Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder
The most powerful HDTV recorder for your Mac, the EyeTV 250 Plus combines the advantages of an analog/digital TV receiver and a video converter.
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Overview
EyeTV 250 Plus is a hybrid TV tuner for the Mac with a powerful hardware encoder for higher-quality recordings and smaller-sized video files. EyeTV 250 Plus receives both free over-the-air HDTV, analog TV, and Clear QAM digital cable. It offers a complete solution for moving your video collection from VHS tape to DVD-Video.
Future-proof television for your Mac
EyeTV 250 Plus is future-proof for the upcoming switch to digital broadcast TV in 2009, and is ideal if you want the flexibility of a digital and analog TV tuner together with a hardware encoder in one device. EyeTV 250 Plus delivers free-to-air digital TV to your Mac (ATSC), unencrypted digital cable (Clear QAM), as well as conventional analog TV via standard cable or antenna. EyeTV 250 Plus also comes with a breakout cable for composite video and S-Video, enabling you to connect a set-top box directly to your Mac.
Superb quality digital and analog TV recordings
EyeTV 250 Plus records digital television in a single quality setting--Lossless. The ATSC digital stream is recorded unaltered, so you're getting full-quality HDTV content as encoded by the broadcaster. EyeTV supports closed captioning and Dolby Digital sound.
Convert videotapes into digital files
Use EyeTV 250 Plus to capture video and convert VHS tapes into high-quality digital files. EyeTV 250 Plus' easy-to-use VHS Assistant will walk you through each step, from connecting your VCR or camcorder right through to burning a DVD or sending the recording to iTunes. The iPod Assistant will also help you capture movies from an analog video source, and convert them to the appropriate iPod/iPhone/Apple TV format.
Features
- Powerful TV tuner and video converter
- Hardware compression for better quality recordings
- Receives free-to-air HDTV, unencrypted digital cable (Clear QAM), and analog TV
- Roxio Toast 8 Basic disc burning software
- VHS Assistant to convert videotapes to DVDs
- iPod Assistant to convert analog video to iPod/iPhone/Apple TV formats
- No monthly service fees
- Access to recordings via Wi-Fi on an iPod, iPhone, and selected SmartPhones
- Revolutionary Xceive 5000 silicon tuner and sixth-generation demodulator technology for improved reception
- Searchable Program Guide (U.S. only)
System Requirements
- Mac OS X v10.4 or later
- PowerPC G4 or G5 or Intel Core processor
- 512MB RAM
- Built-in USB port
- An Internet connection to download program guide data
Note: 720p or 1080i HD features require a Dual PowerPC G5 or an Intel Core Duo processor.
Specifications
- Frequency range: 48-862Mhz (VHF and UFH)
- Digital TV standards: ATSC
- Video encoding: High-quality real-time encoding, supports MPEG-2 and MPEG-1
- NTSC resolutions: Up to 720x480, 30 fps
- Variable and constant bit rate up to 15 Mbps
- Audio encoding: MPEG 1 Layer II
- Sampling rates: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and 48 kHz
- Compressed bit rates: Up to 448 Kbps
- Video input: S-Video, Composite (via included breakout cable)
- USB 2.0 interface
- IR remote control sensor
- Power supply: 5V DC, 2A
- Dimensions (LxWxD): 4.1 x 2.5 x 1.14 in./10.4 x 6.4 x 2.9 cm
- Weight: 4.73 oz./134.0 g
In the box
- EyeTV 250 receiver/recorder
- EyeTV 3 software (CD-ROM)
- Infrared remote control with battery pack
- Power supply
- USB cable
- Roxio Toast 8 Basic software
- Break out cable for Composite, S-Video, and Stereo Audio connections
- Quick start guide
Warranty
One-year limited (For details, visit elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/buy/terms.en.html.)
Mfr. Part No.: 10020780
Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service.
Most Useful Reviews
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Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder
Easy to setup - works great!
Written by MG from San Francisco
May 8, 2008
I'm not sure what "BM" is implying by saying it doesn't come with everything you need to start watching TV. Everything is listed on the box it comes in. You buy this thing, you hook it up to your Mac and load the EyeTV software (which is excellent) and you attach your video source (antenna, standard cable, cable box, game console, etc.).
Read description of product:
"EyeTV 250 Plus delivers free-to-air digital TV to your Mac (ATSC), unencrypted digital cable (Clear QAM), as well as conventional analog TV via standard cable or antenna."
Did he think that it came with free cable service or an antenna? Does he want Elgato to specifically state "Video source not included."? Anyway, this is a great product!
…More324 of 380 people found this useful
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Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder
Awesome with Mac mini
Written by CP
May 9, 2008
I have this setup in my living room with a Mac mini connected to my Philips HDTV. The setup wizard made it pretty easy to configure and I'm now happily watching many standard and HD channels from my Comcast cable. The picture is perfect and the recording features are fantastic. I even programmed my Harmony remote so I can operate EyeTV and FrontRow. …More
262 of 310 people found this useful
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Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder
really good but
Written by JE from East Elmhurst
Sep 5, 2008
glad i discovered this gem.
