ElGato's updated their tuner line again for 2010: Dropping the FM radio functions of the 2009 model - and in a slimmer case - the EyeTV Hybrid is now also being actively marketed to WIndows 7 PC market as well.

EyeTV Hybrid 2010

For Mac Leopard & Windows7



Of note: EyTV is getting more realistic in it's System Requirements : HD content really demands a dual Intel Core processor on either platform - and now lists OSX Leopard 10.5.8 as the minimal ideal OS.

Tags: EyeTV 2010, Hybrid Mac Tuner

JUST THE BASICS : ElGato announced a new lower-cost budget TV tuner for Mac (or Windows PC) that is strictly for Over-The-Air HD antenna based reception - the Elgato EyeTV One PC and Apple Compatible TV Tuner.

Lacking Analog video capture functions and QAM decoding for Digital Cable reception, this $100 tuner may be right for those of use who don't and won't pay for cable TV month after month - and are more than content with our locally available stations from an indoor or outdoor antenna. But frankly it's somewhat of a 1-trick pony. Most people interested in a tuner should look for a QAM enabled or Hybrid Analog and Digital model for the most flexibility now - and in the future.

Tags: ElGato Mac, OTA TV Tuner, ATSC Only Tuner

Check out the rather long laundry list of bug fixes and enhancements for the latest EyeTV 3.2.1 Update from ElGato. Those who've upgraded to Apple's Snow Leopard 10.6 need to get and stay current to avoid some of the issues earlier versions of EyeTV has with OS X 10.6

Frustrated by your outdoor TV antenna reception after the Digital TV switchover? Intermittent, sorta - kinda - maybe reception on some chanels driving you crazy? It may be that your existing outdoor antenna is 'OK' - but some degree of signal loss through your household wiring may be sub-optimal. A television PRE-amplifier will boost the signal _at its source_ and will likely improve your current channel reception - as well as possibly bring in stations you're missing.

20db UHF-VHF Pre Amp


Alternately; consider the
Channel Master 7777 High-gain mast-mount antenna preamplifier


Note these are multi-piece units: A PRE-amp that attaches directly on your antenna outside - and the actual amplifier which is a small box with built-in wall AC transformer. Once connected, you may want to verify your existing station and reception quality - then do a RE-SCAN of all available channels.

For those with multiple cable runs indoors and throughout the house - a different type of indoor sigal amplifier is needed. This can apply to both those using antennas or those with cable television access. A passive splitter may be fine to branch off to 2 sets - but with more cable runs than that you really do want an amplified splitter to minimize signal degredation.

Motorola Amplifier - Splitter

In short - before you blame your tuner - or its source. Ponder everything in between. Its often the weakest link, and proper amplfication at the right points in your wiring runs can make all the difference in the world.

An innovative little portable tv anntenna: The PowerHD 100 is generating alot of interest - and garnering absolutely rave reviews at Amazon.com. This tiny HD antenna isn't just an interesting option for Laptop computer TV tuners. Folks with 52" wide-screen home theater systems seem to think well of this amplified flip-up antenna box that you can hold in the palm of your hand:

Amplified antennas can often mean the difference between a marginal analog or HD digital signal becoming crystal clear - or simply receiving stations you otherwise couldn't scan for and lock in. The PowerQ POWERHD-100 Indoor Portable Pop-Up Digital HDTV Antenna offers THREE power options for it's amp: USB bus-power from a laptop or desktop computer, AA batteries for on the go, and an AC power adapter for home use. Pretty versatile!

The compact size of this mobile UHF-VHF combo antenna is somewhat surprising - at least for optimal VHF reception where you normally have long rods. But less technical folk should know UHF waves travel in a VERY SHORT oscillating waveform only about 6" wide. So whether it's a indoor LOOP antenna, a BOW-TIE antenna, or a stubby little flip-up antenna like the POWERQ has - they all are *OPTIMIZED* for UHF Channels 13-on-up anyways. At $50 this little box ain't cheap - but those who bought one seem quite impressed. Sometimes big things really do come in small packages.

Tags: powerq, power q, USB powered, ATSC Antenna

Elgato announced a new USB device - the Video Capture - Which automatically detects NTSC, SECAM, PAL, and PAL/60 video formats for worldwide compatibility. Video resolution: 640×480 (4:3) or 640×360 (16:9) Video format: H.264 at 1.4 MBit/sec or MPEG-4 at 2.4 MBit/sec Audio: AAC, 48kHZ, 128 kBit/sec

Perhaps the standout feature of the Elgato Video Capture Device that separates it from the dozens of other MPEG 1 and 2 units that have been around in the Mac and PC market for years -- is native H.264 encoding. Files can be synced with video capable iPods, iPhones and Apple TV and can be edited in iMovie ‘09 without re-encoding.

There's still a need for Analog video gizmos like this for capturing Analog content from legacy VCR's DVD Players, VHS camcorders and whatnot... but there's something about this product that seems just a bit too-little, too-late. For your money, you might as well just get a Hybrid TV tuner which supports Analog capture anyways.

