I was wondering what other options you all would recommend besides elgato hybrid for my mac mini? http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/products/hybrid09/product1.en.html

I wasnt sure if there were any other decent options or if elgato was the best...

I'm basically ditching time warner cable minus high speed internet... buying a db2 antenna for tv http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html

I just dont know which tuner to pickup to be able to record my shows over the air.

Not that it matters but I'm here in nyc on the 24th floor of a decent sized building and should hopefully be able to pickup all the channels I need.

Thanks guys

The hybrid is a very good choice.

If you're keeping the internet, you can just split your incoming cable and run one into the hybrid for clear QAM. You should be able to get all the locals plus maybe a few more and save yourself the expense of the antenna.

Another option is HDHomerun which has 2 tuners built in. Elgato used to bundle EyeTV with it at a good price, but no longer carries it. :(

Probably get the '09 Hybrid with the bundled EyeTV software.
If you are then happy, but wish you had additional tuners (to record multiple programs at once, or to stream live HDTV to your laptop, etc.) later on you can get the HD HomeRun.

Is a TV Guide subscription necessary for the Hybrid to schedule recordings?

If you have one already, no, you don't have to use the TVGuide service yet, you can continue to use TitanTV. At some point you will have to switch over to TVGuide, whenever you do, the first year is free.

If you don't have a Hybrid yet, then yes, you'll have to do TVGuide or use xmltv as a program guide.

I just tested a rooftop HD antenna and found that I can receive CBS, ABC, and PBS HD stations OTA :D (and several others that are of no interest to me). Anyway, I currently use 2 analog TiVos to record Comcast cable (our area doesn't get HD/Digital from Comcast which is why I tested out the OTA). I have a Core 2 Duo Mac mini (not the latest) in my HT for on-line TV shows (with varying success depending upon the station and the resolution) & for ripped DVDs. I will be dumping Comcast and going solely with the antenna.

In my situation, would you 1) get an HD TiVo or 2) get EyeTV/HD HomeRun to record/view the OTA stations?

Thanks.

My appreciation for El Gato and EyeTV isn't as strong as it has been in past years--from both a hardware and software sense--if I had to buy in now I'd think twice.

But, in your case, paying the higher up front cost of the Tivo AND the monthly service fee for life just isn't worth it for a handful of OTA channels. The GUI is good, but not that good. So, in your situation, since you're dumping cable, an HD Homerun and that C2D mini should handle your needs just fine.

My appreciation for El Gato and EyeTV isn't as strong as it has been in past years--from both a hardware and software sense--if I had to buy in now I'd think twice.

But, in your case, paying the higher up front cost of the Tivo AND the monthly service fee for life just isn't worth it for a handful of OTA channels. The GUI is good, but not that good. So, in your situation, since you're dumping cable, an HD Homerun and that C2D mini should handle your needs just fine.

Thanks chefklc.

Added Note: the coffee just kicked in :o

I assume to get the functionality I have now with two TiVos - time-shifted TV shows at either TV in my house - I would either have to go with:

1) Same analog TiVo(s) with digital converter boxes attached = still paying for TiVo monthly
2) New HD TiVo downstairs and old analog TiVo upstairs (w/converter) = more $$ up front and monthly for old TiVo
3) New Mac mini (or equivalent) upstairs with an EyeTV device of some sort and an EyeTV device of some sort downstairs = Upfront $$$ & monthly TVGuide costs

:confused:


{I just thought of another wrinkle, and hopefully not OT.
I'd be dumping the cable AND TiVo (analog). However, I like to watch the TV in our bedroom, which is upstairs from the HT, for time-shifted 10P.M. news (frequently) and/or Letterman & Saturday Night Live (infrequently). I am using an old single-tuner analog TiVo for this now. I realize I will get real-time video upstairs, but will I be able to send digital TV recordings (either complete recordings or recordings in process) from the HT (HD Homerun/mini/whatever) via Airport 802.11g? 802.11n?}

I assume to get the functionality I have now with two TiVos - time-shifted TV shows at either TV in my house - I would either have to go with:

snip

3) New Mac mini (or equivalent) upstairs with an EyeTV device of some sort and an EyeTV device of some sort downstairs = Upfront $$$ & monthly TVGuide costs

