bcguy_99
09-05-08, 01:09 AM
My girlfriend is moving into a small apartment on campus. We are looking for a TV tuner for her Core 2 Duo iMac so that we can watch TV on the widescreen monitor that is connected to the iMac.
From the research I've done it seems like eyeTV, tvMax, and Slingbox are good options. I found eyeTV and tvMax on ebay for about $100. Which is better between the two? What about the slingbox, even though it seems to cost a bit more?
Are there are other good options that are in the $100-$150 price range?
Your help is very much appreciated.
chefklc
09-05-08, 07:07 AM
What "kind" of TV--antenna, cable, ATSC, QAM, etc--will she be getting in her apartment?
slingbox does not have a tuner as far as i know. As the previous poster asked, you need to know what the tv source is. If it is clear QAM or ATSC, then eyeTV hybrid will work fine. If it is encrypted QAM from a cable box, then you will have to use the cable box and your TV (no need for a mac). If you want to use the mac as a DVR, some cable boxes have firewire and you could use some software on the mac to record the DV stream.
bcguy_99
09-05-08, 02:13 PM
It's all I know right now is that it is standard television cable. I'm pretty sure there isn't a cable box.
It's all I know right now is that it is standard television cable. I'm pretty sure there isn't a cable box.
If it is analog cable, then the eyeTV hybrid will still work since it has an NTSC tuner. So, you are all set for analog. However, the eyeTV software will do the encoding on the mac - so you need a good speed mac for it.
slingbox does not have a tuner as far as i know. As the previous poster asked, you need to know what the tv source is. If it is clear QAM or ATSC, then eyeTV hybrid will work fine. If it is encrypted QAM from a cable box, then you will have to use the cable box and your TV (no need for a mac). If you want to use the mac as a DVR, some cable boxes have firewire and you could use some software on the mac to record the DV stream.
I have had good luck with these but have only installed 3 so that might not be
saying much but so far no complaints from the customers.
derek_m
09-06-08, 02:02 PM
Probably an unnecessary point of clarification, but I assume your girlfriend's college is in the USA? I believe there are different cable/TV standards around the world, and that could have an impact on your decision.