Elgato unveils dual-tuner EyeTV Diversity USB stick in the UK

If you didn't bite when Elgato released its pocket-friendly EyeTV Hybrid, you may be interested in its supercharged successor, the EyeTV Diversity. The USB 2.0 stick makes for easy travel, and this rendition sports dual attachable antennas and a DSP, "which uses information from both tuners to generate the best signal possible." Designed to work with DTT / DVB-T signals, the device supports dual tuner functionality, PIP, scheduled recordings via the included EveTV 2 software, and a one-year subscription to the "tvtv" program guide. It touts seamless integration with Toast 7, and even provides easy converting for use on video-playing iPods. The company also notes that 1080i and 720p viewing / recording is possible on Macs housing "dual PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo" processors, and the dual-tuner USB stick can be picked up now on the other side of the pond for €149.95 ($191).

[Via digg]

[Jake Engel @ Nov 7th 2006 4:58PM]

Are we sure this is a "supercharged successor" and not just a UK version of the same thing? Other than using DVB-T instead of ASTC, what does this offer that the Hybrid doesn't?

[Nathan @ Nov 7th 2006 5:21PM]

No, it's not a Euro/UK version of the hybrid (that already existed). This one offers Dual tuners, "Digital Signal Processor", Picture in Picture. Although you do lose some functionality the hybrid has (like connecting a games console).

http://www.elgato.com/matrix/index.php

[William C Bonner @ Nov 7th 2006 5:33PM]

Why would you want multiple antenna connections? I am all for dual tuners, but I'd like them to run off the same antenna.

[kevin @ Nov 7th 2006 6:02PM]

I love my eyetv hybrid. It works perfectly except for the fact I am only using a $10 antenna. My only gripe is that it doesnt support qam which is unencrypted HD from comcast. My friend has an LCD with a QAM tuner and he picks up HBO HD without paying for it. There are sometimes when I would like to have dual tuners to record two shows at once but Im perfectly happy with what I have.

[Eddie Offermann @ Nov 8th 2006 1:33AM]

Mr. Bonner, (and whoever else wonders)

I'll let Wikipedia handle this for the most part since its description is pretty good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_diversity

In a nutshell: provided the design is sound, two antennae do a better job than only one. It's not a "multiple connections" concern, it's an approach to antenna tuning. Because consumers are used to telescoping antennae of (continuously) varying lengths, they're not generally aware of what goes into good antenna design. If an antenna is designed specifically for its intended use, a lot of interesting variables come into play: antenna length vs. wavelength of intended signal, placement of multiple aerials, etc.

[Fred @ Nov 8th 2006 7:54AM]

This could be useful if, for example you can get a good signal for a set of channels for an ariel in one position but not another. The dual tuning is also very good as it means you can watch one channel while recording another (or two at the same time), probably worth the price alone.

[beppe @ Nov 8th 2006 9:17AM]

Beautiful,
does it exist also for PC?
I'd love one.

[Fred @ Dec 14th 2006 10:24AM]

The real advnatage is that you can watch one channel and record another. Alternately, In bad receptiion areas or using the small portable aerials you can get a decent picture .