Elgato Eyetv2

[PVE]

Completed an exhaustive scan and the channel seven stations do not appear. Just a beginner in this area. if there are any Mac users out there maybe someone can advise? Also appreciate any feedback regarding Elgato usefullness and reliability. Thank you.

[Tricia]

  PVE said:

Completed an exhaustive scan and the channel seven stations do not appear. Just a beginner in this area. if there are any Mac users out there maybe someone can advise? Also appreciate any feedback regarding Elgato usefullness and reliability. Thank you.

I had similar problems with EyeTV Diversity! I cannot get ABC - even when I plug the EyeTV tuner into the main antenna for the house - obviously, I don't have a problem with ABC reception on my normal TV but can't work out why I can't get ABC using the EyeTV tuner, just a message ' This channel is currently not available'. And yes, I also did the Exhaustive Scan - still no joy.

I have to say that my reception of SBS is excellent - if I'm using it downstairs in the front part of the house with my G4 Powerbook I can get very good reception of all free to air channels EXCEPT the ABC.

[PVE]

We tried everything. Nothing worked. Finally we used a high quality coaxial cable instead of the normal antenna cable and Voila! 47 stations scanned including the La Trobe valley! (from Geelong). Now we have all the FTA stations and rock solid quality pictures. Suggest a coax cable might be the answer. Phew!

Now lets do some recording and editing!

[murrayt]

PVE

That is an interesting observation perhaps. Are these Mac machines generally enclosed in plastic cases which I presume don't have a great deal of metallic shielding to prevent RFI radiating. (I've never looked under the bonnet of one of these devices so I am making a supposition)

If so it may be that the Mac generates interference that is picked up by lesser quality cables, and which may then prevent proper tuning. So a good qualty quad shielded RG6 cable might make a difference.

I'd be interested to know from a Mac user whether this is a likely situation

[evil_josh]

  murrayt said:

PVE

That is an interesting observation perhaps. Are these Mac machines generally enclosed in plastic cases which I presume don't have a great deal of metallic shielding to prevent RFI radiating. (I've never looked under the bonnet of one of these devices so I am making a supposition)

If so it may be that the Mac generates interference that is picked up by lesser quality cables, and which may then prevent proper tuning. So a good qualty quad shielded RG6 cable might make a difference.

I'd be interested to know from a Mac user whether this is a likely situation

It's certainly possibe but I think it would be unlikely. All computers have to to be certified against an electromagnetic (EMI) spec. In the US this is FCC part 15 and the Australian spec is pretty similar.

I initially had a basic setup with a PC, tiny2 and webscheduler then I moved to a Macbook with twinhan + the tiny2. I have a marginal TV signal in my house (still an old VHF only antenna in the roof) but I didn't notice any difference between signal quality when moving over to the Mac.

It is possible that your machine might be radiating more EMI than it is supposed to which may contribute to the problem, or maybe one of your other components could be the cause?

Or maybe it was a badly wired connector whch was removed when you replaced the cable?

These can be annoying problems to track down, so it's a good thing you have a solution even if we don't know the root cause.

Josh.

[PVE]

Is there something about digital channel seven? My elgato scans far and wide but any ch.7 digital station is broken up if it shows at all - yet all other digital stations desplay faultlessly.

[phase5]

PVE;

I'm still using my EyeTV 410 with software Version 1.8.5. quiet happily.

Due to my location the signal strengths I receive from each station are quiet different.

With one antenna I couldn't get Channel 9 at all as the signal was to strong.

I found an old VHF antenna worked best with my EyeTv setup.

Have you tried using an attenuator yet? Your Channel 7 may be like my Channel 9.

I had a look on the Elgato website and found this: http://faq.elgato.com/index.php/faq/more/406/

The sites FAQ is worth a look.

And out of interest, I have the 410 unit, (plastic case), sitting on top on my Sony GX7, (in the stereo cabinent), which is often running when I'm recording on the EyeTV. It doesn't seem to cause any interference issues that I've notice. Not sure if it's relevant to your early discussion.

