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4
stars
Almost, but not quite.....
by lividjake
on
October 12, 2006
Pros: OTA ATSC Tuner w/ Pause live TV
Cons: DVR and Video stability
Summary: For the price of $129.99 at BB, the Pro Stick seems like an ideal purchase. I should start with the specs of my system. I'm running this product ...
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Summary: For the price of $129.99 at BB, the Pro Stick seems like an ideal purchase. I should start with the specs of my system. I'm running this product on a P4 3.0GHz with 1.5GB RAM. I'm also using a GeForce 6200OC and a terrestrial antenna that pulls in all of the digital signals in my area without any issues. The HD Pro Stick will display the HD Programming without significant problems. I've notice on PBS, a slight performance problem. The signal seemed to be dropping frames I believe to be isolated to the data transfer from the tuner to the video card. This has also happened on a subchannel of another digital station in my area. Restarting the system appears to correct this issue. While I was watching "Lost", I paused HDTV and came back 15 minute later. When the program was unpaused, the video and audio were synched correctly The MLB playoff were also displayed very nicely, without any issues. Here's the main problem. There seems to be driver confict issues with nVidia GeForce drivers and this device. I have been encountering "fatal errors" that require a system shutdown. This mainly happens when retrieving DVR content for playback. It's not isolated to the DVR though. It has happened during normal viewing. In addition to this, the DVR content has yet to successful play audio and video in sync. Another issue, is the remote control for this particular unit is defective. It will not directly input a channel. Channel up and down, volume up and down, full screen, and power seem to be the only functions that are working correctly. I'll press a number on the remote and it will prompt a random number on the screen. It appears confused. The Pinnacle Media Center software seems to be proprietary. Windows Media Player will play captured content, but not correctly. As I mentioned previously, for the price it seems like a great deal. If you're technical and willing to accept the device with these problems, I'd recommend it. The cost is low and once the HDTV is started and tuned in, it works well. It just seems to have difficulties in starting and recording. It is also slow to change channels. It seems to want a very strong HD signal to work without stalling or pixelizing. In reality, the issues I'm having may exceed the practicality.
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14 out
of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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8
stars
Wow! Much Better Than I Expected...
by sssprinkle
on
January 12, 2007
Pros: Great Reception, especially for such a small antenna; Ease of Operation
Cons: Antenna Cable Length
Summary: Caveat: I bought the HD Pro Stick to watch HD-TV on my computer, not to record programs. I already own Pinnacle Studio 10.7 so I only installed the Media ...
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Summary: Caveat: I bought the HD Pro Stick to watch HD-TV on my computer, not to record programs. I already own Pinnacle Studio 10.7 so I only installed the Media Center software for viewing, not the recording software bundled with it.
I bought the HD Pro Stick fairly certain that I would return it soon after I tried it out. I live 20 miles from most of the TV stations in my area with tall trees between my windows and the direction of the stations. That distance, combined with a short, old-car-radio looking antenna, made me sure I was going to be disappointed. Installation was a breeze and the software went out and got all the updates right after install. Then, when I scanned for digital channels I picked up 16 of them, including one from Richmond VA, 75 miles away. I turned on the Media Center software and was watching HD broadcasts 5 minutes after installation. And all of them, except for the Richmond station, which kept breaking up the signal, looked great! The Pro Stick is very easy to use and the picture looks so good that I'm thinking of upgrading from my 19" LCD to a 22" 16:9 LCD. I initially installed the software on my desktop which meets the suggested requirements on the package, but after the ease and success with my desktop I decided to install it on a slower Celeron based laptop just to see if it would still work; aside from an initial pop-up warning message telling me my laptop is running slower than suggested requirements the picture is as unbroken and clear as on my desktop. The only con that I found was that, since I wanted to put the antenna in a window, the antenna cable is faily short; so I added a 6' USB extender in between my port and the antenna so I could always stick the antenna in a window. Note: If I try to record an HD TV Program I won't be using the bundled software so I don't envision a follow-up to this review. Bottom Line, the HD Pro Stick is relatively inexpensive and it gives me the opportunity to watch crystal-clear HD TV in a household that doesn't have a Hi-Def television. It's exactly what I wanted and something I just didn't expect from such a small package. A very pleasant surprise.
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10 out
of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Works better than expected
by edinvest
on
May 25, 2007
Pros: Does exactly what I need, records broadcast HD channels
Cons: Not a replacement for a DVR, but I did not intend it to be
Summary: Because of the childish fueding between cable companies and broadcast networks (always at the expense of the consumer - when will we rise up?), ABC and Fox do not allow ...
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Summary: Because of the childish fueding between cable companies and broadcast networks (always at the expense of the consumer - when will we rise up?), ABC and Fox do not allow their signals to be shown in HD on cable. I have to switch to antennae to get them on my excellent Sony HD bigscreen but must watch live to get HD. Can only record those channels on the cables companies' DVR in low definition, which sux. Now I can record in HD, burn to DVD and watch the shows like Lost & 24 in HD. The DVD disks are cheap and I shred them after watching. Small price to pay for quality. Will try to go from computer direct to TV next. Once you have HD, there is no going back. Networks and cable companies, get with it!!!
The device was easy to set up and install and very forgiving. The picture on my screen is excellent. But, you need a loaded computer (fast, good graphics card & large hard drive) for this work at peak quality. I do and very satisfied to solve my problem for this amount of money.
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7 out
of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Best TV Tuner for the money I've seen
by FredHarris
on
August 12, 2007
Pros: It works!!
