EyeTV compatibility with newer iMac models for broadcast TV recording

I'm using EyeTV 4.0.0.0 v8532 on an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) with Sequoia 15.4. It works beautifully, and I'm able to record all my favorite broadcast TV shows, movies, sports, etc. I keep a library of digital videos on external drives. Despite my machine asking if I want to update "tonight" or "later," it fails to install the update. I assume this is Apple's way of saying your machine is too old, so "buy up" if you want to continue using your Apple products. Apple doesn't make a 27" machine anymore, and at 83, I need a big screen to zoom into the text! If it is time for a new iMac, I'm hoping to utilize the same EyeTV product. If not, I'll have to pony up $80 a month from Comcast for the same broadcast channels and recording isn't allowed.


My question: is anyone with a newer iMac machine (2024/25) using EyeTV (thumb drive) successfully today?




[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: EyeTV and iMac Sequoia

iMac 27″, 15.4

Posted on Nov 2, 2025 4:29 PM

Reply
8 replies

Nov 3, 2025 2:13 AM in response to TheOS2Guy

According to some of the posting in link below


Specifically >>. EyeTV 4.0.0 (8532) works fine and no issues with MacOS 15.2 (24C101) on an Apple Mac Mini M2 Pro with the "EyeTV Hybrid" USB stick (ATSC, not DVB). I am using a high-performance external Thunderbolt disk for both my EyeTV archive and also other video recordings. 


Using a Mac Mini Pro with Apple Silicon works


Though, purchasing one of there machines Now would probably mean it would come with macOS 26 Tahoe


The latest and greatest offering from Apple


To get the 27 " Display we seniors may need


You do not have to purchase Apple Displays link those listed in below link ( a pretty penny I dare say )


Purchase a 27 " or larger Display of your choice


I am using the M4 Mac Mini ( 16 GB Unified RAM/ 500 GB SSD ) with an older 27 " Asus VP 278 Display on Tahoe 26.0.1 and work just fine in general usages


Displays




Nov 3, 2025 2:24 AM in response to TheOS2Guy

Part 2 and specifically regarding the update from " iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) with Sequoia 15.4. " and " if I want to update "tonight" or "later," it fails to install the update. "


There are factors:


Some which are beyond your control and those which are totally under your control


Like poor Wifi connection


Slow wifi connection


Too many other people downloading at the same time and Apple  Servers are overloaded


Software on the computer interfering with the download process including AntiVirus Software


Notation: Disabling the AV Software may or may not solve the issue. Removal of the AV Software may increase the chances of the download to perform as expected.


Running behind a VPN which may increase Packet losses or corruption of the download 


Turn off any Third Party Two Way Firewall and try again 


If via wifi  & too many Other devices using the wifi at the same time reducing the Bandwidth to your computer. 


Best Results are via Ethernet Cable to Router


Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal 


Try Again using the Software Update Applet in System Preferences / Setting 


Worst case - Restart in Recovery Mode and choose Reinstall macOS. 


This in theory will pull the latest version of macOS this computer qualifies to run 

Nov 3, 2025 1:48 PM in response to TheOS2Guy

TheOS2Guy wrote:
Despite my machine asking if I want to update "tonight" or "later," it fails to install the update.

Owl-53, one of the "MacOS gurus" on this site, has great suggestions.


One thing you can do is: (1) restart the Mac and make sure nothing is running except the Finder; (2) then go to Software Update and instruct it to update immediately (sometimes this is through a restart now button or other similar button). Before doing that, check the Applications folder for a previous downloaded MacOS installer and remove it and empty the trash if you find one there. When you tell it to update now, at that point, the Mac should restart start to do the update.


[Caveat: if you haven't updated in a while, you might be surprised at how many times the Mac restarts in the process. By patient. The screen also goes blank several times, and the computer can appear to be "dead," but it is in fact very alive and when its screen is blank or black like that, it is most likely updating the firmware. That is a crucial step and it can look blank/black for 60 seconds or more, but it is key to just leave it alone. 60 seconds is a long time when one is watching. I have a philosophy: "a watched update never seems to complete," and "a watched backup never seem to finish." So best to leave the room for at least 30 minutes, maybe an hour or more, and leave it alone to do what it needs to do. Also, these updates take longer on older machines. The last 15.7.1 update I did on an M3 Mac took < 15 minutes but it took ~ 45 minutes on my 2019 Intel MacBook Pro.]

I assume this is Apple's way of saying your machine is too old, so "buy up" if you want to continue using your Apple products.

I don't think that is the case. In fact your 2019 iMac should be able to run the latest version of the OS, Tahoe, as can my 2019 MacBook Pro 16". They are supported and it should work, but it is good to check compatibility of the newer MacOS with things you have installed or connected before upgrading.


Apple has no need to nudge owners of older Macs to upgrade. Most of Apple's profit comes from iPhones anyway, not from desktop Macs. And there are not that many people still using 6-yr old Macs. The company I work with mandates replenishment of all desktop and laptop computers every three years.

Dec 4, 2025 10:53 AM in response to TheOS2Guy


Dec 2025: Ok. I still don't have an answer. Is any iMac user out there using EyeTV Hybrid (thumbdrive) successfully on the 2025 iMac 24"? I don't care about other devices because I don't use them. I'll live with a 24" screen because I need the newer features. Apple keeps making me 'buy up" or lose decades of data, features, programs. I've used EyeTV since 2002 when introduced by ElGato then sold in 2016 to Geniatech. Back when you recorded on VHS, EyeTV allowed you to connect your VCR and convert that tape over to digital and I had a basement of more than 3,000 films, Specials, TVshow, etc and it took me two years to transfer everything over to disk drives. I knew back then that someday, if I had my own Video Library, I could avoid what was inevitable - charging people money to see what was originally broadcast freely over the air. I still get all of that today, 63 broadcast channels with just the little antennae they included in the box. It snaps to the top of my iMac. Once recorded, I remove the commercials, save the video off to an external "Video Library" drive and watch it whenever. I just need someone out there to say, Yes, I have EyeTV Hybrid plugged into one of two USB ports (instead of four prior to 2025) and it works perfectly. I have a new iMac sitting in my Apple cart, I just need to know if I can use it with EyeTV Hybrid. Thanks. Hope I'm not being too obnoxious but at 83 we get cranky because ... I want it to work and I don't have all the time in the world!

EyeTV compatibility with newer iMac models for broadcast TV recording

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