Compro VideoMate Dvb-t200 Grange-over-Sands
Like its predecessors, the primary twist with the DVB-T200 is its ability to turn on your PC automatically, so that it will be ready for recording TV. For this to work, you need a motherboard that's compliant with the PCI 2.2 specification, so that the PCI card can get 3.3V of standby power, or a motherboard that supports the ACPI S3 function.
Compute-Aid
01524 412121
01524 412121
299 Marine Road Central
Morecambe
Morecambe
Hillingdon TV & Video Services?
0152 441 4468
0152 441 4468
30 Oak Avenue
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J C F Ltd
01524 417772
01524 417772
Unit 4-5 Plaza Shopping Arcade Queen Street
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Mattick Computers
01524 400351
01524 400351
35 Yorkshire St
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01539 737361
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207 Windermere Rd
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Glasson Electronics Ltd?.
0152 475 2208
0152 475 2208
Harbour House, East Quay
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Hi-Tech Computer Services
01524 400054
01524 400054
1-3 Queen St
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Ace Computers
01524 411666
01524 411666
165 West End Rd
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CPN Computer Services
07916 280537
07916 280537
27 Aldingham Court
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Clarkson Computer Services Ltd
01229 811528
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93 Rampside Rd
Barrow
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Compro VideoMate Dvb-t200
A couple of years ago, the name Compro was virtually unknown in Europe. Since then, however, the company has gained recognition as a major competitor to the likes of Hauppauge, offering TV and multimedia products with a twist.
Like its predecessors, the primary twist with the DVB-T200 is its ability to turn on your PC automatically, so that it will be ready for recording TV. For this to work, you need a motherboard that's compliant with the PCI 2.2 specification, so that the PCI card can get 3.3V of standby power, or a motherboard that supports the ACPI S3 function. These features are fairly common, and the DVB-T200's 'automatic switch-on' function works with the remote, so you can kick back on the couch while you turn on the PC. There is a problem though: the automatic switch-on only works with Compro's own ComproDTV application. So even though the DVB-T200 is compatible with Windows XP Media Center Edition, you lose the product's most unique feature by moving to Microsoft's front-end. It also won't be accessible from any other third-party software, such as ShowShifter.
However, the power-on function isn't the DVB-T200's only claim to fame. Unlike most digital TV cards, the DVB-T200 also supports capture from analogue sources. It doesn't have a full analogue TV tuner like its T300 stablemate, but the DVB-T200's support for capture from composite and S-Video sources does, in theory, mean you can hook up a cable or satellite box with an analogue video output. You can schedule recordings from these sources too, so the DVB-T200 is more flexible than cards that only support DVB-T. However, you'll have to handle channel changing on the set-top box for analogue recording yourself, as there's no infrared emitter to automate channel changing from within the Compro software.
As with most digital TV tuners, you can also receive digital radio channels. Don't confuse this with DAB though - it only gives you access to audio channels broadcast over the terrestrial DVB signal, such as Radio 5 Live. Even more confusingly, the FM button on the remote doesn't access FM stations: it's a legacy from the remote's past life as the companion of products with FM radio, such as the VideoMate TV Gold Plus II. Like the Leadtek DTV-1000 T, the DVB-T200 allegedly also supports HDTV, but this is rather irrelevant in the UK, as it isn't yet being broadcast here. A more important omission is Teletext. The ComroDTV software supports Teletext, as does the DVB signal, but it wasn't able to receive the signal.
As before, one of our main criticisms of the Compro is that the ComproDTV software is still very much aimed at the desktop PC user. You can't use it from your sofa because, although the remote lets you operate channel, volume and playback controls from a distance, to set up recordings, you're forced to return to the keyboard and mouse. Although the ComproDTV software picks up programme information from the digital signal, it only does this for the multiplex to which you're tuned. For example, if you're watching ITV1 then you'll also get EPG information for ITV2, ITV3 and ITV News, Channel 4, E4 and More4, but not for any BBC channels. This is listed in a standard Windows-style dialog box, and includes information for at least a week in advance. However you'll still need to schedule recordings using a mouse and keyboard.
