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Reviews with images
So much tech in such a tiny package
My TV supports ATSC and all the features that come with it but I was missing the PVR/DVR function which I had with cable subscriptions in the past. I normally don’t watch that much live TV but sometimes watching the news or some other program where some detail is missed, and I wish I had a way to skip back to listen or see it. This box provides exactly that feature (plus more).Once a hard drive is connected, the pause/play button can be used to activate the timeshift feature which allows you to rewind live TV. The device also allows users to setup recording for future shows from the electronic program guide.In terms of form factor, I love the size of this device. It’s very compact and literally fits in the palm of my hand. It’s actually smaller than my Google Chromecast remote. That means it can fit discreetly out of sight. It also helps that the IR receiver is connected externally via a dongle. So the device can be in the back of a cupboard/cabinet and the IR receiver can be positioned in a hidden spot to receive the signal and to show the status of the device (eg. current channel).This device is not all roses though. For starters it’s a bit slow to boot and the interface is also clunky with the UI text tending to be large and taking up most of the screen which makes it a bit cumbersome to navigate.
Top reviews from Canada
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Reviewed in Canada on May 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in Canada on June 7, 2024
Reviewed in Canada on April 3, 2024
The tuner stick comes with an HDMI cable, 3.5mm to RCA cable, USB-C power cable, MiniUSB IR sensor, remote, adhesive pads, user guide, quick setup guide & warranty statement sheet.
First Impressions / Install / Use:
Connecting the device to my TV was very simple, USB power & HDMI connected to the TV, coax cable to the device. Following the setup instructions and you’ll be up and running within minutes.
During the setup it will perform a channel scan either via cable or antenna. I normally run over an antenna and the device was able to locate 45 channels. Once the channel scan was complete, I was ready to watch TV. Only a few other minor options to setup (time, aspect ratio, PVR).
The IR module shows Boot when you power on the device and provides device status during the setup, channel scan, what channel you’re on and the time when the device has been powered off via the remote.
Comparing the video quality from the Mediasonic tuner vs the digital tuner built-in on my TV and I found the video quality was slightly lower on the Mediasonic device. Although the video was clear it seemed to have a bit more graininess/artifacts vs my TV. Also, when you press the Info button for the channel, it shows the signal strength and found that the Mediasonic received approx. 20% less than my TV, so this will cause glitching in the video broadcast if the signal drops too low. I already have a signal booster connected and was still 20% less.
One of the best parts of the device is the fact that it has a PVR function. It can perform manual or scheduled recording of live TV, just like the VCR’s of the past. You will need to plug in a USB drive into the USB-A port on the side of the device. I connected an 8GB thumb drive and performed a format from the menu. It seems it supports the NTFS file system as that’s what my key was formatted to and it read it properly.
Recording of the currently viewing broadcast is as easy as hitting the record button on the remote. Funny enough, it’s difficult to locate the record button as you’d assume it would be with the other playback buttons and maybe in red, but nope, it’s near the bottom above the number pad.
Accessing the drive to playback the video is a matter of pressing the red USB button and going into the PVR menu. I recorded a 1920x1080 broadcast and found it recorded, but the audio was out of sync. I checked the same video file on my computer and it seemed to play perfectly fine, so the tuners’ processor may be slightly lacking to playback the videos properly. Video seemed to be the same as the original broadcast, so no video quality loss from what I could see.
I tested a scheduled record of a show by going into the EPG and selecting a show. I tried to select a show approx. 1-2mins before the start time, but the system would not allow me to select it, so I had to select something at the next block that would start 30mins later. Not a lot of options available to choose when setting up the scheduled record, so it’s fairly simple. Since the EPG has all the date/time info of the show, no need to enter a start/stop time. Once set, you’re good to go and turn off the TV & tuner.
Turning off the TV actually caused me a slight issue as the device runs off USB power. The manual recommends to connect to your TV, but I would definitely not recommend this as power will be cut from the device when you turn your TV off. This will prevent the tuner from recording scheduled shows. I’d recommend connecting to a power adapter, similar to what comes with your phone. This way there’s always power and your scheduled shows can record even when the TV is off.
Once connected to a USB adapter and not to the TV, I tried to check the scheduled record to see if it was still there, but there is no button to access the schedule. The only way I could get back to the list is by going to the EPG, selecting a different show to schedule a record and then cancel the schedule and at this point the previously scheduled jobs would show. I would prefer an easier way to access this list via the remote.
