WinTV v10 is the latest TV application from Hauppauge. For TV in a window or full screen on Windows 10, 8 and 7. It has a new look and new features, plus support for WinTV Extend. New features include 4-tuner Picture-in-Picture (PIP) with the WinTV-quadHD, and 2-tuner PIP for the WinTV-dualHD. WinTV v10 is the latest TV application from Hauppauge. For TV in a window or full screen on Windows 10, 8 and 7. It has a new look and new features, plus support for WinTV Extend. New features include 4-tuner Picture-in-Picture (PIP) with the WinTV-quadHD, and 2-tuner PIP for the WinTV-dualHD.
Streaming devices like media center PCs are essential tools for cord cutters, and so are over-the-air antennas. But many cord cutters never bother to combine those two solutions in a meaningful way – instead, they remain banished to separate input settings on your TV. It doesn’t have to be that way. PC TV tuners like Hauppauge‘s WinTV-dualHD can bridge the gap, bringing OTA content into a brave new tech-savvier world. Is this a good solution for combining OTA with your streaming PC? Here’s our full review.
A Quick Disclosure
It's our policy to always let readers know up-front if we're reviewing devices we got for free. In this case, Hauppauge was kind enough to send us a free device. As always, this won't affect our objectivity.
The Device
The WinTV-dualHD tuner itself is a little USB stick with a coaxial jack on one side. There's a bit more in the box, though, including a USB extender (in case the little stick doesn't fit in your setup), a small antenna (10 mile range), a tiny remote (it's the size and shape of a credit card) with a battery, and an installation CD.
The little antenna is pretty underpowered (more on that later), but the rest of the hardware is great and looks pretty good, if a bit utilitarian. The USB extender is a nice touch, and the remote was really convenient when watching TV.
User Experience
Setting up the WinTV-dualHD tuner is very easy, though it's very much an old-school Windows installation and not one of those crisp one-click affairs that many cord cutters may have grown used to. You plug in the device and antenna, pop in the CD, and click first to install the drivers and then to install the WinTV program. In both cases, you'll just follow some simple prompts (and perhaps negotiate with your overzealous anti-virus software).
Then you open up the program, scan for channels (again, a pretty automated process), and enjoy!
Flipping channels is easy through either the on-screen controls or with the included remote. The program automatically saves the video from the channel you're watching as it comes in, so you can rewind to a point if you've missed something. You can also set manual recordings – and, since this is a dual tuner, you can watch one channel while recording another. For similar reasons, the program comes with picture-in-picture functionality.
Accessing recordings can be done through the application – you click a button and it opens up a file browser, just like you were opening a new document in Word or something like that. It's not the prettiest thing in the world, and it doesn't measure up to the nice interfaces you'll find on some OTA DVRs, but it's perfectly functional.
Broadcast/Streaming Quality
The little antenna included in the box has a range of about 10 miles, which did pretty much no good in my testing environment. It's definitely a low-powered little thing, so unless you live near the heart of a city, you should assume that you'll have to provide your own antenna. Hauppauge recommends a large rooftop antenna, which is easy for them to say, because they're not the ones paying for it. In my tests, I used a Mohu ReLeaf and everything worked just fine.
Broadcast quality through the tuner is just as good as what you'd get through your TV. The only minor difference is a slight buffering delay when changing channels, but it's really a very small inconvenience to swap for the ability to rewind and record your live TV.
Price
That's not cheap, but it compares favorably to the OTA DVRs that this device most directly competes with.
Verdict
It's not hard to see why PC TV tuners like this aren't exactly dominating the market with cord cutters. The WinTV-dualHD felt kind of techy and clunky as I set it up, and to get it to another screen I'd have to use a separate media server app.
Still, the more I used this thing, the more I felt like it was a great undiscovered cord cutting tool. If you have a media center PC attached to your main screen, this is a cheaper way to get OTA DVR functionality on that screen. If you're willing to invest in a media server like Plex, this no-frills OTA DVR can do just about everything that its well-branded competitors can do. It's a simple but brilliant little device that works very well, and it comes in at a very competitive price point. I recommend it.