Merry Christmas all!

[PVE]

Thanks for that. The attenuator should be worth a try. The channel seven stations now appear but are quite unstable whereas the rest are fine. My disappointment does not lie with the Elgato - it is impressive. I suppose I had an inflated idea of how I could view the live/recorded programs. Got the mini-dvi converter, connected the audio via the headphones and away we go!

The results were, frankly, pretty ordinary. The analogue rgb signal displayed on the pioneer plasma was ok -sort of. I don't know what I expected but basically got a replica screen of my laptop with all the information and displays. The quality was also a little disappointing. But it is an anlogue picture after all. As I already use the one hdmi connection for my HD strong recorder, I had no other option. But my real disappointment was the audio - terrible sound with pronounced hum. Not even worth considering seriously.

So in summary - viewing on my powerbook is fine. Viewing on the plasma is just a no go for me.

[phase5]

Definitely give the attenuator a go as it sounds like the channel 7 signal may be too powerful.

If it kicks in, then goes off, then breaks up, then goes on, then goes off it's probably too much signal. It's exactly how my channel 9 behaved.

Until I got my widescreen LCD monitor on the Mac, (the old CRT monitor died), I seldom used EyeTV to do more than record the programmes and transferr them to DVD for TV viewing. Always found the picture and sound quality the same as from the PVR.

With the widescreen monitor, I occassionally enjoy watching programs in widescreen, (my TV is a 10 year old+ 4:3), and find the picture and sound quality excellent, much better than the old CRT monitor and the analogue TV.

It does sound a little like the analogue connection, (is that correct?), between your powerbook and your widescreen tv may be faulty if your getting hum. (Have I read that correctly?)

Merry Christmas all.

[Tricia]

  PVE said:

We tried everything. Nothing worked. Finally we used a high quality coaxial cable instead of the normal antenna cable and Voila! 47 stations scanned including the La Trobe valley! (from Geelong). Now we have all the FTA stations and rock solid quality pictures. Suggest a coax cable might be the answer. Phew!

Now lets do some recording and editing!

So, do you have the EyeTV 2 connected to the main antenna for your house?

I'm not familiar with EyeTV 2, I have the EyeTV Diversity and have just (today) updated to version 2.3.3 in the hope that it might fix my inability to receive the ABC but it made absolutely no difference at all.

When I go to EyeTV - Preferences - Devices and choose the Signal tab it shows that the Signal Quality is 100% and the Signal Strength varies between 69% and 73.5%. I get nothing only the blue screen and a message that 'This channel is currently not available'. When I'm unable to get a picture and/or sound on any of the other channels because of weak signal strength I get a message saying simply 'No Signal'.

BTW, using the Signal tab for the other channels I get the following results -

1 (Ten Digital) - Signal Quality 40% Signal Strength 40% (intermittent loss of both picture & sound)

2 Problem as above but with very high Quality and Strength figures

3 SBS - Signal Quality 100% Signal Strength 73.5%

4 (Digital TV Guide) - Signal Quality 100% Signal Strength 55%

7 7 Digital Signal Quality 20 - 40% Signal Strength 37.5% (intermittent loss of both picture & sound)

9 9 Digital - Signal Quality 0% Signal Strength 40.5% - Blue screen with No Signal message.

The above figures are when I'm using the EyeTV Diversity in 'Diversity' mode (i.e. both supplied aerials are tuned to the one frequency to maximises the reception) on my G5 iMac in my office where the reception is, obviously, not great. When I connect the EyeTV Diversity to my G4 12-inch Powerbook and get excellent reception on all channels with the exception of the ABC where all I get is the message that 'This channel is currently not available'.

[crimespree]

i just got an eyetv diversity and after some dicking around i got it working.

