DViCO FusionHDTV5 Gold USB HD tuner reviewed

It's not unusual to see computers — especially laptops — marketed as media PCs lacking one key media component: an HDTV tuner. Though many offer add-on tuners, the idea of buying a tuner from a manufacturer who was too cheap to include it in the first place bugs us a little. We'd rather have a choice from third parties (along with the PC-maker, if theirs really rocks). So, we're glad to see models like DViCO's FusionHDTV5 Gold USB tuner making the rounds, and getting good reviews as well. The FusionHDTV5 got the full treatment from eHomeUpgrade, which found that it was relatively easy to set up — though, not surprisingly, there were a few hiccups doing an install on an XP Home box, while an MCE install was smooth. Signal strength for over-the-air HD broadcasts was good, and the tuner worked well with MCE to record in "incredible" quality. At $149, the FusionHDTV5 looks to be a pretty good deal — and hopefully the start of a robust and competitive market for third-party tuners.

[Dario @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Why is it called Gold if it is, in fact, silver colored?

[JSM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Let's see, works with a cable HD signal - No? - move along here, nothing to see.

[bsherm @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#2, where do you get your information? From their web site:

"The moment you encounter FusionHDTV5 USB Gold, you will be able to enjoy unencrypted cable channels even without a separate digital set-top box. FusionHDTV5 USB Gold scans unencrypted digital channels (clear QAM) and supports up to 256QAM (both 64 and 256QAM)."

Link is :
http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/eng/Products/HDTV5usb.aspx

[Steven @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

According to the DViCo website, it does work with unscrambled (clear) digital cable signals.

http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/eng/Products/HDTV5usb.aspx

[JSM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I stand humbly corrected - it did not mention cable-card support which I though was necessary, I assume 256QAM fills the same function? This is a first, as QAM, even clear-QAM has been absent in almost every other effort.

[Karl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

WHAT NO MAC MINI SUPPORT????

[BSG @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I got one of these last week, and it is great. Definately buy from snapstreeam, as they include the free antenna. I had noticed a stutter once or twice, and now I see that i shouldn't be using their decoder in MCE, so I'll change it when i get home.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Any idea how this compares to the ATI HDTV Wonder? And do either remotes work with MCE?

[Jesse @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It even looks like a mac Mini it would fit perfect with one. Why would they not support it?

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Any idea how this compares to the ATI HDTV Wonder? And do either remotes work with MCE?

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Looking at some other products, two antenna in would be nice. (Both over the air & cable QAM support.) But this still looks good, too. I'm very tempted.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

ATI HDTV wonder works great with MCE, but you gotta spend the time hacking the thing to death to make it work.

I only had the ATI HDTV tuner -- MCE only plays HDTV nice when you have a HDTV AND a regular TV-card tuner.

[HDTV Dood @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have the ATI HDTV Wonder. The ATI software SUX! couldn't schedule and record. Yes it did record while i was sitting there watching, but otherwise, on XP Pro at least, it wouldnt reliably schedule. BTW, it recorded very nicely.

So I waited until SnapStream came out with their Beyond TV4 which supports this card and those two combined work nicely. but now im missing out on the export features of the ATI software. any suggestions?

If anyone has the Fusion box and would like to compare notes, i'm all for it.

[Gordy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

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[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have a hacked replay for most of my recordings - i am just looking to get into the HD market with MCE on my new system... Sounds like HDTV Wonder needs some hacking to get it working. Does the DViCO work right out of the box? any downsides to the USB vs PCI or vice-versa?

[Quciksilver @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Gordy...do you work for EyeTV?

[Ian Jardine @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Ok guys I need some help.

I want to buy a TV tuner (NTSC) and HD Tuner (QAM) for watching and recording Cable TV (my cable provider source supports QAM). SO this unit seems to fit that bill.

I also want an Analog to digital converter so I can run family NTSC analog VHS tapes, outside of using my PC, so I can completely jitter free recording. SO my question is: Could this Fusion USB unit handle that as welll. That would make it an extremely economic purchase for me, as it would execute 2 hardware needs.
Thanks guys.

[Ian Jardine @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Ok guys I need some help.

I want to buy a TV tuner (NTSC) and HD Tuner (QAM) for watching and recording Cable TV (my cable provider source supports QAM). SO this unit seems to fit that bill.

I also want an Analog to digital converter so I can run family NTSC analog VHS tapes, outside of using my PC, so I can completely jitter free recording. SO my question is: Could this Fusion USB unit handle that as welll. That would make it an extremely economic purchase for me, as it would execute 2 hardware needs.
Thanks guys.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Ian, the Dvico comes with a dongle that has composite, s-video, and audio inputs, so theoretically you should be able to plug a VCR into the thing. The included software allows you to select your input, so you can switch from the antenna to your composite input and start recording what's coming out of your VCR. I'm doing a similar thing with the Avermedia A180 PCI tuner card and it works just fine. Unfortunately, it does nothing to clean up the picture, but at least it'll now be digital and won't degrade any further.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

You gotta read the last sentence in Ben's post. The ATI HDTV Wonder only requires hacking if you don't have the required hardware-based analog tuner installed. This is a (stupid) requirement that MSFT built into MCE, so if all you want is ATSC HD broadcasts, you are forced to either buy an analog tuner or use hacked drivers (search for "kram" on the AVS Forums). I'm assuming the Dvico is not exempt from this requirement, so you'll still need a hardware analog tuner for this to work in MCE. I have the HDTV Wonder (with hacked drivers) and the Avermedia A180 in my MCE machine and both work well. I think the most interesting thing about the Dvico is the portability, price, and QAM support.

[Mu Doggy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#20. Jeff. Are you saying this device won't work in WMCE by default? Which it obviously says it does in the article? and on datoptic.com's site "Highly Compatible
FusionHDTV5 USB Gold works with Microsoft Media Center Edition 2005 and many other 3rd party media center softwares"

I found out that with channels like HBO HD you aren't allowed to record the show in HD, but you can record the show, its just downconverted to 720x480 (DVD res) but apparently, it's such good quality from being down converted, that putting it on DVD looks BETTER than the original DVD.

[Buzzcut @ Dec 22nd 2005 3:37PM]

Does this thing (or any "clear QAM" compatible tuner) work with digital cable and HD cable? That stuff has GOT to be scrambled!