AVerMedia AVerTVHD Duet PCTV tuner (A188) A188-AF PCI-Express x1 Interface

Pros: Got this card to prepare to move to an apartment where I can't get DirecTV because management won't allow dishes to be installed. Having installed an dipole HD antenna I made out of cardboard with aluminum foil elements...hooked this antenna up and was rolling along. Installing NPVR as my software...downloaded the listings for the OTA channels. Getting the lineup going...started doing some recordings as a test. When the channel was not being received with artifacts in the signal...got a perfect recording. The picture is as clear as a bell.

Even better...bought two USB ATSC tuners a few years ago from here which quit working...but this one makes those just a bad dream. Lesson learned...you get exactly what you pay for.

Cons: The con is that not all the HD channels are picked up with the way the antenna is facing west...with the transmitters in the other direction.

Other Thoughts: Make sure you have plenty of hard drive space before recording any HD programming. These programs will eat up the space like a child in an ice store.

Pros: Easy to setup. Did not install the software just the drivers.
Works well with Windows 7 Media Center (MCE)
2 tuners. can record 2 channels at same time.
Good value
Good signal strength, even on bedroom TV, (better than TV)

Cons: None so far.

Other Thoughts: Paired with a MCE remote control (1) , for a truely great DVR. This is a great combo,

(1) GMYLE Windows 7 Vista XP Media Center MCE PC Remote Control and Infrared Receiver for Home, Premium and Ultimate Edition

Pros: Dual digital tuner. Has worked with various motherboards and operating systems (all Windows) combinations. Good, rock steady reception.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: I have used these tuners in some 6 different installations, including one dual-card (4 tuner) setup. I have always been more than satisfied. Get Beyond TV and you will have an incredibly capable PVR. With an amplified external antenna I get flawless HD recordings over the air. As a TV addict - they are an integral part of any box I build.

Pros: Was easy install. Replaced an old broken PCI Vistaview tuner and works great.

Cons: These things should really cost thirty-five not whatever the market will bear. But the Hauppage is even more.

Other Thoughts: I have this running with one external Avermedia USB tuner for three total on a Win 7 64bit Media Center.

Pros: Works with NextPVR and Windows 7.

Cons: None so far.

Other Thoughts: Didn't install the provided drivers or applications. Went to the aver media site and downloaded the Drivers only from there. Works great. This is a replacement to my TWO HVR-1800s which are having trouble with the QAM signal from my cable provider.

This card not only replaces two PCI-E cards, it tunes my QAM channels without cutting out. Cut down on the case heat and wires needed.

I purchased the open box deal, worth it.

Pros: These cards have very high quality tv tuners, that pull in more stations than others.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: I have used these cards in several htpc builds over the past 3 years and have found them to be reliable. I did have to update the bios on my latest motherboard (intel HD77EB) so it would recognize the card, but after that, it installed itself in Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit. Problem was Intel, not Avermedia.....

Pros: Good price.

Cons: This might just be a great tuner card (in fact it seems like the best for the money if you are using a windows box), but it is not supported yet on linux platforms and therefore is not useful if you are planning on doing a mythtv setup. The Hauppauge tuners are really a better choice if you are wanting to play nice with mythtv on a linux box. I personally recommend the Hauppauge wintv-hvr-2250 because 1) it is still a decent price, 2) it offers the same dual-tuner capabilities, and 3) it is very simple to get it working on a linux box with mythtv.

Other Thoughts: If you have any thoughts like "I will just get a pctv up and running on windows media center for right now, and then maybe later I will try the whole mythtv thing to see how it is," then don't buy this tuner card. Go with a Hauppauge because most of them are compatible with linux.

Pros: Like I said earlier plug it in spin the driver disc and watch TV on you PC.
Works in Windows 8

Cons: Can't think of any that I haven't said before.

Other Thoughts: Got the $40 Windows 8 Pro download and after getting a key for the WMC it works great . . . (gotta wait at least 24 hours for the free WMC offer.)
I just used the driver disc that was furnished for XP/Vista/7...

Pros: Reliable card, no drop-outs. Used this on both ClearQAM and ATSC for a few years now.

Cons: None

Pros: Plug it in spin the driver disc and watch TV...

Cons: Not as user friendly as the Happage (?)

Other Thoughts: Have been using these for a few years now. They work pretty good with Windows Media Center in Vista and 7. There as a few broadcast stations they don't tune in WMC but the media-center that comes with them can usually tune them in pretty well. I can get almost 30 stations here and it's FREE!
They aren't so good for cable but since you can get A DVR with most cable accounts now days . . . it's easier that way... for lack of any real comment.