Pinnacle intros PCTV HD Ultimate USB tuner
It looks like those that weren't satisfied with Pinnacle's previous USB HDTV tuners for one reason or another now have yet another option to consider, with the company recently introducing its new and improved PCTV HD Ultimate USB stick. As before, this one packs an antenna to pick up ATSC digital TV signals, and it'll of course pick up plain old NTSC analog TV if you so choose. Unlike previous devices from the company, however, you apparently won't have to install any software to use it, and you'll even get some built-in flash storage to record up to two hours worth of content. If that's enough to push you over the edge, you'll be able to grab one of 'em next month for for $130, with a desktop version also available for $80.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Handsome Jon @ Sep 20th 2007 2:15PM
Anyone know any better (similarly priced) HDTV tuners for a desktop PC?
Thanks!
JeffDM @ Sep 20th 2007 4:18PM
It's hard to say unless you say what you are looking for. Do you want internal or external? Do you need QAM? That's what you need to decode cable, but computer QAM tuners generally only handle unencrypted channels. Dvico has or had an internal HD tuner that can also handle QAM. They might have more, but I really don't care to look.
kgrr @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:15PM
Jon, I've not had any success with my ATI TV Wonder 650 USB and am looking to return it. It has a couple of features I liked better 1) The program guide is free and 2) it has an FM receiver. However, I had problems with getting the TV receiver to work and the fit between the plastic housing and the RCA & S-Video jacks was such that I could not plug in external sources to it.
Derrick @ Sep 20th 2007 3:49PM
I have the HD Pro Stick from Pinnacle and it works efforlessly with Vista Media Center without the need of the Pinnacle software. I've used it when traveling all it takes is a new scant and you don't lose your previous channels. I wish my Panny worked this way without the need to enter info after each scan.
nick @ Oct 4th 2007 2:38AM
Is this Mac compatible?
justin anderson @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:24PM
Looking at purchasing the Pinnacle HD Pro Stick. I've heard that it runs too hot, is there a burn-out issue? How long does this product actually last? I want to use it on my desktop computer by hooking my coax cable to it (i'm not using RCA or S-Video) for cable TV. I will use it for long hours and I want to know how reliable it really is...