Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick HD TV Tuner - Watch TV to Go on your Notebook!! Plug-n-Play! - Refurbished

This was such a waste of money. The tuner is so much less sensitive than that in my Sony Bravia V series HDTV. It has trouble picking up clear HDTV channels that the Sony displays without problem. The DVR software is a resource hog, using 100% of CPU when recording, and gets so choppy, it renders the recording unusable. Also, while in recording mode, and with the CPU running at 100%, you lose all control. I used it with an XP MCE running 3.1 GHz with 1GB of RAM.
 
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I haven't had the opportunity to test it to its fullest extent, but so far everything works as expected. It's very easy to set up and use. I already have Media Center on my desktop, so it wasn't a new experience to use it on the laptop. All in all, a good deal for the price.
 
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After reading some of the reviews on this product, I was a little apprehensive when buying this refurbished (open box) item, but I gave it a go anyways. ($41 total with Google checkout $10 off offer and free delivery can’t beat that; Cheaper than buying a $200 dollar TV) I’m overall happy. No problems with ordering, checkout and receiving, it came on the exact date they said it would. I opened the box (not the original packaging) and found all the original parts with CDs and instructions. It has lots of warnings about it being an opened item, and a warning on the antenna’s magnetic base. After plugging the USB tuner to my vista laptop, I connected it to a regular UHF/VHF (OLD may I add) ac powered indoor antenna. I installed the PCTV software that came with it and I was up and running in no time. I could get more than I thought analog and HD channels + some radio. I could probably see even more if I had a rooftop antenna. I also tried it with my regular analog Comcast cable. I re-run the settings scan and I got all my 70+ cable channels. I tried using windows media center, but it cannot use the tuner at the same time if the pinnacle TV center software is installed. Once I un-installed the PCTV software, I followed the instructions and ran the PCTV MCE Vista set up from the windows media center folder in the installation CD. With the OLD antenna I get 6 beautiful HD channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and a Christian network.) I also tried the portable antenna that comes with the tuner, but did not get much, maybe 4 HD channels. The features with Media center are nice; program guide for all the channels with extra info, the capability of recording and a zoom to adjust the screen size among others. The USB tuner does get a little warm, but not as hot as others mentioned, and there is a voice (audio) delay in a lot of instances. Once you change the channel it goes away and comes back. In my opinion is due to processes in the computer or the quality of the cable signal or connection. Same with the Cable signal being grainy is probably due to the signal, connection or cable hardware. If you are able to connect and watch both cable and antenna at the same time I suggest using the PCTV software, because it scans for all signals. Media center is nicer, but it only scans for one or the other (as far as I could test…) and going through the set up process on media center is a little slower. The remote is nice, cannot use it with W Media Center, but my Dell vista comes with a remote so I’m able to use that. Not bad for the price. …always be sure to read and follow the directions when installing any new product.
 
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I had purchased one of these about a year and a half ago and loved it. Now at work, we wanted to be able to display television on 13 different screens around the plant. So I purchased 2 more of these and put them on the computers driving the screens. Now we see the HDTV on the displays. For the price, it serves its purpose. I now use my laptop for my TV and receive 23 High def stations in my area without using Cable or satellite. The software doesn't have the greatest interface, but it's fine... and the remote is kind of handy at times.
 
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I've had this device for a few weeks now and have not yet tried it out so I guess I really can't give an accurate review. However, after reading the literature that came with the device, I find that it can only be installed on ONE computer. They didn't tell me that at Buy.com. My intention was to use this on my desktop and laptop both of which I plan to replace in the next few months. Well, if this software/hardware can only be installed on one device....I don't want to install it on a computer that I'm getting rid of in a few months and then not be able to use it again!...How stupid is this? (and what about my laptop???). I emailed the Pinnacle folks for an explanation, clarification, or other suggestion for this predicament but they have yet to respond. I have installed the software, set up the hardware but have not activated it yet as I'm, waiting for their response. On further investigation it appears this device may not pull the cable stations directly off the cable (it's not clear in the literature) but will have to be downstream of the cable box...which would mean it could only be tuned to the single station the cable box is tuned to (that would defeat the whole purpose)....I still don't know as I still can't use it...I'm waiting to hear from Pinnacle! It's very frustrating and disappointing! I'm standing by!
 
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total waste of time and money-useless on a cable system-ease of operation and picture quality total crap to but it mildly.But the good news is that I bought it on sale and didn`t spend the big bucks needlessly.
 
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I bought this device from a big box store on sale. It has largely been a disappointment. The only HD the device will tune in is from over-the-air signals (the included antenna is not impressive). If you're cable company uses QAM encoding you're out of luck. The unit will definitely tax your USB power. It is hot to the touch when running. The worst feature of this product is the included software. Clumsy and unstable are the kindest adjectives I can apply to it. There are much better products available on the market from Haupage, ATI and MyHD.
 
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