Bought one this morning, now I want to buy another for a buddy at work but it says my account already bought one HELP!!

DontDwell wrote:Unfortunately not for this model. They DO have a mac version, but it's not this one. If you are really interested, here's the link:

http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonder650/usbmac/index.html

Im gonna hypothesize that firmware for the mac version will work for this tuner. I dont really see any reason why it wouldn't.

And if it doesn't you always got Wine, CrossOver, Parallels, and Boot Camp.

So im gonna say that yes, this is Mac Compatible.

mannyizt wrote:So can I just plug the cable off the wall into the tuner and watch regular programming?

If it is analog cable.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can I use this with my cable?
  

That depends on what your cable is offering. Many people believe that Cable = QAM. Not entirely. Cable companies use QAM to provide their digital service. They use NTSC to provide their analog service. What does this mean? Well, it means that if you are like my folks and have a cable service that is only analog, yes, you can watch cable on your computer. However, if your brother decided to get the HD only package. No, you will need a QAM tuner.

An interesting note. The FCC requires cable providers to rebroadcast locally aired programming in analog for free without the required customer use of leased equipment. Meaning, you can probably get your local PBS station via cable.

• What is this cable encryption people are talking about?
  

Cable companies have two options on limiting the content they send to you. One is via frequency filters, the other is by encryption. Unencrypted QAM is termed as Clear QAM. If your company uses encrypted signals, it won't matter if you have a QAM tuner card. You still won't be able to recieve the channels. This is because QAM tuner cards that you can buy are Clear QAM. They will only work with unencrypted channels. You'll need a box from the provider to decrypt the channels for you.

• Can I record "X"
  

Yes. However, this is dependent on the software you have.

• Can I record my favorite movie thats on my VHS tape?
  

Yes. Connect the tape player to either the composite connectors or the F connector (the silver one). Start up your movie and press record in the software.

• Can I record my favorite movie thats on my VHS tape and then put it on a DVD!?!?
  

Yes. Once you have it recorded on your computer, you'll need some DVD authoring tools and a DVD burner and BAM! Take it Emirl

• USB2.0 is so slow?! Will this really work?!
  

ATSC uses 8VSB modulation. Given the 6 MHz broadband used per "channel", each "channel" has a net of 19.39 Mb/s. According to everythingusb.com the effective rate reaches 40MB/s or 320Mb/s (bits versus bytes) for bulk transfers. Either way you look at it, 19.39 Mb/s is less either of those numbers.

• Can I use device to watch my computer on my TV?
  

No. As you can tell by looking at it, there is no output. Only inputs. In order to view your desktop on a TV you require a video output that can be connected to your TV. There are 3 potential possiblities. S-Video, HDMI, and DVI. If your computer has an S-Video, then yes. If your computer has HDMI or DVI then, maybe. If your TV has HDMI in or DVI in to compliment your computer, then yes.

• What about that antenna?
  

I have that antenna from a different product. The antenna itself works well. But, like any antenna, it depends on where you are, what your interference is like, and how far away you are. I left mine in the middle of my apartment in the San Francisco Bay area. Nearly all of my ATSC channels turned out nicely.

• Do I need an ATI video card for this to work?
  

No. They are independent items.

• Can I use this to play my console with my laptop as the screen?!
  

Yes, you could. However, a lot of people have reported delays between their actions and what comes up on screen. If you want a actual explination, go over to Toms Hardware Forum and read what user Avidday wrote here and here about the topic.

• Do I need Windows Media Center for this to work?
  

No, according to the website, they have tv viewing software included.


Edits:
Added links for console gaming.

nobrry3 wrote:Thanks for all the info. I have a very basic question as I am NOT a puter tech and don't understand a lot of the info that has been generously given. I have cable in 2 rooms that are almost constantly streaming Xbox 360 and Disney channel. I bought a PC computer with Roadrunner high speed internet that has a tuner in it so I can watch TV HOWEVER I don't have whatever cord you have to have to make TV show up-just snow. Is this what I would buy so that my husband and I could actually watch TV somewhere? Do you see cable channels through your PC if your are set up with cable/internet on your PC?

I don't really understand your setup how you described it, but here:

If you have an analog signal running into your room, you can use this to watch and record that signal on a computer. You can also use an antenna with this to watch and record over-the-air digital television signals.

cbfitz06 wrote:Can someone explain what the heck this thing is? simply?

