Freeview install

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ScottStevensNZ

245 posts

Master Geek

#44418 27-Oct-2009 16:28

Hi

I've done a forum search and haven't found a definitive yes/no. We're moving into a new place which has a sat dish already set up and cabled into one room (living room). In my existing setup I use a mac mini with an eye TV 250 to tune into analogue TV. In the new place, can I use an Eye TV hybrid directly without the need for a Freeview decoder box? I am running a C2D 2.0GHZ mac mini with 2GB of RAM. Disc space is not an issue as there is 1.5TB of external storage. I've read that the hybrid requires a bit of grunt as hardware encoding is not possible for the Freeview signal. Not interested in Sky at all btw. Thoughts and ideas would be appreciated. Do I also need access to the EPG if I want to record a program like the news each night or can I do it 'dumb' like the 250 where I just give it a channel, start time and end time?

Thanks

Scott

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wellygary

7384 posts

Uber Geek

#267322 27-Oct-2009 16:34

NOPE, the EyeTV hybrid is a UHF based receiver, (So it does Freeview HD and analog) NOT Satellite based freeview.

IF you want to use your mac mini HTPC set up you will need a UHF aerial and coverage from the freeview HD signal.

But spec wise your setup would be fine for Freeview HD

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tomgeeknz

923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#267323 27-Oct-2009 16:36

You will either need to get a Freeview|HD compatible uhf aerial or a Freeview satellite receiver for the mac mini. Freeview sattilite and DVB-t based terestrial Freeview|HD are two different things.

ScottStevensNZ

245 posts

Master Geek

#267328 27-Oct-2009 16:48

Thanks

I thought that might have been the case, but just wanted to make sure.

Scott

ScottStevensNZ

245 posts

Master Geek

#267349 27-Oct-2009 17:35

Given that, I might try a UltraPlus F-9000HD PR box and use the USB connection to get data off if I need to burn it. I will still keep the mini hooked into the TV as an HTPC as that is responsible for managing the music and movies side of things. It would be good if I could get the mac to recognize the 9000HD as a FAT32HDD. Anyone know if this is possible?