Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

mattyd · Jun 7, 2003, 06:27 PM

i'm spending the summer on cape cod... the place i rented has cable tv service, but no tv (go figure).

is there a way i can hook the cable box up to my powerbook and use the display to watch tv? i don't think i need a tv tuner since i have the cable box -- just something to let me inout the video and audio through the pc card slot or firewire (wouldn't usb be too slow?) does something like this exist?

much thanks.

neutrino23 · Jun 7, 2003, 07:40 PM

If the cable box gives you decoded video and audio there are several solutions. I think they all will run about $300 to $400 dollars. You are probably better off buying a cheap TV at a second hand shop.

I think FORMAC DV Studio Pro, Dazzle and some others have the function of digitizing video. They include software for viewing it and I believe there was recently posted an Apple solution for viewing video over FW as well.

If you have a digital camcorder you might do this for free. Some dv-cams can stream incoming video over FW.

mattyd · Jun 7, 2003, 08:02 PM

i dunno...

there's the eyeTV http://www.elgato.com/ that cost $200...

and the MyTV http://www.eskapelabs.com/mytv.html but it requires a seperate analog audio input (which my TiBook doesn't have).

i thought they're be a completly no frills solution (i don't need to record or capture) for around $100.

Lateralus · Jun 7, 2003, 09:06 PM

Just buy a cheap ORION brand TV at Wal-Mart for $70 and be done with it.

Karim · Jun 7, 2003, 10:54 PM

I have both. Go for the eyeTV and stay completely away from the myTV.

Not only will you be able to wath tv with the eyeTV but it will record your shows for you on your powerbook, like Tivo/VCR's, and when you get back from sun & fun you can watch your shows.

macndave · Jun 8, 2003, 07:17 AM

I agree with Karim. I've both the EyeTV and the MyTV USB-to-TV In devices and the EyeTV is far superior. But the resolution is at its best at the smaller and half size settings. Though, it plays acceptable at full screen on my TiBook.

If you have a TIVO, you will continue to enjoy pausing and recording shows to your hard drive.

If you get a PVR, connect it to the cable box by coaxial cable, then by USB from the PVR to your PowerBook. Set the PVR to channel 3 (or 4 based on the requirements of the cable box), then use the cable box to change channels. This will give you all of the stations as offered by the cable plan (EyeTV is cable ready and I can get all of the basic stations, but the stations aren't the same as from the descramber box: i.e. CBS is channel 9 from the cable box, but channel 54 using EyeTV as cable ready)

As someone mentioned, it may be cheaper to purchase a cheap sub $100 cable ready TV.

Enjoy Cape Cod, I vacation there yearly. If you get a chance go to Four Seas Ice Cream Shop just alittle southwest of Osterville, MA. It has been rated as one of the best ice cream shops in America. If you go to Martha's Vineyard, stop by the Black Dog (for a tee shirt) to have one of the wonderful muffins and a hot chocolate. I think that Provincetown (at the tip of the Cape) has the one of best beaches on the East coast (though the water is very cold).

Have a safe trip

mattyd · Jun 8, 2003, 09:24 AM

thanks macndave!

i guess a cheap tv is the way to go. the geek in me was hoping for a techier solution! seems like the lack of tv viewing on our macs is a big hole in the digital hub. i hope when apple decides to fill it, they give us something super cool.

by the way... i'm actually living in provincetown and i agree -- the beaches here are beautiful (if a bit rocky). i don't have a car (bikes are the way to go in p-town), but i do have friends and relatives on the cape, so hopefully i'll get to do some exploring.

Powaqqatsi · Jun 8, 2003, 09:51 AM

What do you guys mean with "cable ready TV" ? AFAIK, all TV's are cable ready ?

tooki · Jun 8, 2003, 10:25 AM

They weren't all in the past! But yes, all TVs now are cable-ready (at least for analog cable without premium channels).

