Need Help for TV on a PC

parasomnia

Hello,

I am looking at getting TV for my Laptop or desktop.
I am not allowed to put up a dish at my address,
I am looking for preferably a device that I can plug into my laptop and pick up basic channels.

I heard from a chap in Maplins dvb is not available in Ireland what are my options, what equipment should I buy etc?

Any help appreciated.

Thomas

coylemj

Check out this company's products which are designed to give you TV on a PC.

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/

Technically the guy in Maplin was corrrect but there are trial DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV) broadcasts going on by RTE and you can read about various users' experiences on this forum. Note that the digital standard used in Ireland is MPEG4 so make sure make sure that anything you buy claiming to support digital TV meets the MPEG4 standard - MPEG2 kit will give you sound but no picture.

In Dublin you'll need an indoor UHF aerial to pickup analog and/or DTT, the difference between analog and digital is that with digital one UHF channel carries multiple TV stations whereas with analog one UHF channel = one TV station but the same equipment (UHF aerial) is used to pickup the signal. This is a decent aerial for indoor use, do not buy anything that mentions VHF or has a circular or telescopic antenna.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33215

STB

When it comes to using a laptop dont worry about having to buy a dvb-t stick that says MPEG4. Most DVB-T sticks will do. All you will need is the software to do the MPEG4 decoding (VLC now supports DVB-T MPEG4 in the latest version - its free - see the following thread).

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055687279#post62185068

parasomnia

Thanks Guys for the replies,

Special thanks for the head's up on the antenna, I will pick up that for sure.

I am in the Limerick City area, so quite central and built up etc, I am not really technical minded so if you guys could give me a recommended link for a purchase of a device for my Laptop (preferably from Maplins or another local store) that would do the trick, I am unsure to what type of device I should plug into my laptop,

As for VLC, well it's great software and I use it all the time for watching Video and DVD's on my computer)


Thanks,
Thom.

Richie Blackmor

I'm not sure if there are DTT Trial signals available in Limerick yet. If there are, my guess is they'd come from Woodcock Hill or Maghera. Any boardies with frequency information to help this chap?
Any DTT trial signals are unreliable - here today gone tomorrow sort of thing until the full serice is launched.
If there are no digital signals just yet and you want TV on your laptop now then you will probably need to get a device that combines a digital and analogue tuner. But these are more expensive and you are buying an analogue tuner that will (big debate about exactly when) become redundant.

glineli

For maghera try 690000 or channel 48. I have not managed to get the DTT trials via the use of a settop aerial, only when i connect to aerial on the roof.

rcondor

The transmitter for Limerick city and surroundings is Woodcock Hill. It is currently transmitting DTT. I think the frequency is 682 Mhz.

I have an Elgato eyetv diversity dual dtt tuner on my iMac. This is a little usb stick that plugs into a free usb slot. It comes with two tiny aerials (each about 5 inches long) and I can get a perfect signal in Patrickswell ( about 6 miles outside the city) using these two aerials in diversity mode.

In Diversity mode, the two integrated tuners are set to the same frequency, you can also set it to dual tuner mode where it becomes two conventional digital TV receivers in one, enabling you to watch one TV show and record another simultaneously.

The dual tuner mode won't work for me using the supplied aerials but its works fine with a signal from my normal aerial in the attic.

If you can get something similar for the PC you should have no trouble getting DTT on your computer in Limerick.

parasomnia

Thanks again for the replies,

rcondor, the USB stick you use sounds ideal, like I mentioned, I am limited in my options as I have no Aerial fitted (Ie: On the roof) and I can not install a dish. So with this in mind, If I was to pick up a usb device like yours am I assuming I will receive some watchable channels? Do I require an indoor Antenna too? This is all I am asking, basic etc. BTW, what channels should I expect to receive?

Thanks,
Thom.

rcondor

Basically your can receive the four Irish terrestrial channels. That's RTE1, Net2, TV3 and TG4.

These are test transmissions at the moment so there is no guarantee of service, but in general they broadcast away and the quality is very good.
TV3 is down at the moment but I'm sure it will return soon.
You can read more about the test transmissions here :
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=56

To receive these transmissions you will need some type of aerial, either a standard roof mounted tv aerial, a good aerial in the attic or in the setup I am using the two mini aerials that came with my Elgato Diversity tuner.

I find the two mini aerials work perfectly for me in Patrickswell, I also checked the Dock Road in Limerick and it worked fine for me as well.

