR-950, the module inside the box was the WinTV-HVR-950Q.

3) Image quality is very good. But make sure that your laptop or PC meets the minimum system requirements.
Minimum processor recommended:
- 2.2 GHz Intel P4 or 1.8 GHz Centrino or equivalent
- 2.8 GHz Intel P4 or Core(tm) Duo or equivalent for analog TV recording with MPEG-2
Microsoft Windows Vista or XP with Service Pack 2.
Graphics with 64 MB of memory (minimum).
USB 2.0 port (will not work with USB 1.1).

BTW, I am using this product with Windows XP on a laptop and I have not experienced the problems another reviewer had.
Once after a couple of hours of watching, the sound became mangled. After closing and restarting the WinTV application, everything went back to normal.

4) Response Time
I found the the response to my commands using the WinTV program that comes with the product was very slow. On the other hand when I used the remote control, it was quicker, so I almost exclusively use the remote control to change channels and make the TV picture full screen.
If I did not have the remote control, I would remove one star from my rating because of it.

5) Antenna
I bought the Terk HDTVa indoor antenna Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Receptionto get the best reception. Curiously, this antenna works best for me placed on the side, so that the cone is pointed up, like a Christmas tree.
Customer Review: Buy with caution!
This product has problems with Windows XP (and possibly ATI video cards). Could not get a picture at all on one computer but had sound. Audio had lots of static on another computer with a great picture. It would not work on one of our laptops at all. But, it worked great on a new laptop with Windows Vista Ultimate. Hauppauge’s fix for these computers was an older driver in which the remote control would not work.

8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter Signal Booster with Passive Return Path

8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter Signal Booster with Passive Return Path PCT’s 8-Port MA2 drop amplifier has improved performance and ultra-low noise amplification of broadband signals for subscriber drop installations. The 8-Port Amplifier provides better return loss performance, enhanced shielding protection, and IEEE B3 6kV, 3000 amp combination wave surge withstand on all ports for superior lightning protection. All “F” ports also include PCT’s patented Digital Seizure Mechanism (DSM) for superior center conductor retention, electrical performance, and additional protection against transient surges.
Customer Review: Thumbs up.
I purchased this cable amplifiler in hopes it would help a little with my weak cable signal. WOW, what a difference it made. My TV picture went from snowy to crystal clear.

My weak cable signal is due to a weaker than normal cable signal from my cable supplier and compiling to this problem was that I had to split it to 8 different area’s in my house.

I had purchased a cable amplifier from Radio Shack about 5 years ago which provided no help. I often looked into purchasing something else on the higher end but I didn’t want to invest over $150 and get no results again.

I saw this product and read all the reviews and thought I would give it a try. I’m sure happy I did.
Customer Review: The best Digital Cable Splitter Out There
This splitter works well with my digital cable and cable modem. I used to have black and white like picture on my furthest television and this cleared it right up. I definitely recommend this splitter to anyone who needs an 8-way splitter.

VGA Adapter to TV S-Video RCA Out Cable for PC Video

VGA Adapter to TV S-Video RCA Out Cable for PC Video Customer Review: Previous buyers
your video card has to support direct tv video out
it doesnt just plug n play you need software. read!!!!
Customer Review: doesnt work
well it doesnt work and ill have a video up proving it…and its not even the right color and it has a crack in it,,,wtf this is a piece of trash

Terk Technology TV-1 Passive Indoor TV Antenna

Terk Technology TV-1 Passive Indoor TV Antenna Terk Technology TV-1 Indoor TV Antenna – I have satellite TV and that makes me a very happy man. However I’m not so happy when a nice storm rolls into the area and kills my signal completely! When that happens I wish I had a old-style pair of rabbit ears like this Terk TV-1 antenna. With this you can get free TV at all times! And if you have a modern television set, it will fit inside the antenna receptacle in the back of it. A great convenience! VHF – Channels 2-13 Operating Bandwidth – 54MHz to 806MHz Height of Base – 3.375 Height with Dipoles – (closed) 12.5 / (open) 42.5
HD clarity is awesome – the same as $37 HDTV antenna
It’s true, this works as well as the $37 dollar Terk HDTVa antenna. My review from that product page …

I bought a new flatscreen and two friends told me about free HD channels. I didn’t really get what they were talking about, but one insisted that I specifically needed an HDTV antenna. The other claimed that it was all marketing and regular rabbit ears would do the trick. I’ll cut to the punchline, rabbit ears work exactly the same as this fancier, more expensive Terk HDTVa antenna.

Specifics:
* I live on Capital Hill in Seattle, WA
* I’ve a Panasonic 780p 42″ TV
* the TV scans for digital channels once the antenna is hooked up
* I tried the Terk HDTVa first, it worked great
* Next I tried the $14 Terk TV-1 passive TV antenna, it worked easil as great
* I believe I get around 25 free digital channels – things like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, religous channels, PBS, Hispanic channels — these are numbered like 4-1, 5-1, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3

If you don’t do the digital scan thing (it’s a setting in the menu of the TV) then you won’t see the glory of digital TV. It’s basically regular TV with a better-than-cable picture. And there are all sorts of extra channels out there (PBS has about 3 or 4 channels) of stuff you can’t see with regular TV. I actually don’t watch TV at all, but it’s good for Thanksgiving football I suppose. Mostly I was intrigued with whether the HDTV antenna stuff was marketing or truth. After this a/b test it appears to be pure marketing.

Added benefit – the HDTV antennas are techie looking. I suppose “cool” by some male standards but I personally love the simplicity of the rabbit ears, which are hidden behind the profile of my TV so you never see them.

… or just hook up your current antenna, have your TV scan for digital channels (it’s got to be a new TV for this feature, I’m told) and see what you get. Okay, I’ve spent way too much time thinking and typing about a TV signal I will rarely use. See you at the movies!
GOOD PRICE FOR GOOD RECEPTION!
I have just installed 2 of these antennas for 2 of my old TV sets combined with the HD converter boxes. So far reception is good and it gives me all local channels in Chicago. Price is right for the quality of image I get. If anybody is looking for more channels or super HD reception then get cable or satelite. No compaints from me so far.

PHILIPS DVP3140 – ALL REGION CODEFREE MULTI SYSTEM DVD PLAYER WITH DivX. PLAYS PAL/NTSC DVDS FROM ANY COUNTRY ON NTSC TV. REMOTE INCLUDED.

Your dream player with flawless, true-to-life picture quality and the ability to play virtually any disc! The Philips DVD player delivers your movies and music entertainment experience.PRODUCT FEATURES:12-bit/108MHz video processing for sharp, natural images;192kHz/24 bit audio DAC enhances analog sound input;High quality outputs for analog and digital audio;Progressive Scan component video for optimized image quality;Plays CD, (S)VCD, DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW;DivX for standard playback of all DivX media files;Plays DivX, MP3, WMA and JPEG digital camera photos;Ultra-slim design that fits anywhere
Customer Review: seamless transition between regions…
I bought this item in Nov 2008. Could be the other reviewers have an older version. THERE ARE NO CODES TO TYPE IN. Pop in any dvd you want, it just plays. No drama, no technical issues. It plays regions 1-6, NTSC/PAL. And it DOES eject – just press the stop button for 5 seconds. READ THE MANUAL dude!
Highly recommended. Maybe not the fanciest player, but I’m guessing you’re looking at this for the multi-region feature, and that feature WORKS.
Customer Review: Perfect!
It seems the DVD player I received did not need any special codes as mentioned other reviews. The player plays all my DVDs (region 1 and 5). Just tossed a DIVX on there the other day to verify operation, and it works! NICE! No complaints here.