AMD's Newest TV Wonder: Clear QAM For The Masses
by Derek Wilson on October 15, 2007 3:37 AM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
AMD's New TV Wonder Line Up and Initial Thoughts
The TV Wonder cards available before today have been what AMD calls "hybrid" tuners and they do not support digital cable. They do support digital TV through OTA ATSC (HD content) and analog TV through either OTA or cable. The hybrid tuner is capable of watching or recording either analog or digital content, but is only one physical tuner (only one channel can be watched or recorded at any given time).
AMD's new TV Wonder parts that support Clear QAM make use of "combo" tuners - the board supports analog and digital content through two separate onboard tuners that can be used at the same time. The only issue here is that one tuner is a dedicated analog tuner and the other is a dedicated digital tuner. This means that if you are watching an analog channel, you can only record a digital channel (either OTA ATSC or Clear QAM). Likewise, if you are watching a digital channel you can only record an analog channel (either OTA or cable).
The combo tuners are a bit more flexible, but we would love it if AMD could find a way to produce boards with a cross between the hybrid and combo tuner concept to bring us a board with two tuners that can record either analog or digital channels. Really, the only way to go with the TV Wonder series for use in an HTPC is to plug multiple boards into one system. With two TV Wonder 650 Combo Tuner cards, it's possible to watch one channel and record any other channel no matter what you're watching.
We haven't gotten our hands on any hardware yet, so we will have to wait to make any firm conclusions about the new TV Wonder lineup, but Clear QAM is certainly a step in the right direction. In the meantime, we can absolutely complain about AMD's naming scheme. Sorting out product names to more clearly denote the capabilities of the hardware would go a long way with us. As it stands, the USB TV Wonder 600 does not support Clear QAM, while the PCI TV Wonder 600 does. This is in contrast to the fact that the PCI TV Wonder 650 does not support Clear QAM, while the USB and PCIe TV Wonder 650 Combo versions do support Clear QAM.
Take a look at this chart for clarification:
The TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner is the only one of these that supports the cable card, but our initial experience with it was somewhat less than impressive. AMD has mentioned to us that a firmware update is available that should significantly improve performance and stability. We will certainly look into this to determine if there's anything new worth writing about with respect to OCUR.
We will also try to take a look at the new TV Wonder series down the road and see how it stacks up against the competition from Hauppauge and Pinnacle. While Clear QAM is good news for HTPC enthusiasts, we still have a long way to go before the PC gets the respect it deserves from music, movie and cable industry players as a device that can (and should) rule the living room.
The TV Wonder cards available before today have been what AMD calls "hybrid" tuners and they do not support digital cable. They do support digital TV through OTA ATSC (HD content) and analog TV through either OTA or cable. The hybrid tuner is capable of watching or recording either analog or digital content, but is only one physical tuner (only one channel can be watched or recorded at any given time).
AMD's new TV Wonder parts that support Clear QAM make use of "combo" tuners - the board supports analog and digital content through two separate onboard tuners that can be used at the same time. The only issue here is that one tuner is a dedicated analog tuner and the other is a dedicated digital tuner. This means that if you are watching an analog channel, you can only record a digital channel (either OTA ATSC or Clear QAM). Likewise, if you are watching a digital channel you can only record an analog channel (either OTA or cable).
The combo tuners are a bit more flexible, but we would love it if AMD could find a way to produce boards with a cross between the hybrid and combo tuner concept to bring us a board with two tuners that can record either analog or digital channels. Really, the only way to go with the TV Wonder series for use in an HTPC is to plug multiple boards into one system. With two TV Wonder 650 Combo Tuner cards, it's possible to watch one channel and record any other channel no matter what you're watching.