Actually, come to think of it, some of the very tiny, battery-powered TVs are not cable-ready!

tooki

urrl5201 · 02:54 PM

I would plug cable into my VCR and the VCR by SVHS and audio cable into my Canon GL2. Connect the GL2 camcorder by firewire to my 17" powerbook and use FCE in capture mode, not to capture anything though. I should probably be able to watch TV and tune to different channels via VCR remote control, watching on the capture screen. What the hey, I have a 120 gig firewire 800 external HD. So capture whatever and play it full screen instantly later. Hmmm, maybe I will play with this idea later. With the right software can I not play it full screen instantly? Any ideas?

For those who don't know the Canon GL2 can serve as a video pass thru device, using svhs input and producing digital output thru firewire instantly into a computer with the proper software.

OB1 · Jun 8, 2003, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by mattyd:
thanks macndave!

i guess a cheap tv is the way to go. the geek in me was hoping for a techier solution! seems like the lack of tv viewing on our macs is a big hole in the digital hub. i hope when apple decides to fill it, they give us something super cool.

How about TV availbe over your Airport network? Or an Apple Bluetooth remote control? Mmmm

Hozie · Jun 8, 2003, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by urrl5201:
I would plug cable into my VCR and the VCR by SVHS and audio cable into my Canon GL2. Connect the GL2 camcorder by firewire to my 17" powerbook and use FCE in capture mode, not to capture anything though. I should probably be able to watch TV and tune to different channels via VCR remote control, watching on the capture screen. What the hey, I have a 120 gig firewire 800 external HD. So capture whatever and play it full screen instantly later. Hmmm, maybe I will play with this idea later. With the right software can I not play it full screen instantly? Any ideas?

For those who don't know the Canon GL2 can serve as a video pass thru device, using svhs input and producing digital output thru firewire instantly into a computer with the proper software.

Now that is techy! Sounds like a great solution if you have a GL2....

kalonji · Jun 8, 2003, 04:13 PM

how good is watching the tv on the powerbook in regard to the life of the lcd? doesn't the lcd basically lose life the more it's taxed, and i assume watching tv will be demanding of the lcd.

cambro · Jun 9, 2003, 07:58 AM

Nobody mentioned ATI's USB tv tuner. Anybody ever use this one?? Here is a link

It says in the FAQ that QT 6 breaks it though and they appear to be out of stock...

[APi]TheMan · Jun 10, 2003, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by Karim:
I have both. Go for the eyeTV and stay completely away from the myTV.

Not only will you be able to wath tv with the eyeTV but it will record your shows for you on your powerbook, like Tivo/VCR's, and when you get back from sun & fun you can watch your shows.

Whoa, you almost sold me. My Powerbook G3 will be coming back to me any day now with my freshly installed 900mhz upgrade... I was just thinking, "Man, now that I have all this processing power... I could watch TV on my Powerbook with that eyeTV thing that Karim guy recommended"...

But then I realized... I don't watch TV.

parsec_kadets · Jun 11, 2003, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by cambro:
Nobody mentioned ATI's USB tv tuner. Anybody ever use this one?? Here is a link

It says in the FAQ that QT 6 breaks it though and they appear to be out of stock...

I think they stopped making this a couple years ago. Also the system requirements say you need OS 8.6 or 9.x. If you look at the driver page it lists what drivers are avialable. Under "Software Provided?" for OS X it says "NO". That tells me that this product hails from the pre-OS X days and ATI has no plans to update it since they don't even make it anymore. It is a shame though, that would be the perfect solution for a lot of people.

JLFanboy · Jun 11, 2003, 01:30 PM

Kalonji-

You can't really tax an LCD screen. Watching a TV broadcast on a PowerBook is no different to the screen than watching a DVD or a Quicktime movie, or simply looking at a blank desktop. AFAIK, at least. I'm sure someone here could give a more technical explanation.

Freeflyer · Jun 11, 2003, 01:35 PM

Wouldn't a tv tuner built in pcmcia card format be a better option. Ok, the 12" users couldn't benefit, but everyone else with a powerbook could just slot in a card and be on with the show.

I agree, building a tuner into the compuuter is pointless as not many people currently hhave the need or desire for it, and wouldn't want to pay for it.

J.

dialo · Jun 11, 2003, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by PowerMacMan:
Just buy a cheap ORION brand TV at Wal-Mart for $70 and be done with it.

Why go cheap when name brand 19" tvs sell for under $90 at target?