Compro VideoMate Dvb-t200 Tyldesley
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.
Media & Data Ltd
01942 888373
01942 888373
19 Oak St
Tyldesley
Tyldesley
Digitopia
01942 879879
01942 879879
242 Elliott St
Tyldesley
Tyldesley
Button Basher Games
01204 656939
01204 656939
312 Derby St
Bolton
Bolton
Ideal Business Services Ltd
01942 209578
01942 209578
Hindley Business Centre Platt Lane
Hindley
Hindley
Eventura Ltd
01204 392900
01204 392900
Croft Ho St. Georges Sq
Bolton
Bolton
Risk Station Ltd
01942 797766
01942 797766
168 Elliott Street
Tyldesley
Tyldesley
Modus IT
07952 940259
07952 940259
42 Mancroft Avenue
Bolton
Bolton
Compurange Ltd
01204 651212
01204 651212
337 Derby St
Bolton
Bolton
Laptop Repair Bolton
01204 770305
01204 770305
11 Great Moor Street
Bolton
Bolton
PAW Solutions
01204 529184
01204 529184
13 Bardon Clo
Bolton
Bolton
Provided By: 
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
