Best TV Tuner setup for mac?

[Zyzzyva]

I want to get dstv from the lounge to my imac in another room.

Which tv tuner works best?

And has anyone got experience with network tuners like the elgato netstream or the HDhomerun? It seems to me streaming tv to all computers in the home would be worth the extra setup cost.

 

[GreGorGy]

I have two devices. The first I got was a Miglia TVMax (no longer available) and it works great. Has composite (RCA) and tuner (RF) inputs. Software it ships with is EyeTV (from Elgato). Elgato's EyeTV software supports a wide range of USB tuners or input devices.

It also works flawlessly BUT requires activation per device, per mac. (at least, that is the new ver - older ver is better as it skips this activation nonsense). Even in my older EyeTV, it has the option to stream although at least on v2 this required additional s/w

The other device I have is an EasyCAP D60, under R200 from Matrix. RCA input to USB receiver (no tuner). The device requires software from bentrask.com to work on a Mac but DOES NOT record on OS X Lion (does on earlier) although it will render whatever comes in on composite.

Now I know neither of these streams to the mac and require a USB port but they both may be cheaper solutions that I mention, should money be an object. I use a device from Ellies to relay the RCA signal from the decoder to wherever the receiver is.

If money is not an object (and you can find it) then the Elgato Netstream is a prize.

 

[Zyzzyva]

Thanks, the easycap seems interesting. What's the picture quality like? And is the mac software reliable?

I don't need to record.

 

[GreGorGy]

Picture quality is fantastic but the s/w does have known issues - notably recording for me anyway. And I have yet to get the QT component to work. But the s/w for viewing the incoming signal works just fine - no issues (ymmv)

 

[Zyzzyva]

Picture quality is fantastic but the s/w does have known issues - notably recording for me anyway. And I have yet to get the QT component to work. But the s/w for viewing the incoming signal works just fine - no issues (ymmv)

Yeah i think going the easycap route might be best. The problem i have with tuner based methods is you invariably get a poor picture quality. I can always use my second dual view decoder fairly close to the mac, which will allow me to change channels quite freely.

Thanks for the tips.