Elgato's previous EyeTV DTT Deluxe, which we reviewed in September 2008, was heralded as the world's smallest USB TV tuner. Just over a year on, and the company has launched a second record breaking tuner - one that's about half the size of its predecessor.
Elgato EyeTV DTT Deluxe Elgato's EyeTV DTT Deluxe: ridiculously small …
Surely this this sort of diminutive device will be the final nail in the coffin for the UK TV licensing system.
Not that I would wish to withhold Auntie Beeb's income, but how could the authorities prove that someone's multimedia home entertainment system was also being used to watch live TV?
EyeTV can use two receivers at once; in the past I've used it with a DVB-T and DVB-S receiver simultaneously to get Freeview and Freesat. So there would have to be some particular reason why it would be made not to work with two of these - I can imagine it might be that the user interface simply doesn't easily allow you to distinguish and select between them? This seems plausible when they show up in the menus as the branded name of the device. In which case a bug report is in order; they tend to be responsive about that sort of thing.
Hm, I'm not a USB geek - there is a way to uniquely identify devices of the exact same model in USB isn't there?
Please compare with e.g. a Domestic freeview TV/ STB (E.g. the Sony Freeview Box) and see how many channels that picks up in comparison with the same aerial.
EyeTV supports multiple tuners and has since version 2
#
I use 3 tuners with EyeTV 3 on a Mac Mini .. an EyeTV 400, a 410 and a Miglia Mini ... can't see why two of these would not work together as each would have a different usb location id.
With devices like this and WiFi dongles, I keep wondering why no one puts a USB socket at the top of a laptop's screen. It would be the ideal location for anything with an aerial.
"With devices like this and WiFi dongles, I keep wondering why no one puts a USB socket at the top of a laptop's screen. It would be the ideal location for anything with an aerial."
That's a brilliant idea that the OEMs should seriously address. The only caveat would be to make sure that aerial is retracted before shutting the lid so that you don't poke your ocular scanner with pokey aluminium...
Well the most sane way to test recievers would be to take a good yagi antenna point it at your local transmitter. Then ask at the transmitter if they are transmitting at their normal power and feed the signal through several attenuaters to the recievers and determine how many you can have until you have no reception any more. With this you are determing the noise figure of the reciever which is probably the most important parameter of those tuners.
stop reviewing thw shovelware bundled with these things
#
I don't understand why they supply half assed tuner software with these sticks apart from the obvious need to stop ignorant punters mix&matching tuner hardware. Stop reviewing the software they supply, its ALWAYS crap, test the damn sticks with things like MediaPortal,MythTV, GBPvr or ProgDVB. Software able to use all the capabilities of the hardware and not throw a hissy fit it you use someone else's tuner.
FFS does anyone with a clue actually use the piss poor crap supplied with DVB tuners?
It is so small, great. But without a super strong signal, you need an external antenna. So you have a tiny USB dongle a convertor for the coax and a coax cable. I'll take the DigitalNow TinyTwin any time. Yes it is bigger but it has 2 HD tuners. Support for Windows, Mac and Linux.
@stop reviewing thw shovelware bundled with these things
#
Elgato's Mac software is generally recognised as the best there is.
MythTV on the otherhand was a weekend spent banging my head against a brick wall before being unceremoniously uninstalled. I'm sure in the past year it's come on in leaps and bounds, maybe it even starts up now instead of simply displaying a screen full of errors while attempting to talk to the MySQL backend.
why should they do DVB-T2 when people are ignorant of it and then they can sell you the upgrade in 6 months time.
anyway, t2 has only just been ratified and the only hardware out there is pre-production samples and lab-made prototypes for compatibility testing
as a happy use of Sony PS3 PlayTV, I would add that I'm eager for usb DVB-T2 dongles to be available soon, as that product does mpeg4 DVB-T for mainland europe and australia
Well I have to agree, MythTV is almoust as bad as those supplied software packages. I mean who in their right mind would use a MySQL Server for that kind of thing.
The eyeTV is USB based and is chucking more than 1.5Gb per hour () down the wire. That equates to a sustained stream of about 5Mbits per second. Elgato (like all the other USB TV vendors) tell you not to plug the device into an external hub, but only directly into your PC/Laptop, otherwise bandwidth starvation can be an issue. Remember that even the USB ports on your PC/Laptop go through an on-board hub and the available bandwidth will still be shared by all the devices plugged in to the machine.
