HTPC Hardware

From MPEG2 encoder cards to IR-blasters, there is plenty of hardware available to improve your HTPC experience. Here are some recommended bits:

• Firefly PC Remote
  One of the best PC remote controls on the market, Firefly uses radio frequencies rather than infrared so it works through walls. That way, your noisy HTPC doesn't even have to be in the same room as your TV.
  

• USB-UIRT
  The USB-UIRT, along with some HTPC or automation software such as Girder, allows your PC to both Receive and Transmit infrared signals -- exactly like those used by the collection of remote controls you've acquired for your TV, VCR, Audio System, etc.
  

• WinTV-PVR
  A very popular TV/Video capture card from Hauppauge, the WinTV-PVR encodes video into MPEG2, a very computing-intensive task, so that your main CPU doesn't have to do it.
  

Anything we're missing? Let us know.

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