Just so I understand this correctly, this records the TV signal you already have coming in to your home right? So if I don’t have cable, this thing is useless to me, yes?
Keep in mind, though, that most digital signals are actually at UHF frequencies – so a VHF antenna won’t perform as well.
Also, most people seem to agree that the provided software and drivers make like a Hoover. However, Microsoft Media Center can talk to them, although sometimes it only recognizes the digital channels. In a few months, though, it won’t really matter, will it?
If you use AVI files with DIVX codecs, you may want to steer away from pinnacle based HD products. Just do a web search about “h264codec.ax error pinnacle”.
It will only work with the rooftop antenna if it is a Digital Antenna. Well…you can use it with an analog if you really wanted, but it wouldn’t have much point. The digital antenna it comes with doesn’t have great range so I would recommend getting a better one anyway.
Someone better tell my pinnacle tuner that because for the last 6 months it has worked fine with my Time Warner coax connection…
OK. I have an 800i which is pretty good I’m gathering its roughly the same, except the pci version. Assuming its the same, the software that was included is not that great. It works, but, it doesn’t have anything special. I do have the antenna that is included. the antenna is small, but, pair it with a small amplifier that you can buy cheaply, it works wonders. I’m tempted to buy another, however, I wouldn’t mind a Huappaung instead because more third party Media Center software is available for it. As for Pinnacle, I’ve been happy with it. More so than Kworld and the 340U that died on me.
HHHMMM pardon my ignorance but is this thingamajig used to watch regular tv on a laptop? I have an HP laptop and it needs a TV tuner card for that, does this work the same way?
It comes with an antenna, you can get Digital and HD signals aver the air. www.antennaweb.org will let you know what stations you can expect to recieve at your house.
I have the non-HD equivalent of this. It works on one of my computers, an acer with vista. It does not work on the other, an acer with xp media center. It’s recognized in device manager, but has an exclamation point by it, so I’m assuming something’s not right with the driver. When I try to use the included software, it crashes, and media center doesn’t recognize it as a tv tuner. Anyone have similar problems/suggestions?
[QUOTE=cleaner00, post:21, topic:201851]
Just so I understand this correctly, this records the TV signal you already have coming in to your home right? So if I don’t have cable, this thing is useless to me, yes?
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There are digital signals broadcasted all around as well. Depending on the area, you can pick up multiple HD channels with this onto your computer. You can choose to have it run through your cable or antenna.
Unlike a few other second-hand reviews here, I have one of these and absolutely love it. I only have it attached to the included antena on my mediacenter server in my basement and I’m able to watch HD channels beautifully and glitch-free on my extenders. I’m texting friends and I know they’re going to woot a few, they’ve been waiting…
The Good: Great reception, shockingly good even with tiny included antenna, rock solid drivers (Vista Ultimate) and 100% Windows MCE compatibility.
The Bad: The dongle is fat, if you connect it directly to a USB port it eats up the 2 ports next to it as well. Plan on using the USB extension connector. The software that comes with it sucks pretty bad.
Overview: If you’re using it with XP MCE or Vista Ultimate for MediaCenter or some other software that just needs a tuner, it rocks. If you depend on the software they ship you, it sucks so bad it’s almost a deal-breaker.
Now that I think about it… does Woot accept those 40$ coupons from the dtv2009.gov? ahaha
[QUOTE=subrec, post:1, topic:201887]
This was a lot cheaper in the woot-off!
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That was the pro, this is the ultimate.
Hrm. I wonder if this would work with my satellite dish from the 60’s
Yes, that’s correct. This is roughly the same as a tv tuner card.
[QUOTE=msmdew, post:27, topic:201851]
HHHMMM pardon my ignorance but is this thingamajig used to watch regular tv on a laptop? I have an HP laptop and it needs a TV tuner card for that, does this work the same way?
[/quote]
Yup. The ultimate also includes line-input so you can watch some other video source on your laptop too (e.g. xbox, camcorder, etc)
[QUOTE=subrec, post:1, topic:201887]
This was a lot cheaper in the woot-off!
[/quote]
I check woot everyday and have never seen the Ultimate before, I’ve seen lower end units, but not this one…
It looks like another decent woot but…how soon will Woot ship this thing out if I buy it?
Wow… look at some reviews at Newegg.com
Not worth it.
I don’t know much about these yet, but I do want to huck up my PC to TV. Only couple of things. First my system suggest "Hard drive with minimum 1 GB free space (20 GB recommended for TV recording) " and I have Satalite. It’s the 334 GB hard drive, I believe that I have 1 MG dual drives. Does that make since to anyone?