EyeTV Hybrid - Mac TV tuner stick that receives free over-the-air (OTA) HDTV, Clear QAM & analog TV (10020630)

by Elgato

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 2.5 x 7.8 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0013PKBAU
• Item model number: 10020630
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,471 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

EyeTV 250 Plus is a TV tuner and a powerful video converter in one device. Watch and pause live TV on your Mac. Record, subscribe to TV series, and create Smart Playlists. Edit out unwanted content and send your favorites to iTunes to sync automatically. Enjoy sharing EyeTV recordings over a local network with other Macs and accessing them on an iPod or iPhone via Wi-Fi. Store your collection on your Mac or external disc, or burn to DVD-Video using Roxio Toast Basic (included).EyeTV 250 Plus receives free over-the-air (OTA) HDTV, Clear QAM, and traditional analog TV, and comes with a composite video and S-Video break-out cable to connect a set-top box. EyeTV 250 Plus captures high quality video from analog sources such as a VCR or camcorder, comes with a VHS Assistant and iPod Assistant to guide you through the setup. EyeTV 250 Plus' built-in hardware encoder rapidly converts analog video to high quality digital video without using your Mac's processor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rather clunky USB stick that delivers fantastic HDTV and DVR functions to your Intel-based Mac, August 20, 2008

By 

Tom Mitchell "tomzer1" (Dayton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: EyeTV Hybrid - Mac TV tuner stick that receives free over-the-air (OTA) HDTV, Clear QAM & analog TV (10020630) (Personal Computers)

My MacBook Pro, combined with the EyeTV Hybrid and an over-the-air HDTV antenna, has been my first introduction into the beautiful quality of broadcast HDTV. While the USB stick is a little big and clunky looking hanging off the side of the laptop, the picture and DVR functionality it delivers has been top-notch! I'm certainly buying another one for the new desktop Mac I'm picking up.

I've had this product since version 2 of the software, and El Gato has been great about issuing software updates, bug fixes and interface improvements in the 6+ months I've owned it. Version 3 of the software is very polished and functioning well. Upgrades for software have so far been free and delivered in just a minute or two over my broadband Internet connection. The EyeTV software always checks for any new versions that might be out and notifies you on-screen that a new version is available.

The only thing I don't enjoy about the product is the remote control. It's a bit cheap looking and has some bad ergonomics in regards to controlling the software. Plus it does not take advantage of the Mac's own built-in infra-red remote receiver, but instead uses one on the USB stick. That can make for some awkward aiming to get the stick to see the remote's commands.

Other than that, I'd recommend this product to any Mac user wanting an HDTV connection. I'd imagine this would be a great space-saving device for kids in dorms too! Eliminate space taken by a TV. Your Mac will make an excellent HDTV and DVR with this inexpensive device!


ADDENDUM: 2/13/2010

As pointed out by another customer, EyeTV software _now_ is able to use the Apple Remote directly with the built-in infra red receiver on new Mac's with the latest updates to the soft ware. Thanks, El Gato! And it functions really well while watching recorded material. I have not tried it with menu navigation, etc., in the tuner section of the software. I loved this product so much that I did end up picking up another one. But this time I bought the more expensive EyeTV 250 Plus for use on a 24" iMac. The 250 Plus basically adds a small box with analog video inputs and its own processor for converting analog videos to digital. I have some old videotapes and LaserDiscs that I plan on archiving this way. You can also do this with the EyeTV Hybrid, but it uses the Mac's own CPU for most of the processing muscle. Depending on how you use your Mac, the 250 Plus could free up your Mac to do other things while converting video.Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital/Analog TV Receiver and Video Converter

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it - The quality is AWESOME works with Windows 7 TOO!, November 22, 2008

By 

Tarun Chachra "Tarun Chachra" (Hillsborough, NJ) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: EyeTV Hybrid - Mac TV tuner stick that receives free over-the-air (OTA) HDTV, Clear QAM & analog TV (10020630) (Personal Computers)

I got this to use in my office in New York City. The office building is surrounded by other buildings, which to me means that a signal for HDTV should be impossible. I connected this to my MAC, installed the included software, plugged in a TERK indoor HD antenna, and I was up and running in less then 10 minutes with the NY local networks in HD.

I WAS SHOCKED.

I had perfect signal strength and now a DVR on my mac. I was watching HD TV and able to pause, rewind, record, schedule, etc....

Pros:
MAC compatible.
USB - which makes it portable between home and the office.
Software is top notch.
It works out of the box...no setup issues.

NO CONS I can think of.

I love the software interface and the picture quality.

Enjoy!

UPDATE 01/21/2009
I am a cross platform user, primarily because of job function. I have my MAC setup with boot camp to run Vista, Windows 2008 Server, and now Windows 7 BETA. While I was sitting here one day someone walked in and said there is a plane down in the Hudson River (I am in NYC)...put the TV on your mac. I said I cant...I am in Windows 7 and working....it will take me a few moments. But....I was anxious and thus I noticed that Windows 7 had picked up the Elgato and installed the drivers...WOW!. How to make it work??? Simple...I launched Media Center (I have Windows 7 Beta Ultimate) and started the setup process...took 2-3 minutes. Once completed Windows Media Center allowed me to use the Eye TV Hybrid to get my local networks in NYC and view them in HD in Windows 7. DVR, Guides, and just about all working in Windows Media center without the need to find drivers and or 3rd party software.

Another POINT for this device....

01/30/09
I also tested this device to take Composite inputs from a satellite box at home so that I could use the mac to record shows, etc and move them to a iPhone/Appletv etc... AGAIN flawless. It is easy and setup is as simple as can be.....It comes with a cable that accepts analog video, svhs video, and sound via rca jacks. All connects to the units mini-usb port so you can watch without a coaxial (cable) connection.

As a side note...remember, no tv tuner can descramble satellite or scrambled cable channels. You must use a cable box to record those types of channels...for example HBO, Pay Per View, etc....

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great Product, until it quits working, January 25, 2009

By 

Karl L. Werner "Mac man262" (Jakarta) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: EyeTV Hybrid - Mac TV tuner stick that receives free over-the-air (OTA) HDTV, Clear QAM & analog TV (10020630) (Personal Computers)

I've had the EyeTV Hybrid now for about 18 months. It was really great to be able to record TV shows right onto your computer. Recently, I started getting error messages and contacted Elgato about the problem. They told me that in "rare cases" the Hybrid unit fails. If its so rare then why is it the number 6 selection on their support site when you have problems with your unit. I think this problem isn't so rare. Be careful of this product.