Obviously your experience may vary but I would say that if you can find a Dual DTT usb tuner that can operate in diversity mode you should be ok with the two mini aerials on the desk beside your computer.


Bottom line if you have a Mac then get an Elgato eyeTv diversity for around 100 euros on the apple store and you will probably be able to get a perfect picture with only the two mini aerials on the desk beside your Mac.


For a PC I don't know what product to get, but if it doesn't have the diversity mode then in my experience it won't work without a roof of at least an attic mounted tv aerial.


Hope this helps.













*

glineli

rcondor wrote: »

The transmitter for Limerick city and surroundings is Woodcock Hill. It is currently transmitting DTT. I think the frequency is 682 Mhz.

I have an Elgato eyetv diversity dual dtt tuner on my iMac. This is a little usb stick that plugs into a free usb slot. It comes with two tiny aerials (each about 5 inches long) and I can get a perfect signal in Patrickswell ( about 6 miles outside the city) using these two aerials in diversity mode.

In Diversity mode, the two integrated tuners are set to the same frequency, you can also set it to dual tuner mode where it becomes two conventional digital TV receivers in one, enabling you to watch one TV show and record another simultaneously.

The dual tuner mode won't work for me using the supplied aerials but its works fine with a signal from my normal aerial in the attic.

If you can get something similar for the PC you should have no trouble getting DTT on your computer in Limerick.

How do you get the aerial to diversity mode?

rcondor

It also comes with a splitter cable that takes an input from your normal house aerial at one end and at the other end there are two connections to plug into the usb tuner in place of the mini aerials.

In the eyeTv software you can then select dual tuner or diversity mode. When I use the signal from my aerial in the attic I use dual tuner mode, when using the the two mini aerials I have to use diversity mode to get a usable signal. Diversity mode combines the two signals to one good signal.

parasomnia

Thanks rcondor,

I am using windows xp and windows vista. I have an idea of what I need, but kinda lost to where to get one! the device you are using would be ideal for me as with the little antenna's and all, I have spent some time looking for a similar device but no luck

If you ever come across a link for a usb device that may work for me with a PC and the limited options of not using a roof aerial, please let me know,

Thanks,
Thom.

parasite

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8325 about 14€ all in, I can confirm it works here

parasomnia

Guy's,

Do you think this USB device would work on my windows Laptop - It has no capability to receive Analog reception though as it is simply a digital receiver (according to it's description at the Maplin's Website)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=225561


Let me know please what you think,

Thanks,
Thom.

parasomnia

Please take a look at this site, here is a device that can work in diversity mode on Windows Xp,
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/121759

What do you think?

homer911

parasomnia wrote: »

Guy's,

Do you think this USB device would work on my windows Laptop - It has no capability to receive Analog reception though as it is simply a digital receiver (according to it's description at the Maplin's Website)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=225561


Let me know please what you think,

Thanks,
Thom.

I wouldnt risk it - the FAQs and product details are not reassuring

rcondor

Looks good to me. Hauppauge are a well know TV tuner card manufacturer for PCs - I had one of their analog cards for a PC years ago with no problems. It seems to be the equivalent of my Elegto device for a PC.

If the signal isn't strong enought in your area you can always plug in a powered "rabbit ears" arerial which should work unless you have a very poor signal where you are.

The only thing is the software that comes with it doesn't mention mpeg4 which is what our dtt signals use in Ireland. But if it doesn't work you can always use VLC as mentioned earlier.

If it was me and I needed a dtt tuner for a PC I would give this one a shot.

There is no way to be really certain without picking some device and spending some money.

ScrubsfanChris

Can anyone recomend a good DVB-T USB Dongle for my PC (not laptop), or if there is a better option (seperate PC Card and aerial?)
Spur Hill is the nearest transmitter to me.

parasomnia

Thanks rcondor,

I will buy the Hauppauge and let you know how I get on, I actually emailed the tech people at the site and they mentioned the mpeg4 problem but as you mention the wonderful VLC might work out for me.

Thanks again for all the replies, advice etc .

rcondor

parasomnia wrote: »

Thanks rcondor,

I will buy the Hauppauge and let you know how I get on, I actually emailed the tech people at the site and they mentioned the mpeg4 problem but as you mention the wonderful VLC might work out for me.

Thanks again for all the replies, advice etc .

I see Amazon.co.uk are selling it now for €49 including shipping, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hauppauge-NOVA-TD-Diversity-digital-freview/dp/B000N4LYH6/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1 . Looks like a good deal to me.

