Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black) Review
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Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2YMINMSRQ2I6C The Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950Q (with the letter "Q" at the end) does work on the mac, but you'll need to buy the latest version of the Elgato EyeTV 3.1.x software to get this TV USB Stick to work on the mac. This WinTV-HVR-950Q only came with windows software and no mac software. There is the mac-specific hybrid version of this TV USB Stick which comes with the "lite" version of the EyeTV software, but I got this one because it was cheaper and also because previous reviews said other buyers actually got the "Q" version of this TV USB Stick. I ended up spending more because I had to buy the latest version of the EyeTV software, but I wanted the "Q" version of this TV USB Stick for if I ever went back to using cable television and wanted in-the-clear QAM channels. Anyways, the WinTV-HVR-950Q does work with the mac as you can see in the video. You can go full screen for a full-screen DVR-like television experience. Or you can simply have the TV in a window as seen the video. To be clear, the video is of the WinTV-HVR-950Q using the EyeTV software version 3.1.2 on a Macbook. For those who are wondering, the Macbook's remote control works fine with the EyeTV software.
This amazon page says this is the WinTV-HVR-950 (without the "Q") and the box, which this TV USB Stick comes in, says WinTV-HVR-950 (no "Q"), but the actual TV USB Stick that I got from ordering from this amazon page is a WinTV-HVR-950Q (with the "Q"). That's what I got. Earlier versions of the EyeTV software are compatible with the WinTV-HVR-950 (no "Q") but the latest version of the EyeTV software is compatible with both the 950 (no "Q") and the 950Q (with the "Q"). The "Q" means that the TV USB Stick can handle clear QAM cable TV channels. Quoting the Hauppauge website: "Clear QAM are digital cable TV programs transmitted on your cable TV network 'in the clear'. Many cable operators transmit the high definition local TV channels using clear QAM." If you have digital cable or if the local HDTV channels are somehow included with your basic cable, then you will have to check this out yourself. I'm primarily using the WinTV-HVR-950Q with the antenna on my Macbook. When I bought the EyeTV software from Elgato, I got version 3.1.1 which when automatically updated became version 3.1.2. Again, there is the mac-specific hybrid version of this TV USB Stick that is sold here on Amazon but the EyeTV software that comes with that TV USB Stick is the "lite" version. You'll have to decide which version of this TV USB Stick that you'll want to get if you have a mac and how you'll want to upgrade the EyeTV software.
As for Windows, the WinTV-HVR-950Q also works fine on our HP notebook with Windows Media Center under Windows Vista. If you have Vista, then you should only install the drivers and do not install the rest of the WinTV software. Don't even bother trying to use the WinTV software as your TV software. I am disappointed with the WinTV software for this TV USB Stick. The WinTV software, which along with the driver software, is on a CD included with this TV USB Stick. The WinTV software for watching TV did not work for me. Some of the other reviews, here on Amazon, seem to indicate that the WinTV software may work but will probably still fail. Therefore, I would strongly suggest that for windows, you should only install the driver software from the CD, or download the driver software from the Hauppauge website, and then you should only use the TV functionality in the Windows Media Center software that is included with Windows Vista. As far as I know, Windows Media Center should also be included with Windows 7 whenever that comes out. For the remote control on the HP, I've been using the HP's remote control and not the remote control that came with the WinTV-HVR-950Q. I would suggest that you also not even bother installing the wintv remote control software since are you going to most likely want to use Windows Media Center if you are going to use this WinTV-HVR-950Q on a windows PC.
