Internal TV tuner for XPS 15 L502X

Hi,

I'm thinking of adding an internal tv tuner card for my L502X. I found that Dell uses Avermedia H339 mini pci-e tv tuner card for this laptop.

Can anyone tell me the output resolution of this card? Or is there any other card that you would recommend over this (quality wise)?

Another thing, how exactly will it take input for the video? Are both of these accessories included with the card, what is the function of both of these?
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v3/...id-Analog-DVB-T-TV-Tuner-Card-DP-N-DRVW7-.jpg
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v3/...id-Analog-DVB-T-TV-Tuner-Card-DP-N-DRVW7-.jpg

Anything else I'll need to purchase apart from these?

Thanks.

 

The most important thing is to first to find out what type of tuner you require. A DVB-T or an ATSC tuner. The next thing to find out - does the laptop have a spare mini pci express slot?. The final decision you have to make is where do I put the antenna. The internal antenna which fit into the back of the screen are next to useless, so dont even bother to install one.

Where on your laptop can I route the antenna pigtail? I was lucky with my XPS M1730. I had a spare spot next to my DVI connector. I see from your photos you have a pigtail and external antenna.
If you have to drill any holes in the base of your laptop in order to mount the antenna, be very careful where you choose a spot and that there is sufficient room for clearance to mount the outlet on the pigtail.

If you don't feel happy about mounting the tuner internally, you could always go for a pci express external card tv tuner or go for a usb one. Dvico Fusion make very good tuners and the software bundle and support is excellent. I have one already but opted for an internal one as I did not want to muck arould with usb cables.

 

the L502X doesnt have pci-express external card slots.

but it have two internal pci-express slots.

one of them is medium size and come usually with the wifi card

the other slot is a different history.

for example on mine, it came with a HSPA card for 3G internet connection and GPS.

for other ppl it came with tv tunner and for other people the slot its free.

about the video input, I dont think it will came with composite,s-video, rgb , or hdmi input while talking about a internal minipci-e card.

I supose it will just come with just antena conector so you probably will be unable to connect external console systems ,external dvd/bluray players or anything else with video output to the card.

you will probably just be able to watch TV and listen radio.

I currently use a old AVerTV Hybrid Volar HX A827 usb card.
it have analogic and digital tv, am/fm radio, and it also have external antena conector, s-video and composite video with stereo audio jacks input.
also came with a remote to change stuff from the sofa

relating one of your questions, here you have a site wich let you order the card with the internal cable for l502x

just select the correct cable type.

Avermedia H339 Hybrid Analog/DVB-T TV Tuner Minicard DRVW7

anyway I suspect this is already the site you visited

 

@deone @capitankasar

Thanks for the reply guys.

My laptop only came with a wifi card. So, I'm assuming the other slot is free right now. Any way to make sure of it?

Now, for the input. I'm not looking for any antenna kind of setup. What I want is take the output from my satellite TV box & feed it into the internal TV card. I was under the impression that Avermedia H339 does give the cable input option using this cable http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v3/...id-Analog-DVB-T-TV-Tuner-Card-DP-N-DRVW7-.jpg

Here's what my digital box looks like (minus the HDMI & Ethernet)
http://im.tech2.in.com/gallery/2011/dec/airtel_dth_hd_rear_connectors_1280x324_wm_201136527048.jpg
It takes the digital input from the dish, & then gives the output option as RF & Component video.

So, can anyone tell me if I would be able to use this internal card to connect with any/both of my digital box output (even if it needs some sort of converter or such)?

 

@lethaljatt

well, you lose nothing by removing just 3 screws and removing the small door under the laptop.

you will easly see the minipcie slots, and you will see if there is something plugged at the other slot ^^

doing that you will make sure

it does not void warranty or anything, I remember I even used that to upgrade ram and people said the warranty still valid ^^



mmm, using that cable (wich is a antena cable I think) you should be able to connect it to the TV out connector from the satellite TVbox, you may need an adaptor, but I think that will work even with a small/cheap trick on a cable with some pliers and scissors to connect the card to the box ^^

 

Thanks! Opened it up & confirmed one slot is free.

I've ordered the card from Waresphere. Now I need to figure out how to install it once I get the card. Any article/guide available for it?

 

great!

well, the card is quite easy to install, the harder point is to take appart the laptop to install the antena cable conector from the minipcie slot room to the laptop external antena hole.


here you have a guide to take appart the laptop ^^

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/how-to-disassemble-dell-xps-15-l502x-laptop/

 

Thanks for the link, I don't think I would be able to do that on my own. Better find someone to do this task properly for me. Had I know earlier, that I'll have to rip apart whole thing for TV tuner installation, I would have stick with USB card.

Also found this page on Dell website for TV tuner installation Documentation

 

Just noticed that the card offers two connectors (output?), does both serves same purpose? I mean can I connect the wire to any of the two?

 

I supose they are like on wifi cards, a primary antena labeled main or 1, and a secondary antena labeled 2 or aux.

while looking at your pic, I can see "1" on the left, and "2" on the right.

I would connect the antena to the left conector since you just have one antena cable.

 

Thanks again for the help!