Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Arrolman on 02 August 2011, 11:57:38

Title: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: Arrolman on 02 August 2011, 11:57:38
Hi,

Im away on course for 2 weeks in a weeks time and would like to watch TV on my laptop while im away, can anyone recommend a USB TV dongle thats decent (Freeview a must) and gets decent signal on it? Also, do any of these require internet connection?

Cheers,
Iain
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: zirk on 02 August 2011, 12:09:03
Maplins have a sale on at the mo which includes Freeview dongles, never tried one myself, no internet required just a good signal.

Or if theres internet where your going, tvcatchup.com

Chris.
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: Arrolman on 02 August 2011, 12:12:23
No internet where im going, taking a PAYG dongle for that but don't want to be using it all up watching Tv, hence id like a TV dongle

Cheers,
Iain
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: CaptainZok on 02 August 2011, 14:15:46
Biggest problem with a tv stick is the aerial it comes with is crap.
I've got one and in the house which is only 4 miles from the transmitter it receives about 20 channels at a very poor quality. Plug in the house aerial and it gets the full 120+ freeview channels. So if you have access to a real aerial feed they work fine but on the included aerial, forget it.
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: TheBoy on 02 August 2011, 14:59:00
I use a Freecom one. It works *IF* you have a VERY strong signal.  I personally use a normal aerial with it, as the included stick is woeful.
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: TheBoy on 02 August 2011, 14:59:38
Quote
Biggest problem with a tv stick is the aerial it comes with is crap.
I've got one and in the house which is only 4 miles from the transmitter it receives about 20 channels at a very poor quality. Plug in the house aerial and it gets the full 120+ freeview channels. So if you have access to a real aerial feed they work fine but on the included aerial, forget it.
LOL, is it Freecom by any chance?
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: Arrolman on 02 August 2011, 15:07:31
So if I buy one and buy a plug in booster aerial it 'should' work?
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: CaptainZok on 02 August 2011, 15:12:24
Quote
Quote
Biggest problem with a tv stick is the aerial it comes with is crap.
I've got one and in the house which is only 4 miles from the transmitter it receives about 20 channels at a very poor quality. Plug in the house aerial and it gets the full 120+ freeview channels. So if you have access to a real aerial feed they work fine but on the included aerial, forget it.
LOL, is it Freecom by any chance?
No AverTV.
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: TheBoy on 02 August 2011, 15:54:21
Quote
So if I buy one and buy a plug in booster aerial it 'should' work?
A booster will only boost what is there. If the poor aerial is giving crap, all you'll get is boosted crap.

I use a proper yagi when I take mine away.
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: TheBoy on 02 August 2011, 15:54:50
Quote
Quote
Quote
Biggest problem with a tv stick is the aerial it comes with is crap.
I've got one and in the house which is only 4 miles from the transmitter it receives about 20 channels at a very poor quality. Plug in the house aerial and it gets the full 120+ freeview channels. So if you have access to a real aerial feed they work fine but on the included aerial, forget it.
LOL, is it Freecom by any chance?
No AverTV.
Probably the same, different sticker ;D
Title: Re: USB TV dongle for my laptop
Post by: Jimbob on 02 August 2011, 16:17:22
I had the misfortune of having an avertv device before now too...Old PCI one though.


really should get a new one of some description  :-/