Any Hybrid usb tuner for PC work on MAC with OS X?

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Any Hybrid usb tuner for PC work on MAC with OS X?

JaBZ

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Topic # 29504 9-Jan-2009 16:20

Is there such a thing? I don't feel like paying $300+ for the Elgato
I just want to watch TV on the Mac when im in my office, I'll get a RF modulator for MySky. So will get Sky and DVB-T on the Mac.. well that is the plan.

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

openmedia

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Reply # 188418 9-Jan-2009 16:58

JaBZ: Is there such a thing? I don't feel like paying $300+ for the Elgato
I just want to watch TV on the Mac when im in my office, I'll get a RF modulator for MySky. So will get Sky and DVB-T on the Mac.. well that is the plan.

Hauppauge HVR 900 is basically the same as the Elgato Hybrid. The problem is you won't get the mac software unless you order the Mac version.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat New Zealand as a Solution Architect for all things Linux, Virtual and of course Cloud. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

JaBZ

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Reply # 188421 9-Jan-2009 17:15

Yep, however EyeTV supports a few tuners but the HVR-900H is not one of them, Equinox The Tube supports it but the tube doesn't support H.264.
Soo I can get the Pinnacle USB Tuners although only the Mac ones work with EyeTV. So I will end up paying the same amount as an EyeTV tuner.. *SIGH*

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

openmedia

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Reply # 188431 9-Jan-2009 18:03

Yes you need to be careful which version of the HVR-900 you get.

I have the older HVR-900 which works with eyetv

JaBZ

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Reply # 188447 9-Jan-2009 19:18

Does the older HVR-900 do DVB-T HD?

Currently I'm looking at the Pinnacle TV for MAC Hybrid 330E which is half the price of the EyeTV.

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

Fossie

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Reply # 188458 9-Jan-2009 20:12

No, No chance at all of it working...

stevenz

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Reply # 188573 10-Jan-2009 14:54

The el-cheapo pinnacle PC-TV nanostick which I got off firstin.co.nz for a pittance works fine on the Mac as long as you pay for the Elgato EyeTV software to drive the thing which is 80 euro. (about $200). You can get the included Windows software running in a VM under Fusion if you have that available. It's a bit of a mission to make it go though.

Looks like Elgato have the mac market well & truly cornered, and judging from the pricing of the software, they're only too aware of the fact.

JaBZ

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Reply # 188615 10-Jan-2009 17:47

Ok no ones got the older HVR-900 so I got the Pinnacle TV for MAC Hybrid 330E for $160 from PB.

It comes with EyeTV lite v1.1 but also a burned copy from the supplier of eyeTV lite v1.2, the CD has a inkjet printed surface and label with the NZ support number.

I can confirm this works fine with NZ DVB-T HD, all channels are tuned and I am currently watching TV3 I have the choice of DD and AAC audio both work fine.
To my surprise the EPG guide is also working fine.

So I don't feel the need to purchase the full version, this is all I wanted the ability to watch TV when i'm in my office on the Mac.
The lite version also allows timeshifting and recording.

The only thing is, my Macbook Pro CPU usage is 90%
its a Core2Duo, 2.33Ghz, 2GB Ram, with the PCI-e ATI Radeon X1600 with 256MB Video ram.

Now all there is left is to hook the Mysky HD signal into the RF modulator.

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

Fossie

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Reply # 188664 10-Jan-2009 21:51

I'v been using my hvr-900 for years.

JaBZ

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Reply # 188690 11-Jan-2009 00:06

Weird using the supplied antenna I get 70% signal and 100% quality, yet i get picture breakup and aritfacts on TVNZ channels, however Tv3 is perfect.

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

mattstutter

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Reply # 188969 12-Jan-2009 13:41

JaBZ: The only thing is, my Macbook Pro CPU usage is 90%
its a Core2Duo, 2.33Ghz, 2GB Ram, with the PCI-e ATI Radeon X1600 with 256MB Video ram.

Wow, that is high usage that's almost one whole core. Is there a DVB-T TV tuner for mac's with a USB connection (or firewire) that uses it's own hardware to lessen the impact on your host machine?
I'm planning a mac media centre around a never announced new mac mini and would be looking to watch and record freeview HD on it - but don't really want a unit cooking eggs or using loud fans full time sitting in the lounge. Eeek, perish the thought - but maybe a PC is better equipped to the task with a PCIe tuner card?

Fossie

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Reply # 189083 12-Jan-2009 21:25

High cpu is normal.

mattstutter

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Reply # 189188 13-Jan-2009 12:58

What about with the newer macbooks/pro's with NVida chipsets - I'd read they were handling hardware based H264 rendering? Does anyone have a newer macbook/pro have any experience?
And back to my first question - is there any device out there that does use it's own hardware to reduce the CPU usage?

Behodar

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Reply # 189373 13-Jan-2009 22:31

I don't think that EyeTV/CoreAVC is able to make use of hardware H.264 decoding.