Using a Plextor ConvertX (PX-TV402U) for PC on a Mac

[jgombos]

Since I bought the ConvertX for Windows, and only have the Windows s/w, I'd like to know how to make this work on a P4 Mactel.

Is the driver built into OS/X?

Is EyeTV the only software that I need to aquire?

I should also add that someone else actually exchanged their whole package (of the PC version) for the Mac version, mentioned in this article part way down the page: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/archives/mar05/031005.html#S18898 - I hope that's not necessary, because it's not even an option for me now that I've had it for over a year.

[rumplestiltskin]

It is probable that you only need the EyeTV software but it would be prudent to contact Plextor tech support just to confirm that the only difference is the software (and not something in the hardware).

[jgombos]

I called tech support, and could not get an absolute answer. He seemed to think the hardware varied, and also claimed that if I had bought the Mac version, I could then easily use the Mac version on the PC - but the reverse is (supposedly) not possible. It does appear to be the case when you look at what Plextor offers, because they sell the PC s/w seperately for the purpose of transitioning from Mac to PC, but they don't sell a supplemental Mac package. I doubt the hardware is any different.

I also tried to get the scoop on where the Mac driver comes from. Is it in the OS, in EyeTV, or seperate? Tech support did not know. So I could not expect the retail version of EyeTV to work. I could only expect the EyeTV OEM CD to work.

So here's the answer: This may be considered sneaky, but the only practical option was to order a lost/damaged replacement CD from Plextor for $20. The trick was to order it for the Mac model instead of the PC model that was purchased originally. In the end, the cheapest way to get the ConvertX to work on both Mac and Windows is to get the PC version, and order the Mac replacement CD.

[rumplestiltskin]

Please let us know how this worked for you. Thanks.

[jgombos]

I received the EyeTV software, and installed it on a blue G3 running Jaguar, as well as an intel-based (P4) mac running 10.4.3. It installed without errors on both, so either it's universal, or it works on Rosetta. However, I ultimately had problems with both.

EyeTV running on the blue G3:

It never finds the capture device. It insists that I configure it the first time it's run, and refuses to go further until it sees the TV402U device that is plugged into the USB port. So I can never get past the initial configuration process.

EyeTV running on the P4:

It finds the TV402U just fine, and launches without issue. However, the input window is black. I have it setup to display the composite inputs. My suspicion is that my fragile nVidia mactel driver cannot process a second video stream properly. My guess is that this would work if I switched to a better supported video card, like ATI.

[rumplestiltskin]

[snip]...as well as an intel-based (P4) mac running 10.4.3.

So you're doing this on a P4 Intel box running the x86 hack of Tiger?

[jgombos]

So you're doing this on a P4 Intel box running the x86 hack of Tiger?

Yeah, that box is definately bleeding edge. Some of the hardware devices don't work at all, or only work partially, and most of them require a hack job to get configured, even onboard components. I was surprised to find that the ConvertX box made more progress into the installation on the mactel than the genuine G3.

[jgombos]

I have an update on running EyeTV and a PX-TV402U on a Mactel Hackintosh, and it's a step back in this case.

Previously, running EyeTV 1.6.3 on osX86 ver 10.4.3 with an nVidia card gave me black realtime output, but the recordings were correct. I could play back a recording just fine. So the nVidia drivers simply were not good enough to support the video features needed for realtime TV output to a window (and they also produced artifacts).

After upgrading EyeTV to 1.8.5 and osX86 to 10.4.6, and switching to the (better supported) ATI Radeon x1600 AGP card, results have worsened. I don't even get an output Window. The ConvertX box is detected fine upon initial configuration of EyeTV, but when EyeTV executes, it no longer finds the hardware. This causes it to fail to produce an output window. Recording isn't possible either, because the input source selectors are nonexistent.

Are there any other Mac based applications that can utilize a PX-TV402U, besides EyeTV?