I found that the exhaustive or quick scan would not always lock abc or 7 on the right frequency. i could sometimes manually add it but it would forget on quit and restart.

make sure abc is in the channel list at what it should be (226.5 Mhz in brisbane), mine found it at 326.5 sometimes. wierd.

anyway i kept doing exhaustive scans and it found abc then i manually added 7 and it stuck. i now have the complete working list and the diversity is awesome!

i could email you the preference file but im sure it is different interstate

[Guest drumguy1974]

I've been in the same boat also... i just got the DTT stick... which was great on the roof antenna... however i don't have sockets for the antenna upstairs... so i have to use the small Elgato antenna... which initailly didn't work.. i went and got the other DSE digital antenna... but that didn't help much either (hint.. don't bother getting it)... I have now since returned the DTT and got the Hybrid instead... and that seems to be working better... asi get the analouge signal..but also stronger digital.. except for a couple stations... which seem intermidently go from 100% to zero every few seconds, which ultimately states no signal... i get SBS and &..sometimes 9... the rest just alternates.. it knows theres a signal there, but wont give me the stations..

wierd.. anybody had this??? does this need one of those attenuators that people have mentioned???

thanks

[PVE]

  Tricia said:

So, do you have the EyeTV 2 connected to the main antenna for your house?

Yep. I had the antenna system upgraded some years ago, includin a masthead amplifier. All the aerial sockets are screw-in coaxial connections and it is these cables, when screwed into the wall sockets that produce a perfect result. The product is fine - it is just very sensitive to signal levels and everything has to be just right for it to work perfectly.

[Guest drumguy1974]

No go at all upstairs.. and i am in kensington right near the city.... wierd & frustrating

Currently it works fine DOWNSTAIRS on the roof antenna.

However i purchased the item to specifically use UPSTAIRS as there is no tv.

I CANNOT get this thing to work upstairs comfortably, i only get SBS and maybe 1 extra channel.

I have tried:

- moving the small antenna to the right spots

- purchasing a bigger indoor digital antenna (no go)

- purchasing a digital signal booster (no go)

- purchasing a attenuator (no go)

all of these things designed to help me haven't.

it is stuck on about 59-63% siginal.

the funny thing is that even when the aerial is UNPLUGGED, with the dongel connected.... i still get 59-63% siginal??

does this mean this thing is not working properly and should be returned?

thank you

[PVE]

Spoke too soon. Recorded several programs yesterday. One worked fine. Looks brilliant on the ipod. Midsomer murders however has way too much black screen ie inadequate signal. You think you're frustrated!!! Come round to my place.

I now begin to appreciate my Strong 5490. There are still a few things for me to try. Not giving up that easily. I have never had any reception problems before with any previous digital or analogue recording device. Why this one is so fussy is a mystery.

[reggieboy]

Hmmm I thought it was my old G4 to be honest but I'm glad after reading this I am not the only one. I have 2 setups that I use my Diversity with. At work in Richmond I use the included plugin antennaes and get all channels all the time. It works great and a recording of the Sopranos in HD looks fantastic on my 23 inch HD apple monitor. I have recorded ABC after midnight and all recordings have worked fine.

At home I have a different setup. I have an old G4 that I upgraded with a LaCie USB 2.0 card and a new 16x DVD burner. I have the Diversity plugged into a wall socket antennae and have one of the plugin antennae to boost the signal, but I too get the blue screen with this channel is currently unavailable and occassionally "No Signal". I might try a decent cable with a short length but all the other channels work perfectly and I don't really see that this would make much difference. Does anyone know if there is someone in Australia who is an Elegato representative who might be able to shed some light on the issue

regards

rich

[Muzzer123]

I've had the EyeTV Diversity for a few days and initially had trouble receiving a bunch of stations using the standard twin antennas but I thought about it and realized that they have magnetic bases for a reason.

They are 1/4 wave for UHF and are meant to be based on a metalic surface that acts as a "ground plain".

So just to test them out, I moved a small tool box from the garage and plonked the antennas on the metal of the tool box in my study, did a rescan of the channels and there were then double the number of channels available and stronger signal strength on many of them.

I haven't seen the other models of EyeTV but if they also have magnetic bases on their small antennas, you could try the same thing and watch the signal improve.