Cons: None (perhaps the antenna but....)
Summary: I've found no better way to get TV on my laptop! This little usb device worked right out of the package and found all my local broadcast channels and ...
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Summary: I've found no better way to get TV on my laptop! This little usb device worked right out of the package and found all my local broadcast channels and HIGH DEF broadcast channels and those are the ones that I really wanted.
Truly plug and play, install the software and let the TV stick do it';s magic!!
Love the quality, small screen (windowed) or full screen on my 17" laptop looked incredible.
"Tivo" type functions like pausing live TV to answer the phone, record what you're watching and even scheduled recording!
This is the best $99.00 one could spend to get TV on your computer (desktop or laptop) and the only suggestion, especially if you're not near a windows facing your broadcast locations, is that a rooftop antenna be used.
The little antenna that comes with it worked quite well when I was in the right place in the house but not so well (obviously, it's a small antenna) when I moved to the interior rooms.
Besides that, GET ONE! You'll love it.
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3 out
of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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2
stars
Nice concept but not worth the expense
by gruenew
on
February 14, 2008
Pros: It is a small device
Cons: Like watching television through wax paper
Summary: The resolution on analog is very poor. One needs to subscribe to Pinnacle's "digital service" for an extra $129/year. This was not mentioned in the promotion. Would not ...
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Summary: The resolution on analog is very poor. One needs to subscribe to Pinnacle's "digital service" for an extra $129/year. This was not mentioned in the promotion. Would not recommend product unless one is happy with their one-half megapixel camera
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2 out
of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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9
stars
Easy to install. Looks great on my laptop!
by sweetings
on
November 4, 2007
Pros: Picks up all HD OTA. Time-Shifting. 1-year free program guide.
Cons: Having to carry around an antenna.
Summary: I'm not sure why the negative reviewers had such a bad experience. I followed the instructions on the "quick install" booklet for my Dell Inspiron 1520 laptop with 2gb ...
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Summary: I'm not sure why the negative reviewers had such a bad experience. I followed the instructions on the "quick install" booklet for my Dell Inspiron 1520 laptop with 2gb ram, Intel Duo 2ghz, 256mb Nvidia 8600M GT and 1280x800 screen.
The install took about 35 minutes (may vary wtih internet connection). During that time, it scanned all the local HD stations (picked up all of them) and downloaded the programming guide (can use either the free 2-week forecast guide, or free 1-year subscription guide).
So far, I've had absolutely zero problems. I've used it for library study breaks while in law school in Phoenix, AZ. I've only had it for 3 days, but I've watched the 4th quarters of the LSU-Alabama & Colt-Patriots games and the picture looks great (despite my screen's limited resolution). I just finished recording the Amazing Race, which also looks good considering it's not in HD.
Overall, I highly recommend this. Just follow the install instructions carefully. One tip, during the "channel scan" part of the installation process, make sure the antenna is near a window in the direction of your city's HD antennas.
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1 out
of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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1
stars
Return to store
by ericscubaxx
on
October 31, 2007
Pros: You can take it back
Cons: Tried on two laptops and neither worked
Summary: On the first PC, the PCTV found only channels below 13 on my cable with 85 channels. The pictures where blocked up and changed randomly so they did not coordinate ...
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Summary: On the first PC, the PCTV found only channels below 13 on my cable with 85 channels. The pictures where blocked up and changed randomly so they did not coordinate with the sound. The second PC never did get installed right, but after 4 hours I figured I'd buy my wife a new TV or a laptop with the TV built in. Or I could take a day off from work to see if I can get it working.
I'm still waiting to hear from technical support.
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1 out
of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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8
stars
Amazing...Pinnacle product that works!
by shotgunb
on
May 29, 2007
Pros: Excellent HDTV tuner, amazingly compact
Cons: EPG is not very well done, unit gets HOT
Summary: Using with an older 1.73 GHz Pentium M Sony VAIO laptop (close to minimum specs) and it works great. HDTV is amazingly good on the laptop with the supplied ...
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Summary: Using with an older 1.73 GHz Pentium M Sony VAIO laptop (close to minimum specs) and it works great. HDTV is amazingly good on the laptop with the supplied antenna. Have watched for hours with zero glitches or problems. Haven't tried recording, but timeshifting worked like a champ. EPG that is supplied is adequate, but much less flexible and easy to use than standard cable set-top box. REALLY wish you could access the EPG w/o the TV card in to see if it is worth pulling it out, but I could only access it through the mediacenter program (no web access I could find). After years of buying pinnacle products with LOTS of promise that always disappointed, it is great to see one work so well (so far anyway... as I said, haven't tried recording yet)!
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1 out
of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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8
stars
,Worked as advertised.
by mihdnite
on
October 13, 2008
Pros: Worked first time after set up,no debugging required,nice smooth interface.
Cons: Left it in record mode for a long time past the stop time and the program seemed to go corrupt.
Summary: Blew away the competion which I had dabbled with the last five years (Hauppaugauge)Won't regret this purchase.
Summary: Blew away the competion which I had dabbled with the last five years (Hauppaugauge)Won't regret this purchase.
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5
stars
Funny Conflicting
by maanojrakhit
on
May 6, 2008
Pros: Sounds good
Cons: Confusing though
Summary: I read the review highlights. They are so very conflicting. For some it's excellent and to others it's lousy. How does a reader get an idea what to ...
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Summary: I read the review highlights. They are so very conflicting. For some it's excellent and to others it's lousy. How does a reader get an idea what to do from such wildly conflicting reviews?
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