Customer Reviews

USB ATSC NTSC Hybrid HDTV Tuner Stick / Digital Video Recorder

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I got this device for my Vista Home Premium notebook. The included software from Arcsoft only found one channel but Vista MC found all of the available channels in our area. Not sure why, I would've thought it was a hardware function. Make sure you have a good computer I can't really use the timeshift/pause function on my budget notebook (T2060 1.6Ghz w/ 1MB ram.)

The USB ASTC/NTSC Hybrid HDTV Tuner/Video Recorder is a inexpensive alternative to buying similar USB TV Tuner you would find at most electronic retail stores at twice the price.

It comes with the necessary accessories: The USB TV Tuner (of course), A/V adapter, a card-like remote w/battery, TV Tuner drivers and manual burnt into a Cd, an external antenna to watch basic analog TV. NOTE: February 2009 analog signals are supposed to be cut off. There is no evidence that this TV Tuner will work as a replacement for a digital converter. Consult your closest tech expert for details.

As far as how it works, it pretty basic. Insert the TV Tuner into your USB 2.0 port after your PC starts up, wait for it to recognize the device, then wait to see if it requires any drivers. Otherwise Stage 1 is complete. Stage 2 is to read the manual from the Cd, where it will tell you to install the TV software to read the USB TV Tuner, called TotalMedia, that will allow to you recognize channels (either analog or cable) and schedule TV recording (like Tivo but not as flashy) and then the IRRecieve program for your PC to recognize the card-like remote that is included with the package. Upon completion of both programs, restart the PC and you should be ready. Picks up channels quite easily and it also recognizes Digital signals, enhancing your DVR capabilites (as long as your PC stays on and has the necessary hard drive space to save the HUGE MPG files (30 minutes is almost 4.5 GB). You can also convert the recorded TV shows to Ipod or PSP formats, if desired.

My only complaint is the external antenna and how it picks up annoying white noise indoors, but outdoors it is fine... but who wants to watch outdoors [in rainy San Francisco...]. Otherwise, great product for the price it is offered at. Worth at least a try!-)

After loosing my desktop which had a TV input from Happuage, I was pleased to get a new laptop, however I didn't want to loose the use of getting a TV input for my new laptop.

After some research I found locally here in my area, most USB attachment models cost over $75 or more. So after searching on amazon, I luckly found this! For the price that you pay, its worth it. I wasn't looking for HD, but thanks to the 2009 change over I have that option now if I don't connect to a cable.

The installation was easy, and the controls are simple. Sure the program you use is sorta a rip off of Media Center, but it works. After the setup I was getting reception no problem. Now I haven't messed the with HD stuff, but I shall later after purchasing Digital Cable services.

For $40 this USB HDTV Input is a steal really. Now its not perfect since Im still trying to get the AV inputs working, but for basic use of television and DVR settings, I like it. Just make the purchase of a fairly LARGE hard drive if your going to record stuff.

This thing works great but make sure you install the software exactly per the procedure in the instructions. Forget the included antenna unless your closer than 10 miles from the transmitter. Using a regular antenna, it pulls in stations almost as well as my new Samsung 5th generation HD tuner. For urban use, a Silver Sensor or a cheap amplified rabbit ears/loop should work well.

I had a problem getting the program to start on my laptop but found out that an old version of Apple's Quick Time was causing a conflict. After uninstalling the old Quick Time and installing the lastest version, everything worked fine.

No QAM tuner is the only downside. But for the price, you can't beat it.
Highly recommend to all road warriors.

I bought this on a whim, to play with. It worked well if you attached it to a good antenna or cable. However, I found a couple of other uses. I have some old home movies on VHS tape. I found I could hook up an old VCR to the dongle and use it to digitally record them. It worked well. Movies we haven't seen in years can now be copied and shared on DVDs.

Had it five months. Perhaps it's the nature of tuner sticks to stutter with over the air broadcasts. Sometimes obvious but most often seen in lip sync and camera zooms. Using a Phenom Quad 2.2 w 256 vid ram on Vista 64 Home Premium, and Philips amplified 5dB boost antenna. Same antenna is fine on TV set and no stutter. Have to move it with weather for tuner to receive. I couldn't get their software to recognize tuner so am using Windows MediaCenter. Tuner seems to take awhile to 'warm up' ... once it picks up one channel others start to show but can take awhile.

HD image is excellent. I'm 12 - 15 miles from Austin transmitters. Included little antenna with it is good for center of city and laptop travel.

Currently there is zero hope of support.

I went by the reviews on here and thought this thing was good but it sucks. it displayed the video(some times) and when it did it looked worse then an sd tv on my hd monitor. i have a dual core and it was lagging and freezing visually and through the audio. hd tuner didnt work. it actually destroyed the cable connection in my room some how. also, the included remote worked when it felt like it. did not work with vista media center and included software took forever to install. Also overheated real easily. stay away from this and spend an extra 60 bucks and get an express card not anything usb.