Whether you use the WinTV-HVR-950Q on mac or windows, you may have problems getting VHF ATSC digital over-the-air channels. This is NOT because of the TV USB Stick, but could most likely be because of the TV stations themselves. VHF channels, such as channels 8 and 10 in my San Diego County area, after the digital switchover became less powerful and therefore much harder to get whether using this TV USB Stick or using a DTV Converter box hooked up to a regular TV set. This could also be the result of distance, elevation, possible electrical interference, or any obstructions in the way. So, your actual results for getting local TV in your area may vary and differ from what I'm encountering. UHF channels seem to be more powerful and easier to get. This problem with some VHF channels is one of the unspoken dirty little secrets of the nationwide switchover to over-the-air digital TV. Awful. Have to try different antennas. I've had to use double antennas or somehow move antenna cables around for my DTV Converter boxes to get channels 8 and 10 for my regular TVs. I can barely get channels 8 and 10 when using the WinTV-HVR-950Q with my HP notebook. But I can't seem to get channels 8 or 10 when I have the WinTV-HVR-950Q connected to my Macbook. But surprisingly, I'm able to pull in the Los Angeles NBC station channel 4 and its digital subchannels plus also the Orange County public television station channel 50 and its subchannels when I'm upstairs. Getting HDTV on the computer is nice, but I really curse that the local analog channels had to be shutdown. Oh, I can get the other local TV stations (6, 15, 39, 51, 69) and any of their subchannels in my area in either HDTV or SDTV whichever happens to be the resolution at the time. And I can also get a low-powered analog local channel that didn't have to switch over to digital. Also, I can get a MyTVNetwork analog channel that is actually located in Mexico and doesn't have to switch to digital for maybe a couple more years. Plus I can get a bunch of digital and analog spanish-language TV channels from across the border in Mexico using this WinTV-HVR-950Q on my Macbook, but the HP using Windows Media Center seems to refuse to pick up the spanish stations because the TV program guide in Windows Media Center doesn't seem to recognize those channels as existing.
I do recommend getting this TV USB Stick but with the above caveats that you'll have to keep in mind. Thanks for viewing my video and also for reading this review.
Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black) Feature
- TV tuner allows for viewing and recording of television on PCs via USB 2.0
- Compatible with both digital and analog television signals
- Accepts video feeds directly from a camera or satellite box
- Small size makes it easy to carry and ideal for laptops
- Includes Personal Video Recorder software for scheduled recording of programs and remote control
Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black) Overview
WinTV-HVR-950 brings analog cable TV and over-the-air ATSC digital TV to your PC or laptop! Watch and record TV in a window or full screen using high quality MPEG-2. Use the WinTV-Scheduler to record you favorite analog or digital TV shows. Play your TV recordings back to your screen any time.WinTV-HVR-950 is easy to install. Just plug it into your PC or laptops' USB 2.0 port and connect a cable TV or a TV antenna. Load the software from an installation CD and you're ready to start watching analog or ATSC digital TV on your PC or laptop screen. WinTV-HVR-950 also includes a portable digital antenna, so you can receive digital TV while you travel!ATSC digital TV brings you sharper pictures and enriches your PC's multimedia experience with near CD quality sound. WinTV-HVR-950's ATSC digital TV receiver adds great features to your TV viewing: high definition TV reception, automatic identification of channel names plus records high-definition digital TV programs to your PC's hard disk in an MPEG-2 format without losing quality.You're prepared for the future. If you live in an area where you can't currently receive ATSC digital TV, the WinTV-HVR-950 can still be used to watch and record analog TV from cable TV or a TV antenna. But you are prepared for the future! When ATSC digital TV comes to your area, WinTV-HVR-950 will also receive the new digital TV channels.Digital video recorder, too! Record your favorite analog or digital TV shows with one simple click. You can also use the WinTV-Scheduler to schedule your TV recordings on a daily, weekly or once only schedule.
Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 TV Tuner Stick/Personal Video Recorder with Remote Control (Black) Specifications
Amazon.com Product Description The Hauppauge 1198 WinTV-HVR-950 Hybrid TV Stick External TV Tuner/Video Recorder will bring high-definition television directly to your PC. This handy device lets you watch your favorite TV shows through your computer, and record them digitally for future playback using high quality MPEG-2. More economical and versatile than a DVR, or digital video recorder, this PC Video Recorder, or PVR, gives you virtually unlimited options for saving and playing back your favorite TV broadcasts and clips.