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Click the below link to get the latest WinTV v8.5 application and TV tuner driver download package
Version 37204
None at this time.
What Operating Systems are supported by the WinTV-dualHD?
- Microsoft® Windows® 10.
- Windows 7 and 8 (all versions), 32-bit and 64-bit
- Windows Vista (all versions), 32-bit and 64-bit with latest Service Pack, 1 GB RAM
- Windows Media Center in Windows 7 or Windows 8
System Requirements
- Processor Requirements (minimum):
- Core2Duo 2.93Ghz or faster
- Microsoft® Windows 10, 8,8.x, 7® or Windows Vista with latest Service Pack, 1 GB RAM
- Windows Media Center in Windows 7 or Windows 8
- USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) or higher
- Sound and graphics with support for DirectX® 9 or higher
- Internet connection for software installation and activations
Note: If your PC is not fast enough, you might see jerky live TV video, but your TV recordings will be fine.
Can I use the WinTV-dualHD with Media Center?
Yes, the WinTV-dualHD can be used with Windows Media Center. Simply download and install the latest drivers from the Hauppauge website.
The WinTV-dualHD is seen as 2 tuners so you can watch one TV program or record up to 2 TV programs at the same time.
NOTE: DVB-C (Digital Cable TV Programs) tuners are not supported in Windows Media Center Application. Alternatively you can use the bundled Hauppauge WinTV v8 application to setup your freeview DVB-C channels.
What type of channels will I receive with the WinTV-dualHD?
DVB-T/T2 over-the-air digital TV: Supports all DVB-T/T2 formats, up to the high definition 1080p/30 format!
Note: For DVB-T/T2 digital TV, a rooftop/out door antenna is recommended for optimal results/signal strength.
Note: For DVB-T/T2 digital TV, a rooftop/out door antenna is recommended for optimal results/signal strength.
DVB-C cable TV Channels: some of the DVB-C digital cable TV channels are encrypted in some countries like Singapore where you can still receive the DVB-C cable TV freeview digital TV channels using the dualHD.
Hauppauge Wintv Quadhd 1609
WinTV-dualHD's DVB-C tuner allows users to watch unencrypted (free to watch) digital TV channels from their cable TV provider without a set-top box.
Note:For Singapore residents, you can receive the Mediacorp's free-to-air digital TV programs from your SCV's wall socket cable TV input point.
Select the option as DVB-C and do a complete scan to lock all the available free-to-air Digital TV programs via your Starhub cabel TV point without using the set-top box.
Can I get HDTV with the WinTV-dualHD through my Cable or Satellite box?
Wintv Activation Code Free
No. The WinTV-dualHD has a DVB-T/T2 over-the-air digital TV tuner built-in and supports all DVB-T/T2 formats, up to the high definition 1080p/30 format. The WinTV-dualHD will support DVB-T/T2 broadcasts that are currently being transmitted over-the-air. It will not be able to decode HD broadcasts that come through your cable or satellite set-top boxes.
If you have an HD cable TV or satellite box and want to record HD TV, you can use Hauppauge's HD PVR.
The WinTV-dualHD also will support freeview DVB-C cable TV channels through your direct cable TV line without connecting through the Cable TV set-top box, if freeview DVB-C channels are available from your cable TV provider.
Note: not all cable operators broadcast DVB-C digital TV. Contact your local cable operator to check if they provide DVB-C freeview digital channels.
What type of recordings can I make with the WinTV-dualHD?
Using the WinTV v8 application the WinTV-dualHD, will record in a transport stream (TS)
For DVB-T/T2 and DVB-C digital TV recordings, the recording format and bit rate is exactly the same as the broadcast format (i.e. DVB-T 1080p is recorded at 1080p).
For DVB-T/T2 and DVB-C digital TV recordings, the recording format and bit rate is exactly the same as the broadcast format (i.e. DVB-T 1080p is recorded at 1080p).
Note: TS files can be converted to MPEG files using options in the WinTV v8 configuration menu.
Note: Not all recordings made with DVB-T/T2/C signals are DVD compliant.
Does this device support in Australia and can I receive DVB-T digital HDTV in AU with the WinTV-dualHD?
