EyeTV recommendation

Talisman

I'm looking to get an EyeTV for my Mac Mini but as yet am undecided about which one of the DTT options to get.

EyeTV Diversity - dual DTT tuner
EyeTV DTT - single DTT tuner

Does anyone have either of these and what is the reception like? I live in Cabra and presume I should be able to pick up the DTT service easily enough.

Ultimately my plan is to get one of these and when I'm happy with it setup to spring for the EyeTV 310 or FireDTV-S2 and sort out FreeSat through the Mac Mini.

J-blk

Talisman wrote: »

Does anyone have either of these and what is the reception like? I live in Cabra and presume I should be able to pick up the DTT service easily enough.

I used to have the Hybrid, which has an analog and a single DTT tuner so I assume it compares to the EyeTV DTT really. Where I could get the DTT signal (Blanchardstown), reception was great, very clear and only using the tiny bundled antenna - I also used it on holidays in Greece and it worked perfectly with the available DTT channels there as well. However, would it be worth getting a DTT-only tuner for use in Ireland at the moment? The Hybrid and the more expensive/bulky Eye TV 250 Plus are both analog/digital capable now, so they may be a better fit.

Talisman

The reason I asked about the DTT models is that the tuners are capable of capable of H.264 as well as MPEG-2. The Hybrid and 250 Plus models are currently only MPEG-2 capable which will mean that when the DTT trial switches to H.264 next month they will be unable to receive the signal. I've been told that a H.264 capable model of the Hybrid will be available later this year.

J-blk

Talisman wrote: »

The reason I asked about the DTT models is that the tuners are capable of capable of H.264 as well as MPEG-2. The Hybrid and 250 Plus models are currently only MPEG-2 capable which will mean that when the DTT trial switches to H.264 next month they will be unable to receive the signal. I've been told that a H.264 capable model of the Hybrid will be available later this year.

Oh right, I didn't know that - I haven't really looked into DTT much at all and got the Hybrid mostly for its' analog capabilities (as Elgato did not do a pure analog tuner in that form factor) - don't even have it anymore. Sorry I couldn't be any help then, I haven't used the DTT only models.

John Player

i have the eye tv plus 250, and i could never get the thing to work, i have ntl coming into the house, and although it will tune in all the analogue channels its not very clear.

iona_buss

Ever since RTE did that test that was lasting until the 31st of july, my digital EyeTV doesn't work. Really frustrating as the analog is useless in comparison. I hope they bring it back. :mad:

Breezer

iona_buss wrote: »

Ever since RTE did that test that was lasting until the 31st of july, my digital EyeTV doesn't work. Really frustrating as the analog is useless in comparison. I hope they bring it back. :mad:

To my knowledge it is back, but broadcasting in MPEG-4 now rather than MPEG-2. The new EyeTV gear can pick up MPEG-4, not sure about older stuff. I haven't tried retuning yet; I'll give it a go and report back.

EDIT: Yep, definitely back. RTE1, RTE2, TV3, TG4, Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM and Raidió na Gaeltachta. Unfortunately, the old Hybrid can't decode the picture on the TV channels and you get perfect sound accompanied by a green screen.

I've got my eye on this which is due out in 'August 2008,' so hopefully in the next week or two. Price €50. From what I can see, the 'updated technology' that's advertised as a feature of the product on Elgato's main page is the ability to decode H.264 video streams. I'm going to check with the guys over on the TV forums, but to my knowledge this should be fine to decode RTE's new MPEG-4 streams.

Breezer

Ignore everything I said above about needing a new tuner. You need to update your software to EyeTV 3. €40 for the download. I've just done it and everything works perfectly again