No, I'm not suggesting you all move your tool box's into the study!

Just try putting the antennas on a metal base of some sort, like a metal filing cabinet etc.

Just trying to help.

[Angsty]

  drumguy1974 said:

the funny thing is that even when the aerial is UNPLUGGED, with the dongel connected.... i still get 59-63% siginal??

does this mean this thing is not working properly and should be returned?

thank you

I have the Elgato Hybrid and after a couple of frustrating hours at the beginning, I just gave up on the little antenna as I couldn't find ANY channel with it - analogue OR digital Now I just use the second point in my lounge room - yes, constantly tripping over the 10m coax cable draped across the floor.

I'm currently having problems getting the scheduled recordings to fire - South Park tonight did not start as scheduled, although it kicked off fine last week - its a recurring timer, I didn't touch it from last week so I don't know what went wrong this time. Any 'quirks' I need to know about??

Anyone played around with the Front Row remote with EyeTV yet? I'm having fun with this functionality!!

Ang

[evil_josh]

  Muzzer123 said:

I've had the EyeTV Diversity for a few days and initially had trouble receiving a bunch of stations using the standard twin antennas but I thought about it and realized that they have magnetic bases for a reason.

They are 1/4 wave for UHF and are meant to be based on a metalic surface that acts as a "ground plain".

So just to test them out, I moved a small tool box from the garage and plonked the antennas on the metal of the tool box in my study, did a rescan of the channels and there were then double the number of channels available and stronger signal strength on many of them.

I haven't seen the other models of EyeTV but if they also have magnetic bases on their small antennas, you could try the same thing and watch the signal improve.

No, I'm not suggesting you all move your tool box's into the study!

Just try putting the antennas on a metal base of some sort, like a metal filing cabinet etc.

Just trying to help.

Good tip! At work I use the little antenna near a window and place it on a spare metal shelf. It definitely inproved the signal quality and also make the antenna much less likely to fall over when the coax is brushed!

Josh.

[evil_josh]

  Angsty said:

I have the Elgato Hybrid and after a couple of frustrating hours at the beginning, I just gave up on the little antenna as I couldn't find ANY channel with it - analogue OR digital Now I just use the second point in my lounge room - yes, constantly tripping over the 10m coax cable draped across the floor.

I'm currently having problems getting the scheduled recordings to fire - South Park tonight did not start as scheduled, although it kicked off fine last week - its a recurring timer, I didn't touch it from last week so I don't know what went wrong this time. Any 'quirks' I need to know about??

Anyone played around with the Front Row remote with EyeTV yet? I'm having fun with this functionality!!

Ang

I have been using a twinhan and Tiny2 with EyeTV 2.x.x on a 2.0 GHz Macbook for around 6 months now. I don't really have any major issues - all my timers work fine and eyeTV will even wake up the macbook to record a show.

EyeTV certainly has some quirks which could be better, but in my setup the stability is pretty good. The only tuning problem I had was tuning channel nine in Sydney which is a known problem requiting me to manually enter the channel frequency. I have had one crash when I lost all my settings but luckily once I pointed eyetv back to my library directory all settings were restored with the exception of a retune. I am not sure if tis crash was related to eyeTV or to the fact that I have a hack installed to allow me to use the tiny2 with EyeTV.

My main gripes with eyetv are with recording with a twin tuner setup and the use of a secondary volume control (ie not the system volume) which causes problems when moving between frontrow apps and eyeTV. Also nice-to-haves would be free xmltv epg support and volume presets for each channel so that I can set SD and HD channels to the same level when channel surfing (currnetly SD sounds louder than HD for me)

If I leave the mac/eyetv volume at full and use the hi-fi volume control then the sound quality is great. However if I turn the hi-fi volume up and control volume using the macbook then I can hear a high-pitched hum at low volume. I'm tempted to use the macbook remote for everything as I can control the lot with one remote but ideally I should get a learning remote to control the lot.

Josh.