No, because you won't read my post, because you haven't read the 20 of them before you posted telling you what this is.

kpalati wrote:Can this also be used as a USB-to-S Video adapter?

I want to play something on my MAC/PC and be able to watch it on lcd TV.

No.

This device is not for outputting video to a television. It is for watching television on your computer.

SkipFloyd wrote:I have this Same One, it does not work with Windows 7, Tried the Vista Drivers and Still No Go. ATI stated they have no plans to create a Driver for Win 7

Works Great for Vista and Media Center.

From Amazon Review:

"This tuner is the best one I have used. Works flawlessly with Windows 7 32 & 64 bit. (our laptop is 32 bit and our desktop is 64 bit)I highly recommend this if you are running windows 7. You will not be disappointed! Just use the media center software in windows 7 instead of the software that comes with the tuner."

skimedic72 wrote:I have a DVD deck in my truck with a TV Tuner reception AND a USP connection. Will this work to pick up HDTV in my truck?

No. This device requires a computer and software to work.

Vunutus wrote:Will this work with Linux or does it require proprietary Windows-only software?

Some say this works BETTER with Linux.

bubbleofearth wrote:Third party TV/Recording software? Anyone got a recommendation there? (I'm in a pathetically low-signal town & not sure if it's worth the outlay if extra software'll cost me a bundle, too.)

Pull the trigger, there's LOTS of good shareware/open source/freeware stuff out there Some of it is outstanding.

truth wrote:one of the pictures shows this connected to a NETBOOK- one without a CD/DVD drive.

how do you go about installing the necessary software on a computer without any sort of CD/DVD drive (internal or external)?

On my NETbook I install software on disc from my desktop computer, I have the drive shared and access it over the NETwork, that's why it's called a NETbook.

What a great deal ... this same product runs for $60-$100. I Plan to fish and watch football with mine.

I paid 70 bucks for this thing a year ago!! grr *shakes fist in the air*

YouCantWootThis wrote:Nope

If you have a video card with s-video output

YouCantWootThis wrote:yes, if u cam live with the channels between 2 and 70. the digital channels, which are usually channel numberd higher than 100 will not work with this because it doesn't support QAM

Thank You! And bought one on the gamble it would be what I needed! Oh and for the record anyone know of a 12 step program for us WOOT! addicts?! I am well on my way and the credit card company loves it!!

Does anyone know if i can use this adapter to export the video from my computer to a television?

Apparently, people are having problems installing this on Windows 7 retail, although it worked fine in the beta.

Maybe someone can shed more light on this?

Read on..
http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=266&threadid=118492

Sorry, late to the party today. Does this thing do closed-captioning on "regular" tvs?

Anyone knows the return policy in case it doesn't work?

it's just a hd antenna so you will only get local channels

Awesome, this WILL work with the Snapstream BeyondTV software, which means I'm buying it.

(Already have the software but destroyed my previous $100+ dongle accidentally)

I have basic cable, a coaxial cable goes into my television set and I watch TV (no cable box, digital cable box, etc.). Will this product work with the basic coaxial cable (Time Warner Basic Cable)?

HawkSlayer wrote:I have a quick and pretty stupid question. Does this mean if I hook this up to my PC, I could watch TV without having a tv cable plugged into it?

Also, do I need an ATI video card for it to work?

You can watch tv on whatever signal the antenna can receive on that USB drive. And most likely no but you may see some delay (if you're extremely picky) when you're using a different video card (in some cases)

Was going to say to answer some peoples question about playing video games or other real time activities such as webcam with a camcorder, etc., that this card/stick is not for that purpose. As with most TV Tuners these days, they fail to mention they apply media center streaming as their mode of mux/encoding. This is to allow complete syncing of audio/video signals for when you use DVR functions. Without the "lag time" you would not be able to have rewind and "live" view without desynch due to temporal differences in signals from each portion of encoding (audio and video streams, or in some cases, multiple audio and video).

So case in point, you'll never have a truely lag free, or realtime view of what is coming through the input as you would have once been able to do with old VFW TV Tuner cards of the past.

auwing wrote:Anyone knows the return policy in case it doesn't work?

The return policy is to sell it on craigslist double the price you bought it.

If there's one thing I hate it's discrimination against Mac owners. I won't buy this product even though I have Windows on my Mac too, just out of principle.

