I don't really understand a lot about Tv tuners but I have been reading up on them. I want to know what the best tuner to buy to work with my Macbook pro and Verizon FiOS. I could use all the information about them too. Like, do they have to be plugged in or can they work wirelessly. And also, I don't want it to be too expensive. Thanks!
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TV Tuner for Macbook Pro
- Thread starter jtmorris78
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I own 2 EyeTV 250+'s, i run one on a Mini and one on my MBP. They have run flawlessly since last May & August. The one on the Mini records almost around the clock 6 days a week.
Because i'm recording off of satellite via RCA cables, the hardware encoding is a must for me. I have to say that i have had people send me files from their Windows boxes and Philips DVR/DVD recorders and the quality of the 250+ at a lower setting than they are using is way higher. Even better than the disks i bought from the "pros" of the same content.
There aren't a lot of Mac options for cards because of the way the ports address. YOu can check SageTV for a list of cards that work with their software too. I ran a trial of Sage on a windows box and had some major issues (but probably mainly related to a hardware issue on the PC). COming to EyeTV was a piece of cake after that experience! LOL!!
Because i'm recording off of satellite via RCA cables, the hardware encoding is a must for me. I have to say that i have had people send me files from their Windows boxes and Philips DVR/DVD recorders and the quality of the 250+ at a lower setting than they are using is way higher. Even better than the disks i bought from the "pros" of the same content.
There aren't a lot of Mac options for cards because of the way the ports address. YOu can check SageTV for a list of cards that work with their software too. I ran a trial of Sage on a windows box and had some major issues (but probably mainly related to a hardware issue on the PC). COming to EyeTV was a piece of cake after that experience! LOL!!
EyeTV. The software is simply fantastic.
I have the EyeTV Diversity, which allows me to record one program while watch another (or record two at the same time).
Found it very useful for Uefa Cup games, when two teams I'd want to watch are playing at the same time. Well I can, watch both at the same time!
I have the EyeTV Diversity, which allows me to record one program while watch another (or record two at the same time).
Found it very useful for Uefa Cup games, when two teams I'd want to watch are playing at the same time. Well I can, watch both at the same time!
Just got one myself. Unfortunately, the Mac client doesn't stream HD (PC client does). Hopefully they change that.
JT,
EyeTV will be your best bet from the software side.
On the hardware side, you have many choices (OK, not many compared to Windows, but at least several).
The ElGato Hybrid and 250+ will work with your MBP using USB. These devices will record analog and unencrypted digital channels. VerizonFiOS has a few analog channels and many digital channels. Not all of the digital channels will be unencrypted. Typically, all you would be able to get would be the local digital stations (i.e. ABC, Fox, NBC, etc).
Another option is the HDHomeRun (by Silicon Dust). This is the only networkable dual-tuner device available. It has digital-only tuners, so no analog recording is available. With a fast enough network, you could watch and record TV wirelessly on your MBP.
Keep in mind that there are no current options to record unencrypted channels using a hardware tuner on the Mac. There are no CableCard or Tru2way devices for the Mac.
If you want/need to record your premium channels on the Mac, you should look at a device called the Hauppauge HD-PVR 1212. You would connect the 1212 to your Verizon STB and your MBP. The 1212 doesn't have a internal tuner, but it can take the output of your STB and convert it to h264 files for your Mac. I believe that it includes an IR blaster that can allow your Mac/1212 set-up to change the channels on your Verizon STB and act as a DVR.
NOTE - the 1212 takes the analog output from the STB and converts them to h264. It does not save the actual MPEG-2 stream directly to a HDD. Therefore, there is some loss of video/audio quality since you're going from Digital>Analog>Digital ... the amount of quality loss depends on the settings you choose and your personal tolerance.
ft
EyeTV will be your best bet from the software side.
On the hardware side, you have many choices (OK, not many compared to Windows, but at least several).
The ElGato Hybrid and 250+ will work with your MBP using USB. These devices will record analog and unencrypted digital channels. VerizonFiOS has a few analog channels and many digital channels. Not all of the digital channels will be unencrypted. Typically, all you would be able to get would be the local digital stations (i.e. ABC, Fox, NBC, etc).
Another option is the HDHomeRun (by Silicon Dust). This is the only networkable dual-tuner device available. It has digital-only tuners, so no analog recording is available. With a fast enough network, you could watch and record TV wirelessly on your MBP.
Keep in mind that there are no current options to record unencrypted channels using a hardware tuner on the Mac. There are no CableCard or Tru2way devices for the Mac.
If you want/need to record your premium channels on the Mac, you should look at a device called the Hauppauge HD-PVR 1212. You would connect the 1212 to your Verizon STB and your MBP. The 1212 doesn't have a internal tuner, but it can take the output of your STB and convert it to h264 files for your Mac. I believe that it includes an IR blaster that can allow your Mac/1212 set-up to change the channels on your Verizon STB and act as a DVR.
