Cat’s Eye 150 PCI Digital Tuner Review

The Cat’s Eye 150 is the most popular HDTV tuner in the Vbox Communications lineup. VBox is a provider of solutions for convergence of Digital Broadcast (DVB) to IP networks & Media PCs. Vbox products include Digital TV receivers, Satellite routers and IP-Gateways.

Key features of the Cat’s Eye150 include:

  • Low profile PCI card (bracket available for half-height PCI slots)
  • Windows XP & Media Center and Vista certified drivers
  • Drivers supports multiple Vbox tuners in one PC
  • Support for the Vista Media Center application without any additional tuner(s)
  • Is Cost effective

    COMMENTS:
  • The Cat’s Eye 150 is an excellent choice for an over-the-air HDTV PC tuner and it is highly recommended.

    Additionally, Vbox also offers a full height version of the 150 with an analog/composite video connection called the Cat’s Eye 151 (around $90). Besides digital tuning, it can be used to convert and store analog videos (like VCR tapes) to digital format. There’s also a USB version called the Cat’s Eye USB 3560 (around $110) for those that don’t have an available PCI slot or who want to use a laptop.

    The Cat’s Eye 150 can be purchased with Beyond TV SE (like the full version but without the file compression feature ShowSqueeze) and a Firefly remote for around $140.

    NOTE: An installed analog tuner is required for Media Center 2005 prior to installation of a digital tuner. The Cat's Eye 150 works great with Vista Media Center, without an analog tuner.

    We’ll check out each of these features and much more in our review of the 150.

    First, here’s what you’ll need for installation of the Cat’s Eye 150 PCI card.The following is the list of the minimum system requirements from the Vbox Webpage.

    • Intel Pentium© IV processor, 1.6 GHz
    • 128 MB RAM
    • Half-size free PCI expansion slot (a Low Profile PCI slot is enough for the 150)
    • Audio card, compliant with Microsoft DirectX 9.0C
    • Graphics card, 32 MB RAM
    • CD-ROM drive
    • Windows XP operating system
    • Microsoft DirectX 9.0C and all other relevant critical and recommended updates from the Windows Update site
    • Multimedia application with MPEG-2 decoder
    In addition, you’ll need an antenna. See the antenna page and the indoor antenna tips page for more information.

    NOTE: The Cat’s Eye 150 will NOT work with cable or satellite HDTV programs, only over-the-air broadcasts.

    If you purchase the basic Cat’s Eye 150, here’s what you get:

  • The low profile PCI card
  • A CD, which contains the drivers and the installation manual.



    TEST PLAN

    An HDTV tuners' function is to capture MPEG2 encoded HDTV signals. All HDTV tuners receive the same signals. The actual quality of a HDTV picture is a product of the MPEG2 decoders, the graphics card and the monitor/HDTV.

    Things to look for in a HDTV tuner are:

  • Ease of installation/use
  • Compatibility with Third Party HDTV PC Software
  • Tuning Capability or the ability to pull in a solid, quality signal
  • Stability of the hardware & drivers
  • Product Support
  • Cost

    We’ll look at each of these in detail.

    NEXT: Installation & Compatibility


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