[mythtv-users] WinTV-NOVA-T-500 - buying in the UK

[junk]

Matthew McClement wrote:
> junk wrote:
>   
>> Thanks - I don't know if it's meaningful to compare this figure across 
>> different tuners but that's about the level I get from my AVer card 
>> right now. I've just realised that adding a second card is not an option 
>> due to poor motherboard design so can't just put another AVer PCI card 
>> in. If I want a second tuner, I'll either have to add an USB device or 
>> replace the AVer card with a dual tuner card. I'm wary of getting a USB 
>> device since the chipsets change so often there's no guarantee what I 
>> get will have working drivers. The Nova-T 500 may be what I need - 
>> perhaps I can live without EIT if xmltv from radio times works well.
>>     
>
> If you're after a USB tuner, the KWorld DVB-T USB2 box works fine:
>
> http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=307338
>
> I have 4 of these connected to my backend currently(Scan had a special a
> while back and were selling them for £15 each) and they work fine. The
> only issue is that if you have more than one tuner connected, the Linux
> DVB drivers don't always attach them properly from a cold boot. It
> uploads the firmware to one and then ignores the rest.
>
> Only work arounds that I've found is to use separate powered USB hubs
> for each card(plug one in, init, unplug from the USB port, firmware is
> maintained as the device just draws power from the hub) or to init them
> from a Windows install(I've used my laptop to do this with all devices
> plugged into a single USB hub), and move the powered USB hub connection
> back to the frontend. Thankfully, this is only something you'll need to
> repeat after a power cut or similar, as even a hard reboot of the Linux
> box will let the devices keep their firmware loaded(assuming you're
> using a powered USB hub).
>
> But all of that only matters if you have more than one installed. As a
> single device it works great and enjoys support in the 2.6.17
> kernels(when support was first added I believe).
>
> Matt
> _______________________________________________
>   
Thanks - that's handy to know. I saw those for sale in my local Maplin 
but I avoided them because I wasn't sure what chipset they would turn 
out to be.

-- jeek