Perhaps they fear that trying to handle two channels would lead to resource starvation - either processor, or bandwidth to the hard drive when recording. I have a TV card in one PC that can handle two channels, but then it is PCI...
Absolutly pointless if you can get a wifi feed and 'tune in' to iPlayer...Ok its smaller than a 3g dongle.
Surely a BT Remote would be the better option? (they needn't bother with a BT reciver or sell as an option) this could then facilitate Multiple Tuners and would eliminate the need for the dongle to be line of sight.. then this would then work for desktops, underdesk towers, slimlines with rear only USB etc..
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Elgato DTT Deluxe
Elgato's previous EyeTV DTT Deluxe, which we reviewed in September 2008, was heralded as the world's smallest USB TV tuner. Just over a year on, and the company has launched a second record breaking tuner - one that's about half the size of its predecessor. Elgato EyeTV DTT Deluxe Elgato's EyeTV DTT Deluxe: ridiculously small …
This topic is closed for new posts.
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 15:41 GMT
Ian Ferguson
Great..... #
...if you can get hold of one. I've been trying since it went on sale, but it's constantly out of stock.
I don't suppose you want to get rid of your review unit?
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 15:41 GMT
Richard Scratcher
Vyvyan, eat the telly! #
Surely this this sort of diminutive device will be the final nail in the coffin for the UK TV licensing system.
Not that I would wish to withhold Auntie Beeb's income, but how could the authorities prove that someone's multimedia home entertainment system was also being used to watch live TV?
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 15:41 GMT
Hardcastle
THC #
Well, now... the new Mini-Me kit comes with THC? Does it catch its updates at 4:20?
Mine is the one with THC in the stash pocket...
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 15:41 GMT
Winkypop
I want one #
Must have!
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 15:41 GMT
Anonymous Coward
can't use two? #
EyeTV can use two receivers at once; in the past I've used it with a DVB-T and DVB-S receiver simultaneously to get Freeview and Freesat. So there would have to be some particular reason why it would be made not to work with two of these - I can imagine it might be that the user interface simply doesn't easily allow you to distinguish and select between them? This seems plausible when they show up in the menus as the branded name of the device. In which case a bug report is in order; they tend to be responsive about that sort of thing.
Hm, I'm not a USB geek - there is a way to uniquely identify devices of the exact same model in USB isn't there?
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 15:41 GMT
PaulK
Can I have a really big one please #
All this small stuff is really neat but I keep losing the bastards.
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 18:54 GMT
itbod
When reviewing these items... #
Please compare with e.g. a Domestic freeview TV/ STB (E.g. the Sony Freeview Box) and see how many channels that picks up in comparison with the same aerial.
Else it is hard to gauge performance
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 18:54 GMT
Robert E A Harvey
'doze, fruit, what about penguins? #
Does this work with any of the Linux systems?
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 18:54 GMT
Dr Richard
EyeTV supports multiple tuners and has since version 2 #
I use 3 tuners with EyeTV 3 on a Mac Mini .. an EyeTV 400, a 410 and a Miglia Mini ... can't see why two of these would not work together as each would have a different usb location id.
Posted Saturday 7th November 2009 18:54 GMT
JMB
Elgato DTT Deluxe world's smallest USB TV tuner #
With devices like this and WiFi dongles, I keep wondering why no one puts a USB socket at the top of a laptop's screen. It would be the ideal location for anything with an aerial.
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
Andrew Woodvine
Use tvcatchup and save £80 #
It's nice but with tvcatchup.com it's not something I would need.
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
Hardcastle
@PaulK #
"Can I have a really big one please"
That's what Paris said...
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
Hardcastle
@JMB #
"With devices like this and WiFi dongles, I keep wondering why no one puts a USB socket at the top of a laptop's screen. It would be the ideal location for anything with an aerial."
That's a brilliant idea that the OEMs should seriously address. The only caveat would be to make sure that aerial is retracted before shutting the lid so that you don't poke your ocular scanner with pokey aluminium...
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
SirTainleyBarking
I love it #
But unfortunately I can see me losing it very quickly indeed
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
Christian Berger
Idea to test such recievers #
Well the most sane way to test recievers would be to take a good yagi antenna point it at your local transmitter. Then ask at the transmitter if they are transmitting at their normal power and feed the signal through several attenuaters to the recievers and determine how many you can have until you have no reception any more. With this you are determing the noise figure of the reciever which is probably the most important parameter of those tuners.
