Customer Reviews

Hauppauge 01200 WinTV-HVR-850 USB2.0 Hybrid Video Recorder 1200 (HAUP1200)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I just received this product 10 minutes ago, and now I am watching TV on my computer!

First of, install is a breeze. This is the content of the package:
- The external tuner
- A digital antenna
- A USB extension cord (It is really nice for them to include this because this would have been the first thing I'd buy if it didn't come with it.)
- Software CD

I run Vista Home Basic. The install was a breeze, the manual was very detailed. Plug the tuner in first, and then follow the prompt.

After installing the software (the installer doesn't look that professional, but does work), I booted it up. It asks whether it should scan for channels. I said yes.

After about 10 minutes, this is what it found: 8 analog channels, and a whopping 9 digital channels. Obviously your results may vary, but I'm impressed with just the included antenna out of the box. It's basically picked up all digital broadcast channels (FOX, 2 PBS, 2 ABC, NBC, 2 CBS, and CW). Once these digital channels are picked up, they look super sharp. I doubt I'd touch those analog channels at all.

Channel switch has a bit of delay, esp between analog channels. But it's tolerable. With 9 channels, channel surfing isn't a big problem.

Now, in terms of computing power, it's taking about 90 MB of RAM right now, and <40% of my CPU (Dual Core 2.1 GHz; it's keeping both cores busy.) There's certainly enough room to work run a couple of browsers to multitask.

Highly recommended!

Hauppauge 1200 WinTV HVR-850 HDTV Tuner Stick I am taking a Vista OS class, and found myself interested in the capability to watch and record TV on my computer. I am very pleased with this product; I was surprised to see how well it works for me. Using it with cable, the picture quality is very good, but not very good using the antenna. Ease of use and installation can be measured by the fact that I am a 71-year old grandma.

=======Update - Mar 2010 -
With Windows 7, the Media Center/Operating system recognizes the tuner without the need to use the horrible software that Happauge provides and makes this product much more worthwhile. ================

I decided to disconnect cable TV to save a bunch of money, and since I was an early adopter of flat-screen TV it was "HDTV-ready" meaning it has HDMI, and can display HDTV but does not have a digital tuner. I decided to do all this after the government sponsored coupons for converter box ended.

So, I decided instead of paying about the same price as this device for a converter box, why not get this. I had gotten really used to the DVR (digital video recorder) from the cable company, and the software with the WinTV promises to do the same with PVR (personal video recorder) capabilities.

The hardware itself is functional - although it gets really really HOT! But, like the hardware the software is also probably made in China and it really shows. The software is absolutely horrible. Beyond bad. All my comments are based upon Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3, with all Microsoft Security Updates.

First off, the CD that it comes with has the old software (WinTV version 6), and you can get the new version on the Hauppauge website (WinTV version 7), but both versions are really horrible. You will get crashes of the program all the time, and even worse, at times it will crash the entire PC (Blue Screen of Death/ or a freeze up from which you can't even shut down). Simply installing the software will cause problems with Skype and Yahoo Messenger (if you want to make a VoIP call over the phone network).

The initial program run from the CD - or the setup.exe from a download is nothing more than a fancy menu/launcher program - but it will fail to run if you, as any smart PC user does, has DEP (data execution prevention) turned on. This will be your first clue that the software is NRFPT (not ready for prime time) and probably never will be. You have this flaw on both the old (WinTV6) and new (WinTV7) versions.

Then, before the installation finishes, Windows will complain: "Files that are required for Windows to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions. To maintain system stability, Windows must restore the original versions of these files. Insert your product CD-ROM now." Microsoft KB Article 222193 explains that this is due to software replacing Windows files incorrectly. What should you do? Are the unauthorized Windows files needed? I asked tech support but they do not answer that question. The answer is apparently not - because the software has the same semi-working functionality no matter which you do. (I've tried both. I always install software like this in a sandbox and/or machine I don't care about to make sure I don't mess up my critical PC.)
I also do not receive answers to other questions to Hauppauge tech support - but they have answered some. Like the Skype issue - "this is not a verified problem so it must be something with your particular setup." The classic pass-the-buck/catch 22 - there isn't a problem because no problem has been reported and verified, and we are not going to make any attempt to see if the problem you report is real or can be verified.

The instructions on using the software are horrible, and the user-friendliness and thoughtfulness that went into it are - well - third-worldish.

With the switch to Digital TV, many formerly VHF stations have relocated to UHF - but the anteanna that's provided with this is VHF only. You'll probably need to purchase another antenna if you want to get UHF stations unless you're really close to the transmitter.