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 The small, pocketable size lets you easily take it everywhere. View larger. |
The WinTV-HVR-950 is a simple-to-use device that brings over-the-air high definition ATSC digital TV as well as analog cable TV directly to your PC desktop or laptop. With the additional included antenna, it can also receive analog TV broadcasts, and it can also accept video feeds directly from a camera or satellite box.
More versatile than a DVR, the WinTV-HVR-950 is a pocket-sized device that simply plugs into your PC's USB port. It features a built-in digital ATSC over-the-air TV receiver. If you live in one of the more than 200 cities in the United States that receives ATSC digital TV, you'll have immediate access to as many as 1500 digital TV stations. ATSC digital TV is the over-the-air HDTV standard for North America. ATSC broadcasts range in resolution from standard definition up to the high definition 1080i format. (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com.)
A portable digital TV antenna, which can be used to receive digital TV up to 10 miles from an ATSC transmitter, is included with the PVR . (To check the ATSC digital transmissions in your area, input your zip code at titantv.com) If you live in an area where you can't currently receive ATSC digital TV, the WinTV-HVR-950 can still be used to watch and record analog TV from cable TV or a TV antenna. (The WinTV-HVR-950 cannot receive digital cable TV or digital satellite TV.) With the included credit-card-sized remote control, navigating all these channels is easy.
Watch Clear QAM Digital TV
The WinTV-HVR-950 also has a built-in QAM tuner, allowing you to watch and record QAM programming. Clear QAM digital TV channels are digital cable channels which can be watched on a TV set without a cable TV set top box. are Many cable operators transmit the local high definition ATSC channels using clear QAM.. Some cable operators transmit additional non-premium TV programs using clear QAM. With the WinTV-HVR-950, you can watch these channels for free. Clear QAM channels range from standard definition to the highest 1080i definition.
Once the WinTV-HVR-950 is connected, you can begin to record your favorite shows in high-quality MPEG-2 directly to your hard disk using the Hauppauge SoftPVR MPEG-2 encoder. Television recordings will typically consume 5 GB of disk space per hour for ATSC high definition, while analog recordings will typically consume 1.5 GB of disk space per hour. You can also use the included WinTV-Scheduler to program your compute to record your favorite analog or digital TV shows for play back at any time.
Compatibility with Microsoft's Windows Media Center means that you can watch TV as well as your recordings with Windows Media Center. The included WinTV application also lets you watch your shows in a window or on full screen.
 The WinTV application offers an elegant interface to watch TV in a window or full screen. View larger. |
PVR stands for PC Video Recorder. The WinTV-HVR-950 is a PVR that allows you to play television through your computer and record the broadcasts digitally. PVR doesn't use standard videocassettes; instead, it uses your computer's hard disk to store the broadcasts.
Once you record a television show to your PC's hard drive, you can burn a CD or DVD that will allow you to play the show back on another computer or on your television. With video editing software (not included with the WinTV-HVR-950), you can even edit the shows. This is a great feature if you want to save clips from movies or sitcoms, or keep your favorite player's grand slam or TD kick-off return for posterity.
And just like a typical VCR, the WinTV-HVR-950 offers you several recording options, depending on your play back needs. If you want the highest quality recording for playback through your HDTV, all you need is enough hard drive space to support high-quality recording. By using the lowest recording option, you can use your WinTV-HVR-950, along with an inexpensive video camera, as a low-cost on-site video surveillance system. In fact, the possibilities of how you can take advantage of the WinTV-HVR-950 are endless.
What's in the Box
WinTV-HVR-950 USB 2.0 TV stick with cable TV or ATSC antenna connection; USB extension cable; portable antenna; software on CD-ROM; remote control; and quick installation guide.
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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 29, 2010 04:01:55
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