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I'm moving to a new house in Auckland. The place isn't very big, and I won't have room for my TV(CRT) and a computer. I thought the best way to solve the problem would be to buy a TV tuner for my iMac(Intel Dual Core). This would be a direct replacement for my TV and DVD recorder, so I'd like to watch TV full screen and to record programmes onto the HDD. I've been looking at Elgato's EyeTV Hybrid, and was wondering if anyone has any experience with it.

I've used similar products in the past, but I've found that poor reception can cause the setup to crawl and/or lock up. Can anyone advise me whether it's worth spending the cash?

Thanks

Hi and welcome to the forum. I don't have any answers myself, but search the forum for "eyetv"...as there are some post about this previously that may be of help.

Let us know how you get on.

Phil

If you choose the Hybrid, you will need an external tuner (eg like a VCR) until NZ finally roll out DVB-T next year.
I have plenty of terrestrial gear in a cupboard until Freeview is updated.

Thanks for the replies

As I understand it, NZ in having test broadcasts in DVB, but I don't know to what extent. I thought Hybrid was able to receive analog and digital signals, so it would be a good way to have a foot in both camps, without the need for external tuners.

Do you have any experience with Elgato's USB tuners? Are they stable?

I haven't used Elgato's per se but I have used Miglia's and they're really rather good and used to use Elgato's EyeTV until they ditched it and started running their own software which I haven't used yet.
http://www.nzmac.com/reviews/hardware/miglia_tvmax.html

If you have a FreeView or Sky connection then you can use this only don't forget that you can't swap channels like you can using analogue TV as the channels are controlled by the box which sucks.

nutthick wrote:

As I understand it, NZ in having test broadcasts in DVB, but I don't know to what extent.
I believe that the DVB-T has finished test and due for launch in March or May 2008


I thought Hybrid was able to receive analog and digital signals, so it would be a good way to have a foot in both camps, without the need for external tuners.
It receives an analogue signal from composite input (eg Yellow Red White RCA cables) or it can use it's internal Digital Tuner when using an Antenna with coaxial cable. It does not include an analogue tuner.


Do you have any experience with Elgato's USB tuners? Are they stable?
Yep stable. Depends upon the quality/strength of the DVB-T signal.

Thanks MattD. That was the information I needed. It looks like you've saved me some money! Is there a TV tuner for the Mac that contains both analog and digital receivers?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what's being said here, but I'm watching standard tv without any external tuner on my elgato tv-hybrid. I just plugged my apartments tv aerial in and it worked.

Are you watching analog or digital?

Also where did you buy your Hybrid, I'm still trying to find a supplier?

Thanks

Being a cautious type, I've had an email with Elgato tech support and have just got a reply.

EyeTV Hybrid receives both analog and digital (DVB-T) signals. The "hybrid" in the name is meant to show this dual purpose.

We have not tested EyeTV Hybrid in New Zealand, but it is working now in Australia and European countries that use DVB-T (digital TV over antenna).

The EyeTV Hybrid sold in North America doesn't support DVB-T, it supports another standard called ATSC. So, make sure you get the DVB-T version of the EyeTV Hybrid, also known as the INT or International version.

Customer Support

Elgato Systems LLC

So that clears that up.

My next two questions are:

1. Does the Apple Remote give full functionality, or will I need to purchase the Elgato remote as well. I coudn't find anything on their site about this.
2. Where can I buy one in NZ?

Cheers