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Quality of EyeTV Hybrid vs. EyeTV 250?

Yes Terk TV5 Is A Far Superior Antenna Way Better Than Any Rabbit Ears

ronni3 said:
Is this antenna all it's said to be? I have a set of old fashion rabbit ears, and I am able to pick up my HD signals, but I have noticed that when recording I get, what I can only call, static in my digital channels. A better description would probably be that I see black blocks and I lose a few seconds worth of frames. Could this be attributed to my antenna, or possibly another problem? I have a Mac Pro, so that should be more than enough power.

Also, is there a way where I could use two incoming signals and somehow connect it to the Hybrid, one cable & one antenna connection, fed to an antenna with a switch?
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It's your antenna. What you see are digital drop outs due to weak reception. I tested several antennas in my location where I got ZERO reception from rabbit ears and other designs. Based on my experience, ONLY the Terk TV5 receives any and all of my 10 digital off-air channels although I am facing the OPPOSITE direction from the transmitters. It is a powered antenna that will give you a far superior signal and NO dropouts. You'll be very glad you invested in the Terk TV5 for only $35.71 at Amazon.com with free shipping. Any old A/B Switch would work to feed the Hybrid from different sources like cable and the off-air antenna. You'll have to experiment with your cable to see if you can get any digital channels passed though. I personally don't use analog signals any more. From my point of view, if it ain't digital, I ain't watching. 🙂 Let's face it, analog TV is history and it looks like CRAP. 😱
 
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Multimedia said:
You'll have to experiment with your cable to see if you can get any digital channels passed though. I personally don't use analog signals any more. From my point of view, if it ain't digital, I ain't watching. 🙂 Let's face it, analog TV is history and it looks like CRAP. 😱
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I have to agree with you on this. I have a 24" Dell LCD panel with a resolution of 1900x1200, 😱 and 480i does not look good on it, 🙁 especially since it is so small.

As for my cable provider, they do not offer digital signals only analog, but it is still good because I like recording and then converting the video for my iPod. TV on the go! It is a great thing. 😉

I ordered the Terk TV 5 from Amazon earlier this week, so hopefully I get it today, or tomorrow if they will deliver tomorrow 😕 . I hope this works out better.

:apple:
 
ronni3 said:
I have to agree with you on this. I have a 24" Dell LCD panel with a resolution of 1900x1200, 😱 and 480i does not look good on it, 🙁 especially since it is so small.

As for my cable provider, they do not offer digital signals only analog, but it is still good because I like recording and then converting the video for my iPod. TV on the go! It is a great thing. 😉

I ordered the Terk TV 5 from Amazon earlier this week, so hopefully I get it today, or tomorrow if they will deliver tomorrow 😕 . I hope this works out better.

:apple:
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How useful would the Terk TV5 be for me? Is it worth getting just to see if it works in my area? I'm quite a ways away from the towers according to antennaweb.org but, who knows... maybe antennaweb is wrong.
 
How Far Spaz? Do You Have Line Of Sight?

TheSpaz said:
How useful would the Terk TV5 be for me? Is it worth getting just to see if it works in my area? I'm quite a ways away from the towers according to antennaweb.org but, who knows... maybe antennaweb is wrong.
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It's about line of site to a certain degree. How far? Can you find a Terk TV5 at a store that will let you return it if it doesn't work? I am about 20 Miles away. But they are on top of a 2,000 foot mountain. Have you any neighbors succeeding with a rooftop antenna? Go out and knock on doors of homes with visible antennas and ask.
 
TheSpaz said:
How useful would the Terk TV5 be for me? Is it worth getting just to see if it works in my area? I'm quite a ways away from the towers according to antennaweb.org but, who knows... maybe antennaweb is wrong.
Click to expand...

I know I am approx. 5 miles away from the towers, and I also know that the antennas that I have used were all non-amplified, so I expect the Terk TV 5 to make a huge difference. The antenna will amplify the signal and that alone should make for a stronger signal without any losses.

