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    XPS 1640 tv tuner question

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by funky monk, Jun 5, 2009.

  1. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    If I chose not to get the tuner card in the system when I customise it, does it not have the ugly rubber port on the left hand side? Now that they have started charging for the tuner I think it's better off me just getting a usb tuner because then it frees up slots inside and I can take it out whenever I want and use it on any computer.

    This is just out of curiosity because I think the rubber port on the side is an ugly eyesore in such a nice machine
     
    funky monk, Jun 5, 2009
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  2. Colbs

    Colbs Notebook Guru

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    ....what is this speak of a tv tuner? i saw the option a couple days ago, but i haven't seen it anymore.
     
    Colbs, Jun 5, 2009
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  3. StudioXPS16

    StudioXPS16 Notebook Consultant

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    What rubber port on the left hand side? The TV tuner would go into the ExpressCard slot on the right, which normally has a nice plastic insert with the XPS logo on it (I store my Dell remote there.)
     
    StudioXPS16, Jun 6, 2009
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  4. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    The tv tuner is a mini pci device and it fits inside the system

    this is the rubber port on the left hand side
    [​IMG]

    It doesn't even fit properly
     
    funky monk, Jun 6, 2009
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  5. jamesweston

    jamesweston Notebook Guru

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    I got the tuner in mine I am hoping it has an internal antenna so I can you away from the house
     
    jamesweston, Jun 6, 2009
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  6. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    No, it doesn't have an internal antenna- if it did then there would be little point in the port on the outside
     
    funky monk, Jun 6, 2009
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  7. StudioXPS16

    StudioXPS16 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the picture. Interesting, my US early built machine doesn't have that port. Is yours a US model?
     
    StudioXPS16, Jun 6, 2009
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  8. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    I don't have one as of yet, but I will do shortly. I'm just curious as to whether the one I get will have this ugly addition.

    I just found this pic with a quick google search by the way, I forget what site it was
     
    funky monk, Jun 6, 2009
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  9. StudioXPS16

    StudioXPS16 Notebook Consultant

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    How do you know that's for the antenna? As far as I know most TV tuners for laptos are USB or ExpressCard with external antennas -- never heard of a mini-PCI one (of course that means nothing).

    I had my laptop open and I saw the WIFI, Bluetooth cards installed and room for the WWAN card with antennas already installed. There was no room for a TV tuner.
     
    StudioXPS16, Jun 6, 2009
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  10. Jeroentje91

    Jeroentje91 Notebook Guru

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    Guys, the port showing in the picture is for the TV Tuner. I have a tuner built into my system. (The tuner is built in at the left of the battery under the little cap with the air outtake on the other side.) And mine came also with a external antenna.
     
    Jeroentje91, Jun 7, 2009
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  11. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    Ok, we have sussed out that the rubber port on the side is for the antenna even though we knew it already... but back to the question.

    I'm sorry if I seem like I'm being a bit harsh but it's really frustrating when you ask a question and then you have people giving you round about answers but never ansewring it exactly or ending up with people having arguements over whether the antenna is built in or not
     
    funky monk, Jun 7, 2009
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  12. StudioXPS16

    StudioXPS16 Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, I will answer your question. I don't have a tuner and I don't have the hole with the rubber cover. So on my early built US machine, not ordering the tuner got you no port. Mind you, when I oredered my machine, the TV tuner wasn't even an option, so Dell may have changed this practice and now include the port on all machines.

    My worry is that you cannot easily retrofit the TV tuner with an integrated look, so I kind of wish I had the unused port.
     
    StudioXPS16, Jun 7, 2009
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  13. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    To be honest, I'd rather pay for a usb tuner rather than one which I can only use in one system. When you're watching tv it's not exactly like using a memory stick or other usb device is going to be very likely
     
    funky monk, Jun 8, 2009
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  14. araspitfire

    araspitfire Newbie

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    Over here in Europe I saw a couple of 1630's without TV tuner, with no antenna port... Then I ordered mine, and it came with... and yes the cap seem's out of place on the fit and finish.... easy to take it off though...

    FWIW, I own a couple of USB tuners of a couple years ago, and they seem slower and less responsive than my built-in one... channel scan is 4X quicker for instance... this may be a function of older tuners... may be a function of the USB slowdown....

    Al...
     
    araspitfire, Jun 9, 2009
    #14