Thursday 21 November 2013

Power outage digital TV solved!


Today I installed a (very) cheap TV capture device on a Windows 7 notebook.

It was a struggle. It fought as hard as it could. But the little so and so lost.

I got it for about $30 from DSE at Strathpine. It was a returned item, so $10 off. It did not contain all the packaging, the remote control was missing.

So it was a 'bargain' .....

Here's the link to the product:  http://search.dicksmith.com.au/search?p=R&srid=S10-AUSYDR02&lbc=dse-au&w=xh0836&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dicksmith.com.au%2fcomputer-accessories%2fgadget-geek-usb-hdtv-tuner-stick-dsau-xh0836&rk=1&uid=342777129&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=eT6zuzPRX6w34Ba5&method=and&isort=score&view=list



First I tried it on a Windows Vista laptop. The driver installed easily but the media software would not accept the serial number on the package label. I went to the product website in search of an answer.

Nothing about the software serial number but there was a reference to "don't use the software on Windows 7 computers since it conflicts with Windows 7 Media Centre".

I thought... this means that it will work without the dud media software on the disk if I install it on a Windows 7 computer!

So I did that next.

The tuner picks up all the standard DVB stations but doesn't do too well if you use the little portable antenna in my house. (I think I was expecting that...)

Here is a fuzzy, out of focus Loch Ness monster hunting style picture I made with my Android phone of it plugged and working. So that's proof..... :-)


It's plugged into a TV cable from the bedroom TV which I'll have to put back when this blogging is done.

Main aim here was achieved.

The number 1 kid was been glum and mopey whenever the traditonal late spring Brisbane afternoon thunderstorm causes a power outage such as last Monday. Y'see this amounts to  denial of her pleasure of afternoon ABC3 Kids Avengers or Amazing Spiderman (etc etc).

Since the shutdown of analogue TV last May little battery operated portable TV's don't work too well in that situation because they do not have digital tuning stages.

Now with charged laptop battery and a USB DVB dongle she'll be right to go. The kid whinge factor will be ameliorated! (Or to put it another way, customer satisfied!)

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Launch

Well, this is probably a little inauspicious really..... but it's a start.

This is the first flyer for my new micro repair business.