I am looking at a way to watch live tv from a satellite box(DirectTV) on an iMac. I am looking at giving my daughter my old iMac(white 20in Intel), but she wants to have a tv also. She currently has an 6 yr old Windows media center PC machine that doubles as her tv. I would like to keep the same function, but not sure where to turn. I guess one option is to use an Elgato USB tv tuner, but not sure that would work with the STB. The another option is to have her stream using my Slingbox Solo from the other room and use remote buddy to change the channels. Which option would be best or is there something better that I am missing.

An El Gato USB tuner like the 250+ would work with the satellite box, but you'd have to connect via analog, and bad analog at that, RCA and S-Video. Basically, it's not worth even trying.

I'm not sure where the best place at AVS to talk Slingbox is...

Most of us here prefer cable and ATSC over satellite, recording over firewire from a cable STB or using EyeTV, recording clear QAM and ATSC. Look into the Hauppauge HD PVR, it's probably the most exciting development in Mac home theater in the past year, and it can record high def over component from a satellite box. Use either EyeTV, or Steve Toth's app.

Another option to a Slingbox is Sony's LocationFree (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentDisplayView?cmsId=content/Computers/LocationFree/index&catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644479777&XID=F:locationfree:sony). It's a similar concept and there's third party Mac software from Taxan (http://www.igsshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=160).

Otherwise, if you've got an Intel-based iMac and if you've got Boot Camp installed, consider DIRECTV's DIRECTV2PC (http://www.directv.com/directv2pc) software for Windows.

Your only other option is if you have an over-the-air antenna for standard definition (NTSC) and/or HD (ATSC), you can use any number of USB 2.0 tuner sticks.

Thanks for the advice, I think I am just going to get her a mac mini and an LCD TV/Monitor for live broadcasts.

The direct TV program looks promising. I will have to try it out.

OK I need some further clarification here. I'd like to do the same as the OP - simply watch standard-def television on my intel iMac. I have a Dish 625 standard-def DVR in my bedroom and I'd like to connect it to my iMac somehow to watch live TV on it. Would use the RF output or composite outs on the 625. I don't need DVR capabilities or anything like that. So would a slingbox be the way to go? I figured there'd be some easier (and cheaper) adapter.

Thanks!

Equusz

Please forgive me, I am not trying to be a problem, but why not just get a small tv with an ATSC tuner and be done with it? It seems like a lot of trouble just to watch tv. Agan not to offend or anything..........

It's an option I'm considering. But I don't have a lot of extra room, so I'm looking at options for my iMac.