Laptop TV setup

AndrewJD

Can I preface this by saying I've searched through threads about this, but they've just left me confused and disoriented, which is why you've probably read this 100 times before.

I'm a student, in Dublin, with a macbook pro. I don't have a TV, aerial, nothing. I want to be able to watch TV.

What is a good option in terms of a USB tuner and aerial for me? I really just want RTE, BBC NI, UTV etc, nothing fancy.

Thanks for any help you're willing to offer

Mr McBoatface

You'll need a Mac compatible usb DVB-T tuner, the supplied software would have to be able to decode mpeg4.

As for the signal and aerial it depends on location (Dublin is a big place), type of building you live in, windows direction and location within your accommodation, external obstacles blocking signal and so on.

watty

You will not get BBC, UTV etc. Only Irish TV, but it may be a while till TV3 is on Digital

You also need a TV licence.

A cheap TV will work better than a Mac. A second hand CRT set is similar price to USB TV stick and will give all four channels.

You need at least an indoor TV aerial. See ones here for type to look for http://www.techtir.ie/radio-tv/uhf-aerials
This applies to a TV set or a USB TV stick for Mac

This is probably the only recommend USB TV for a Mac / OS X
http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/buy.en.html

Probably this one as it does Analogue also as well as Digital (though Analogue will be very poor compared to cheap S/H TV) http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/tuner/hybrid08/product1.en.html

The only real choice for TV software on OS X
http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/software/EyeTV-3/product3.en.html
It *does* do the MPEG4 H.264 required for Irish DTT. AFAIK it's included with the USB tuner stick.
Not all Mac Book Pro models are powerfull enough for the Irish HD. Note that when RTE2 is in HD 1080i there is no 576i SD transmission.

trmartin

watty wrote: »

Note that when RTE2 is in HD 1080i there is no 576i SD transmission.

What implication would this have if I'm interested in either the Elgato EyeTV DTT or EyeTV DTT Deluxe?

RTT

Sure sign up to Magnet for free. You just need to register for the site and you'll get RTE1,2 3, tv4 and 3e. It will tide you over until you get sorted.
https://www.magnetwebtv.ie/web/login.jsp

watty

trmartin wrote: »

What implication would this have if I'm interested in either the Elgato EyeTV DTT or EyeTV DTT Deluxe?

Only use Elgato for Mac. Overpriced.
If your MAC can do MPEG4 H.264 and HD, then any Elgato that has DVB-T will work.

On windows 7 any USB Stick with Windows driver works.

On XP I recommend any stick that comes with "Total Media 3.5", or if the Laptop is good spec H.264 support on GPU/GFX adaptor, then use DVBViewer and CoreAVC.

RTT wrote:

Sure sign up to Magnet for free. You just need to register for the site and you'll get RTE1,2 3, tv4 and 3e. It will tide you over until you get sorted.
https://www.magnetwebtv.ie/web/login.jsp

• On most ISP accounts that will quickly use up your Cap.
• Magnet will pester you with advertising
• It's nothing like Broadcast quality
• It won't really work for a significant number of so called "mobile broadband" users with eMobile/Meteor, O2, Vodafone or Three

meolwan

RTT wrote: »

Sure sign up to Magnet for free. You just need to register for the site and you'll get RTE1,2 3, tv4 and 3e. It will tide you over until you get sorted.
https://www.magnetwebtv.ie/web/login.jsp

+1 for above it will do the job for you

watty

Only if you have sufficient Internet speed, cap and content with far below Broadcast quality.

I think it's pretty poor judgement suggesting web TV on a Broadcast Reception Forum. It's not remotely comparable to Satellite, Cable or Terresterial Reception.

You also need a decent Broadband account to get the sub par content. The Aerial signal is x4 quality and free.