The Terratec Cinergy DT USB XS Diversity is one of the first Diversity devices to reach the market.
Diversity allows you to take the best parts of the signal from two aerial sources and combine them to create the best signal possible.
The box includes everything you will need to use the Cinergy DT USB XS Diversity straight away.
There is the device itself, a USB extension cable, remote, remote sensor, two magnetic aerials, two suction bases, converters for the mini aerial sockets, and the software.
Installation is as simple as inserting the device into a USB 2 socket, popping the driver CD into the drive and installing the software. After plugging the aerials in and scanning for channels using the Terratec Home Cinema software you are free to watch.
The version of Terratec Home Cinema that comes with the Cinergy DT USB XS Diversity includes the Diversity mode.
To test the diversity mode I decided to see if the included aerials were capable of holding a BBC1 signal whilst on the move in a car. I stuck the aerials to the two separate side windows of the car, turned on the Diversity mode, and tuned into BBC1.
I was not expecting the channel to remain watchable, but to my surprise the channel was rock solid whilst I was driving at 40Mph. Even going around corners and driving into built up areas did not disrupt the signal! Quite impressive.
After testing using my laptop - as if I was a mobile user - I decided to see if the little USB device was good enough to use in another of its likely locations, in the home.
The reason I class this as a likely location for use is because media center PCs are getting slimmer and slimmer, and most PCI/PCI-E dual DVB-T tuners are full height cards and won't fit in some of the smaller cases. This means that if you want a dual DVB-T tuner, the easiest way is to use an external one like the Cinergy DT USB XS Diversity.
To test the device in these conditions, I connected it to the Vista Media Center PC that I have been building to replace my Sky+ installation.
I was looking for a USB or half height dual DVB-T tuner, and when I had the chance to test the Cinergy device I jumped on it. The device fills all my needs: it should be reliable and well performing based on my previous tests of the XS's big brother the Cinergy 2400i DT, it is also well built and includes all the necessary drivers for Vista Media Center.
Article comments