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Installation:
The beauty of modern USB devices lies in the fact that installation is something that can be done by cavemen. All you have to do is plug it in.
The next step is to decide the source of your broadcast. If you are going to go over the air, then plug the antenna into the coaxial connection. Here the antenna is fully retracted; once extended it reaches approximately three feet long. Another option is to plug in your existing rooftop antenna or a powered antenna that will run about $40 at Best Buy.
If you want to input video from S-Video or Composite, just plug in the dongle. This could be very handy for anyone using an analog only video camera as well. The Software:
The software for the PCTV is a fairly simple affair, but not devoid of features. Most importantly, the setup, such as channel scanning, is very easy to do. The software also includes a one-year subscription to the premium program guide.
Here is another settings screen that show the video capture options. The capture can be done in some basic codecs, and more can be purchased relatively cheaply from the Pinnacle website.
Also included with the PCTV HD Pro is a copy of Pinnacle VideoSpin, a basic functionality video editing program. There isn't much in the way of must-have features here, but may be of some interest for those who only have a casual interest in editing.
Above is the other main screen for VideoSpin. Here is where you take your edited video and figure out how you want to encode the file. One nice little handy feature here is the ability to compress your video and upload straight to YouTube or Yahoo. Performance: So now, we must come down to the results. Does digital really make everything better? The answer is yes and no. The problem with broadcasting over the air is there is always going to be interference. How well the technology is able to cope with interference determines the consumer's overall experience. What I have found with digital broadcast is, compared to analog, it is very much an all-or-nothing kind of experience. What this means is that, when a channel gets good reception, the quality far surpasses the capability of analog. On the other hand, any significant interference with the digital broadcast can make a channel unwatchable, and channels that get poor reception will not be seen at all.
This means that having a proper antenna set up is crucial in order to receive adequate reception. In this regard, the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick is no different. When connected to the same powered antenna that runs to my set top boxes, the performance right on par, with most of the channels being accessible. When switching to the regular antenna, performance was spotty at best; I suspect this has more to do with where I live than anything to do with the unit itself. Conclusion: In my mind, the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick could potentially be a very handy device to have, if your needs are fairly casual. Neither the hardware, nor the software will make it worthy to be the main connection for an HTPC; however the small size and ease of installation makes it ideal for laptop users who may like to have TV on the go, or to be able to capture video out in the field, or for someone who only occasionally watches television on their PC. Pros:
Cons:
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