Pinnacle intros PCTV HD Ultimate USB tuner

It looks like those that weren't satisfied with Pinnacle's previous USB HDTV tuners for one reason or another now have yet another option to consider, with the company recently introducing its new and improved PCTV HD Ultimate USB stick. As before, this one packs an antenna to pick up ATSC digital TV signals, and it'll of course pick up plain old NTSC analog TV if you so choose. Unlike previous devices from the company, however, you apparently won't have to install any software to use it, and you'll even get some built-in flash storage to record up to two hours worth of content. If that's enough to push you over the edge, you'll be able to grab one of 'em next month for for $130, with a desktop version also available for $80.

[gsbrock1 @ Sep 20th 2007 2:13PM]

I could be wrong, but looking at the box picture yall posted... isn't this the first one to support Clear QAM tuning?

[Dante @ Sep 20th 2007 4:44PM]

Good eyes, that is great. The previous version did not work on Clear QAM signals, so it went back. I will be picking up this version.

[Namssorg @ Sep 20th 2007 2:12PM]

Nice Fedex/Kinkos/Picasa logo.

[Tiffany @ Sep 20th 2007 5:19PM]

Fedex/Kinkos/Picasa/E-Trade logo.

[NHAnimator @ Sep 20th 2007 3:14PM]

"you'll be able to grab one of 'em next month for for $130"

Now, getting it out of the blister pack... that's another story.

[Larz @ Sep 20th 2007 4:29PM]

It's clamshell not blister.

[zed @ Sep 20th 2007 3:38PM]

Pinnacle charges for driver updates...

[Xee @ Sep 20th 2007 5:07PM]

Wow, QAM support. First time I've seen that . . .

^
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Sarcasm.

Buy an OnAir HDTV GT tuner; it's got probably the best multipath performance out there and can do a lot with a weak signal.

[01 @ Sep 20th 2007 7:01PM]

What's the difference between the (presumably laptop)$130 model and the $80 desktop model?

[Beamey @ Sep 20th 2007 7:45PM]

$50 dollars?

[that kid from the Simpsons. @ Sep 20th 2007 8:02PM]

The $80 version is most likely PCI. No need to cram it all into a nice little plastic shell.

[Shane @ Sep 20th 2007 8:44PM]

Great...I JUST bought the USB PCTV HD Pro!

[Phour ZwanZig @ Sep 20th 2007 10:27PM]

Yeah, I wish I waited now.. I bought the Pro a few months back.. Now Im sad, I wish I had QAM tunning.. I knew I shoulda waited.. Oh well, guess Ill put off till the CCard adapters are cheaper and able to fill a PCI bay..

[Fruition @ Sep 21st 2007 1:59AM]

I'm in the same boat. I'm kinda wishing I waited.

[Medezark @ Oct 11th 2007 9:39PM]

I got one today, circuit city. Clear QAM support is not available yet (drivers dont support it). They don't anticipate even a BETA of QAM drivers until November. How they can be sure they'll even get QAM working with no drivers is beyond me. Almost seems like false advertisement. Very dissapointed in general

[Eric @ Oct 19th 2007 10:23PM]

There are Beta QAM drivers available here:

http://pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/PCTV+Tuners/PCTV+Digital+PVR+%28DVB-S_DVB-T%29/PCTV+HD+Card+Support/Download+Area/Beta+Drivers?mode=documents

It works (sort of), but I am having trouble with media center accepting the new tuner. I may need to remove my old tuner for now.

[Steve @ Dec 17th 2007 7:37AM]

I bought this the other day. First I tried the antenna I got two bad channels. I then split the signal from my cable modem. I got more channels and a better picture. Not a good one though. I took out the splitter and ran new Coax from the booster that connects to my digital cable & HD TV. I had an open port. I ran the scanning process again I got the same analog channels but they come in clearer but not perfect, no digital at this time. I found the beta drivers on the Pinnacle website I down loaded those and ran the recovery tool. I ran the scan again and there was an option for the clearQAM digital channels. The scan found them but I do not get any picture I have tried about 20 to 30 digital channels so far. I am running Vista any ideas ? the cable company is COX.
S

[Bob F @ Feb 12th 2008 11:17PM]

I just spent a week in frustration with this device, although at one point, I DID receive approximately 15 channels over QAM from Cox Cable, likewise, using the beta TvCenter PRo. The drivers from the beta release appear almost identical, so I don't think there's any improvement there. Rarely does the thing actually work until I mess around, remove files, reinstall, reflash, reboot reboot, replug, reboot, reinstall, etc.etc. What a lousy software implementation. The video capture has a slight delay to it also, makes trying to play the PS3 (via S-video input) on the laptop impossible for games.

But in answer to your question, it does work over QAM and Cox. While it took forever to scan 400 channels, and the encrypted channels won't show up, the local stuff did. OTA with the antenna, I was able to pick up about 7 stations.