We haven't gotten our hands on any hardware yet, so we will have to wait to make any firm conclusions about the new TV Wonder lineup, but Clear QAM is certainly a step in the right direction. In the meantime, we can absolutely complain about AMD's naming scheme. Sorting out product names to more clearly denote the capabilities of the hardware would go a long way with us. As it stands, the USB TV Wonder 600 does not support Clear QAM, while the PCI TV Wonder 600 does. This is in contrast to the fact that the PCI TV Wonder 650 does not support Clear QAM, while the USB and PCIe TV Wonder 650 Combo versions do support Clear QAM.
Take a look at this chart for clarification:
The TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner is the only one of these that supports the cable card, but our initial experience with it was somewhat less than impressive. AMD has mentioned to us that a firmware update is available that should significantly improve performance and stability. We will certainly look into this to determine if there's anything new worth writing about with respect to OCUR.
We will also try to take a look at the new TV Wonder series down the road and see how it stacks up against the competition from Hauppauge and Pinnacle. While Clear QAM is good news for HTPC enthusiasts, we still have a long way to go before the PC gets the respect it deserves from music, movie and cable industry players as a device that can (and should) rule the living room.
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BPB - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
Seems to me that because my provider (Cox) scrambles all their digital chammels, this will do nothing for me. Am I correct?DerekWilson - Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - link
if by scrambles you mean modulates an NTSC or ATCS signal for transmission using clear QAM then it will work. this should be what all cable companies do with non-premium digital channels. premium content is encrypted and requires a cable card to decrypt.Steve - Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - link
Derek, when will we see you in the forums again? Some communication would be nice.MooseMuffin - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
This is a topic I definitely want to know more about, and I was excited to see the article posted. But then I read it and there was nothing here. "Theres some new ATI TV cards out with a new feature. They might be good, but we haven't tried them." Umm thanks alot.ninjit - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
I wasn't going to say anything because I thought I maybe being too critical.But a 2-page news-bit with no meat does NOT constitute a front page article under "Latest Reviews"
This is better suited to a fleshed out headline on Dailytech.
Very disappointing: not what one would expect from Anandtech.
LoneWolf15 - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
I agree. And as great as ATI hardware can be, we have no idea of what software will be used, and what to expect in terms of features and stability. Many a great ATI TV tuner has bombed because ATI couldn't write decent software for it. And the last several tuners have had Cyberlink software, which neglected such small but absolutely crucial features as "always on top" mode for viewing.Until a test is made, this is a fancy press release. Neat, fun to read, leaves you waiting for more, but doesn't tell you what you really need to know.
SanLouBlues - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
PCHdtv's HD5500 has supported unencrypted QAM viewing for a while. Only big difference is that there's no on card hardware mpeg decryption.erwos - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
For the price, an HDHomeRun is the better deal, IMHO, especially if all you're interested in is the QAM bit.recon300 - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
Not only that, but I cant figure out why this is front page news. I've been using a DVICO Fusion tuner card for HD OTA and for clearQAM from comca$t for >2 yrs now. The only difference I can see here is that the AMD/ATI card has two tuners...MGSsancho - Monday, October 15, 2007 - link
even if these ATI cards only work in vista, or apple in the feature (im just guessing based on their actions they might who knows) does not matter to me. i personally dont care it it works in linux or not. but i want what every one wants. a psie card that can do everything. if it needs a cable card, fine. if you want two cable cards and and need 2 tuner cards, fine. if you need to tell vista media center to uber-crypt a partition with EFS, fine (as long as i can save the rsa keys like i currently can in vista). in vista i can grow paritions are shrink them its not tooooo bad. anyways, if i can get all these things working, even if its like vista only, thats to me is fine. i will be happy. HD channels, on demand, as im scrolling through the channels the basic chans (2-13) it will automatically switch to an OTA antenna (i'll provide it i dont care). i will be happy. even if each card is like $60, fine. building a box with parts etc etc fine, i just want to be able to do it. oh well looks like its another reason to hate the MAFIAA. they could be making soo much money on this. and for you linux guys, HD wont ever come sorry. unless you tap the 1394 port on the back of the provider box.