How does it work? Can it just "tune" into TV channels like a radio thing by itself? And does it need to connect to the TV plug thing at home?

What else can it do? Is it possible to plug my Foxtel/DVD/VCR/PS2 into eyeTV and watch and record things on the Mac instead of in the TV?

Thanks.

It can do all those things depending on the version you use. I use a Eye Tv Hybrid and record Digital free to air and Foxtel via that to my Mac Mini (connected via DVI to my Plasma)

For digital I just connect my roof aerial and the foxtel is connected via a plug in adaptor (so just a analogue signal).

The Elgato website will provide more detailed information.

http://www.elgato.com

Thanks has taken a look at the website it seems like just what I need.

For your foxtel... it is connected via analogue signal... is that the yellow, red, and white cable that exists like in every TV and VCR set? Because that's what I have on all my DVD/DTB, PS2, and things like that.

And you can actually record stuff on the Mac right?

yeah it is the yellow (video) and red and white (sound). The plug out of the foxtel digital set top box for sound out is a 3.5 plug so you need a cable that is 3.5 one end and rca (red and white) plugs at the other end.

Via the software you can record straight to the mac (i do it to a external hard drive). In addtion if you subscribe to Ice TV(http://www.icetv.com.au you can set recording from that for up to week ahead for Free to air stuff (they can't do Foxtel).

The Eye TV software can also be set up to export your recordings to Ipod or Apple TV if needed.

I have access to streaming tv though the uni network, (using VLC to watch) can I just get EyeTV software or something similar to record? I don't need the hardware and it seems that you can only get the software bundled with a tuner...

You could probably save the stream in VLC. When you go to Open Network, there's a box down the bottom that says Streaming/Saving - and a settings button.

So how much do the hybrid normally costs? Is $280 a reasonable price for a brand new one?

$280 is a very good price for a new EyeTV Hybrid. The cheapest I've seen them is $299. RRP is about $340 I think.

MacOnline has them for $295.

if you have two eye tv units plugged in to your mac can you record two channels at the same time?

Yes you can.

they do lovely crisp high definition .

At a guess I'd say that it would be a long shot.

However, if you purchase the EyeTV Diversity, it comes with two antennas which can allow you to record one channel while watching the other. I'd imagine it would also allow you to record both, although I haven't tried it.

Just expanding on everyone else's responses...

You can definitely do that. You can even mix different brands of tuners (I'm not sure to what extent though). I used to have a new EyeTV DTT stick and one of the older EyeTV DTT tuners (that was actually a Terratec Cinergy T2, so nothing like the new ones). The worked perfectly together with no issues at all, so I assume almost any combination of single tuners will work the same way.

Having 2 tuners also lets you do picture in picture and watch one channel while recording another etc. I find it much easier just to record everything you want to watch and not bother with live TV.

Also, it's worth noting a few more things:

- If you're recording digital TV with a DTT etc, then the quality of the recording is "perfect", assuming you have a good signal. The digital stream is just captured to the hard drive, so the software isn't doing any processing to it.

- These tuners work well with roof top antennas—it's smart to assume you may not be able to get a decent signal with just the small supplied antenna.

- Time can be added to the start and end of recordings automatically (it's called padding). This means you'll never miss the start or end of a show, even if the station is running overtime.

- If you want series recording (something the EyeTV software doesn't do), then it can be done using IceTV Remote. Disclaimer: I work for IceTV

Pinnacle have just announced their tuners too, which come with EyeTV Lite.
http://www.cnet.com.au/desktops/acce...9279618,00.htm

I haven't tried them yet, but Avid are a very respectable company (Pinnacle's parent company). I'm not 100% sure on the difference between EyeTV and EyeTV Lite... I think the Lite version doesn't have the iPod/AppleTV export options, but don't quote me on that.

I'll probably be giving the $99 single tuner a spin in the next few weeks. I'll let everyone know how it goes if I can get my hands on one.

Formulagpguys (or anyone who knows) - which Eye TV lets you plug in Foxtel for recording? I had a real quick squiz at www.elgato.com and would I be right in assuming the Eye TV Hybrid does this but the Eye TV Diversity does not?

I can see that the Eye TV Hybrid allows you to connect a gaming system (PS2 for example). Is this where the Foxtel connection would go into? Or am I off track?