Also on Hauppauge's support forum:

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=16922

they have details of their latest version of WinTv V7 HD which does support h.264. You can buy this from them for €16 if it doesn't come with the stick.

kieran57

Hi. Im Interested on the above.

DVBViewer, Irish DTT and FTA Satellite

Can anyone tell me if it is any good.I live in Dublin and what channels would i get?Thanks for your time.

ScrubsfanChris

kieran57 wrote: »

Hi. Im Interested on the above.

DVBViewer, Irish DTT and FTA Satellite

Can anyone tell me if it is any good.I live in Dublin and what channels would i get?Thanks for your time.

Irish DTT will get you RTE1, RTE2, TV3, TG4

FTA satellite (Freesat) will get you all the channels on this list: http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freesatchannels.html
But not the four Irish channels including 3e.

You could combine the above two options using a Combo Reciever, but I don't know much about those so hopefully someone else will be along soon to explain.

KNO3

rcondor wrote: »

I see Amazon.co.uk are selling it now for €49 including shipping, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hauppauge-NOVA-TD-Diversity-digital-freview/dp/B000N4LYH6/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1 . Looks like a good deal to me.

Also on Hauppauge's support forum:

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=16922

they have details of their latest version of WinTv V7 HD which does support h.264. You can buy this from them for €16 if it doesn't come with the stick.

Just to give an update to this thread in case anyone else is interested. I was looking for the same solution as the OP and after reading through this thread decided to buy the above Amazon linked Hauppauge Nova-TD Diversity DVB-T tuner to use in conjunction with an Acer 5620Z laptop, laptop is about 18 months old running Vista. I knew it was an Mpeg2 tuner and expected to have to install codecs etc to make it work with Mpeg4 but to my surprise it worked straight out of the box, I just downloaded the provided software and it worked straight away.

Looking in the Tv settings when you have it set up its telling me its running the H.264 from an Arcsoft Video decoder, the enable 3rd party decoders box is unticked so it may just come as standard in the software or I may have had that decoder on the computer already, I not sure about this but basically it worked straight out of the box for me:)

Im able to use it both modes, the dual tuner mode or diversity mode Im in Dublin 6, no problems so far with reception.

phill106

KNO3 wrote: »

Just to give an update to this thread in case anyone else is interested. I was looking for the same solution as the OP and after reading through this thread decided to buy the above Amazon linked Hauppauge Nova-TD Diversity DVB-T tuner to use in conjunction with an Acer 5620Z laptop, laptop is about 18 months old running Vista. I knew it was an Mpeg2 tuner and expected to have to install codecs etc to make it work with Mpeg4 but to my surprise it worked straight out of the box, I just downloaded the provided software and it worked straight away.

Looking in the Tv settings when you have it set up its telling me its running the H.264 from an Arcsoft Video decoder, the enable 3rd party decoders box is unticked so it may just come as standard in the software or I may have had that decoder on the computer already, I not sure about this but basically it worked straight out of the box for me:)

Im able to use it both modes, the dual tuner mode or diversity mode Im in Dublin 6, no problems so far with reception.

Interesting, so you get rte1,net2,tv3,tg4?

KNO3

phill106 wrote: »

Interesting, so you get rte1,net2,tv3,tg4?

Hi phill, yes I recieve all the Irish trial DTT channels + radio stations.

About the Arcsoft codec or decoder for Mpeg4, it turns out after looking a bit further on my computer that I had this installed already so it doesn't come pre installed with the Hauppauge software. I have a programme called MediaConverter 2.5 installed which I think came with a media player that I have, the software for that came loaded with this as well as an extra, this is normally a pay programme from Arcsoft so the codec was in there already.

The only thing I had to do with the codec was to copy and paste it into the Hauppauge Wintv folder from the Arcsoft folder, other wise I was getting error messages when I started up the TV tuner, it still ran fine and gave me perfect TV reception but you would get an annoying message everytime you ran it saying the codec was missing (from the WinTV folder) so copy and paste sorted that out and now its runs error free.

Other free Mpeg-4 Codecs might work just as well though if you can't get your hands on the Arcsoft codec, although you could download the trial version of MediaConverter from the Arcsoft website and ahem "borrow" the codec using cut and paste style like I did above;) you would wanna have that loaded up first though and then load up the Hauppauge software. Other Mpeg-4 codecs will probably work just as easy though.

The Tv Tuner also comes with an adaptor which you can run into a convential aeriel socket or a roof aeriel if you had one fitted, I might try that next and see what else I can pick up, need to sort out a roof aeriel first though:)