:confused:


{I just thought of another wrinkle, and hopefully not OT.
I'd be dumping the cable AND TiVo (analog). However, I like to watch the TV in our bedroom, which is upstairs from the HT, for time-shifted 10P.M. news (frequently) and/or Letterman & Saturday Night Live (infrequently). I am using an old single-tuner analog TiVo for this now. I realize I will get real-time video upstairs, but will I be able to send digital TV recordings (either complete recordings or recordings in process) from the HT (HD Homerun/mini/whatever) via Airport 802.11g? 802.11n?}

I'm assuming that you have HDTV's in both location and a decent 802.11g/n network.

If you're dead set on having the mini upstairs, you could set EyeTV to automatically add your recordings to iTunes. Buy an appleTV for the HT to access the mini's iTunes library and you're set.

You won't have access to shows until they're recorded and converted. I'm not sure if appleTV can access movies/shows that aren't in iTunes.

Alternatively, you could go with a second mini in the HT, but that's gonna cost some $$$.

As for the TVGuide costs, it's $20 per year. Not a monthly fee ... although you can break it out monthly, but I think ElGato wants the $20 in one shot.

ft

grub, if I'm recalling some previous discussions correctly don't you have at least 3 Macs and 2 or 3 Airport devices in your house--are none of them connected to that 2nd TV?

If not, then yes, you'd need something in that second location--either an aTV, like ftoak suggests, or a Mac. But you'd still only need the one HD Homerun, it's a dual tuner, all of your Macs on the network could access/control it, live ATSC or recordings could be viewed at both of your TVs.

But, if you've ever converted HD EyeTV content to aTV format, you'd know it takes time, I wouldn't recommend that approach. Even though what ftaok suggests will work--converting content for the aTV, you have to be willing to modify your consumption, i.e. don't watch in real time, plan to transcode, and then afterward watch it. It won't work for the 10PM news, for instance. I like the aTV alot, it just doesn't take the place of a real Mac when it comes to power, functionality and diversity in the HT, especially if you plan to use EyeTV for whole-house distribution of live and recorded HD.

So, you should have a Mac in each of your two main viewing locations. And I've suggested this before, but things are a lot easier if everything is wired. You'll have to get some current feedback from HD Homerun/EyeTV users about the "n" performance. If that's still a sticking point--and that leg upstairs has to be wireless no matter what--then maybe you are better off putting an aTV there, and adjusting your viewing habits up there.

I'd still go with the HD Homerun, I've seen it sell for less than the single USB tuners...the first year of TVGuide is free, anyway, so you could always sell the device later if it doesn't work out and recoup all your costs...

And you are dropping cable and going ATSC, right? Or has that changed since you last posted?

grub, if I'm recalling some previous discussions correctly don't you have at least 3 Macs and 2 or 3 Airport devices in your house--are none of them connected to that 2nd TV?

If not, then yes, you'd need something in that second location--either an aTV, like ftoak suggests, or a Mac. But you'd still only need the one HD Homerun, it's a dual tuner, all of your Macs on the network could access/control it, live ATSC or recordings could be viewed at both of your TVs.

But, if you've ever converted HD EyeTV content to aTV format, you'd know it takes time, I wouldn't recommend that approach. Even though what ftaok suggests will work--converting content for the aTV, you have to be willing to modify your consumption, i.e. don't watch in real time, plan to transcode, and then afterward watch it. It won't work for the 10PM news, for instance. I like the aTV alot, it just doesn't take the place of a real Mac when it comes to power, functionality and diversity in the HT, especially if you plan to use EyeTV for whole-house distribution of live and recorded HD.

So, you should have a Mac in each of your two main viewing locations. And I've suggested this before, but things are a lot easier if everything is wired. You'll have to get some current feedback from HD Homerun/EyeTV users about the "n" performance. If that's still a sticking point--and that leg upstairs has to be wireless no matter what--then maybe you are better off putting an aTV there, and adjusting your viewing habits up there.

