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Home Theater Junkie - PCTV HD Pro Stick USB2 HDTV Tuner for Free HD
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List Price: $169.06
Our Price: $115.88
Your Save: $ 53.18 ( 31% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Pinnacle Systems
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Electronics
Brand: Pinnacle
EAN: 0613570219699
Feature: Package Contents - USB 2.0 TV tuner for ATSC/NTSC reception; Mini remote control including batteries; Telescopic antenna; A/V adapter cable; USB extender cable; Printed QuickStart guide; CD-ROM with Pinnacle MediaCenter
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Pinnacle Systems
Manufacturer: Pinnacle Systems
Model: 230100090
Platform: No Operating System
Publisher: Pinnacle Systems
Studio: Pinnacle Systems
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Features
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Package Contents - USB 2.0 TV tuner for ATSC/NTSC reception; Mini remote control including batteries; Telescopic antenna; A/V adapter cable; USB extender cable; Printed QuickStart guide; CD-ROM with Pinnacle MediaCenter
Watch live high quality digital HD and SD TV on your desktop or notebook PC
Break free and PlaceShift with the sleek USB 2.0 powered portable PCTV device
Take the ultra-compact tuner with you wherever you go
Full support for both NTSC analog and ATSC digital TV reception (ATSC available in many areas of USA)
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Comment: The model of PCTV HD pro stick that I received, was an early model that had software compatible with XP. Since my computer is a very recent model, equipped with Vista, I downloaded the latest software on line to try and operate the device. Even with a series of on line helps from the manufacturer, I was unable to obtain HD, and the standard TV image was shaky and not very clear. I decided to just lump it, and return the item to the seller. I haven't heard from him, and don't expect a refund at this time. I was just glad to get rid of something that wasted my time trying to get it set up. I'm perfectly happy to get my HD TV the normal way, from a new HD television set.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sweeeet at First than Disappointment
Comment: When I first got this tuner it was easy to connect and search for channels and everything was simple. It was so sweet at first watching tv and recording whatever I wanted to with local digital stations. It happened rather quickly though it would stop working and sometimes never start all together. I have even had it in the middle of recording something and shut down and sometimes my whole computer goes off. This thing pushed my buttons a few times like setting the record timer just to have the program close down because of an error. I think it was the updates for it since it seemed problems got worse after one came. If not for the cheap price I would be more angry but this is my easiest way to record shows on digital channels. If I had a time machine I would probably go back and stop me in the past from buying it but we all know that's silly since it could break apart the space time continuem with terrible future consequences. I would say overall avoid yourself the trouble unless you have a time machine of course and venture the risk.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Can't get it to work with Microsoft Media Center Edition (MCE)
Comment: The Tuner worked for me.....once I got Pinnacle online Chat support. I tried the Antenna and it works, but with limited channels (buy an amplified antenna if you don't have cable).
I set it up for my Cable service and the Pinnacle software included and my only complaint is the channels are not the same as the TV Guide that comcast has (Media Center had the same guide as Comcast).
Otherwise, the I had a lot of channels with the cable plugged into the stick.
I think the problem connecting this to Media Center is that its designed for a 32 bit Operating System. My computers have Vista Home Premium 64bit. I looked on Pinnacle and there is driver for 64bit, but I couldn't get it to work.
I think I'm going to return this and get the Media Center Extender that syncs up your TV with your computers so you can watch TV via my wireless home network.
Hope this helps.
I also tried the Pinnacle HD Stick, same results.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Works fine as long as...
Comment: This product works on my computer (Dell Inspiron E1505 - Intel Core Duo @ 1.73 GHz, 2 GB RAM, Windows Vista Home Premium, no dedicated video card), with a few constraints. I feel that using the tuner pushes some aspects of my system's performance to its limits, so I probably would not recommend buying this tuner if you have a less powerful setup than I am using. I should also note that I am really only reviewing the hardware - after reading numerous bad reviews of the bundled software, I decided not to install it. I just plugged the tuner into my computer's USB port, let Windows set up the driver, and I use it with Windows Media Center - no need to install the bundled software.
Overall performance:
- Effortless setup and integration with Windows Media Center capabilities (programming guide, live TV viewing, recording, time shifting). I had the tuner set up and was watching a program on my computer within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box.
