External USB Tv Tuner

Question

Level 1

9 points

External USB Tv Tuner

I was wondering if an external usb 2 tv tuner would work with the mac mini. I found two brand names:
Pinnacle PCTVe- http://www.flamingo.ro/produs.asp?id=7183
WinFast TV USB II - http://www.leadtek.com/multimedia/winfasttvusb2_deluxe1.html

Does anyone know and tried them?

Lenard

mac mini, Mac OS X (10.4.4), 1.4 Ghz G4

Posted on Feb 20, 2006 1:30 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 20, 2006 8:04 PM in response to sacui

The minimum requirements for both of these only show PC compatibilities. There may not be drivers for Mac OS. Thus, they will probably NOT work.

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Answer 2

sacui Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 21, 2006 2:43 AM in response to Thomas Miller6

Yeah, that is true, but most brand don't list Linux either and most tv tuners work in Linux. So that is why I was wondering in case some people tried other brands or these and see if they work.

Len

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Answer 3

gsa700

Level 1

55 points

Feb 25, 2006 9:33 PM in response to sacui

Why not try this one?

http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetv200

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Answer 4

Feb 26, 2006 2:52 PM in response to gsa700

To my knowledge (and I've just researched thsi having bought one last week). Elgato are the only providers of Mac TV Tuner software. There are several hardware providers which are all listed on Elgato's Web Site. Which model you choose depends on what source you get your TV signal.

regards

mrtotes

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Answer 5

Feb 27, 2006 8:43 AM in response to sacui

While it has presumably been replaced by the EyeTV 200, I have the EyeTV Wonder USB. The hardware is identical to the ATI TV Wonder USB, and on a whim I tried the hardware with my PC and downloadable ATI hardware, and it works fine there as well.

I would not get anything without hardware compression unless watching TV in a window is you only goal, though. The Eye SW won't even let you try to capture at high rez/quality on the mini, as it knows it would fail on a modest processor like that.

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Answer 6

iFelix

Level 8

35,155 points

Mar 1, 2006 5:59 AM in response to Adam Coates

Formac also have a software and hardware solution to digital TV on the Mac.

http://mail.formac.co.uk/webapp/productsavoverview.php

These products however won't work in the US.

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Answer 7

mbean

Level 4

1,250 points

Mar 1, 2006 11:04 PM in response to sacui

If you want a Mac USB 2.0 TV tuner consider the EvolutionTV USB 2.0 Digital TV Recorder.

http://www.amug.org/amug-web/html/amug/reviews/articles/miglia/evolution/

EyeTV 200 is FireWire 400.
http://www.amug.org/amug-web/html/amug/reviews/articles/eyetv/200.html

Michael

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