Avertv MTVHDDUWB HD Duet

5 comments

1. 

   JSmuli on December 14, 2009 at 11:29 pm

   For starters, the software that comes with this product is completely useless because it can’t even detect the hardware, even with the drivers installed and Windows Media Center can pick it up.

   I plugged in the cable (from wall, not from cable box) and I get maybe 5 channels (tops – on a good day).

   The channels that do come in are crystal clear and the HD channels such as NBC look amazing, but the fact that when I plug my TV straight from the wall I get at least 10 channels, but when it’s thru this card I get half that.

   Hopefully Windows 7 will fix all of that for me.

2. 

   Anonymous on December 15, 2009 at 1:58 am

   If it wasn’t for Windows Media Center, this “tuner” would be a paperweight.

   I installed on a vista machine, and ran the install-driver file, a little installer window opens, extracts files and that’s it.

   It doesn’t tell you what happened and why, it just stops. The actual end-user program for watching TV doesn’t install and it’s a little weird.

   But it doesn’t matter because I use Windows Media Center and that uses it pretty darn well.

   I don’t get many channels, but I have a feeling that’s not the hardwares fault.

3. 

   T. McCall on December 15, 2009 at 4:32 am

   I was looking for a dual-digital tuner card to compliment my digital/analog hybrid card (I’m antenna so I have no use for the analog anymore), so I’d have a super awesome THREE digital tuners. Unfortunately, Windows Media Center only supports up to two digital tuners at one time, although you don’t find this out until you spend money on more and try to install them. So I could only use two of my digital tuners, which was a bummer.
   
   While this AverTV Duet card worked well for the first 12 days, on the 13th day shows were blocky and pixelated that had always had a great signal before. I figured something was up, but didn’t do anything that day. Then on the 14th day, I find that several of my shows didn’t record because there was no TV signal. Great. After testing in several configurations– swapping the cable around and swapping my tuners in their slots– I found out that the Duet card itself was dead as a doornail. What a POS.
   
   I would try an exchange, but there’s only a 30-day warranty on OEM. I already feel like a dodged a bullet by having it die quickly. What if the next card lasts just a little longer and then dies again, right outside the return period? I’m not risking it again.
   
   Buyer beware of the quality of this card. You’re taking an awful gamble, with a tiny return window to boot.

4. 

   Jesse Gauthier on December 15, 2009 at 6:20 am

   This tuner card needs companion analog tuner card under XP or Vista in order for it to work with Windows Media Center. Kind of misleading and I didn’t realize this until after I installed it. I’m not planning on getting Win7 anytime soon so I’m going to return this and get a hybrid (NTSC/ATSC) tuner so I can just have one card that will watch and record from my amplified antennae. I made an uninformed purchase which is why I gave it 3 stars. I with I had read the “Computer Shopper” write up about it before I bought it and I could have avoided this hassle. Oh well.

5. 

   R. Cohen on December 15, 2009 at 8:52 am

   I bought the duet card because I wanted to record from ClearQAM channels. I installed it first on Windows 7 RC and later on Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (RTM). I had to download the beta drivers from AverMedia’s website but they worked fine. The Windows Media Center worked well with this card and identified all clearQAM channels without a problem.
   
   Picture quality is excellent and I was able to record programs without a problem. The MAJOR problem is that this card has a problem with sleep mode. You can search online and find more references to this problem. When the computer wakes up from sleep (S3), the card sometimes disappears and you have to make a hard reboot (disconnect power to machine) to revive it.
   
   I contacted support about the issue but getting hold of them is very hard. When I finally did they offered to RMA even though they weren’t sure it would solve the problem. I did and got a new card that had the same problem. So far, I have to keep my computer from sleeping or else nothing records. I am still trying to contact support again but no response.

   I suggest you don’t buy this card if you plan using it with Windows 7.

   Update 11/24/09:
   
   I am upgrading my score from 2 to 4 stars based on recent updates. Aver Media found that there is a hardware problem with this card when going to S3 sleep mode and fixed it. They got a new shipment of cards and sent me one which I installed instead of my bad one. So far everything works fine and my computer goes to sleep, wakes up, and the card is ready to work.
   
   Their support was helpful. The support manager Felix was even kind enough to send me the new card before I sent my old one back. The only problem I have with their support is that they seem to be understaffed and therefore sometimes you cannot get a hold of them. I always spoke to Ken who was great but he really should get some help.

   All in all, a high quality card for ClearQAM HD recording. Just make sure you get a card from the new batch .