I've had winfast 2000 expert for two weeks now and compared to my Liteon Recorders which give a good picture at its lowest setting (352 X 240 at 1150 mbs (from memory) the winfast needs 10 times the data rate to reach the same quality of picture. I'm specifically looking at pixilation and blurring during movement and stairstepping on diagonals. The liteons are criticized for having a "soft focus" but if that is true==seems like it gives a better picture??

The tv tuner for straight viewing looks the same as the tv but as stated--the lower recording rates give poor performance compared to Liteon. I have tried the codecs used by Snapstream, Ulead Movie Factory, and Nero and their performance is the same as the Winfast PVR.

When I can get 6 hours of acceptable video from my Liteons--why accept only 1-2 hours from Winfast???

Am I missing a tweak or do all these computer based pvr perform like this? Or do "I" need glasses?

Without a fix or tweak, I'll return and look at the Plextor Unit next.===Thanks.

Personally ... I don't have the hardware to try it out.

When I get back home (I am away for a few days) I'll send out a note to some DABDig users who are using hte same hardware and see if they can help or comment.

You will probably get more (and quicker) feedback on a forum that specialises in that card (if there is one) or a general TV hardware one. Perhaps http://www.tv-cards.com/messageboard/

DABDig creator

Thanks Paul===I looked at tvtuner website but did think your forum was "pretty close."

I have read some reviews that have said pc based tv recorders are "not as good" as tivo or dedicated units. If all software solutions act like the 4 I have looked at so far==that might be true??

Alternative then would be to look at hardware encoders like hauppauge and plextor==but "gosh darn it" I want the computer ease of editing the commercials out. None of the free standing boxes do this well at all.

Reviews of this card at cdfreaks and elsewhere all comment the card is "excellent" and a step above the earlier "delux" model but they are "mostly" commenting on the straight picture pass thru to the monitor which I agree is "acceptable." Not too many folks say what recording settings they use when they talk about dvd recording. If they are getting 2 hours per disk, then I agree, this unit works well for that.

Interesting how in a "world of choice and competition" most of the products offer a very limited range of choices.

Thanks for any help.///bobbo.

Personally - I use a DVB-T card.

This essentially stores the data to disk just as it is broadcast (or at least ... as it is received).

DVB-T often called (erroneously) Freeview in UK.

Editing the result is possible - but I never get around to it.

Just because it is "Digital" it doesn't mean that it is sure to be good quality.

I saw an advert here (Paris) this week which said something like ...

Better to have progress through flat-screens than flat programmes

DABDig creator