Which is the best USB TV tuner (digital and/or analog)

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David - 01 Sep 2007 01:38 GMT

HI All

One the items I need for my new Intel iMac is a USB tuner so I can watch TV.

I will probably need both Digital and Analog units - not sure if there is
one that does both so may have to buy one of each as there are still many
places where there is no or limited digital (where I now live for instance)

Cheers

David

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Rifty - 01 Sep 2007 14:03 GMT

> HI All
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> David

This does not answer your question, but I think it is useful
information. I reckon just about everyone has an old VCR gathering dust
that has stopped playing tapes but has a TV tuner built in and working.
What I have done is resurrect the old VCR and sat the printer on top of
it so it doesn't really take up any space. Just plug that in to your
screen or wherever you can make it work and you have your analog unit. A
cheap tuner from Dick Smith or Hardly Normal gives you the digital
stations.

I find it works very well and is a way to use that old VCR you couldn't
bear to throw away.

If that doesn't appeal to you (and I am sure it won't to many) have you
looked on eBay for a USB tuner?

Rifty

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riftynet - put a dot after rifty

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David - 02 Sep 2007 03:03 GMT

Thanks for the idea Rifty - unfortunatly it is not too practical for me as I
am trying to save as much space as possible for permanent living in a
caravan - hence using the iMac for computer, cds, dvds, and tv.

I did have a look on eBay though as you suggested, but nothing there to suit
at the moment - maybe later.

However, while checking for updates to my Pinnacle video editing application
what did I spy on their site but a Pinnacle USB TV tuner that receives both
digital and analog - $199 - exactly what I need, and if I can find it
cheaper on eBay that will be a bonus

Thanks for the reply though

Cheers

David (quietguy)

>> HI All
>>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> Rifty

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woods - 03 Sep 2007 01:40 GMT

> However, while checking for updates to my Pinnacle video editing application
> what did I spy on their site but a Pinnacle USB TV tuner that receives both
> digital and analog - $199 - exactly what I need, and if I can find it
> cheaper on eBay that will be a bonus

elgato's eyetv Hybrid is another one.

I think there's others, but i'm not sure why you'd need both digital and
analog.

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Eric Lindsay - 03 Sep 2007 09:09 GMT

> > However, while checking for updates to my Pinnacle video editing
> > application
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> I think there's others, but i'm not sure why you'd need both digital and
> analog.

In rural areas, the various translators for TV channels added digital to
their analog broadcasts at different dates, some much later than others.
Where I live, the translators are now all digital. However because the
distribution cable system to apartments is old, the signals fed into
each apartment have been changed to analog. The signals from Austar
cable are also fed through as analog. So you would want both tuners here.

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http://www.ericlindsay.com

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David - 04 Sep 2007 00:29 GMT

Hi Thanks for the tip.

Where I live now I get all channels on analog, but only 9, 2, and sbs on
digital. As I am moving into a van and will be full time travelling I
reckon I will some places have all digital, some still on analog, and some
with a mixture - so I thought it best to cover all bases as I am a tv addict

David

PS I might have to go sat tv at some time, but I like the local stations in
the bush

"woods" <noreply@none.com> wrote in message news:46db5809$0$18464> elgato's
eyetv Hybrid is another one.

> I think there's others, but i'm not sure why you'd need both digital and
> analog.

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woods - 05 Sep 2007 02:20 GMT

> Hi Thanks for the tip.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> > I think there's others, but i'm not sure why you'd need both digital and
> > analog.

ah...fair enough.

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Mac Forum / Country Specific / Australian Mac Group / September 2007

Which is the best USB TV tuner (digital and/or analog)