ASUS My Cinema-EHC3-150 Combo PCI-E Tuner Review

Reviewed Fall, 2009

PROS

• Runs with own software, MCE, and other 3rd party applications
• Tunes HDTV/Digital (currently OTA only) and Analog (OTA or cable)
• Digital tuner works with clearQAM (digital cable) under Windows 7 Media Center
• Analog tuner has hardware encoding, which saves CPU processor overhead
• Works as the only tuner in MCE 2005 (1 analog, 1 digital)
• A low profile card, with bracket included
• Records one analog and one digital program at the same time
• Good at tuning weak and multipath over the air signals
• Digital tuner is cable QAM capable
• Microsoft Media Center remote included
• Runs cooler than most tuner

• Included application program (TotalMedia) is poor so plan to use Microsoft Media Center
• Poor documentation
• Shows two digital tuners during Microsoft Media Center setup even though there is only one.

Get the Asus MY CINEMA EHC3-150 for

$87.10!

• This PCI-e based combo (1 analog, 1 digital) tuner is perfect for a Windows 7 Media Center setup using cable. You will be able to view/record both your analog channels and the clearQAM (unencrypted digital) channels with one tuner card. You will need a cable splitter though as the two tuners have separate RF inputs

  The included remote controls any version of Microsoft Media Center however it will take awhile to figure out the buttons since there is no word labels on it.

  If you are using over-the-air, a better choice would be a dual digital tuner since analog channels no longer exist for the most part.

  NOTE: Although I had no problems with this tuner other than the control software (I suggest using Microsoft Media Center instead), there have been several people who have had issues. You might want to consider one of the Avermedia or Hauppauge products instead.

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  System Requirements

  • CPU: Intel® Pentium® IV 2.8GHz, (Hyper-Threading) or Equivalent AMD Processor or Higher
  • Intel Centrino Mobile 1.6GHz
  • Operating System: Windows® XP / XP MCE 2005 / Windows Vista (x86 or x64 bit) / Windows 7 (x86 or x64 bit)
  • Interface: One Free PCI-Express x1 slot
  • Sound Card & Speakers
  • VGA Card Supporting DirectX 9.0c or Above
  • Certified DVD Decoder (for MCE 2005 only)
  
  
  For Dual Tuner Recording

  • Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz (Hyber-Threading) or Equivalent AMD Processor