Tags: H.264, USB dongle, USB capture

This switch to Digital television is a slow process. Not an 'event' really, but simply a rapidly evolving shift in television reception. Remember, the DTV ‘extension’ to June 12th 2009 still allowed over-the-air TV stations to go all Digital BEFORE THEN. So the remaining Analog stations you can receive will become fewer and fewer in the weeks ahead. Under the revised law, TV stations were simply required by the FCC to *announce* their black-out date to viewers *before* they flip the switch to ATSC Digital.

Even that 'Blackout Date' ain't necessarily going to be totally black. Many rural areas are and will continue to be served by TRANSLATOR STATIONS still broadcasting in Analog. (Another reason why a TV converter box *with Analog Pass-Through* or a auto-switching HYBRID Mac TV tuner is still the best choice for antenna using folks waaaaay out in the country side.)

Satellite and Cable companies have their own agenda and interests to pursue: Which is largely to $ELL YOU PREMIUM SERVICE for the rest of your life. But Cable companies are mandated by law to provide SOME SORT of standard definition Analog signal till 2012. But that doesn't mean you'll receive the stations you want, just the stations they'll give you. Which Digital stations you'll receive in Unencrypted Clear QAM is up to the provider, and their ULTIMATE intent is to sell you PREMIUM High-Def Digital Services only decoded by their set-top box. (and not your computer's TV tuner stick.)

All this is against a growing backdrop of Free (ala Hulu) or Pay-Per Content (via iTunes), or streaming (via Netflix) and IPTV -- Television streamed over the internet and viewable with various 'player' programs for Mac or PC.

Tags: DTV transition, DTV switch, TV converter boxes

3/12/2009 - AVerMedia Technologies, Inc., announced the (long delayed...) release of the AVerTV Volar MAX for Mac, a compact USB TV stick for US - North America. This Digital ONLY computer HDTV tuner supports ATSC antenna recption + Digital QAM cable at a new low-price point for Apple computers

AVerTV HD Volar MAX USB Tuner

For Intel Macintosh Computers


System Requirements for the Volar M are:
- Macintosh® computer with a Intel Core® processor - 512MB RAM or above - 300MB of available hard-disk space - USB 2.0 port - CD or DVD drive - Mac OS X v10.4 or later

With AVerTV for Mac’s DVR software app, you get an iPhone-like on-screen menu for channel switching, program recording, and EPG for upcoming programs, etc. The key functions of AVerTV for Mac are supported by an Apple Remote. Designed for Apple OS X, AVerTV Volar M also comes with AVer TV 6 Media Center for PC, benefitting Dual-OS users who run OS X and Windows on their Mac.


The final Street Price of this Digital ATSC + QAM unit makes it the new price leader for affordable Mac computerTV watching.

Cheap TV tuner stick for Mac

The Aver Volar Max ~$49

Tags: AverMedia, Aver TV, volar tuner, volar MAX

Equinux keeps updates coming! Today Version 2.9.3 of THE TUBE PVR software was released with the following fixes-additions of note:

Changes in The Tube Version 2.9.3
– Tuning has been improved drastically. We recommend running "File ! Search Channels..." again
– Now supports Pinnacle PCTV DVB-T Stick 70e, Terratec Cinergy T USB XXS
– Now supports the new EyeTV DTT (introduced August 08) and EyeTV DTT Deluxe
– DVB-T / DTT problems with older EyeTV hybrid devices have been solved
– The EPG - Program Guide update dialog window no longer reappears if you select "not now".
– Changed timer for EPG update to 15 secs
– Fixed an issue where attaching a device might interrupt playback of recordings

Version 2.9.3's installer also includes links to download their LIVE TV iPhone app and TUBE TO GO.

Tags: Equinux, TubeStick Hybrid, The Tube, TheTube

SageTV continues progress on their multi-platform TV Media Center softtware - now at version 6.5.9 for Mac. I've tried it with one of the Apple Macintosh supported tuners below - specifically Hauppauge's HVR950 non-QAM tuner with an outdoor ATSC antenna with no success pulling in stations. Was a little overwhelmed by the 'Setup Assistant' which is so extensive and lengthy it felt more like a SETUP INTERRIGATOR. And of course it wasn't till I was deep in the process that trying to identify the tuner hardware and actually receive any signal was where it failed. Would have been nice if: 1. The Setup was much more automated, and 2. Recognizing the TV hardware successfully first should preceed attempting subsequent issues like screen aspect ratio, location and program guide info. Will have to de-install, re-install and try again. It OUGHT to work. And it ought to be MUCH simpler to get up and running.

Sage TV Supported Analog Tuners On Mac
▪ Hauppauge EskapeLabs myTV.PVR
▪ Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2 (use the Eskape Labs drivers)

SageTV Supported OTA HDTV Tuners On Mac (requres SageTV V5 or later):
▪ Hauppauge Win-TV-HVR-950
▪ Pinnacle PCTV HD (800e)
▪ Silicon Dust HDHomeRun (native support, no driver install required)
▪ El Gato EyeTV Hybrid (original version w/out QAM tuner)

Tags: SageTV, cross-platform media center