You should try it, if the TerkTV 5 does not improve or resolve your issue, then the next best solution might be an outdoor antenna. What would you recommend Multimedia? I think a Yagi antenna array directed towards the towers should resolve the issue permanently. 😀 Though, these antennas are probably not cheap, so it may not be in your best interest.
 
ronni3 said:
I know I am approx. 5 miles away from the towers, and I also know that the antennas that I have used were all non-amplified, so I expect the Terk TV 5 to make a huge difference. The antenna will amplify the signal and that alone should make for a stronger signal without any losses.

You should try it, if the TerkTV 5 does not improve or resolve your issue, then the next best solution might be an outdoor antenna. What would you recommend Multimedia? I think a Yagi antenna array directed towards the towers should resolve the issue permanently. 😀 Though, these antennas are probably not cheap, so it may not be in your best interest.
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5 Miles is almost nothing. If you're 30+ miles from your towers, you *NEED* a directional antenna. I just got a nice Terk HDTVo, their big outdoor antenna. (Big being relative, it's still way smaller than the old-style outdoor antennas.) Perfect digital signal, acceptable analog. (Some ghosting, but my house is in a small valley with lots of trees and buildings in the way, so I'm sure I'm getting reflections that are almost as strong as the main signal.) Ironically, if I use the amplifier, I LOSE half my digital channels! (Although the analog ones do come in clearer.)

When using AntennaWeb, it will show your local channels, compass orientation to the antenna, and distance to the antenna. The left column will show what 'color' of antenna to get. For example, all of my main channels happen to be within 14° of each other, and want a Yellow or Red VHF/UHF antenna. Since I also have some analog channels that I still want to receive, I opted for the blue VHF/UHF antenna, which allows me to receive channels that my little indoor amplified antenna would be just static on.
 
ehurtley said:
As people have said, in the United States, conventional analog TV signals WILL go away on January 30, 2009.
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That date has changed a number of times, and who knows, it might even change again. Currently, however, the sunset date for analog and the beginning of digital-only broadcast is February 18, 2009.

Thanks for the tips about EyeTV software and the Hybrid!
 
Update: I finally returned the EyeTV 250 in exchange for the EyeTV Hybrid. I have hooked it up and I can definitely confirm that all of my analog channels come in clearer with less visual noise. Before people get on me about this discovery, lemme just say that I think the analog channels come in better because the coaxial connector on the Hybrid is screw on but, on the 250, it was a separate piece that screwed onto the coaxial cable on one end and then just slid into the 250 with friction only. I'm probably getting a tighter connection to the Hybrid because it's ONLY screw on.

Anyways... I'm pretty happy with the Hybrid so far. I don't know what I'm going to do about getting an antenna and messing with all of that confusion. Is it really worth it? I mean... If I can only get 2 channels in my area with a large antenna, how worth it is it going to be to me to watch 2 channels in high -def? Who needs to see the news in HD?
 
Glad to see you got things worked out, Spaz!

You mentioned that you get a couple of HD channels including the news....what is the other HD channel you get?
 
Multimedia said:
It's your antenna. What you see are digital drop outs due to weak reception. I tested several antennas in my location where I got ZERO reception from rabbit ears and other designs. Based on my experience, ONLY the Terk TV5 receives any and all of my 10 digital off-air channels although I am facing the OPPOSITE direction from the transmitters. It is a powered antenna that will give you a far superior signal and NO dropouts. You'll be very glad you invested in the Terk TV5 for only $35.71 at Amazon.com with free shipping. Any old A/B Switch would work to feed the Hybrid from different sources like cable and the off-air antenna. You'll have to experiment with your cable to see if you can get any digital channels passed though. I personally don't use analog signals any more. From my point of view, if it ain't digital, I ain't watching. 🙂 Let's face it, analog TV is history and it looks like CRAP. 😱
Click to expand...