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
Alan Denman
dangle dangle #
Is it going to look so superior with an extra long co-ax cable attached or even with just a decent indoor aerial.
Not.
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Does it do DVB-T2? #
Which is marching itself in our direction as we speak.
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
DGL
Elgato DTT Deluxe world's smallest USB TV tuner #
Far too expensive.
Should be focusing on Linux OS.
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
Paul Shirley
stop reviewing thw shovelware bundled with these things #
I don't understand why they supply half assed tuner software with these sticks apart from the obvious need to stop ignorant punters mix&matching tuner hardware. Stop reviewing the software they supply, its ALWAYS crap, test the damn sticks with things like MediaPortal,MythTV, GBPvr or ProgDVB. Software able to use all the capabilities of the hardware and not throw a hissy fit it you use someone else's tuner.
FFS does anyone with a clue actually use the piss poor crap supplied with DVB tuners?
Posted Sunday 8th November 2009 05:54 GMT
George 24
Great #
It is so small, great. But without a super strong signal, you need an external antenna. So you have a tiny USB dongle a convertor for the coax and a coax cable. I'll take the DigitalNow TinyTwin any time. Yes it is bigger but it has 2 HD tuners. Support for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 03:43 GMT
Dan 55
@stop reviewing thw shovelware bundled with these things #
Elgato's Mac software is generally recognised as the best there is.
MythTV on the otherhand was a weekend spent banging my head against a brick wall before being unceremoniously uninstalled. I'm sure in the past year it's come on in leaps and bounds, maybe it even starts up now instead of simply displaying a screen full of errors while attempting to talk to the MySQL backend.
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 03:43 GMT
NickGriffin
What's it like on the move? #
Ie. if i'm bombing down the East Coast Mainline at 120mph does it hold a signal?
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 03:43 GMT
Paul
dvb-t2? #
@anon coward
why should they do DVB-T2 when people are ignorant of it and then they can sell you the upgrade in 6 months time.
anyway, t2 has only just been ratified and the only hardware out there is pre-production samples and lab-made prototypes for compatibility testing
as a happy use of Sony PS3 PlayTV, I would add that I'm eager for usb DVB-T2 dongles to be available soon, as that product does mpeg4 DVB-T for mainland europe and australia
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 03:43 GMT
Anonymous Coward
What I'd like to see is #
a reasonably swift development into digital tv accessibility.
Not just the "here is what you get" based on merely an additional line or two of text. No, much, much more than that.
And it would seem to be a sweet challenge? WinCE, AIR, ... ?
Even set top boxes have operating systems and sockets ...
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 06:04 GMT
Christian Berger
@Dan 55 #
Well I have to agree, MythTV is almoust as bad as those supplied software packages. I mean who in their right mind would use a MySQL Server for that kind of thing.
The standard solution for DVB is however VDR.
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 10:12 GMT
Gulfie
Re: One at a time limitation #
The eyeTV is USB based and is chucking more than 1.5Gb per hour () down the wire. That equates to a sustained stream of about 5Mbits per second. Elgato (like all the other USB TV vendors) tell you not to plug the device into an external hub, but only directly into your PC/Laptop, otherwise bandwidth starvation can be an issue. Remember that even the USB ports on your PC/Laptop go through an on-board hub and the available bandwidth will still be shared by all the devices plugged in to the machine.
Perhaps they fear that trying to handle two channels would lead to resource starvation - either processor, or bandwidth to the hard drive when recording. I have a TV card in one PC that can handle two channels, but then it is PCI...
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 12:30 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Pointless #
Absolutly pointless if you can get a wifi feed and 'tune in' to iPlayer...Ok its smaller than a 3g dongle.
Surely a BT Remote would be the better option? (they needn't bother with a BT reciver or sell as an option) this could then facilitate Multiple Tuners and would eliminate the need for the dongle to be line of sight.. then this would then work for desktops, underdesk towers, slimlines with rear only USB etc..
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 12:30 GMT
Anonymous Coward
@DGL #
Focus on Linux? Why? A target market with 0.4% penetration and you have to watch television on the command line?
My, that makes sense.
Posted Monday 9th November 2009 12:31 GMT
Tony Smith
@AC #
iPlayer doesn't (yet) do other channels and gobbles Wi-Fi bandwidth. TV broadcasts don't.
This topic is closed for new posts.