NOTE - the 1212 takes the analog output from the STB and converts them to h264. It does not save the actual MPEG-2 stream directly to a HDD. Therefore, there is some loss of video/audio quality since you're going from Digital>Analog>Digital ... the amount of quality loss depends on the settings you choose and your personal tolerance.
ft
The hardware is just a Hauppage WinTV in a sexy package. Found that out in Boot Camp
There is many licensed hardware developers that can use the EyeTV software. Terratec, Hauppage possibly..
Then there's the actual EyeTV tuners Elgato release.
You have it backwards. Hauppage makes the hardware that Elgato uses for their EyeTV product.
I have an EyeTV on my Mac Pro and when I installed Bootcamp, I wanted to see if I could get the EyeTV working in Windows. With a little googling, I found it was compatible with a certain model of Hauppage WinTV because it IS that same hardware in a new package, so I can use the Windows software with it from Hauppage's web site. Elgato uses the Hauppage hardware and writes their own Mac drivers and software for it, not the other way around where Elgato licenses its software out to several hardware manufacturers.
Does this look familiar?
It's just a paint job.
Hi there Janstett... Don't suppose you can link to the driver you found? Also, is there one that you would suggest for the EyeTV Diversity?
Cheers
/Doug
Why is the analogue TV card so expensive ? The digital one is much cheaper.
I do not have any digital channel and all I need is to be able the receive the classic but 120€ is a lot Some PC compatible TV tuners are much cheaper.
I do not have any digital channel and all I need is to be able the receive the classic but 120€ is a lot
Some PC compatible TV tuners are much cheaper.
I have an Elgato DTT thing. Software was great but then they wanted to charge me a bomb to upgrade every so often. Not funny.
Been looking at the Equinux TubeStick. I've only read good stuff about it and the software that comes with it. AND... I'm not sure if they charge for major updates like Elgato, but if they do, then the FULL software is only 30 euros instead of Elgato's 80 euros for the full software.
The software has all the usual features and some of the more up to date ones like iPod exporting and programme feedback/chat!
Check it out: http://www.equinux.com
Been looking at the Equinux TubeStick. I've only read good stuff about it and the software that comes with it. AND... I'm not sure if they charge for major updates like Elgato, but if they do, then the FULL software is only 30 euros instead of Elgato's 80 euros for the full software.
The software has all the usual features and some of the more up to date ones like iPod exporting and programme feedback/chat!
Check it out: http://www.equinux.com
Why is the analogue TV card so expensive ? The digital one is much cheaper.
I do not have any digital channel and all I need is to be able the receive the classic but 120 is a lot
I can't answer the why it cost more - BUT, keep in mind that for analog signals your computer will be doing all the encoding. That is why i went with the 250+ here in the States, it has hardware encoding in the device so my computer doesn't work as hard.
I'm pretty sure THIS is the equivalent of the EyeTV Hybrid -- the WinTV HVR-950Q. If that's not it, it's the 850Q. I'm booted into OSX right now so I can't tell which one I used.
Not sure about the other Elgato products, but it looks like it's still in the WinTV HVR family... It LOOKS LIKE the 950 (no "Q").
ok so basically the Analogue tunners are more expensive because they have to encode the analogue signal to the digital signal 1st. But still I'm surprised that the mac compatible tuners are much more expensive that the PC versions.
It looks interesting, but if you read the "fine print", you'll notice that it doesn't do HD. It's too bad because that's one slick looking device and the included software looks real nice too.
As it pertains to this thread, the only way to record HD, encrypted channels on a Mac is to use the Hauppauge HD-PVR 1212. It's also to the only way to record HD off of a Dish or DirecTV HD box as well. (NOTE - I guess there are HDMI capture cards, but they are $$$$ and may or may not work with copy protection).
ft
My horrendous experience trying to get a friends windows box set up to record, and my experience/attempt with a Sony Media computer allows me to say that....
The 2 EyeTV 250+'s i own, coupled with the Mini i had to buy to run the 2nd one was a CHEAP purchase
I've basically been in a commercial environment since last August with them and they just are rock solid. A few minor software bumps, but overall, i know that the experience would not have been the same without the parts i have.
That said, i'm extremely happy to be getting OUT of the recording business as school classes are winding down for the year..... I have 730gb of video to dump off one drive, and close to 400 on another. That is at the 930 mb/hr setting for analog.... and i still have 30gb a week recording for 4 more weeks!
Maybe i just depressed myself?
EyeTV. The software is simply fantastic.
I have the EyeTV Diversity, which allows me to record one program while watch another (or record two at the same time).
Found it very useful for Uefa Cup games, when two teams I'd want to watch are playing at the same time. Well I can, watch both at the same time!
Yeh, I love eyeTV.