I had planned on putting the software on my regular PC - but there's no way I'll do that - it's just way too buggy and risky. I will keep it, grin and bear it - and use it and put up with the crashes - on my 'spare' notebook. I can even connect my HDTV-ready big TV via the VGA port and line output to get the picture on the big-screen - and the picture is quite excellent - until the program crashes.

This is an amazing product. I ordered to be able to capture video off of old VHS tapes. Not only does it do that well, it also can tune 22 digital stations off of my rooftop antennae and I am 40 miles from downtown Chicago where most of the transmissions occur! Digital reception is extremely clear and no stutter on my HP laptop.

Pros: Easy to install. Very good analog VHS picture. Excellent digital ATSC picture using a rooftop antennae.

Cons: Included antennae only picked up 1 digital station.

For the price and Amazon's usual excellent service, this is a toy to have for PC TV lovers.

I bought this to replace a Hauppage PCI TV tuner card. The USB unit was 100 percent easier to install and seems to be more stable. Picture quality seems to be better, too.

I'm using it for analog TV -- not HDTV -- with a cable signal.

I've installed it the software on a couple of different computers -- desktop, laptop, netbook. All work fine.

Received and installed the product before the update was available on company website. Don't intend to download it as it takes a lot of hard drive space, and I don't need parental controls or closed captioning. I have Vista Premium. Installation was easy. Amazed that the small antenna works as well as it does. I have to use a large amplified antenna on my tv. I tried it instead of the supplied antenna, and it didn't improve the reception. Reception of with the small supplied antenna is very good. Using up/down channels is slow...typing in channel number is better.

I figured out how to set it up on Windows Media Center, then found those instructions on support tab of company website.

Like another reviewer, I had problems with sound. I was at 100% volume, and it was still low...then I realized that I had to adjust the volume bar on the windows bottom right tool bar. (For Windows Media, I had to adjust the sound mixer). These instructions weren't included in the trouble shooting guide. Also, at first I didn't have sound on Windows Media Center...I have to deselect the AC3 option under the stereo sound. I have to reselect it to watch it on the supplied tuner program.

I like that I can minimize the picture on top of programs, so I can watch/listen while checking e-mail, etc.

The reason for 4 stars is on a couple of occasions, the sound suddenly slowed down...like listening to an old record on the slow speed. The tuner gets very warm, and I don't know if that affected it. On one occasion I rebooted, and everything was fine again. Another time, I clicked again on the stereo sound option and it came back to normal.

Overall, a good, inexpensive HDTV option.

I wanted to use my laptop as a second TV so I bought this tuner. I hooked it up to my cable and it worked just fine. Then I tried the tiny antenna and, to my surprise, I got 28 HD channels. They came crystal clear although the over the air analog channels were pretty bad, but I don't care about that.
The only thing I don't like is that I have to reprogram it to switch from cable to antenna. There may be some technical reason for that and it's not a big deal.
It does what I want and it was easy to set up. That's all I need.

Works seamlessly with Windows 7 Media Center. After reading many bad reviews, decided not to even bother with the included WinTV software. Instead, downloaded the Windows Media Center Install from the Hauppauge web site. After a rather lengthy installation process, everything works great. Even at 12 miles from the transmitters, the tiny antenna provided receives all the full power stations in the area most of the time (subsequently connected to roof antenna for greater reliability). Via Media Center, can easily watch and record over-the-air broadcasts. Just what I needed; TiVo without the monthly fees.

WinTV software doesn't work with this product for some unknown reason. So I tried different paid software like Beyond TV and it worked Instantly. It was able to pickup the signals and HDTV reception was 100% clear. I would suggest you try other competition software before you stick with beyond tv. Make sure you check out antennaweb.org to see how far is your local station.

This device and the included software are an absolutely awful combination. This is the worst rating I've ever given a product, and this thing fully deserves it.

I live in a suburban area with many strong digital television signals, but the WinTV-HVR-850 was unable to find a single one of them. I tried diligently to make it work. I tried several antennas that work fine with my TV. I tried un-installing and re-installing the software several times. I tried the software on the included CD, and I downloaded the latest software from Hauppauge's Web site. I tried it on two computers. Nothing worked. After hours of nothing but frustration, I decided to return it.

Aside from the simple fact it doesn't work, the software is just dreadful. Scanning for channels takes an eternity. The interface is clunky, unresponsive, and kludgy.

Ordinarily, I might think I just got a bad unit and exchange it. However, I have another Hauppauge tuner that uses the same software and has similar problems. I should have known better to buy this, but I have now learned my lesson. I will never buy another Hauppauge product.