Since everything was still scheduled, I powered off my TV and the Tuner via the remote and waited. After the scheduled time was complete, I checked the PVR and found that the show was recorded successfully. Playback was good and there was no lag in the audio as the video was only 704x480 so the device was able to keep up with the decoding at the lower resolution.
One additional feature is that during the recording process, it also captures the closed caption streams, so you have your subtitles if required. This can be enabled on the computer, not on the device.
Although you can playback the videos on the device, you cannot fast forward/rewind the video, so you have to watch from the start to end. Luckily, playing the videos on your PC allows you that ability.
Video File #1 Details:
- Resolution: 1920x1080
- Data Rate: 16999kbps
- Frame Rate: 30fps
- Video Codec: MPEG-1/2 Video (mpgv)
- Audio Bit Rate: 192kbps
- Channels: 2 (Stereo)
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Audio Codec: A52 Audio (aka AC3) (a52 )
- File Type: .MTS
- File Size: 35s = 72.9MB
Video File #2 Details:
- Resolution: 704x480
- Data Rate: 16000kbps
- Frame Rate: 30fps
- Video Codec: MPEG-1/2 Video (mpgv)
- Audio Bit Rate: 192kbps
- Channels: 2 (Stereo)
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Audio Codec: A52 Audio (aka AC3) (a52 )
- File Type: .MTS
- File Size: 30mins = 863MB
Pros:
- Provides an ATSC tuner for your older TV (if you don’t have one built-in on your TV)
- Has the ability to manually record or schedule record of your favourite shows via it’s PVR function (after connecting your USB drive, which is not included)
- Full EPG Guide providing TV schedule without the need for internet
Cons:
- Signal strength is 20% less than my TV and found the video glitches a lot during playback and when recording
- Device is not capable of keeping up with 1080i video playback which causes audio sync issues, but luckily works fine when playing the videos on the USB drive on a PC
- Unable to fast forward/rewind the recorded videos when played on the device (works if played on a PC)
- You need to connect to a USB adapter (not included) if you want to use the scheduled recordings as the device will turn off when the TV is turned off if using the USB port on your TV
Final Impression:
Overall, the Mediasonic Homeworx HW135STB digital ATSC tuner & PVR worked well. It provides access to HD broadcasts over antenna if your TV doesn’t have an ATSC tuner. Definitely a big savings vs having a cable subscription. The PVR function works well and can record your favourite shows even when you’re not at home via the scheduled recording so you’ll never miss an episode. Just a few issues in regards to playback and signal strength. Playback is not that big of an issue as it can be played back on a PC, but the signal strength will be an issue as it will cause glitches/pauses in the video which watching or recording.
Watch Free TV Over Digital Antenna, Record Shows Via PVR, But Has Signal Strength & Playback Issues
Reviewed in Canada on April 3, 2024
What's Included:Reviewed in Canada on April 3, 2024
The tuner stick comes with an HDMI cable, 3.5mm to RCA cable, USB-C power cable, MiniUSB IR sensor, remote, adhesive pads, user guide, quick setup guide & warranty statement sheet.
First Impressions / Install / Use:
Connecting the device to my TV was very simple, USB power & HDMI connected to the TV, coax cable to the device. Following the setup instructions and you’ll be up and running within minutes.
During the setup it will perform a channel scan either via cable or antenna. I normally run over an antenna and the device was able to locate 45 channels. Once the channel scan was complete, I was ready to watch TV. Only a few other minor options to setup (time, aspect ratio, PVR).
The IR module shows Boot when you power on the device and provides device status during the setup, channel scan, what channel you’re on and the time when the device has been powered off via the remote.
Comparing the video quality from the Mediasonic tuner vs the digital tuner built-in on my TV and I found the video quality was slightly lower on the Mediasonic device. Although the video was clear it seemed to have a bit more graininess/artifacts vs my TV. Also, when you press the Info button for the channel, it shows the signal strength and found that the Mediasonic received approx. 20% less than my TV, so this will cause glitching in the video broadcast if the signal drops too low. I already have a signal booster connected and was still 20% less.
One of the best parts of the device is the fact that it has a PVR function. It can perform manual or scheduled recording of live TV, just like the VCR’s of the past. You will need to plug in a USB drive into the USB-A port on the side of the device. I connected an 8GB thumb drive and performed a format from the menu. It seems it supports the NTFS file system as that’s what my key was formatted to and it read it properly.
Recording of the currently viewing broadcast is as easy as hitting the record button on the remote. Funny enough, it’s difficult to locate the record button as you’d assume it would be with the other playback buttons and maybe in red, but nope, it’s near the bottom above the number pad.
