Test of almost half a dozen tuner cards - in the spirit of DVB-T

The brand is very well known in our small country (too), and we would be surprised if none of our readers had heard of AVerTV Hybrid + FM Radio Cardbus and Volar HX products - all the more so since we had an article at the beginning of the year honoring both tuners. The following paragraphs are from the pen of my colleague Péter Kondor:

AVerTV Hybrid + FM Cardbus

The first tuner with the largest box was intended for owners of PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) connected notebooks. With its help, in addition to the expected analog TV reception, you can listen to FM radio, as well as broadcast digital terrestrial broadcasting, which is starting to gain ground in our country, and you can even store it with the help of the software. In addition to the tuner, the package includes the accompanying remote control and the two AAA batteries that operate it, installation instructions, software CD, an S-Video/composite "two-in-one" cable, FM radio antenna, and a free mini antenna, which terrestrial analog radiation provides a nice picture in the right place at the right time, it is actually only suitable for testing.

AVerTV for Hybrid + FM Cardbus notebooks

Contents of the package:

• AVerTV Hybrid + FM Cardus
• remote control (with accessories)
• S-Video / composite 2 in 1 cable
• FM radio antenna
• RF converter
• mini antenna
• Installation guide
• software cd

Properties

• Analog TV
  • Teletext
  • Recording in MPEG-1/2/4, VCD, DVD
• Digital TV
  • EPG
  • Teletext (DVB standard)
  • HDTV (1080i / 720p) ready
  • Recording in MPEG-2
• Input signals
  • 75 Ohm antenna input
  • S-Video
  • Composite video input
  • stereo audio
  • FM (RF radio antenna input

The slightly stenciled but at least colorful remote control

AVerTV Hybrid Volar HX

The last tuner shows us a third type of connection solution, which is the connection via the USB socket. The device resembles a larger pen drive, except for the TV antenna output on the far side. It can also be easily connected and installed to both desktop PCs and notebooks. However, its greatness is its mobility, since a USB port is found on every computer, but with the PCMCIA socket, we can't even start dismantling the case to access the PCI socket. The elegant black gadget comes with a small two-pronged "telescopic" antenna, which can be used to receive both analog and digital broadcasts. The box also includes an FM radio antenna, S-Video/composite cable, installation disc and installation instructions.

The USB-connected AVerTV Hybrid Volar HX

Contents of the package:

• AVerTV Hybrid Volar HX
• remote control (with accessories)
• S-Video / composite 2 in 1 cable
• FM radio antenna
• Installation guide
• software cd

Properties:

• Reception of analogue and digital (DVB-T) terrestrial transmitters and FM radio
• Stereo sound
• HDTV support / MPEG-4 / 1080i / 720p
• Record video in MPEG-1/2/4
• Digital subtitling support
• PIP / POP function
• EPG
• Teletext
• Vista 32/64 compatibility
• Input signals:
  • TV antenna (75 ohm)
  • S-Video
  • Composite (RCA)
  • FM radio

The remote control is small, but the antenna is even smaller