TVMini FAQ

This FAQ covers general questions about TVMini. For troubleshooting, please refer to this page

 

Q: What are the minimum system requirements for TVMini?
A: A Mac with a G4/1.25 GHz, G5 or Intel Processor, built-in USB 2.0 connectivity and Mac OS X 10.4. TVMini will not run on 10.3.9 or below.

 

Q: Does TVMini work in the USA?
A: TVMini is not compatible with the ATSC standard used in the USA/North America and Canada. North American users should consider TVMini HD instead.

 

Q: Is TVMini supported in my country?
A: TVMini supports the DVB-T standard, which is becoming prevalent in many European and Asian countries. Please see the dvb.org website for the current status of adoption of the DVB-T standard in your country. Even if your country has adopted DVB-T, the service may not yet have been deployed everywhere.
Please note that DVB-T is called 'Freeview' in the United Kingdom and 'TNT' in France.

 

Q: What format does TVMini use for recording?
A: TVMini uses the format that is broadcasted by each TV station. Usually, this is MPEG-2, but some countries are introducing MPEG-4 broadcasts. TVMini does not modify the MPEG stream in any way.

 

Q: Does TVMini feature a hardware encoder?
A: A hardware encoder is not required, as the signal is already in digital form and does not need to be converted.

 

Q: Can I receive traditional analogue TV signals with TVMini?
A: No. TVMini only receives digital terrestrial signals

 

Q: Can I connect my cable or satellite receiver to TVMini?
A: No. TVMini only receives digital terrestrial signals

 

Q: Can I connect my VCR or DVD player to TVMini?
A: No. TVMini only receives digital terrestrial signals

 

Q: Does the mini antenna really work?
A: Yes! It will work just fine if you have good reception in the area you live in. If you are missing some channels or the picture stutters, connect TVMini to a roof-mounted antenna, which will provide better reception if the signal is weak. This is especially true in France and the UK, where the DVB-T implementation is not as good as in other European countries.

 

Q: Does TVMini support 16:9 broadcasts?
A: Yes.

 

Q: Does TVMini support surround sound?
A: Yes.

 

Q: Does TVMini support HDTV broadcasts?
A: MPEG-2 HDTV broadcasts (Australia) are supported out of the box.

 

Q: Does TVMini support encrypted broadcasts?
A: No.

 

Q: Can I watch one channel while recording another?
A: No, TVMini integrates a single tuner. If you wish to use a dual tuner solution, check TVDuo.

 

Q: Can I run TVMini on a USB 1.1 bus?
A: No, the bandwidth provided by USB 1.1 is not sufficient to run TVMini. PCI USB 2.0 cards are not supported either. A built-in USB 2.0 bus is required to run TVMini.