Which USB Digital TV Reciever

[Craig]

After switching to a Shuttle I am missing my Digital TV card I have narrowed it down to these two

TerraTec Cinergy T²

Nebula DigiTV USB

I really cant choose between the two, even after reading a few reviews! Does anyone have any experience with either of these?

Also, the new USB Terratec Stick Reciever is no good - I really dont have faith in the hardware inside that iddy biddy unit

Craig

[cadlon]

I've got a USB Nebula it rocks

Ease of use and picture quality is excellent, Nebula supply BDA drivers if you need to use it with MCE. The Nebula Software is Good (the v3.5 Beta is out but not that stable).

Totally Recomended

[th3_soul]

The network streaming on the Nebula looks quite interesting, have you tried this feature and are you able to change the channels via a remote machine?

I know on the page it warns against using an internal antennae but has anyone had any luck with these type of freeview receivers with one?

[cadlon]

out of the 9 people in the office with me 4 are Nebula USB owners

2 of them regularly use the Network streaming (one via WiFi), you can change the channel from the remote machine, you have the same software installed athe the remote PC.
v3.5 (currently in BETA) improves the network streaming functionallity

I presume by and internel antenna you mean inside the PC??? i've never used one!

[th3_soul]

I am currently living in a flat without an external/rooftop aerial so will require a small indoor one (I should of mentioned indoor rather then internal ) I am unsure if this will work with freeview, do any of your colleagues use an indoor aerial?

[cadlon]

Ah i see, yea most of us use indoor aerials.

I did once spend £30 on a funky philips mains powered amblified mad aerial and it was no good, i've stuck to a cheap (no more than £5) and chearful plain flat pressed metal type aerial and it works perfectly

[th3_soul]

Good news, I was hoping I wouldnt have the need for a hugely expensive indoor aerial. Obviously it still depends on the location but will just have to bite the bullet and try it out. Any reason why you went for the Nebula rather then say another brand such as Hauppauge?

[cadlon]

It cam highly recormended, plus i'd had problems with Hauppauge analgue cards in the past.

The software is brilliant, it's best to start off with v3.128. v3.5 should be ready sometime in the near future, the BETA is good but not quite there.

[th3_soul]

Was looking at a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR1100, have you tried one of these out at all, just keen to keep the Analogue functionality (Fm/ Inputs) along with the new Digital Freeview. Will definately read more up a bit more on the Nebula before making a decision though.

[Trippledence]

Does the Nebula work for DVB Radio stations as well, i;ve seen a few boxes that cant pick them up.

[cadlon]

I never had a WinTV-HVR1100, it was more of a "Once bitten, twice shy" situation with hauppauge, plus i had some good recomendations about Nebula

If it doesnt meet your needs though, theres not much point getting it. The USB Nebula is a very good pice of kit and i would highly recomend it, but if you need the FM radio (Does do Digital Radio) and analoge inputs (The PCI version has analogue input)

Not Sure if the Radio is DAB, but you get digital radio via the nebula
from the Nebula Site "Decoding and playing of free-to-air Digital Terrestrial Radio "

http://www.nebula-electronics.com/in....asp?Code=0003

[th3_soul]

Every review I have read on the Nebula has given it the big thumbs up. Having Digital Radio will allow me to still listen to the radio stations I like and using the analogue input on the PCI Version means I can connect to a SKY feed if required.

Thanks for the info cadlon.

[cadlon]

No Worries, Glad to be off assistance