John H wrote:
Hi Frank,
Well,
Firstly re the analogue side of that device....is it compatibale with
Australian Pal system, or for US NTSC system.
(I cant determine where you are located), thus may not or will not work in
Aust if not PAL analogue tuner.
From their website I cant work out if the device is multi system
accessible/selectable or not. ie PAL, & NTSC etc

Thanks for that! I'm from The Netherlands and we also have PAL (like
the rest of the *civilized* world! :-)). The website was Pinnacle's
general UK site, but I will buy the device in The Netherlands, so it
should be OK, but I will check the outside of the package and if it's
unclear I will let them note that I can return it if it's non-PAL.

re Rural areas.
Most have reasonable analogue, but not all, without a High antenna system as
transmitters can be up to 100Kms from where you are.
Some have digital access from transmitters that also are a long way from
where you are.

eg I have a son on a farm 350Kms Sth East from Adelaide in Sth Aust. and
they get local transmitter of analogue about 80kms away with a 40ft mast
plus antenna boosters otherwise only get local translator abou 52Kms away.

Their Digital channels are also coming from the 100Km distant transmitters,
but fade in and out in day and work reasonably at night with the 40ft mast
and antenna boosters.
So what level of signal you would get with a USB or similar receiver into a
PC remains to be seen and will greatly depend upon where you are in the
regional area(s).

Re outback.
Most outback places have just about zero signal for ordinary terrestial TV
unless thay have a satellite dish and get signal from satellite, which has
the free to air stations re-transmitted on them.

So the whole situation could/would be very hit & miss.

Around major cities there should be no problem, but that isnt where you
appear to be going.

My wife isn't going to like it one bit, me putting a 40 feet mast and
electronics in our bags, but heh, *you* said it, not me! :-)

But all kidding aside: Thanks very much for your detailed information!

I'll see how we go. After all, it's only a small device to take along,
not very expensive and it might be fun to play with on these cold days
(it's minus 10 degrees C here)!

Thanks again.