After extensively searching online at several sites for a digital HDTV converter, I decided on this unit as being my best option. I have a home theater projection system and needed a source for free over-the-air (OTA) local TV programing. The combination of great features on this unit at this price point really make it an unbeatable, no-brainer compared to what's available. This is the only decent unit I could find that had HDMI & RBG outputs, a PVR and a nice detailed on-screen program guide (EPG). I really only needed the HDMI out and the program guide, so getting the PVR with the timer to digitally record programs when needed, all in one unit was a nice bonus for sure. I'll be honest in that after reading some of the reviews, I did have some doubts and said a few prayers as I clicked on the "Submit Order" button. My conclusion was that many of the issues mentioned in the negative reviews were likely due to a software glitch, that was corrected with the latest V8 software version - which all the recent units (including mine) had. Whew! And knowing Amazoney's great return policy, I thought I'd be OK, if I did have any issues and had to do a return. After having the unit about 4-5 weeks, I must say that I am about 98% satisfied with my choice and the performance and features on this unit. My only minor complaint is that the clock can only be displayed in 24 hr. format - not a big deal, but having the choice to do the AM/PM would be nice. As with many remotes, this one has a only a very rare hiccup of not responding when a button is pressed.(Again, this has been ONLY a very rare occurrence and I have experienced this on several remotes over the years, as very few remotes are flawless). This is also one of the only few boxes that will connect and work with virtually any viewing set-up - whether you have an old analog tube TV, flat-panel HD monitor/TV or home theater HD projector; so you have maximum flexibility encase you upgrade or change your equipment. The picture and sound quality is excellent - right up there with any pay TV digital HD set-top box I have seen.
I have an attic antenna to receive my local OTA broadcasts and a small amplifier to boost the signal a bit to feed the signal to 6 rooms in my home. The unit connected and set-up quickly and easily. It auto-searched and found 46 local channels here in the Tampa Bay, FL area - so I was both very happy and surprised that there are so many free OTA channels and sub-channels available; many of which weren't on my previous satellite local channel offerings. The majority of these are broadcast in digital HD 720p or 1080i resolution - which is still a beautiful, sharp picture. So I now get a lot more than I had with satellite and all for FREE!! The electronic program guide (EPG) is a nice bonus and something most HDTVs don't even have. It also has very detailed program info when you press the INFO key twice - very nice to see the details on what's on before you decide what to watch. I recently dumped high cost satellite (over $100/month) and also added a refurbed Roku 2XD digital media player unit (see my review here on Amazon) with Netflix & Amazon Prime to stream movies and TV shows, to replace the majority of what I was getting on satellite. I am absolutely amazed at all the free, on-demand content (including music - like Pandora) available and what is also available on Netflix and Amazon Prime for about 1/5th the cost (about 80% less) of pay TV services like satellite and digital cable. So, I just couldn't justify spending so much coin to keep any pay-TV service anymore. And to this point I'm so very glad I did and I'm sure the content will continue to grow.
Anyway, I haven't used the PVR on this unit yet, so I can't comment on it just yet, but I will update my review when I do. I think you'll be quite pleased with the overall performance and versatility of this unit and its likely one of the best choices out there, especially at this price point. As with ALL electronics, I highly recommend reading through the set-up features & choices mentioned in the owner's manual to be sure to get the best and most performance for your particular set-up and situation. Enjoy life and I hope you found my review informative and helpful.
| Brand | Mediasonic |
|---|---|
| Mounting Type | Coaxial,Surface Mount,Plug Mount |
| Number of Pins | 9 |
| Interface Type | RCA, USB, HDMI, Coaxial |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Product Dimensions | 8.7"L x 6"W |
| Material | Metal |
| UPC | 629329006564 |
| Manufacturer | Mediasonic |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00629329006564 |
| Brand Name | Mediasonic |
| Item Weight | 1 pounds |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | HW-150PVR |
| Batteries | 2 AAA batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Black |
