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"Integrated wireless not as advantageous as it seems" on by imagesrdecieving
Pros: great picture, easy setup
Cons: silly network integration
Summary: This products works as advertised. Easy setup and good picture.
I basically wrote this review because I felt the need to share upfront that it has a very silly integration to your home network. I bought this device specifically because it has built in wireless access. The problem is the pinnacle box itself won't 'report' to your wireless router. Instead it communicates with a computer on your network that has a wireless connection. Where this becomes a problem is:
in my situation I have a desktop hardwired to a wireless router and a laptop with a wireless card. The desktop and the router are nowhere near my cable box - thus I can't feasibly connect the pinnacle to my router via a hardwire. Should be no problem because it has the built in wireless?
wrong! It will not connect to my desktop thru the wireless router! So where I want to bring my laptop on trips to watch tv - I can't because now my pinnacle has no way to connect to my home network! The laptop is the bridge even though the router is more than capable! Weird design flaw and I now have to spend money to get my desktop a wireless connection(either by usb or pci). -
"Works fine (If you read the fine print)" on by sunset1000
Pros: Remote viewing from up to four video sources. Records to your PC in MPEG
Cons: resolution of 720X480 local viewing and 320X240 remotely. Four Guides to read through.
Summary: Once you realize the marketing hype is just that, and your using PC based video technology to watch something you already have in your living room with FAR BETTER viewing. It’s great!
After reading all four set-up and user guides in the install file, (the only paper in the box is an almost useless quick-start guide) and spending a weekend of fine tuning. I can watch, pause, rewind, and record any of four video sources from my desktop and laptop. However, I can also do that without the PCTV to go HD wireless from my TV, Satellite DVR, security camera and Cable box.
What makes the PCTV to go HD wireless different is that I can record to MPEG and then, by using Windows movie maker and DVD maker, copy the recordings to a DVD and remove them from my DVR and/or hard-drive.
Remotely, you can NOT record, but can watch anything recorded previously, locally, and saved to your laptop or recorded by your DVR or other connected device.
The on-screen remotes work well. After a little tuning I am able to use the supplied double IR Blaster to control my HDTV tuner AND Satellite DVR. One connected to the component input, the other to the composite. The PCTV box on-screen remote changes when the input is selected. I did have to configure the ‘learn’ remote feature for my HDTV.
Bottom line. If you think you’re going to watch HDTV on your laptop while in a hotel room in India, FORGET IT. What you’ll get is a 320X240 mpeg similar to the other video feeds from the internet.
If you want to watch “your home” and any video source ‘from your home’ on your laptop in a hotel room in India, ‘PCTV to go HD wireless’ WILL DO IT. -
"Not as Promised" on by cbkonczak
Pros: Easy to install
Cons: Video quality, IR blaster
Summary: Let's be honest-- the only reason this device would be potentially better than a Slingbox is because you can burn the MPEG files onto DVD...But, buyer beware. I recorded a favorite American Idol performance from my TiVo and it looked good on my 24" digital flat panel. I then burned it to a dvd and played it back on my 57" screen. The video quality was awful. Whatever compression is being used is ruining the burning possibilities. This is advertised as an HD unit-- but the quality is nowhere near 1080i...not even 720I. The IR blaster did not work to control my HR 10-250-- even though it was a standard configuration option. I wouldn't waste your mony for now...wait a couple of generations.
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"Good Value - Pretty good video" on by ldetex
Pros: Bought for $49.95 which also gave me free shipping on other item so net cost was $40. Easy to set up and remote now matches my DTV HR20. Internal viewing works well and wireless signal feeds back through ethernet. Best streaming I have seen over net
Cons: Occasional loss of signal
Summary: I can view my DirectV receiver from any location worldwide, read the guide and select any channel I want. As a test I had my son in Canada download the software, install and use my password to access my Direct TV in south Texas and he had no problems with setup and quality was very good. At home I can record "House" while I watch "NCIS" etc and the TIVO like features allow me to take a break and pick up where I left. Picture quality is better than VHS but not quite DVD. The unit is excellent for web streaming (MPEG4) and is even watchable at full screen unlike most web streams.
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"Great if you can read!!" on by technicallyinclined
Pros: so easy, took me less than 5 minutes to setup stream and record
Cons: If you can't read directions you end up like the poor shmoes complaining; though it can be understandably slow among congestion
Summary: So easy I scoff and those who, couldn't or even had to, read the directions. It's really self explanatory. If it is not controlling your tuner device, then follow the applicable directions and test each option. Slingbox is overly hyped and does not compare to this device's ability to stream and record. I do believe that slingbox intentionally hindered its ability to record content, but like ipod tries to make up for its lack of abilities by suckering schmucks into believing their cooler if they have one. Everyone laugh and point at those who can't record their streaming media, but still somehow facilitate their elitism.
Pinnacle PCTV To Go HD Wireless user reviews
