Kworld USB 2.0 TV Tuner KW-PVR-TV305U

Pros:

-Cheap

-Software works on my VISTA laptop

-Small (plugs into USB)

-Works OK

-Works on both NTSC and PAL formats, nice if you travel.

Cons:

-If you are not careful it would be easy to overtorque the USC connection if plugged directly into your computer due to weight of adaptor and cable/antenna connection. Best to use an USB extension cable to hook to your computer to avoid damage especially laptops.

-HyperMedia software is clunky. No way to resize the window (basically impossible to place a small window in corner of your desktop). No ability to re-order or delete channels after scanning so news channels are together, movie channels are together, fuzzy channels are deleted, etc.

-Haven't tried this myself but I understand it won't work with Vista Media Center. You are locked into the HyperMedia software which is clunky (see above).

Overall it works and is the only tuner I found that does both PAL and NTSC.

I have the analog only and the newer digital TV tuners from KWorld (newer one is called Viore').

But are really good tuners. And they will grab a TV show in very high quality on your hard drive, as advertised.

But the support and documentation is not even close. And the software is buggy. Some help and menu screens are in Chinese or something. My analog tuner wouldn't stay on "antenna" input. It would go there on request, but when the menu closed, the change was not made. Off-air UHF was not possible because it was locked into the "cable" channel lineup.

The digital tuner gets perfect reception on its three inch antenna of most stations within fifty miles. And records broadcast-quality video with no problem. But it does not respond to its remote.

It downloads the program guide information for, say, channel 19. Then you switch to channel 5, and it shows the pg info for both channels, mixed. Two shows (or more) on at the same time, with no indication which channel each is on. It's only supposed to be showing you the pg for the channel you're on. But it's unable to clear its memory of previous listings, so they get jumbled, confused and useless.

Would I buy another? Maybe. They perform their core function very well, and they're cheap.

Couldn't install on Vista, although I hear there's a workaround. Do they work on a Mac, does anybody know?

And yes, use the extension cord. It's never good to have sticks protruding from your laptop, waiting to get bumped and snap off the USB port from your motherboard.

Buy Kworld USB 2.0 TV Tuner KW-PVR-TV305U Now

The quality of the picture is ok if you want to watch live tv on your pc. But, if you want to record the video like I wanted to, the quality of the picture isn't the greatest. I was probably asking too much for a $40 product.

Read Best Reviews of Kworld USB 2.0 TV Tuner KW-PVR-TV305U Here

Simple use and installation with quality picture and plenty of features for my use.

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I bought this in the US and tried it in the UK. It did not pick up any TV channels. Channel 4 (the name only) appeared on the screen once, then disappeared. I would not recommend it.