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Thread ID: 97682 2009-02-23 22:40:00 TV TUNER-Laptop Metla (12) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
750803 2009-02-23 22:40:00 Greetings Lads, Ladies and everything in between.

Anyone have any personal experiences with USB TV tuners?

Once we get in the caravan I'm intending to use my Laptop as a television, Which means I'll need a USB TV tuner, Anyone with recommendations?

The caravan I have bought has an inbuilt antenna so I assume it has a anolog fitting mounted somewhere inside, but I won't be able to confirm that until I take delivery.

I also see they have digital units that can pick up Freeview, anyone tried these?, How much coverage does Freeview have? I presume these pick up the UHF signal? They come with a pretty insignificant looking antenna.
Metla (12)
750804 2009-02-23 23:19:00 I have the eyetv version, pretty much same hardware but software for the mac. I can pick up one channel using that antenna.
With the antenna on the caravan you should be able to pick up freeview HD, but I would swap that out for a sat dish, better coverage. Not sure it that tuner does sat though. Coverage is much better with sat.
plod (107)
750805 2009-02-23 23:24:00 Yep - get a DVB-S USB tuner and a sat dish for the caravan.

You'll be sorted and get heaps of channels everywhere you go.
wratterus (105)
750806 2009-02-23 23:27:00 Look on the freeview site to check if you have coverage in your area. With the bundled antennae reception isn't always good,(usually), but if you plug it into the home attennae the receptions pretty good.

SAT coverage is slightly better, if you're npt so worried about portability:
www.trademe.co.nz

Get a Hauppage TV tuner if you can. They seem like best quality and reliable

Blam
Blam (54)
750807 2009-02-23 23:39:00 Cheers, Though I won't be investing in a sat dish, In fact I wouldn't be bothering with anything if the caravan didn't already have an old style TV antenna .

Just asking about the freeview USB tuner as for the price difference I might as well get one of those.

If coverage is going to be so poor that only a sat dish is practical, and as yet I have no idea where I'll be travelling to, then I'll just settle for whatever the existing antenna can pick up.
Metla (12)
750808 2009-02-23 23:54:00 hmmm.....$150 for caravan sat dish..... Metla (12)
750809 2009-02-24 01:00:00 I've got a Pinnacle "Nano E73" USB stick from DSE. Wsa on special at $99 a couple of months ago.

It is great and you can use a cheapo USB cable to extend the tiny aerial lead. I have a 5 metre one. If I put the aerial on the spouting (magnetised base) and run it throught the window, I get a great picture.


Only problem, you can't edit the ads out if you want to keep something. If anyone can prove I am wrong about this, I would love to hear from them!!

Ken :thumbs:
kenj (9738)
750810 2009-02-24 03:28:00 be aware that freeview satellite is not in HD. Also you'll need a fast computer if you want to watch freeview HD. utopian201 (6245)
750811 2009-02-24 03:40:00 You'll need an even faster computer if you're planning to record.

The 73e mentioned eariler is quite good for Freeview HD...I have one myself and works well for me. Chill has one too.
Blam (54)
750812 2009-02-24 07:29:00 Have I got the answer for you! This (www.pp.co.nz) Is a hybrid TV tuner, i.e. DVB-T and analogue tuner in one. So in other words, you park your caravan do a search and if you can get Freeview HD in your current location then bingo, and if you can't it will find any analogue stations that you can get. pine-o-cleen (2955)
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