Hi Gang, 'atishoo'

 Loving my new macbook, but currently lying in bed ill. 'cough'

Thing is, we dont have a TV in our bedroom and dont intend on getting one. So as im lay here fiddling with the Mac, it got me wondering how i might be able to watch the tele in bed on the MacBook. I do mean normal sky+ tele. Is this possible? What do i need? Is it just a case of running some cables? Do i need any software or hardware?

Many 'sniff' Thanks (rubs snot on sleeve)

Mark. 

 

Have a look at EyeTV's products. If you have DTV-T where you live, you can connect a USB-stick sized device to your Mac and receive those transmissions.

Otherwise, you can attach an EyeTV unit to your STB, and then run a cable to your laptop -- you can also use a Wireless setup (With an Airport Extreme Base Station).
In my flat, we've access to TV transmissions over wireless.

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/home.en.html 

Hi:

 There is/was also a product called the Slingbox. The Gadget Show reviewed it  a couple of years back. It is meant exactly for your purpose. However, over longer distances. I gather it is some kind of modem device - it plugs in paralel to your cable/sky box and net connection and you then access your cable/sky channels from your PC/mac with the bundled software. I think the idea is that when you are away from home (in a hotel, at a friends) you can watch your programs. Thus this is better than the freeview option in my opinion. However, when I last saw a review of it (about two years ago) the mac version was in development. It also cost around £200. Thus you could buy a decent second hand b&o CRT for that!

 

Thanks

 

Graham

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sling-Media-Slingbox-Digital-Anywhere/dp/B000N3PN7O/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1197539619&sr=8-1

I have a slingbox which I use to watch tv when I'm abroad......Its runs brilliantly on my imac and macbook at home and the software is available for mac os x!! A great piece of kit - well worth every penny

i can highly recommend elgato's gear

i replaced my sony hdr860x that cost £500 and was as noisy as  a vacuum cleaner with a £90 dvb-t elgato usb-2 add on that is silent , very reliable and produces a stunning picture

the eyetv v2.0 epg has to be seen to be enjoyed too ,wipes the floor with anything else i've seen for sheer user friendliness

i particularly love the way you can search via the text box for programmes , say heston brings up charlton heston and heston blumenthal etc etc 

I too can vouch for the EyeTV. Don't have one, but I've seen them in action numerous times and they're fantastic! Even allow you to record the programs etc...

I've never seen the Slingboxes in action, but I've heard good things although I expect the EyeTV will be easier/quicker/simpler/cheaper to set up and get going...

the new ones even have twin tuners , so you can watch one channel and record the other - or record both channels at once!

it even has the option of combining both tuners to compensate for a weak signal 

Do the DTV USB tuners work with the little arial supplied?

It looks to me that the Slingbox AV is the option for me. Not only can i watch my Sky+ box on the Macbook, but i can also watch it on my PDA, anywhere in the world.

I will buy one in the new year.

In the mean time anyone wish to let me know of any pitfalls with the Slingbox, i would love to know.
 

You'll probably be better by the new year Mark! Then you can watch telly downstairs.

Andy T.

Crikey i hope to be better soon as. This bloody cold/flu has been hanging around for over a week now. And im on-call this week.

 

Britpop:

Do the DTV USB tuners work with the little arial supplied?

 

yeah , just not very well in a very weak signal area 

i tried it out on my dad's imac and the reception was terrible , i'd advise a roof aerial preferably with a signal booster ( maplin do some amazing ones )