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Exclusive Hands On Review of the Black Gold BGT3620 Dual DVB-T/T2 Tuner Card

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Yesterday I received the Black Gold BGT3620 Dual DVB-T/T2 tuner card, and today here is our exclusive hands on review.

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Here is how Black Gold describe the BGT3620:

The BGT3620 is a premium multi-channel hybrid tuner, digital demodulator, analogue capture, intelligent remote PCI-express PCTV product, implemented on a miniature platform. The  product is capable of receiving standard and high definition digital broadcast program content, including the new UK Freeview HD channels. It is designed to transform a personal computer into a high-end audio video entertainment system, supporting external video streams and worldwide HD broadcast streams.

Hardware receiver support – Analogue terrestrial (PAL, NTSC, CECAM), dual digital terrestrial including both DVB-T and DVB-T2, dual digital cable DVB-C.

Hardware profile – Miniature profile solution exceptionally low real estate, supporting compact half height and full height PC systems. (88.5mm x 50mm PCB outline including PCI-e fingers)

The BGT3620 is the perfect Windows 7, Vista & XP Media Center TV partner. No other product in this class provides the extensive support for Media Center of the BGT3620:

1. 32 and 64 bit Broadcast Driver Architecture (BDA) WHQL drivers
2. Media Center remote control including S3 wakeup (option)
3. Special Media Center support for tuning and scanning of DVB-C channels
4. External video equipment connection via an audio/video adapter cable supporting composite video –yellow  phono  connector, S video – mini DIN connector, component RGB video –  red/green/blue phono connectors  and stereo audio –  red/white phono connectors

What’s In The Box?

Well, more like what was in the jiffy bag, because this one wasn’t actually boxed so I can’t say what should be in there.

In this case though, I got the BGT3620 card, and a set of cables.

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As you can see from the card in the pictures above, there is no bracket attached. This is because the card comes with two different size brackets, depending on the type of computer you are fitting it in. You also get the two tiny screws and a mini screwdriver.

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Fitting the bracket to the card was simple and took a few seconds.

I have been asked about what software comes with the BGT3620 – the honest answer is that I don’t know. This card was not supplied for review by Black Gold, in fact having sent a few emails to them over the last few weeks I have not had a single reply. This card was supplied by Tranquil (thank you again)!

Checking I Received Freeview HD

While I was waiting to install the card in my machine, I thought it was a good idea to check to see if I could actually receive Freeview HD. I figured I should be able to, but I didn’t want to waste any time, so I figured I would check.

Freeview actually have a website that enables you to put in your postcode and it will check if you can receive Freeview HD, and if not, when it is expected.

Fortunately for me, Freeview HD had been enabled in my area a few months before.

26-11-2010 17-12-10

Andrew Edney
Andrew Edney
I am the owner and editor of this site. I have been interested in gadgets and tech since I was a little kid. I have also written a number of books on various tech subjects. I also blogged for The Huffington Post and for FHM. And I am honoured to have been a Microsoft MVP since January 2008, including as an Xbox MVP until 2023.

31 COMMENTS

  1. Have just ordered a Tranquil iXL with the T2 tuner, so looking forward to getting into it. Hope the guide problem gets fixed quickly.

  2. Mine arrived this morning 🙂

    No driver disk though 🙁

    Anyone got one or can point me in the direction of it?

    Not on the Blackgold download site

    Cheers

    Jerry

  3. I got my card and have it working on Win7 x64 Media Center. Thanks for the info on getting the guide to work on most of the HD channels. My only problem is that I dont get Dolby Digital audio with the HD channels. I have an optical SPDIF connection and my receiver shows DD/DTS for blurays/DVDs/mkvs but not for the HD TV channels. Does anyone know how I would get this working?

    Cheers

  4. Got mine today, said was gonna setup as analog and dvbt tuners

    Recieved 75 channels.

    However didnt find hd ones sadly,

    checked postcode said hd in my area is available since 2009.

    So not too happy at the moment

  5. Scanned just using dvbt, finds 102 channels now, but no HD, maybe the multiplex is weak on hd ones?

    Some channels just give a blank screen, but this is likely a weak signal?

    Didnt wanna have to wait for the digitv hd product when its comes available, but maybe it will work better with a weaker signal.

    Im using direct feed from ariel, but limited channels so far…..

    using the 8.00 drivers from website, product had no driver disk with it, but downloaded from your site.

    will keep trying, getting fed up with scanning channels now though.

  6. in media center w7 64, it mentions only dvbt not dvbt2, i assume this is fine, as driver should use dvbt2 also.

    gets to about 50% first tuner finds some channels at this point, then goes to tune rest red led comes on the other tuner then, finds about 102 channels but no hd ones

    Is it only scanning dvb and not dvbt2?

    dunno, just assumed i could pay my money plug it in and it works.

    seems hd isnt as simple as i would of thought, not sure how the standard joe will cope with all this switchover and dvbt and dvbt2 and etc etc etc etc,

    • Pete

      Im not sure why you are having so many issues – perhaps as you say it is down to weak aerial signal?

      As I said in my review above, I just plugged the card in, installed the drivers, did a scan and that was it – it worked perfectly for me.

      I would contact Black Gold if I were you just in case you have an issue they are aware of.

      Andrew

  7. Thanks Andrew, generally im quite lucky,

    Hardware wise, build is excellent, cant believe how small it is.

    I think it must be working, prob maybe hd isnt available and the freeview site is reporting incorrect?

    However if the signal is weak i guess the hd channels are likely to be missing?

    I wouldnt of minded if they showed up in list and were say a bit breakyey up or corrupt, as then i could sort things from there.

    i used media center to see signal strength and most report 71% or 100%, but im guessing this is no indication of if you can recieve or not?

    will keep trying, at some point i will buy a hd freeview for the tv and if this works, then i should have more of an idea.

    oh well, cant do much else for the moment, was getting excited to see how good the hd channels were aswell.

  8. I think freeview testing today, as managed to scan and recieved hd channels,

    So happy with the card now, got a nice 1 hour or so of testing, a bit weak now though,

    Thanks for any help.

  9. Has anyone managed to get this card working in WHS 2011 – perhaps using DVB logic as well.

    I’d _love_ to hear if anyone has.

    John

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