Yes, it does fully support in Austarlia's DVB-T free-to-air digital TV broadcating. You can record or wacth two different digital HDTV programmes at the same time with the WinTV-dualHD.
Can I use the WinTV-dualHD in New Zealand and what type of TV programmes can I get in NZ?
p>Yes and you can use the WinTV-dualHD to receive free-to-air DVB-T HD digital TV programmes available in NZ via the roof-top Antenna input feed. You can record or wacth two different digital HDTV programmes at the same time with the WinTV-dualHD.
Www.hauppauge/wintv8
What are the TV programmes can I receive in Singapore with the WinTV-dualHD and how do I connect the TV input?
In Singapore you can receive MediaCorp's DVB-T2 free-to-air digital HDTV channels like Ch 5, Ch 8, CNA, okto, Ch U, Suria and Vasantham, programmes.
You can connect the TV input to the WinTV-dualHD from the starthub's (SCV) cable TV input point using a co-axial cable. And scan the channels using the DVB-C option when you do the initial set-up on the WinTV v8 application.
If you are living in a landed property or industrial building where there is no cable TV input points then you can connect the TV input from a roof-top anntena and scan your channels using DVB-T option on WinTV v8 application.
WinTV-dualHD gives you upto 2 Live TV programmes.
Can I watch and record 'two shows at the same time with the WinTV-dualHD?
Yes. The WinTV-dualHD has two DVB-T/T2/DVB-C tuners you may record two shows simultaneously while viewing with WinTV v8 application.
You can also use Windows Media Center to record two program at the same time.
Can I watch and record 'four shows at the same time if I install two of the WinTV-dualHD?
Yes. If you install two of the WinTV-dualHD in the same PC or Note Book then you can rcord or watch four programs simultaneously while viewing with WinTV v8 application.
A high speed CPU like quadcore or i5/i7 or equivalant and a good graphics card with at least 1GB video RAM is required to record or wacth 4 programs or more simultaneously.
Black video window or choppy video when watching a digital TV channel
If you are watching a digital TV channel and you see choppy video, no audio or a black screen, then it is possible your PC is not fast enough to decode and play the digital TV channel you are watching. Please verify that your system meets the minimum requirements for using the WinTV-dualHD
Digital TV, especially DVB-T/T2 high definition digital TV, is very CPU intensive. Many graphics cards have special built-in hardware to speed up decoding of high definition TV channels.
On graphics cards without special video decoding features, you can often improve the playback performance by using the Video Renderer settings located in the settings menu of WinTV v8. To open the setting menu click on the “gear” button located in the lower left of the WinTV v8 screen.
The default mode is EVR. The other modes are VMR9, VMR7 and Overlay. Each mode uses a different process to render video. Try each mode and use the one which gives you the best results. To use hardware acceleration put a check in the box “use hardware acceleration when possible. This will allow your graphics system to use hardware acceleration for video decode. Note: graphics hardware acceleration does not work on all systems. After making a change in video rendering settings Wintv must be restarted to take effect.
Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device error code 52?
This appears to be a bug in windows 64 bit OS. Our drivers are signed.
'Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device. A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged, or that might be malicious software from an unknown source. (Code 52)'
The following is probably the easiest fix to Error Code 52 on Windows 7 or Windows 8 64bit.
In device manager right click the Hauppauge product under Sound Video and Game Controllers with the exclamation mark and select Uninstall.
On the Confirm window please check the box for 'Delete the driver software for this device' and click OK.
Once the drivers are gone on the top of Device Manager click on 'Scan for Hardware Changes'.
Windows should now look online automatically for drivers.
Take a look after a few minutes if the drivers are installed automatically properly under Sound Video and Game Controllers.
If they still come back as 'unsigned' try the procedure again.
Prodinfo.exe is a program you can run which will extract information about the WinTV product you have installed such as model and serial number, MAC address, revision, and features which can be used to identify the exact model of your product. The driver for the device must be installed in order to run Prodinfo.exe
HCWCLEAR.exe is a program you run to remove all driver and files that were installed with the installation of the Wintv program.