USB Freeview - preferably OSX compatible?

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › USB Freeview - preferably OSX compatible? - DVB-T

ritzlal

402 posts

Ultimate Geek

#196631 7-Jun-2016 11:55

Hi guys, sorry if there's already a thread on this somewhere - let me know and this can be closed.

I've tried a couple of USB DVB-T sticks from AliExpress but neither pick up any signal for me. Not sure what the story is but when I plug the antenna which is working from the roof, there is still no signal. The same antenna cable works fine on the TV so there's no issue with my antenna.

Anyway, couple of questions.

1. What DVB-T USB stick do you guys recommend for here in NZ?

2. Are there any OSX compatible ones? No biggie if not, just a bonus if available.

Thanks,

Ritz

nedkelly

568 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1567035 7-Jun-2016 12:30

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Hmm, never thought to try my DVB-T stick in my mac, I only bought it for SDR.

Will check tonight if I can find it.

Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) 10.10, MCITP 2008

nedkelly

568 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1567037 7-Jun-2016 12:32

just wondering, which program are you using to try and view the channels?

Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) 10.10, MCITP 2008

ritzlal

402 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1567039 7-Jun-2016 12:34

Thanks. Not 100% sure as I don't have the devices with me at the moment but one came with "PrestoTV" and the other with "Blaze" something. Neither of them picked up any channels.

I tried a couple of free apps from online but they didn't pick anything up either. The devices were both cheap $10 ones from AliExpress though so not sure if I just got a couple of dodgy ones.

migrif

56 posts

Master Geek

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#1567044 7-Jun-2016 12:40

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I've currently got an Elgato Eye TV DVB-T Stick. But they're substantially more expensive than the Aliexpress options.

https://www.geniatech.eu/eyetv/

ritzlal

402 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1567056 7-Jun-2016 12:50

migrif:

I've currently got an Elgato Eye TV DVB-T Stick. But they're substantially more expensive than the Aliexpress options.

https://www.geniatech.eu/eyetv/

Nice. Will have a look on TradeMe etc to see if I can find one a bit cheaper. Thanks.

ritzlal

402 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1567067 7-Jun-2016 13:01

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Bugger. Someone just got a bargain with two of these recently: http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/tvs/other/auction-1089807359.htm

Thanks for your advice guys. I'll search for those.

migrif

56 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

#1567073 7-Jun-2016 13:03

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Something else to consider is an DVB-T to IP stream. So you can stream to your portable devices.

Pretty handy. Good luck finding one of the Elgato tuners! I've had mine for maybe 5 years, and it's still going strong.

richms

22992 posts

Uber Geek

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Subscriber

#1567098 7-Jun-2016 13:35

I have had a few of the cheap USB tuners, and they are no way near as sensitive as a STB or TV's tuner for weak signals, so try it on the mac at another location and see how it goes. You might just be too low signal to have it work.

Richard rich.ms

ritzlal

402 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1567148 7-Jun-2016 14:57

richms:

I have had a few of the cheap USB tuners, and they are no way near as sensitive as a STB or TV's tuner for weak signals, so try it on the mac at another location and see how it goes. You might just be too low signal to have it work.

Thanks. Getting completely 0% signal strength even when using the wiring from the rooftop UHF antenna so I don't think it's the signal/antenna.

richms

22992 posts

Uber Geek

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#1567169 7-Jun-2016 15:22

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May have the wrong drivers for the tuner type on the board then. I did have issues when using windows 8 that it kept picking some random windows update drivers instead of the ones off the little CD which were correct.

Try out sdrsharp on the hardware and see if you can tune into FM or something else really strong, that will let you know if its the hardware or just drivers trying to control a tuner that doesnt exist on the board.

Richard rich.ms

mm1352000

1145 posts

Uber Geek

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#1567351 7-Jun-2016 19:01

One person supports this post

Some tips...

1. As richms has said: make sure you've installed the correct driver.

Getting the right driver for a very generic/cheap tuner can be the difference between it working and not working. If your tuner came with a driver disc, that's where I'd be starting. Second port of call would be a download from the vendor's website. Drivers from Microsoft/Windows update would be my last resort.

2. Failure to find channels can be caused by signal that is too weak... and also by signal that is too strong.

If you have either (or both) amplifiers or splitters connected to your aerial, consider testing with them temporarily removed.

3. PC tuners often require stronger/cleaner signal than set top boxes and TVs.

There are various reasons for this, including that PCs tend to be a more electrically noisy operating environment from a tuner's perspective. The point is: just because your TV works does not mean a PC tuner will too.

JoshWright

370 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1567402 7-Jun-2016 19:28

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I have a PCTV Nanostick that is compatible with Elgato eyeTV software on Mac.

Picks up all the channels fine and is really well built compared to chinese cheapo DVB-T sticks.

Just another option to consider as opposed to an Elgato product as they share the same software.

ritzlal

402 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1567412 7-Jun-2016 19:36

Thanks. Yea have tried the drivers from the CD that came with the package and have tried on different machines/with different antenna's etc.

Will look into those alternative options. Might just be a case of you get what you pay for :)