OT - USB TV Tuners
Submitted: Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:00
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Scoey (QLD)
Hi all,
I know this is a strecth but I'm some of you will be using your laptops as TV's while out and about so I thought I might be able to get a bit of info here.
I am looking at buying a USB TV Tuner to allow me to watch telly on the computer. The reason I am not going for a TV tuner card for the PC is because I would like to ba able to use it on either my work or home PC or my notebook. Which leads me to my questions...
Are these USB Stick TV Tuners able to be operated simply by plugging into the USB port and away you go?
Would you need to install software or would the software be on the USB Stick?
Most have an aerial that looks to have an RF (????) type connector which I assume you would have to plug into the USB stick also because I've never seen a PC or notebook with this type of connector on it.
Any advice from people using these type of products would be appreciated as I am having trouble finding answers to these questions!
Cheers
Scoey!
Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:04
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:04
Scoey
I have a USB and it works okay....you will need the software installed that comes with the device.
The aerial for
mine is the same as the TV but I am still looking for a proper Aerial for
mine that works
AnswerID:
260669
Follow Up By: Scoey (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:39
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:39
Hey Troll,
Where do you plug the aerial in? Does it plug into the PC or the USB stick or am I completely off the mark?
Cheers
Scoey!
FollowupID:
522110
Follow Up By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:13
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:13
it just plugs into the end of the USB device
FollowupID:
522115
Reply By: Wizard1 - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:19
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:19
As long as there is no software or installation issue you shouldn't have any dramas. I got ine several years ago from Harvey Norman and it works fine.
Had
mine running off an internal set of rabbit ears with a booster and had perfect TV. Some will even allow you to set up for pragrammed recording onto your harddrive like a VCR.
AnswerID:
260674
Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:49
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:49
The USB tuner will come with software which you will need to install to the PC.
It will also come with a mini antenna, but that will be all but useless, and you will need an external antenna just like with any other TV. The lead plugs into the USB stick. The connection is likely to be a fragile one, and will need to be carefully re-inforced or you can easily break them where they join into the small stick.
Make sure you get a digital USB stick, or digital and analogue. Don't get analogue only.
With Digital, every time you change location you will need to rescan the tuning function to find what is broadcasting near you.
AnswerID:
260678
Follow Up By: Scoey (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:54
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 11:54
Great Gerhard - that's great info! Thanks a lot!
Cheers
Scoey!
FollowupID:
522112
Reply By: Member - Peter H (WA) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:34
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:34
My son has just bought the
Pinnacle Hybrid stick. 330e. It has digital and analogue as
well as some radio.
Bought from Harvey Norman. They recommend that one as its one of the only ones that don't give them grief.
Usb connection, aeriel plugs into the device. Software installed no worries. With the dinky little antenna that came with digital was spot on. With rabbit ears I could pick one of the analogue channels. today I will try with the outside antenna. Looks like a good buy though.
Peter
AnswerID:
260683
Follow Up By: Olcoolone- Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:53
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:53
As Peter said above , make sure it is digital and analogue not just digita.....most USB sticks for TV are ONLY DIGITAL and the dual one are more expensive.
On digital tv you get differant shows and times as compared with the good old analogue transmissions.
Regards Richardl
FollowupID:
522121
Follow Up By: DIO - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 14:34
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 14:34
The comment that you get different shows at different times on digital as compared with analogue is not quite correct.
On digital, the main-stream commercial channels simpley re-broadcast what is readily available on analogue. The only exceptions to that are the ABC. They have a secondary channel, ABC2 that does indeed broadcast repeats at different times of the day. SBS also have a second channel on which they broadcast foreign language news
services.
The TV industry has really ripped us off (the tax paying public). The good old Liberal Govt. gave huge chunks of frequency to the industry after it somehow convinced the govt. that we should have High Definition TV. What a load of rubbish. The high rate of definition in Aust. is unique in the world. Most people are more than pleased with Standard Definition on a goold quality LCD screen some are evn delighted with the reception from SD on CRT sets. There are very few if any programs produced for our standard of High Definition. The industry is dragging it's heels and not providing multi-casting as was promised. For example, when the 7 Network shows V8 motor racing, in some states it is delayed until some ridiculous hour at night (long after the event) to make way for AFL. They could easily use one of their existing frequencies to allow broadcasting of both sporting events. Sorry to have got off track a bit, but the current TV situation in this country makes me sick. We are really at the mercy of the industry and dare I say it, but the industry have the Federal Govt. right in their pockets. It's a real cosy relationship.
FollowupID:
522132
Reply By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:50
Reply By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 12:50
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 13:59
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 13:59
My ASUS laptop came with an ASUS USB digital TV tuner (My Cinema 3000 Mini) in the bundle on offer at that time. Its digital only - no analogue - the mini antenna supplied is damned near useless unless you are parked by the transmitter. Here on the outer edge of the
Adelaide suburbs (with a clear line to the hills transmitters) rabbits ears are not much good either. I have plumbed the house antenna into the study, so I can plug in there.
With a decent antenna up high, the picture quality and sound is extremely good !
Software ? I found that a struggle - the software supplied gave me no end of pain - I got onto a web
forum somewhere and got he tip that Windows Media Centre Edition software (already on my puta had the required support built in). After a bit of mucking about, I was away.
To use the TV in a new location, you run the scan function and then save the channels found. IF your antenna setup is substandard, you simply get fewer found channels. Each time you move location, you need to delete all the old channels and scan for the new set.
Many regional towns don't have digital TV. If I decide I really want TV when on the wallaby, I'll get one of the combo PCM type card tuners. Reports suggest they are a lot better in all respects - not just the analogue bonus.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: ozwasp - Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:06
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 at 23:06
Hi Scoey
I think you'll find you won't be able to get digital tv outside the main cities and all usb tuners are digital tuners.
I've got one on my laptop that I purchased for about $40 on ebay and its great, but needs the roof aerial to get reception - and we live on a
hill. So if you think you can just use rabbit ears then think again.
Also the one I purchased on ebay needed new software to work on Vista and it was hard to find it on the net.
I'd probably stick to a portable tv for your trips
Goodluck, Will.
AnswerID:
260799