I'd still go with the HD Homerun, I've seen it sell for less than the single USB tuners...the first year of TVGuide is free, anyway, so you could always sell the device later if it doesn't work out and recoup all your costs...

And you are dropping cable and going ATSC, right? Or has that changed since you last posted?

Hi (again),
I am dropping cable and going ATSC (w/ some on-line fill in for NBC which I cannot pick up OTA). At least until Comcast gets their act together for us coastsiders, which looks like a very long time from now.
Your memory is good. I have a 1.66GHz Core Duo mini in my HT (which I "upgraded" to 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo w/320GB 7200RPM HD - unfortunately just before the new ones came out:o), a Dual 1GHz Quicksilver w/4TB HD space for iTunes & Ripped DVD storage/interface, a MacBookPro 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo which serves as my on-line interface/toy, and there's an old iMac (700 MHz PowerPC G4/256MB Ram/40GB HD) sitting around collecting dust, but I imagine that's too slow for any HT use. None of our Macs are connected to the bedroom TV. Moving the Quicksilver into our bedroom is not going to happen (noise & space being the chief concern), but I probably could use my MBP in the bedroom, and eventually get another mini when the newest ones start showing up as refurbs. Unless I'm wrong about the iMac not being powerful enough for the bedroom???
My Airport networks are: 1) 802.11g (older Airport Extreme & three Expresses) for our iTunes whole-house distribution & TiVo intercommunication and bedroom TV on-line communication, 2) 802.11n 2.4GHz for my wife's work MBP (pre-5GHz version), and 3) 802.11n 5GHz for our HT (Quicksilver -> mini, and my MBP to internet). Hard-wiring is probably not in the cards (but we have talked before about those house-wiring devices which I tried but had no better performance than with the 802.11n 5GHz Airport).

I'm assuming that you have HDTV's in both location and a decent 802.11g/n network.

If you're dead set on having the mini upstairs, you could set EyeTV to automatically add your recordings to iTunes. Buy an appleTV for the HT to access the mini's iTunes library and you're set.

You won't have access to shows until they're recorded and converted. I'm not sure if appleTV can access movies/shows that aren't in iTunes.

Alternatively, you could go with a second mini in the HT, but that's gonna cost some $$$.

As for the TVGuide costs, it's $20 per year. Not a monthly fee ... although you can break it out monthly, but I think ElGato wants the $20 in one shot.

ft

Thanks ft,
I'm not dead set on anything... There's been no OTA analog TV here ever, so we went Cable and TiVo for convenience many years ago, and have had very spotty service. A few years back I was sure I would be able to get Clear QAM as Comcast kept promising us they would upgrade (I even gave EyeTV a try then), but they recently changed their mind (there's no HD or On-Demand, channels 2->74 are analog, and what digital shows they have are blocked except for the Golf Channel and a heard of music stuff) and any upgrade is now extremely unlikely.
As I said, we have been unable to get OTA analog TV (or FM, for that matter!) here (mountains), but just for grins I gave a digital/HD antenna a shot yesterday and darned if it didn't work (for all networks but NBC)!!! So, given that Comcast won't help, it seems that the antenna is the way for us. Unfortunately, we have all this grandfathered equipment that's been jury-rigged together as capabilities changed/appeared they were going to change. An even more unfortunately, apparently much of that jury-rigging won't help me "get into the digital/HD TV era" without spend even more dollars:(
chefklc is correct about the bedroom TV (it is HD, BTW). We don't use it for HT at all, just watching late-night news & shows (how I acquired it (for free) is a very long story and way OT) so taking time to convert shows to aTV format would not work. It appears my main focus is to determine the least expensive way to get as TiVo-like an experience as possible in the bedroom... it may turn out to be maintaining an analog TiVo w/digital converter box just for that purpose.

We're dropping Comcast Cable, want to do OTA HD via antenna (mainly live as I use Boxee for recorded video) on my two Mac Minis on an Airport Extreme network (wired Ethernet)

Best option? HD HomeRun seems to allow 2 networked macs simultaneous access? Any resolution problems over Gbit ethernet?

