USB DVB-T Tuner - Freeview on your laptop for £20

AJP558

With regards to getting no channels when using the mini aerial, some people managed to get better reception with the similar Freecom one by attaching it to a metal radiator sideways-on (using the magnetic base rather than screw-on suction attachment).

I couldn't get anything with the Freecom other than by connecting up to my roof aerial so I don't really use it, but I'm about 30 miles away from Crystal Palace.

vtailor

Im off to ALDI in half an hour, has anyone got this working yet??

it seems a bit too quiet...

Jefft_2

As the digital TV signal is transmitted horizontally I don't see how any vertical aerial will pickup an acceptable signal.

Jo_anne_2

I bought one of these from Aldi this morning. I had to use an external aerial to tune it in, as the little aerial supplied could not pick anything up. However, with the external aerial, the pictures are much better than I expected, and the software seems quite straightforward to use. I think it was a good buy.

Crabman

manhattan wrote: »

If the licence people knock cant you just pull the usb tuner and hide it?

Although i wouldnt condone avoiding paying your tv licence! Im just curious

If the TV licence people knock, show them that the laptop's running on batteries - that way you're covered by the home licence. :T

Steve_Zodiac

I bought one of these today and it'll be going back tomorrow. I did manage to tune into all the channels using the rooftop aerial and picture quality was good, but with the small aerial I can't pick up anything...and live in an area with quite a strong signal.

If I plug the small aerial supplied into my Panasonic Freeview LCD TV I can pick channels up fine, so obviously the USB DVB-T stick needs a very strong signal to work. Personally I can't really see the point in having to plug it into a rooftop aerial, because more often than not, most people already have a TV plugged in there anyway.

I tried it on both my PC and laptop (both XP) and both have locked up completely! Also the response from the remote was very poor. Sometimes the channel up button would make the channel go up from say channel 1 to 2, then next the channel up button would make the channel go back down from 2 to 1. The power off button on the remote brought up a menu for the laptop graphics settings rather than shut down the TV software. God know how many other glitches could be found given more time! So it's back to Aldi tomorrow.

nearlyrich

I picked one up because I often stay in hotels with rubbish analogue TV so I thought it would be a good buy at £20. The staff in Aldi were arguing about whether the user needed a TV licence, retailers are meant to fill in a form for the licencing people when they sell anything with a tuner and a mains plug. As I paid cash and didn't get any further questions I don't know how the licencing people would know anyone had bought By the way we do have a TV licence for the house so I am not doing anything dodgy plus it's not mains powered as someone else pointed out.;)

urban_spirit

I went to aldi first thing to buy one, but they sold out within the first hour

Bug*er.

Gutted.

pollocmc

If you've got a Mac don't get the Hauppauge Nova-T (won't work) In fact Having used the Nova T and a Dec 2000T on XP I'd say avoid Hauppauge tv products altogether - the software is terrible.

I've got an Elgato Diverstiy (admittedly £100) but when I'm at home I can connect it to an aerial splitter and watch or record two channels at once. When away from home you can combine the signals from the two small aerials to improve your signal. Works a treat and the software is how it should be done.

philproc

Steve_Zodiac wrote: »

I tried it on both my PC and laptop (both XP) and both have locked up completely! So it's back to Aldi tomorrow.

Had a nightmare today, wrecked my work Dell laptop, corrupted my DVD driver file. Wasn't positive it was the tevion, tried it on my home laptop :eek: Did the same (acer laptop) managed a restore and everythings fine with the laptop. Definitely going back :mad:
Running XP and laptops both well spec duel core 1 gig ram etc.

Got to try and explain to IT dept tomorrow


BEWARE!!!!!