USB/Firewire TV Tuner for Mac

[GavinT]

Hi everyone.

Just wondering if there are any USB/Firewire based TV Tuners for Mac OS X.
I'm looking at getting a MacBook Pro, and a Monitor (that 30inch Apple ones looks great).

I'm currently based in Japan, but probably going to come back to UK soon, so I'm wondering what is available in the UK for digital and analogue coverage.
Part of me is thinking of using the Mac+Monitor as part of a media system.

 

[robbieduncan]

The eyeTv range.

I've found them to be reliable and work well.

 

[pulsewidth947]

I have a EyeTV for DTT and it's great. I have that plugged into my Mac Mini, which is plugged into my 26" LCD TV and the quality is very good. My Mini cannot handle any of the progressive scan options so I don't know if they make much of a difference. I don't know if the resolution of the 30" ACD would make the picture quality significantly worse.

The EyeTV for DTT lets you view freeview, which if you don't know is free digital television, with about 40 channels and radio also. Here are the positives and negatives of the unit I have:

Positive:
Small foot print - this thing is tiny!
Comes with a remote control
EyeTV 2 software is superb
Price - £99 or cheaper on eBay.

Negative:
Progressive scan takes a fairly fast Mac
Can only be used with an Aerial. You can't plug a VCR or Playstation etc into it
Your Mac has to do all the decoding rather than the box so again you need a decent Mac. Having said that I run it on my 1.25GHz Mac Mini with only 512MB of Ram!


If you do want to record other sources, you can buy one of the other EyeTV products. Hope this helps.

 

[GavinT]

Thanks for the info.

Yeah, one of the things I'll be wanting is Freeview. Have no real desire to get Satellite/Cable (been in Japan for a while, and since then, my TV viewing has reduced somewhat. Just watch essential shows only, and I certainly don't need more than the basic Freeview channels for that).

Spec wise, I guess I should be ok, since I'm looking at getting a 17in with 2Gb RAM and 7200rpm HDD