I recently upgraded to Vista Ultimate x64 as well as upgrading to a core 2 3.0, 4gb, etc.. The Hauppauge PVR-500 I've been using for several years has issues with 4GB, so I'm currently limiting it down to 3GB. Along with the RAM annoyance, quality issues are starting to annoy me on analog stations, so I'm starting to wonder if there are better options available. Quality is the biggest thing I am looking for here. I need a dual tuner, since I am extending into multiple rooms.

My main questions: 

1) Whats the best analog dual tuner available these days?

2) How much of an improvement should it be over my Hauppauge?

Any takers? I read some good reviews about the nvidia dualtv, but the reviews are 2 years old and it seems as though the card is tough to obtain now anyway. Though all I need is analog (already have an hdhomerun), a digital/analog card would still work, as long as I can get 2 analog tuners out of it. Suggestions?

The new tuner by hauppauge is a replacement for the PVR-500.  Its called the HVR-2250.  Its on backorder right now, but its got 2 analog and 2 qam tuners on it. 

Hows the quality on it compared to the 500? I'd hate to buy the same tuner I have now with just 2 QAM's added on to it.

I recently was using the PVR-500 and wasnt to happy with the results of the picture.  I had tried a few different revisions of the board as well.  I had much better luck with the PVR-150.  So as far as the 2250 goes, I'm really hoping I have better picture quality.  Mine is expected to ship out on 8/20 so they say.  Also, it'll fit in as a half height board as well.  I have been reading the forums about the card and ppl that have them already are saying good things. 

I haven't seen a dual analog tuner card that's worked with over 4GB RAM.

I think you might be SOL, though I don't know much about this HVR-2250.  From what I understand though, it might have the capability for 2 QAM and 2 analog, but you can only get EITHER 2 QAM, or 2 analog, or one of each.  And for all I know, it might have the same issue with RAM.

coughinglizard:

I recently was using the PVR-500 and wasnt to happy with the results of the picture.  I had tried a few different revisions of the board as well.  I had much better luck with the PVR-150.  So as far as the 2250 goes, I'm really hoping I have better picture quality.  Mine is expected to ship out on 8/20 so they say.  Also, it'll fit in as a half height board as well.  I have been reading the forums about the card and ppl that have them already are saying good things. 

Did you happen to get yours in yet? If so, hows the analog look on it?

No, I haven't got it yet.  Its supposed to be here 8/26.  I'll be sure to post a review of what I think compared to the PVR-150 and PVR-500.

Do you have 4 or more GB of ram to let us know if that works?

Well my delivery date is now for the 28th.  In my HTPC I'm only running 2 gigs ram.  I have 4 gigs in my main PC with 64-bit ultimate.  Which means... I could stick two sticks in my HTPC but its not gonna register all 4 gigs though.  So that's not gonna help.  I wont be able to try the tuner in my main PC cuz the way I have it set up, the 9800GTX and water setup is in the way.

Any updates for us yet?

Yeah, so far so good.  I just installed it and got it set up.  The picture comes in quite well.  I think it looks better then my PVR-500 did.  There's no jitters and there's barely any load on the processor.  I'm running a Q6600 on ASUS P5E-VM HDMI.  I just started playing with it but it didnt recognize the QAM tuners, only as 2 analog tuners.  I'm gonna have to read up and see what I missed.  After I get done changing setting and finishing my VMC menu and plan to do a fresh install with TV2008.  Also, I noticed less lag in changing channels the I experienced with my PVR-500's.

After you get things settled in a little better, you mind recording 15-30 secs or so of analog and uploading the dvr-ms? I can provide hosting for it.

I have some analog recorded.  What I noticed is that channel 38 and 39 are excellent.  But its mostly cartoons.  Not sure if that has anything to do with it or not.  The lower channels like 9, 10, and 11 appear to have a weak signal.  I am setting it up on the last drop in the house so that might be why, but my HDHOMERUNS show full signal strength.  One other thing I did notice is the card runs a little cooler then other cards I've used in the past. 

I still am not able to get QAM tuners to show up in VMC.  Would like to buy another 2250 once they go whitebox. 

Oh yeah, so if I upload you a stream it's not in dvr-ms format no longer.  It's in .wtv format.  So I assume you'll have to watch it with TVpack installed...just a thought.