Our video player sucks, and we only use it for recording. Somehow I was able to convince my girlfriend to contribute 300 AUD towards some kind of "digital" solution.

We've got two Macs either of which could be used for this job and I'd also get a large firewire external HD for dedicated storage.

Basically we want to record from the TV on to the Mac, get rid of the adverts easily, and store it or burn to CD / DVD. It would also be good if they could output back to the TV, via s-video or something.

Has anyone here used any of the Eye TV products or the Formac TVR. The EYE TV apparently has good software and I think they come with remotes, they are also very neat, don't think and of them have video out.

The Formac TVR seems to have way more inputs and outputs, no idea what the software is like, but it does seem to be cheaper (I'd be buying one from Europe) i think it's closer to 400 AUD compared to 600 for the EYE TV.

The final option is a dedicated Mac, I could afford a Beige G3/ B/W G3, or possibly a cheap G4 if I'm lucky. For video out I'd flash a Radeon 7000 or 8500 and for video in I'd find a TV Tuner. The thing is what software would I use?

Well having owned and used the USB Eye TV for about 9 months, I must say go ahead and do it! Its the best solution you will have for recording ANALOG TV and other analog sources thru the AV inputs.

I just sold mine on ebay as I had no takers here for this model. My reserve price was only $150 too :-)

The the breaks.

As I have digital TV I invested in a Strong 5390. With the outright price of these now $500 this might be a solution for you.

Having said that. I am in the process of importing a Series 1 Tivo from the U.S to use in conjunction with my Strong 5200. Frankly the EGP information on DTV sucks and the Tivo and a good option to try.

All up its going to cost me about $400 to import, mod and installl with a 160 gig drive.

Henry

Does they Eye TV intergrate with any Australian channel listings? I understand this is a problem with some of these products. e.g. you have to schedule recording manually rather than say "this program" "every day", can the Eye TV leave adverts out when it's recording or do you have to cut them out aferwards?

Let me know how your TiVo adventure goes

Hey,

You are correct, there is no EGP support for Australia. Goto www.elgato.com for information on that.

You can cut adverts etc AFTER the recording quite easily. I do this before i archive everything onto DVD

Regards,

Henry