The ASUS TV-Box is an external TV-Tuner for the graphics cards V2740, V3000 and V3400. The box supplies the Video IN of the graphics card with a S-VHS video signal. This happens with a modified S-VHS cable that is equiped with 4 new pins. These pins are used for the remote control signals and for the power supply of the box. You have only this multi function cable from the graphics card to the box. No external power supply is needed. But because of that reason you canīt use any other graphics card with this TV-Box.

ASUS Remote controller (Optional) < TV-Box videoconnectors

Who needs a TV-Box? All of you that do not have a video source like TV or VCR close to the PC. A Video source is needed to supply the TV-IN of the graphics card with a video signal. The TV-Box does only need a antenna connector. The box is equiped with a Philips tuner that produces a PAL signal (depends on the model) and a stereo audio signal for the line-in of the soundcard or active speakers. It does not support two channel voice. One seperat S-VHS output is also available on the box.

The optional remote controller includes an ir sensor with a 1m long cable (4). So you can hide the box behind the monitor or under a table.  There is no glue strip included to tape the sensor on the monitor. So you need to find a way to fix this sensor.

The CD-Rom included in the TV-box package contains a special ASUS live software. The installation software detects your ASUS graphics card and installs the correct software version for your card.

You can manage all tuner controls with that software. The channels are set up with an automatic scan function. The box doesīnt support teletext, so you have to name the channels in a special menu by hand. Brightness/color/contrast can be modified by software or by using the remote controller. You can also switch the software to a fullscreen TV-mode with the remote control. Your PC Monitor mutates to a TV with that option. No software is needed anymore to controll sound or channels. But you also can do these things by software.

The ASUS Live software included with the box is not very different to the normal version that comes with the graphics card.

Itīs unlovely that the box does not have teletext functions. But the box is cheap (DM 130,-), so I think itīs ok for this price. If you want more functions, you should take a TV-tuner card like Hauppauge WinTV or Terratec TerraTV+. But these cards cost a bit more than this box and do also use system resources (IRQ/PCI Slot).

Conclusion: The ASUS TV-Box is the ideal solution if you do not have a video source like TV or VCR close to your PC and you only want to watch TV on your PC. If you want to use Teletext, two channel voice or Intercast you should use an internal TV-card.

Available models:

TV-Box (NTSC)
TV-Box (NTSC + Remote Controller)
TV-Box (PAL D/K)
TV-Box (PAL D/K + Remote Controller)
TV-Box (PAL B/G)
TV-Box (PAL B/G + Remote Controller)

Size: 147,5(W) x 87,8(H) x 24(D) mm
Weight: 180g

Pricing: ca. DM 130,-

Questions? Your opinion? ---> Discussion Board

RIVA Station 1999 - Lars Weinand