Multi, are you getting vhf or uhf in your area? I only have UHF and just got a bowtie brassy antenna ($15) from radioshack. I still am missing 1 channel I know I can get, 15.1. I just want to know if the terk would be a better UHF antenna. It looks like a bowtie design, meant for UHF.
 
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Terk TV5 Is Far Better Than Anything Radio Shack Sells

TheSpaz said:
I'm pretty happy with the Hybrid so far. I don't know what I'm going to do about getting an antenna and messing with all of that confusion. Is it really worth it? I mean... If I can only get 2 channels in my area with a large antenna, how worth it is it going to be to me to watch 2 channels in high -def? Who needs to see the news in HD?
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It's about prime time. What networks are they? CBS, FOX and NBC are way worth it. Have you tuned for digital yet? It's a separate tuning process.
shu82 said:
Multi, are you getting vhf or uhf in your area? I only have UHF and just got a bowtie brassy antenna ($15) from radioshack. I still am missing 1 channel I know I can get, 15.1. I just want to know if the terk would be a better UHF antenna. It looks like a bowtie design, meant for UHF.
Click to expand...
All digital TV is UHF. Terk will definitely be better. I tested several Radio Shack before Terk. They received NOTHING. Terk gives me all 9 in the air. Make sure you are tuning for DIGITAL in addition to analog. I never NEVER watch analog TV any more.
 
Multimedia said:
It's about prime time. What networks are they? CBS, FOX and NBC are way worth it. Have you tuned for digital yet? It's a separate tuning process.All digital TV is UHF. Terk will definitely be better. I tested several Radio Shack before Terk. They received NOTHING. Terk gives me all 9 in the air. Make sure you are tuning for DIGITAL in addition to analog. I never NEVER watch analog TV any more.
Click to expand...

Can I get the Terk antenna at Best Buy or something or do I HAVE to order it online?
 
Multimedia said:
It's about prime time. What networks are they? CBS, FOX and NBC are way worth it. Have you tuned for digital yet? It's a separate tuning process.All digital TV is UHF. Terk will definitely be better. I tested several Radio Shack before Terk. They received NOTHING. Terk gives me all 9 in the air. Make sure you are tuning for DIGITAL in addition to analog. I never NEVER watch analog TV any more.
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I did not know that. I just knew that all of mine was. We never had vhf here anyway. Thanks for the tip! Cable is for SUCKERS!!!!!!!
 
Multimedia said:
All digital TV is UHF.
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. . . except for the CBS affiliate in Chicago, WBBM-TV. Its digital signal is within the VHF band at 63MHz. I hope WBBM gets their act together and moves their signal to UHF.

I have to use a distibution amplifier to gain up the signal from my rooftop antenna, which probably precludes me from receiving the NBC affiliate (WMAQ-TV) because it's probably overmodulated after going through the amp. Without the amp I can't get WBBM.
 
NewBEEE

Ok i read all reviews and info on the Eytv Hybrid and 250, but i stil lost? Device plugs into computer than directly to either cable box or satellite box, thus transferring video to computer, or is there a wireless connection that picks up what signal it can?? I have Dish network, Mac Pro. I just want to pick up all my channels on Dish Network and record what i want does this product do this!
 
chortytke said:
Ok i read all reviews and info on the Eytv Hybrid and 250, but i stil lost? Device plugs into computer than directly to either cable box or satellite box, thus transferring video to computer, or is there a wireless connection that picks up what signal it can?? I have Dish network, Mac Pro. I just want to pick up all my channels on Dish Network and record what i want does this product do this!
Click to expand...

Yes, the wireless connection is an antenna to catch over-the-air broadcast signals. Dish Network won't work with the EyeTV Hybrid. I'm not familiar enough with the EyeTV 250 to say anything but you could do yourself a favor and look it up at www.elgato.com.
 
Rod Rod said:
Yes, the wireless connection is an antenna to catch over-the-air broadcast signals. Dish Network won't work with the EyeTV Hybrid. I'm not familiar enough with the EyeTV 250 to say anything but you could do yourself a favor and look it up at www.elgato.com.
Click to expand...