Accessing the drive to playback the video is a matter of pressing the red USB button and going into the PVR menu. I recorded a 1920x1080 broadcast and found it recorded, but the audio was out of sync. I checked the same video file on my computer and it seemed to play perfectly fine, so the tuners’ processor may be slightly lacking to playback the videos properly. Video seemed to be the same as the original broadcast, so no video quality loss from what I could see.
I tested a scheduled record of a show by going into the EPG and selecting a show. I tried to select a show approx. 1-2mins before the start time, but the system would not allow me to select it, so I had to select something at the next block that would start 30mins later. Not a lot of options available to choose when setting up the scheduled record, so it’s fairly simple. Since the EPG has all the date/time info of the show, no need to enter a start/stop time. Once set, you’re good to go and turn off the TV & tuner.
Turning off the TV actually caused me a slight issue as the device runs off USB power. The manual recommends to connect to your TV, but I would definitely not recommend this as power will be cut from the device when you turn your TV off. This will prevent the tuner from recording scheduled shows. I’d recommend connecting to a power adapter, similar to what comes with your phone. This way there’s always power and your scheduled shows can record even when the TV is off.
Once connected to a USB adapter and not to the TV, I tried to check the scheduled record to see if it was still there, but there is no button to access the schedule. The only way I could get back to the list is by going to the EPG, selecting a different show to schedule a record and then cancel the schedule and at this point the previously scheduled jobs would show. I would prefer an easier way to access this list via the remote.
Since everything was still scheduled, I powered off my TV and the Tuner via the remote and waited. After the scheduled time was complete, I checked the PVR and found that the show was recorded successfully. Playback was good and there was no lag in the audio as the video was only 704x480 so the device was able to keep up with the decoding at the lower resolution.
One additional feature is that during the recording process, it also captures the closed caption streams, so you have your subtitles if required. This can be enabled on the computer, not on the device.
Although you can playback the videos on the device, you cannot fast forward/rewind the video, so you have to watch from the start to end. Luckily, playing the videos on your PC allows you that ability.
Video File #1 Details:
- Resolution: 1920x1080
- Data Rate: 16999kbps
- Frame Rate: 30fps
- Video Codec: MPEG-1/2 Video (mpgv)
- Audio Bit Rate: 192kbps
- Channels: 2 (Stereo)
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Audio Codec: A52 Audio (aka AC3) (a52 )
- File Type: .MTS
- File Size: 35s = 72.9MB
Video File #2 Details:
- Resolution: 704x480
- Data Rate: 16000kbps
- Frame Rate: 30fps
- Video Codec: MPEG-1/2 Video (mpgv)
- Audio Bit Rate: 192kbps
- Channels: 2 (Stereo)
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Audio Codec: A52 Audio (aka AC3) (a52 )
- File Type: .MTS
- File Size: 30mins = 863MB
Pros:
- Provides an ATSC tuner for your older TV (if you don’t have one built-in on your TV)
- Has the ability to manually record or schedule record of your favourite shows via it’s PVR function (after connecting your USB drive, which is not included)
- Full EPG Guide providing TV schedule without the need for internet
Cons:
- Signal strength is 20% less than my TV and found the video glitches a lot during playback and when recording
- Device is not capable of keeping up with 1080i video playback which causes audio sync issues, but luckily works fine when playing the videos on the USB drive on a PC
- Unable to fast forward/rewind the recorded videos when played on the device (works if played on a PC)
- You need to connect to a USB adapter (not included) if you want to use the scheduled recordings as the device will turn off when the TV is turned off if using the USB port on your TV
Final Impression:
Overall, the Mediasonic Homeworx HW135STB digital ATSC tuner & PVR worked well. It provides access to HD broadcasts over antenna if your TV doesn’t have an ATSC tuner. Definitely a big savings vs having a cable subscription. The PVR function works well and can record your favourite shows even when you’re not at home via the scheduled recording so you’ll never miss an episode. Just a few issues in regards to playback and signal strength. Playback is not that big of an issue as it can be played back on a PC, but the signal strength will be an issue as it will cause glitches/pauses in the video which watching or recording.
Images in this review
Reviewed in Canada on May 16, 2024
Top reviews from other countries
Richard D Jardine
Quite Pleased With HW135STB Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024Verified Purchase
Joseph Clarke
Works as described.
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024Verified Purchase
mike gischel
woks good
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2024Verified Purchase
tundramelt
customer service is there, but it's slow and can be inattentive to inquiry details
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024Verified Purchase
Donald
Updated review to 5 stars.
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024Verified Purchase