I just took delivery of a 24in imac and this nice little tv reciever saved me $200 because i returned the 22in flat tv that was no longer a neccessity and now i even have DVR for FREE and a tv guide like on sat tv or digital cable. this is great (internet required)
this thing has a fine picturer on my iMac even better than the dedicated flat panel lcd. you can even export recorded shows to your iPod ect ect.
id like to give it a five "BUT" here are my gripes:
The blue led is way way to bright in a dark room
The remote is really kind of Cheesey but it works
There is no control on the remote that will sleep or shutdown the computer. making the remote only useful for changing channels and volume if you are going to bed.
the software will not sync the tv signal comming out of sleep mode if eyeTV was running when you go into sleep mode.
i highly recommend this device.
…More209 of 223 people found this useful
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Most Recent Reviews
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Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder
EyeTV 250 works great
Written by DJ from Wenatchee
Nov 8, 2009
I have purchased two of the 25O plus units for our school. They work great. The software allows fast editing of commercials and exports to every format imaginable. I recommend an iMac 2.66 Ghz faster to keep the export time down. I really like the online channel schedule whereby you can schedule recording and the search box (similar to Safari Google box) that searches all TV programming... titles, descriptions, etc. This makes for fast tracking down of programs you desire to record. The program is stable and well thought out.... that's why I purchased a second unit. …More
8 of 8 people found this useful
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Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder
Very Happy with the 250+
Written by JH from Indianapolis
Sep 3, 2009
The EyeTV Software is great and keeps getting better.
The EyeTV Recorder Box has been very reliable - I've had it for a year and have had to reboot it only 3 or 4 times, usually when the software has been updated or when I've changed how my hardware is configured.
The toughest part for me was the setup of my house. I had to run a coaxial across the entire length of my basement to reach my iMac. Software installed smoothly. Channel scan setup was a bit mystifying at first, but I'm well acquainted with process now after checking with the manual. The manual is very thorough and helpful as are the Elgato forums.
Since getting the 250+, I've returned the cable company's DVR. It has worked out better than I expected it would. A very powerful video product - check out the Elgato site to see all its capabilities. 4 out of 5 stars. …More17 of 19 people found this useful
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Elgato EyeTV 250 Plus Digital TV Recorder
Mostly very good
Written by MB from LaSalle
Jul 23, 2009
Good:
This is a very good product. The software (EyeTV) is easy to use, easy to customize, just easy. The video quality on analogue stations is not perfect, but it's close enough to make me happy. The video quality on digital (QAM) station is perfect.
Bad:
1) The input dongle is positioned at the front of the devise. I would prefer not see it.
2) The blue light on the front is entirely too bright.
Ugly:
1) I only have one real complaint. It's a big one too. From time to time, and only on analogue stations, the video will appear as if it's being strongly interfered with. It will show multicoloured distortions with an increase of 'snow'. This issue will continue until the unit is reset. (toggle the power)
Conclusion:
3 star. I would have given it 5 star except for the intermittent distortion issue. This is clearly a shortcoming.
Note:
I am disappointed with the price point on this product. If I was on a PC, I could reasonably expect to pay half the price for the same functionality. (I'll keep the Mac though) …More16 of 20 people found this useful
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Questions & Answers
Most Interesting
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Can I use this to watch DirecTv on my computer?
- Asked by GL from Los Gatos
- Oct 11, 2009
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Is this product going to work in Vancouver, BC - TV Guide..etc?
- Asked by AZ from Vancouver
- Oct 9, 2009
Best Answer
Yes, you can use it with an antenna to get local over-the-air stations, or you can use it with basic cable. …More
- Answered by ME
- Oct 9, 2009
- 4 of 5 people found this useful
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Will I still be able to record on my dvr? Or can I only record on the EyeTV. We have AT&T Uverse.
- Asked by BP
- Oct 14, 2009
Most Recent
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Can I use this to play my PlayStation 3 online games on my Mac and record play sessions? Like with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2?
- Asked by JO from Haleyville
- Nov 17, 2009
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Is this product going to work abroad? In Europe for example.
- Asked by CF from Washington
- Nov 13, 2009
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Do I need to be hooked up to my macbook to record tv? If I have my macbook someplace else, will it still record?
- Asked by TS from Brewster
- Nov 8, 2009
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Will this work in vancouver BC Canada with the antena ( over the air) if so how many channels will i have?
- Asked by KR from mission
- Nov 6, 2009
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Regarding DirecTV: Can we get the program guide of DirecTV through eyeTV? I am wanting to select programs in advance to record.
- Asked by BH from Bakersfield
- Nov 4, 2009
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If I have HDTV through Direct TV can I use this with Direct TV and still get the HD channels
- Asked by LW from sissonville
- Oct 31, 2009