EyeTV 250 is ANALOG ONLY. If you want anything digital... get the Hybrid and an antenna.
 
shu82 said:
I did not know that. I just knew that all of mine was. We never had vhf here anyway. Thanks for the tip! Cable is for SUCKERS!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

You probably have that backwards. VHF means channels 2-13, UHF is channels 14 and higher. MOST cities have the majority of their channels in the VHF range. (Of course, if you're pretty far from a major city, and are only able to view 'translators', then yes, most of your channels would be UHF.)
 
VHF 2-13 Is Anlog Only And Will End In Two Years. All Digital Will Be UHF Only

ehurtley said:
You probably have that backwards. VHF means channels 2-13, UHF is channels 14 and higher. MOST cities have the majority of their channels in the VHF range. (Of course, if you're pretty far from a major city, and are only able to view 'translators', then yes, most of your channels would be UHF.)
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BUT Those analog 2-13 channels are not part of the DIGITAL future. All digital is supposed to be relegated to the UHF frequencies. But there are exceptions like the one in Chicago explained by Rod Rod above. I also have a VHF NBC Affiliate 8 analog that's using 10 VHF 195MHz for two digital channels.

Our PBS RE-transmitter (Santa Cruz-Salinas-Monterey CA) just changed from 1 SD relay of San Jose's PBS affiliate to 1 HD + 3 SD from San Francisco from 5PM to 6AM then 5 SD from 6AM to 5PM also from San Francisco's KQED. The San Francisco and San Jose PBS stations began a merge 6 months ago and now the broadcasts all originate from San Francisco except for San Jose's analog.

So we went from NO PBS HD to ALL HD 13 hours a day + 3 other SD channel multicasts. But at night one is all Spanish and another Kids. Only World SD is useful to me. Daytime they billboard the HD channel - i.e. it's OFF and add a "Life" channel. Why they turn off Life at night and keep Kids on all night I do not understand.

You can record Satellite with the EyeTV Hybrid as well by programming the Dish or DirecTV to play the shows you want to record and running the analog RF or S-Video and RCA audio out of the cable box to the Hybrid where you can program it to record the analog input from the satellite box. Hybrid also has an analog cable NTSC tuner in it in addition to the off-air analog NTSC tuner. I would warn against buying the analog only USB2 EyeTV 250 as all of it's features are included in the Hybrid and when the analog gets turned off you will have a dead end product with no way to record any of the off-air ATSC channels. Hybrid has the off-air digital ATSC tuner in it as well. That's why it's called a Hybrid. 🙄

The product that I love El Gato no longer sells - the FireWire connected Digital Only EyeTV 500. It has a Clear QAM Digital Cable tuner in it, in addition to the off-air ATSC tuner, which can decode unscrambled digital cable service. I don't know why they discontinued it. If you can find one out there, I recommend it for digital only. So I have both those products hooked to my Quad G5 so I can record two digital shows at the same time. Yes HDs are fast enough to record two digital shows simultaneously. 🙂 You can do this with 2 Hybrids as well. 😉
 
I bought a TERK HDTVa Antenna Pro today. Anyone 'wanna give me some pointers? Oh yeah....I also have an Eye TV Hybrid 250.
 
skinnylegs said:
I bought a TERK HDTVa Antenna Pro today. Anyone 'wanna give me some pointers? Oh yeah....I also have an Eye TV Hybrid 250.
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There's no such thing as a Hybrid 250. The Hybrid and 250 are 2 different products. If you have a 250, then an antenna will not work.

I just picked up a Terk TV5 today and it does nothing... I think I am way too far away from the towers to get anything.
 
My bad....I *meant* to say Hybrid TV.

I've fooled around with the settings and I'm not really happy with this antenna. I get PBS in HD which looks *really* good but that's about it. I got *far* more channels when I simply plugged my cable into the Hybrid TV. Granted, none of them were HD but it seems like it's either 1 channel in HD with the antenna or a multitude of channels when I plug in my cable.
 
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