Any disadvantage to HD Homerun vs. getting two of the elgato EyeTV hybrids (one for each Mini)?

Does the Homerun require EyeTV software at an additional $79?

Will I still get 5.1 audio with either option? Will my Harmony 890 remote control this option adequately?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks ft,
I'm not dead set on anything... There's been no OTA analog TV here ever, so we went Cable and TiVo for convenience many years ago, and have had very spotty service. A few years back I was sure I would be able to get Clear QAM as Comcast kept promising us they would upgrade (I even gave EyeTV a try then), but they recently changed their mind (there's no HD or On-Demand, channels 2->74 are analog, and what digital shows they have are blocked except for the Golf Channel and a heard of music stuff) and any upgrade is now extremely unlikely.I'm sorry to hear this. It's so funny with Comcast in that different areas have different set-ups. For instance, in my area, we still have analog channels, but recently, Comcast opened up all of the extended basic channels in clearQAM. We had already been getting the HD locals and Universal HD, but now I get all of the SD cable channels in the extended (Digital Starter) tier. It's been a huge hard drive saver.

chefklc is correct about the bedroom TV (it is HD, BTW). We don't use it for HT at all, just watching late-night news & shows (how I acquired it (for free) is a very long story and way OT) so taking time to convert shows to aTV format would not work. It appears my main focus is to determine the least expensive way to get as TiVo-like an experience as possible in the bedroom... it may turn out to be maintaining an analog TiVo w/digital converter box just for that purpose.If you're just using the bedroom TV for the news and Letterman, but want time-shifting, you have several non-Mac/PC options that might be right for you.

1. You mentioned TivoHD in your original post. I don't know if they still offer it, but if you have "lifetime" on your Series 1 Tivos, you can transfer it over to the new TivoHD. The upside is that the Tivo is the best DVR on the planet, but it's $$$.

2. You might want to look into the Dish DTVPal DVR (formerly known as the Echostar TR-50). It's an OTA-only, dual tuner DVR for about $300. It uses TVGOS (v9) and/or PSIP data from your local channels. The upside is that there's no monthly fee, but the downside is that TVGOS has been flaky during the digital/analog transition.

3. Get a used Sony DHG-HDD250 (or HDD500) from ebay or craigslist. It's a single tuner DVR, but it supports ATSC/NTSC/QAM plus CableCard. So you can use it now and when Comcast gets their act together in the future. As with the Dish unit, it uses TVGOS (older version - v8) except it doesn't use PSIP data like the Dish. The other downside is that the hardware is about 3 years old, so the ATSC tuners aren't as sensitive as new devices ... could be an issue in areas of spotty coverage.

Of the three options, only the Tivo will allow you to connect to your home networks, which could be a nice feature.

You could also look into one of the Slingbox devices and connect it to your bedroom TV. This way, you'll be able to "transfer" your HT device to your bedroom. Not sure how you would connect a Mac mini to a Slingbox, but someone more familiar with Slings might be able to answer.

ft

...and there's an old iMac (700 MHz PowerPC G4/256MB Ram/40GB HD) sitting around collecting dust, but I imagine that's too slow for any HT use.I dunno.....until I decide on a USB tuner for my MBP, I'll still use an old B&W G3 (w/ PCI tuner card) to capture programs.

I'm sorry to hear this. It's so funny with Comcast in that different areas have different set-ups. For instance, in my area, we still have analog channels, but recently, Comcast opened up all of the extended basic channels in clearQAM. We had already been getting the HD locals and Universal HD, but now I get all of the SD cable channels in the extended (Digital Starter) tier. It's been a huge hard drive saver.
If you're just using the bedroom TV for the news and Letterman, but want time-shifting, you have several non-Mac/PC options that might be right for you.

1. You mentioned TivoHD in your original post. I don't know if they still offer it, but if you have "lifetime" on your Series 1 Tivos, you can transfer it over to the new TivoHD. The upside is that the Tivo is the best DVR on the planet, but it's $$$.