This might help a bit.. the one listed is the 600 USB

Nice comparison.. def. no CQAM
http://www.amd.com/us/products/pctv/tv-wonder-tuners/Pages/tv-wonder-product-matrix.aspx

Can anyone confirm compatibility with Windows 7 Media Center? Here's a review from Amazon that says it works well with Media Center in Windows 7:

"Works perfectly with windows 7 media center! This tuner is the best one I have used. Works flawlessly with Windows 7 32 & 64 bit. (our laptop is 32 bit and our desktop is 64 bit)I highly recommend this if you are running windows 7. You will not be disappointed! Just use the media center software in windows 7 instead of the software that comes with the tuner."

http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Wonder-600-USB-Tuner/product-reviews/B00138EOH8/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

BAWatz wrote:There is so much mis-information being posted here.

Bravo!

codecrackerx9 wrote:Does support 64 bit OS. Found drivers here off of ATI's site.

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/tvwonder600usb_vista.aspx?type=2.5.1&product=2.5.1.3.3.3.3&lang=English

I had one of these and it did not support 64 bit Vista operating systems back in 2008 if ATI has come out with a fix then probably will work with 64bit now.

Anyone know if this will work for windows 7

can anyone tell me if this could be used to transfer stuff from my pvr (non-hd) to my laptop so that i can burn it to a dvd?
and i'm also off to check if they ship to canada so if you can answer that too, i'd really appreciate it. thanks!

Couldn't resist, since i didn't get HP's tuner with my new lappy ($75) this came at the right time!!

I read that it works with Win 7, I sure hope they're right b/c i'm waiting for my upgrade kit.

bobbyjalota wrote:Anyone know if this will work for windows 7

Read through the post and on the front page. More than enough posters have answered that question.

Can I hook up a Super NES/Sega Genesis or older console and play this on my slow laptop??

derp

tylerejoseph wrote:I have basic cable, a coaxial cable goes into my television set and I watch TV (no cable box, digital cable box, etc.). Will this product work with the basic coaxial cable (Time Warner Basic Cable)?

Yes. Buy it.

guayabajelly wrote:Can I hook up a Super NES/Sega Genesis or older console and play this on my slow laptop??

derp

can you connect any of them to the Adapters on it!

hurp!

Why, oh why, can I not find a simply stated answer to the most obvious question?

That being:

I am in a standard, highly populated suburban area, about 12 miles from a major city (D.C.). I do not have cable, or satellite, or anything.
Can I hook this thing up and get channels, watchable ones? Or does it require that I have channels already available to me? Without a cable antenna, there are really no receivable channels.

BAWatz wrote:There is so much mis-information being posted here.

NTSC = The old analog TV system which was adopted by the FCC before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor (color and stereo sound were added at later dates). NTSC can be broadcast over the air (not any more, however, in the US), over a cable system (MOST cable systems still have SOME analog NTSC channels) or it can be "baseband video" (the "yellow" jack from a video game or VCR).

ATSC = Over-the-air broadcast digital television (includes HDTV, but not all ATSC is High-Def although all ATSC is digital).

QAM (which this item does not receive) = Digital Television over a cable system. May be either encrypted (in which case you need a cable box or "cable card" to receive it) or may be unencrypted ("Clear QAM"). This is basically "ATSC on a cable system", but the technology is different (ATSC cannot be directly sent over a cable system). It may be either HD or "standard definition" but it's a digital, not an analog signal.

What does this item do? It's a TV set minus the display, for display it feeds the picture and sound information to your computer via a USB port. It needs an antenna (it comes with crappy one) or a cable connection (but, note, it doesn't support QAM so you could only watch whatever NTSC channels (if any) your cable system still supports). For channels that it can tune (NTSC or ATSC), you can watch or record them.

Will it work in other countries? Generally it will not. Other countries usually use other systems (neither NTSC nor ATSC (nor QAM)) for transmission. Even when our systems are used, enough parameters are usually different (e.g. the frequencies, the scan rates, etc.) that it usually won't work. However some countries use our system exactly.

Having "basic cable" does not specify the modulation system (e.g. NTSC or QAM), nor does it tell you which channels are encrypted and need to be decrypted with a cable box or a device using a "cable card". Both NTSC and QAM support both encrypted and unencrypted transmission. This device can only receive unencrypted NTSC transmissions.

FYI, this is the best post of the day. Well done.