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Hicks.

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 27, 2006
281
23
UK
Doh! Sorry guys. I should know better (search). I'll check out the above thread link :)
 

esaleris

macrumors 6502
Oct 18, 2005
317
28
This is a short overview of this TV Tuner world:

TV Tuner Hardware Providers:
Elgato (EyeTV Hybrid and EyeTV 250)
Miglia (Miglia TV Micro and Miglia TV Mini HD)

TV Tuner Software Provider:
Elgato's EyeTV - Both Elgato and Miglia products are licensed to use it. It's quite a nice software package.

TV Signals:
NTSC - All cable channels you receive on TV (includes broadcast, extended like MTV, VH1)
ATSC - Over-the-air signal via antenna in HDTV (CBS, FOX, NBC)
Clear QAM - The least understood. You can actually receive the equivalent of HDTV ATSC over run-of-the-mill cable. The benefits? No dropping of signal and possibly better access to more broadcast station (PBS, CW, etc). But it also depends on if your cable provider decided to encrypt the QAM signal.
DVB-T - European signal. If you buy this, you'd better be in Europe, otherwise it's useless!

Personal Experience
I have owned the EyeTV 250 and the Miglia TV Micro and TV Mini. Miglia's tuners are much clearer when it comes to NTSC. Also Miglia's HDTV solution, allows for both ATSC and QAM reception, giving you more options. Elgato's TV Hybrid only does ATSC and Elgato currently does not offer a QAM product.
 

risc

macrumors 68030
Jul 23, 2004
2,756
0
Melbourne, Australia
I have an El Gato EyeTV DTT hooked up to my iMac at the moment. The thing is a tiny USB device as you can see below. The amazing thing about this device imo is the way it can do DVB-T (the Australian/European digital TV standard) HDTV and not skip a beat.

If you want DVB-T digital TV the DTT is a great option!

dttwu6.jpg
 

rmarasa

macrumors member
Aug 14, 2006
39
0
London, UK
And I'd go with Miglia ;-)

But a much more important question for the UK is whether you are trying to get Freeview through the included attenna or if you'll have access to a cable attenna or a Freeview attenna in your home. With any of these products (including the diversity) you will probably NOT get every single Freeview channel from the built-in attennas. You'll probably miss a MUX, and the attenna(s) MUST be right by the window! However when hooked to your home attenna or cable instead these tuners are excellent. Clear and sharp. Just be certain to get a tuner that includes the EyeTV software. It cannot be beat!
 

iW00t

macrumors 68040
Nov 7, 2006
3,286
0
Defenders of Apple Guild
I have an El Gato EyeTV DTT hooked up to my iMac at the moment. The thing is a tiny USB device as you can see below. The amazing thing about this device imo is the way it can do DVB-T (the Australian/European digital TV standard) HDTV and not skip a beat.

If you want DVB-T digital TV the DTT is a great option!

dttwu6.jpg

I'd wait till the EyeTV Diversity is released :cool:
 

Hicks.

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 27, 2006
281
23
UK
This is a short overview of this TV Tuner world:

TV Tuner Hardware Providers:
Elgato (EyeTV Hybrid and EyeTV 250)
Miglia (Miglia TV Micro and Miglia TV Mini HD)

TV Tuner Software Provider:
Elgato's EyeTV - Both Elgato and Miglia products are licensed to use it. It's quite a nice software package.

TV Signals:
NTSC - All cable channels you receive on TV (includes broadcast, extended like MTV, VH1)
ATSC - Over-the-air signal via antenna in HDTV (CBS, FOX, NBC)
Clear QAM - The least understood. You can actually receive the equivalent of HDTV ATSC over run-of-the-mill cable. The benefits? No dropping of signal and possibly better access to more broadcast station (PBS, CW, etc). But it also depends on if your cable provider decided to encrypt the QAM signal.
DVB-T - European signal. If you buy this, you'd better be in Europe, otherwise it's useless!

Personal Experience
I have owned the EyeTV 250 and the Miglia TV Micro and TV Mini. Miglia's tuners are much clearer when it comes to NTSC. Also Miglia's HDTV solution, allows for both ATSC and QAM reception, giving you more options. Elgato's TV Hybrid only does ATSC and Elgato currently does not offer a QAM product.

There's a wealth of information there! I think I'll need to do some research on what signals are available in the UK. :)

I have an El Gato EyeTV DTT hooked up to my iMac at the moment. The thing is a tiny USB device as you can see below. The amazing thing about this device imo is the way it can do DVB-T (the Australian/European digital TV standard) HDTV and not skip a beat.

If you want DVB-T digital TV the DTT is a great option!

dttwu6.jpg


Thanks for the picture :) Does look pretty small. The price of them on the Apple website isn't too bad either.

And I'd go with Miglia ;-)

But a much more important question for the UK is whether you are trying to get Freeview through the included attenna or if you'll have access to a cable attenna or a Freeview attenna in your home. With any of these products (including the diversity) you will probably NOT get every single Freeview channel from the built-in attennas. You'll probably miss a MUX, and the attenna(s) MUST be right by the window! However when hooked to your home attenna or cable instead these tuners are excellent. Clear and sharp. Just be certain to get a tuner that includes the EyeTV software. It cannot be beat!

I was hoping not to have to hook up to my home antennae; but after reading the reviews on the Apple website it looks like I will have to, to get a decent picture. As long as I get the normal terrestrial channels (BBC1, 2, ITV and Channel 4) I would be happy. Any other freeview channels would be a bonus.

Thanks for all the helpful comments guys :)

If you want a convoluted way, DIY! :D

Indeed.
 
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