2. You might want to look into the Dish DTVPal DVR (formerly known as the Echostar TR-50). It's an OTA-only, dual tuner DVR for about $300. It uses TVGOS (v9) and/or PSIP data from your local channels. The upside is that there's no monthly fee, but the downside is that TVGOS has been flaky during the digital/analog transition.

3. Get a used Sony DHG-HDD250 (or HDD500) from ebay or craigslist. It's a single tuner DVR, but it supports ATSC/NTSC/QAM plus CableCard. So you can use it now and when Comcast gets their act together in the future. As with the Dish unit, it uses TVGOS (older version - v8) except it doesn't use PSIP data like the Dish. The other downside is that the hardware is about 3 years old, so the ATSC tuners aren't as sensitive as new devices ... could be an issue in areas of spotty coverage.

Of the three options, only the Tivo will allow you to connect to your home networks, which could be a nice feature.

You could also look into one of the Slingbox devices and connect it to your bedroom TV. This way, you'll be able to "transfer" your HT device to your bedroom. Not sure how you would connect a Mac mini to a Slingbox, but someone more familiar with Slings might be able to answer.

ft

Wait Tivo will allow you to transfer your lifetime subscription over to a TivoHD?

I have a series 2 with a lifetimesubscription that i havent used in years because it didnt work with my hd tv...

any more info on transferring it over?

I dunno.....until I decide on a USB tuner for my MBP, I'll still use an old B&W G3 (w/ PCI tuner card) to capture programs.

I use a 350Mhz PPC to record 1920x1080i HD with HDPVRCapture, don't abandon hope on the G4.

- Steve

Wait Tivo will allow you to transfer your lifetime subscription over to a TivoHD?

I have a series 2 with a lifetimesubscription that i havent used in years because it didnt work with my hd tv...

any more info on transferring it over?

Call TiVo... they'll walk you through it if you qualify.

I dunno.....until I decide on a USB tuner for my MBP, I'll still use an old B&W G3 (w/ PCI tuner card) to capture programs.

I use a 350Mhz PPC to record 1920x1080i HD with HDPVRCapture, don't abandon hope on the G4.

- Steve

Cool! I thought that thing was a brick... I'll check it out as soon as I get the antenna(s) sorted

I'm sorry to hear this. It's so funny with Comcast in that different areas have different set-ups. For instance, in my area, we still have analog channels, but recently, Comcast opened up all of the extended basic channels in clearQAM. We had already been getting the HD locals and Universal HD, but now I get all of the SD cable channels in the extended (Digital Starter) tier. It's been a huge hard drive saver.
If you're just using the bedroom TV for the news and Letterman, but want time-shifting, you have several non-Mac/PC options that might be right for you.

1. You mentioned TivoHD in your original post. I don't know if they still offer it, but if you have "lifetime" on your Series 1 Tivos, you can transfer it over to the new TivoHD. The upside is that the Tivo is the best DVR on the planet, but it's $$$.

2. You might want to look into the Dish DTVPal DVR (formerly known as the Echostar TR-50). It's an OTA-only, dual tuner DVR for about $300. It uses TVGOS (v9) and/or PSIP data from your local channels. The upside is that there's no monthly fee, but the downside is that TVGOS has been flaky during the digital/analog transition.

3. Get a used Sony DHG-HDD250 (or HDD500) from ebay or craigslist. It's a single tuner DVR, but it supports ATSC/NTSC/QAM plus CableCard. So you can use it now and when Comcast gets their act together in the future. As with the Dish unit, it uses TVGOS (older version - v8) except it doesn't use PSIP data like the Dish. The other downside is that the hardware is about 3 years old, so the ATSC tuners aren't as sensitive as new devices ... could be an issue in areas of spotty coverage.

Of the three options, only the Tivo will allow you to connect to your home networks, which could be a nice feature.

You could also look into one of the Slingbox devices and connect it to your bedroom TV. This way, you'll be able to "transfer" your HT device to your bedroom. Not sure how you would connect a Mac mini to a Slingbox, but someone more familiar with Slings might be able to answer.

ft

Thanks (again) for the thorough answers. I've got some deciding to do, but first antennas to buy (turns out OTA HD/Digital is on both UHF and VHF--- who knew?) and install.