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Turning an old Mac into Tivo?
http://skullbrain.org/legacy/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29644
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Author:  ---NT--- [ Tue May 05, 2009 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Turning an old Mac into Tivo?

So I'm wondering if anyone knows how to convert a computer into a Tivo. I have an old Mac Mini that I'd love to do this with. Any ideas? (I'm fairly illiterate when it comes to computers. Google search hasn't helped too much yet.)

Author:  danlord [ Tue May 05, 2009 1:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning an old Mac into Tivo?

I don't know if there is an other solution for this, but here is what I use to use like 10 years ago
you will need a Tv tuner to get the TV signal in your computer

cableBox-->TV tuner-->Computer-->TV

most of the TV tuners came with recording software, some of them with programmable schedules of of them won't, so be sure to get the right one

Author:  Kevlo9 [ Tue May 05, 2009 1:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning an old Mac into Tivo?

Check these...

http://www.macgadgetry.com/2005/02/hacktv-turn-your-mac-into-tivo.php

http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2005/10/how_to_turn_a_m.html

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=256689

http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/08/how-to-turn-your-mac-mini-into-a-low-cost-recording-studio/

I had a Mac Mini and I used VLC to stream movies/content from my PC...it may be usefull.

Good luck!

Author:  ---NT--- [ Tue May 05, 2009 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning an old Mac into Tivo?

I'll have to check out those links. Thanks!
I'm getting rid of our satellite, and will need to pick up a converter box now that everything has switched to digital. Will the converter box act as a tuner? Or will I need to buy a converter AND a tuner? We won't have a cable box of any sort, so will this work by just plugging as such:

TV Tuner>>Computer>>TV

Do I have to have special hardware in my computer for this to work?
Also, I think the only ports on the Mac Mini are USB and Firewire - in order to hook a tuner and a TV into those ports there's gotta be some sort of adapter, right? Or else I'm SOL.

Author:  Kevlo9 [ Tue May 05, 2009 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning an old Mac into Tivo?

Or you can just hook up the Mac Mini to your TV and watch TV thru a number of services and there is always HULU.

Author:  danlord [ Tue May 05, 2009 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Turning an old Mac into Tivo?

yes you will need a special hardware to get the tv-signal to the computer, it doesn't matter if it's cable, satellite or converted box works the same

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