ATI All-In-Wonder X800XL PCIx Video Card Review :: TV and Radio Tuners

TV setup on the A-I-W X800XL was a fairly easy process. Once the card was installed on the test station, I attached an amplified TV antenna to the CATV connector. After automatically installing the drivers I launched the TV application. The first thing you need to specify on installation is the audio connector. If you're not sure what the audio connector is, let it auto detect it. Another step is Parental Control. Parental Control monitors what types of programming is allowed to be viewed without a password.

TV Screen

TV Color Capture

TV B+W Capture

TV Controller

One thing I like about ATI A-I-W cards is their ability to set channels up even if you don't have a signal. Autoscan works fine with finding channels of OTA broadcasts, but it is handy to enter channels manually sometimes. With an amplified antenna, I was able to find Channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 11, 13, 18, 22, 28, 30, 34, 40, 46, 50, 52, 56 and 58, all of the local Los Angeles area stations. Picture quality was excellent.

FM autoscan

FM On Demand

FM antenna

FM controller

One innovation ATI introduced with the A-I-W 9600 Pro was the addition of a FM radio tuner. This allows the user to listen to the radio as well as watch TV from their video card. Attaching the FM antenna to the RF2 connector on the A-I-W X800XL, I was able to tune every available FM radio station in my area.

Gemstar Guide+ Plus

Crossword Puzzle

ATI has used the Gemstar Guide+ plus Enhanced Programming Guide for several years. An EPG is like a TV Guide for the computer. Guide+ Plus allows users to download weekly programming schedules for cable and local programming. One thing this service does not provide is support for DirecTV or Dish network satellite programming. For that, you'll need Titan TV. Personally, I prefer the Guide+ Plus interface, as the programming information also shows up on the screen when watching TV.

ATI has offered a comprehensive suite of multimedia programs with their video card for years. Coined MultiMedia Center by ATI, the latest version on their website is currently 9.08. With the release of the A-I-W X800XL, ATI has updated their MMC to version 9.09. You can play DVDs, VCDs and other media files with the MMC.

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