The other main application is the DVD player ComproDVD. The main reason for using it, rather than any other DVD app, is that it works with the remote, which allows you to navigate the menu, pause, fast forward, and skip chapters. It can create bookmarks, capture screenshots and play DVD folders from the hard disk. It also remembers where you left off with specific DVDs, but these features aren't unique or compelling.
Ulead PhotoExplorer 8.5SE is also bundled. It's a relatively powerful image management app, with simple image adjustment and enhancement features.
CONCLUSION
Although the ComproDTV software isn't the sofa-compatible media nirvana that all PVR builders dream of, it works reasonably well, and you can use many of its features with the bundled IR remote. It's decent value for money, and you can always add a third-party app such as ShowShifter to make it more distance-friendly.
Like its predecessors, the primary twist with the DVB-T200 is its ability to turn on your PC automatically, so that it will be ready for recording TV. For this to work, you need a motherboard that's compliant with the PCI 2.2 specification, so that the PCI card can get 3.3V of standby power, or a motherboard that supports the ACPI S3 function. These features are fairly common, and the DVB-T200's 'automatic switch-on' function works with the remote, so you can kick back on the couch while you turn on the PC. There is a problem though: the automatic switch-on only works with Compro's own ComproDTV application. So even though the DVB-T200 is compatible with Windows XP Media Center Edition, you lose the product's most unique feature by moving to Microsoft's front-end. It also won't be accessible from any other third-party software, such as ShowShifter.
However, the power-on function isn't the DVB-T200's only claim to fame. Unlike most digital TV cards, the DVB-T200 also supports capture from analogue sources. It doesn't have a full analogue TV tuner like its T300 stablemate, but the DVB-T200's support for capture from composite and S-Video sources does, in theory, mean you can hook up a cable or satellite box with an analogue video output. You can schedule recordings from these sources too, so the DVB-T200 is more flexible than cards that only support DVB-T. However, you'll have to handle channel changing on the set-top box for analogue recording yourself, as there's no infrared emitter to automate channel changing from within the Compro software.
As with most digital TV tuners, you can also receive digital radio channels. Don't confuse this with DAB though - it only gives you access to audio channels broadcast over the terrestrial DVB signal, such as Radio 5 Live. Even more confusingly, the FM button on the remote doesn't access FM stations: it's a legacy from the remote's past life as the companion of products with FM radio, such as the VideoMate TV Gold Plus II. Like the Leadtek DTV-1000 T, the DVB-T200 allegedly also supports HDTV, but this is rather irrelevant in the UK, as it isn't yet being broadcast here. A more important omission is Teletext. The ComroDTV software supports Teletext, as does the DVB signal, but it wasn't able to receive the signal.
As before, one of our main criticisms of the Compro is that the ComproDTV software is still very much aimed at the desktop PC user. You can't use it from your sofa because, although the remote lets you operate channel, volume and playback controls from a distance, to set up recordings, you're forced to return to the keyboard and mouse. Although the ComproDTV software picks up programme information from the digital signal, it only does this for the multiplex to which you're tuned. For example, if you're watching ITV1 then you'll also get EPG information for ITV2, ITV3 and ITV News, Channel 4, E4 and More4, but not for any BBC channels. This is listed in a standard Windows-style dialog box, and includes information for at least a week in advance. However you'll still need to schedule recordings using a mouse and keyboard.
The other main application is the DVD player ComproDVD. The main reason for using it, rather than any other DVD app, is that it works with the remote, which allows you to navigate the menu, pause, fast forward, and skip chapters. It can create bookmarks, capture screenshots and play DVD folders from the hard disk. It also remembers where you left off with specific DVDs, but these features aren't unique or compelling.
Ulead PhotoExplorer 8.5SE is also bundled. It's a relatively powerful image management app, with simple image adjustment and enhancement features.
CONCLUSION
Although the ComproDTV software isn't the sofa-compatible media nirvana that all PVR builders dream of, it works reasonably well, and you can use many of its features with the bundled IR remote. It's decent value for money, and you can always add a third-party app such as ShowShifter to make it more distance-friendly.
Author: James Morris