- I use this with an over-the-air digital antenna, and get crystal clear picture quality for both SD and HD broadcasts. I use an amplified indoor antenna rather than the included antenna because it's difficult to get a good signal without an amplified antenna at my location, which is in a valley 30-40 miles from my local broadcast towers. If you live in better proximity to your local broadcast towers, you ought to be able to use the included antenna. The base of the included antenna does have a magnet in it, so be sure to keep it away from hard drives and other magnetic media.
- Running with Windows Media Center and not using the bundled software, I have no problems with system lockups or needing to reboot. On very rare occasions I end up stuck while changing channels (it hangs in the transition between one channel and the next), but switching back to the previous channel and then changing it again always gets it unstuck.
- When watching or recording HD programming, I get pauses/choppy picture and audio if I have the viewing window maximized or sized larger than about 1/3 of my screen size. I have better success watching HD programming maximized (full screen) if I record it instead of watching it live, then view it after the recording is completed. I am not a computer expert, but I assume that this is because my computer lacks a dedicated video card, so running the full-screen video while simultaneously handling the HD signal from the tuner may be more than my CPU can comfortably handle. I do not have the same problem watching SD (standard definition) programs.
- I also end up with choppy video if the computer is doing anything else CPU-intensive during viewing or recording.
In summary, this tuner performs acceptably for my needs, and I would expect others to find its performance satisfactory as long as they use it with computer systems that meet or exceed the manufacturer's minimum system requirements. Of course, for optimal performance, I would recommend using it with a system that greatly exceeds the minimum requirements.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not able to receive ATSC cable channels
Comment: I bought this Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick last year to use it on camping vacation when it rains. Software installation was as terrible as others found it too. A year and many patches and updates later I still don't know how to select a channel I want and not to step through all of them. I also do not understand why I am not able to scan available broadcasting without error message, in red, first. Sometimes error is diagnosed as "other application is connected to your device". Other times error is not diagnosed at all. Multiple software restarts, sometimes system reboot, let me at some point to do the scan but I still don't know what is the right thing to do to get the scan.
At some point I thought I would use the stick at home to record HD programming for time shift watching. My TV is able to find all HD channels directly from my cable signal without the cable box and display those not scrambled. My TV tuner specification says "Channel Capability-ATSC/NTSC". I mention this because I found erroneous information that one need to have QAM tuner to receive digital channels from cable signal. I don't have QAM and still receive HD broadcast that means that at least not scrambled channels on my cable are ATSC/NTSC. All big networks have their broadcast in HD on my cable. But when I try Pinnacle on cable signal it found nothing. Neither HD nor even digital channels, only analog. I tried both signal types: antenna and cable.
My conclusion: It may be useful if you have over the air good signal and you are tolerant to software quirks.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Bring digital HDTV with full DVR functionality to your laptop with Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick. Enjoy all of your favorite shows in high quality HD anytime! PCTV HD Pro Stick is the first ultra-compact USB 2.0 powered TV tuner in an attractive stick form factor that brings the brilliant sharpness of HDTV via ATSC to your PC. The new digital TV standard ATSC comes over the air and for free in high or standard definition. In addition to ATSC, also standard analog TV (NTSC) can be received, via cable, satellite or antenna. The included Pinnacle MediaCenter software lets you not only watch TV but also record it. You can even pause live TV and resume exactly where you left off and you can rewind or fast forward. Good looks, great features and minimum size, will make the PCTV HD Pro Stick a must have wherever you are. Transform your PC into a DVR Take complete control of when you watch your favorite shows with TimeShifting Never miss a critical part of your favorite show again with pause, rewind and replay Schedule recordings with the integrated Electronic Program Guide and never worry about missing your favorite show (Web connection required) Eliminate the guess work by automatically recording shows in the destination file format of choice (i.e. Apple iPod - Sony PSP - DivX - more) Create your own DVD collection with direct-to-DVD recording to computer's DVD writer Capture audio and video from most consumer devices with analog composite outputs (e.g. VCRs, camcorders, DVD players, etc.) Create your own masterpiece by adding effects, titles, music and more with Pinnacle Studio QuickStart / Edit out your uninteresting moments using Pinnacle Studio QuickStart Composite A/V ports, S-Video port, F-Connector for optional external antenna For Windows XP and Vista PC
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