![]() Up to this point the Netstream Sat had worked perfectly well, but had only been used with computers that were connected to our network via Ethernet cables. It managed to pull in up to four days' worth of DVB EPG data and supports tvtv. The EyeTV software for the Mac provides a similar range of features, but has a much more elegant interface, including features such as a graphical preview of your recorded programmes (similar to the album artwork display in Apple's iTunes). The standard Freesat EPG isn't supported and standard DVB data wasn't picked up either, but Home Cinema does allow you to use the online tvtv service instead. ![]() The Home Cinema software isn't very elegant, but it provides a useful range of features, including the ability to record and timeshift live broadcasts, and a handy 'Mode' button that allows you to quickly switch between live TV, recordings and radio channels. The scanning process took 23 minutes, but was trouble-free. Luckily, Home Cinema was able to automatically detect that we had the Netstream Sat connected to our network and we were then able to install the software and start scanning for channels. Sadly, the Windows Media Centre on our Windows 7-powered laptop simply told us that it couldn't detect a TV signal and refused to proceed, so we moved on and installed Terratec's Home Cinema software instead. If you're using a PC then the manual states that you can either use the Windows Media Centre software that is included as part of Windows 7, or use the copy of Terratec's Home Cinema software that is also supplied with the Netstream Sat. Elgato has a strong background in the Mac market, so it includes its own easy-to-use EyeTV software for Mac users. Once you've plugged in the power and Ethernet cables you then need to install the software provided. This was not available for testing at the time of writing, but will cost around £90. This will allow the Netstream to stream two different channels to two computers at the same time. However, the Netstream Sat also has a USB port on the back that will allow you to connect an optional tuner module, the EyeTV Free. Having just a single LNB connector means that the Netstream Sat can only stream TV to one computer at a time, although it is possible to switch the TV signal from one computer to another if you want to. Just remember that you'll need a fairly powerful Mac or PC – preferably with a 2GHz processor – and a fast network connection to stream HD content. A North American version is also available, for $200.It supports both DVB-S and DVB-S2 broadcasts, so it can receive BBC HD, BBC One HD and ITV HD along with all the standard-definition Freesat channels. The top-notch EyeTV 2 DVR software is also part of the package.ĮyeTV 250 Plus is available immediately for £140/€200. ![]() The 250 Plus also ships with a remote control, a mini antenna and Elgato's bundling a cut-down version of Roxio's Toast 8 CD and DVD burning software. The input port connects to a bundled adaptor cable the terminates in s-video, composite-video and RCA stereo audio ports.Įlgato's EyeTV 250 Plus: digitise old tapes The compact unit connects via a USB cable and has both an aerial port and an input port allowing Mac owners to use the box to encode old analogue material on tape. You'll note that it doesn't do H.264 encoding - for that you'll have to cough up for Elgato's Turbo.264 accelerator The EyeTV 250 Plus incorporates two tuners: a digital one that's compatible with Freeview and other DVB-T servies - even HDTV broadcasts, where available - and an analogue pick-up for folk in Freeview-unfriendly locations.Īnalogue TV signals need to be digitised for storage on a computer but unlike Elgato's past analogue tuner-equipped products, such as the EyeTV Hybrid - reviewed here - the 250 Plus doesn't rely on software to do the encoding, it has dedicated MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 hardware for the task TV-on-a-Mac specialist Elgato has released its first USB-connected tuner that also takes the heavy work of encoding analogue video away from the host computer.Įlgato's EyeTV 250 Plus: MPEG encoding hardware built in
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