Customer Reviews

Hauppauge 1193 WinTV HVR-1500 Notebook Express Card HDTV Tuner/Video Recorder Media Center Kit

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

All the features stated in the description work really well. Its a breeze to install and make it work with Windows media center. Also works very well with Vista. The remote is very handy and can be used as a media center remote control. It also controls other programs playing media on the laptop. It does not slow down the system even when it is recording videos. Excellent value for the money.

i purchased two other tunners before this one and had trouble with all of
them either the software or the acual usb or express card hardware was not
compatible but the product worked perfectly out of the box and installed
in 5 minutes

Excellent hardware. Kit uses Windows Media Center. This
is MUCH too slow. Downloaded Hauppauge WinTV from their website
and now it works VERY well.

The product outperforms the HP ExpressCard TV Tuner for Windows Vista (RM436AA#ABA) that came with my computer and which it replaces. It generates less heat and is less-prone to dropped signals than the HP card. It uses the same antenna plug-in as the HP card, which deformed due to heat - right on queue as the warranty expired - and thus required replacement. I do not anticipate the same problem, because this card generates less heat, but I have not owned it for a year yet.

I have been using this card with Media Center for 5 months. I live 10 miles from the broadcast stations so even the little antenna picks up a station or two, but an amplified indoor antenna gets all the basic stations and a few more.

The weak point in this card and with most devices like this is that the card end of the antenna connector is somewhat delicate. I had pieces break off after being transported a few times. They supply a little plastic cover and I wasn't using at the time, but is important to protect the connector tip during transport. After a while the loss in connection got to be annoying, but Hauppauge quickly was able to point me to an item number- 6021215 and their sales department (800-443-6284) ordered me an $11 replacement cable. Also I noticed that the new cable fits more snugly than the old one.

I had the Avertv MTVHBNOER Hybrid Nano Express (Retail) before, but the connector was even more delicate and their customer service never responded when I asked to replace this part. So 4 stars for the product and one extra for the excellent service from Hauppauge.

Product works as advertised. I use it in conjunction with the Windows Media Center that came on my new laptop (therefore I can't speak for the included software) and have not had any problems at all. HD picture looks great. Does a great job of recording. Occasionally there is a blip in the signal, but that probably has more to do with the antenna's location than anything else. Completely satisfied with purchase.

I really liked the video quality and it was very easy to set up, however I found that even though I have a graphics card which will support the device, sometimes the video (mainly recorded) could be very choppy. I didn't like the WinTV software, I found it to not be very user friendly and I didn't like that it didn't have a guide function like Media Center does.

The other thing is that it stopped working after a month. Too late for me to return or exchange the device. This is why I gave the product only 2 stars.

I'm sure because of space they had to skimp on the analog tuner (which is only good for analog cable anyway). Analog picture is grainy, so if you need the analog your best bet is their previous analog-only model which is excellent (which you can also find rebadged under HP). Otherwise you're only option would be Hauppauge's external HVR-1950 (also excellent). Either way, always recommend getting Hauppauge's Media Center Kit versions.

Does a great job at what it says it will do...good quality...but there are other TV cards thaqt do more and are easier to install and operate.

I read some reviews complaining about the installation of this item, after trying it out myself I have to agree is not an easy -just plug and play- installation and you will spend a little time looking for answers in [...].. worsened by the fact that my Toshiba Qosmio only seems to behave good with Toshiba released drivers. But when is set up is a very good card, no freezes or glitches.