KWorld ATSC Digital HDTV USB 2.0 TV Stick KW-UB435Q

Testing Configuration

Motherboard: ASUS

Processor: AMD 5600 (dual core 3 gHz, X2/64)

Memory: 3 gB

I ordered this USB stick from Amazon and received it in four days. Good service!

Software install went exactly as listed on the sheet that came with the install disk.

I attached an RCA flat plate antenna with internal low noise preamp to the USB stick. I am using the USB extension cable. I then scanned for channels (as part of the setup), and got all 13 available channels. The scan took about 4 minutes or so, updating the screen to show me what it had found.

Tuning the various channels in a windowed (not full screen) mode displays a signal level meter. Most stations are running between 80 and 100%. I am located 27 miles from the transmitter complex. I love the signal meter display. It is large and responsive when I move the antenna around. The tuner appears to be quite sensitive. I was able to get 8 channels with nothing more than the included whip (magnetic base) sitting on top of a lamp shade.

The display of channel numbers is crude. No use of "-" or "." for subchannels. Channel 13-2 is displayed as 132. This is a very minor point, but can be disconcerting at first. The fastest way to change channels is to just enter the numbers, 132 (from the keyboard), in this example.

The software is very easy to use. I never looked at the manual, just clicked around and was easily able to follow the program flow. After installing, be sure to go to the Total Media setup screen that lets you enable hardware acceleration. (if your graphics chip supports it). With hardware acceleration enabled my processor loading is less than 20%, even while recording HD.

The ability to record, and schedule recordings using the EPG (electronic programming guide) is a nice plus. Playback of recordings looks very good. This software basically gives you a DVR, and you can burn DVDs of your recorded programs if you like. The GUI is not as smooth as my DirecTV DVRs, but it is easy to use and functional. After playing around for a while (that is why bought this thing, isn't it?), you should have no problem navigating.

I like the ability to save the channel list (Export), so it can be imported later. You can save several lists if you like, and only import what you want.

Summary:

1. Very sensitive tuner with excellent signal meter.

2. Feature filled and stable (no crashes) software.

3. Easy to use, intuitive software.

4. Low processor loading on my machine.

5. Picture Quality is Excellent (of course, it's HD)

6. Playback audio is in sync with video (recordings)

7. Live View audio is in sync with video.

Operational Note: If in full screen mode, using all your display area, you can go back to the windowed mode by hitting the escape key. You can also use the menu mode to do screen captures, etc. Placing the cursor at the bottom of a screen will bring up a menu.

It will be interesting to see how reliable this thing will be. It runs warm, and for only 39 bucks, I'm not expecting it to run forever. For now, I'm very impressed!

I bought this product so I could get 1080i local channels through my cox cable provider. The channels are crystal clear. However, the channel set up is a little annoying. It also has a record feature that will make a MPEG file. The burn to dvd disc feature will not work for some reason. I downloaded a copy of EASY MPEG and I now am able to burn 1080i channels to a dvd-r. Overall I am very happy the price was right, I bought mine on NEWEGG for $29.99 + shipping.

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I ordered one of these and was so happy with it I ordered another to use at work. The second I received was "version 2". The case is the same but the LED was a different color. After I installed the drivers and software, it seemed to work OK at first. I then noticed it would not receive half the channels the version 1 was able to. I also noticed the software locked up a lot when version 2 but didn't with the version 1. Because of Amazon's great return policy, I returned it and ordered an "Avertv Hybrid Volar Max Tv Tuner Kit for Windows MTVHVMXSK" as a replacement.

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Works good in Windows Vista 32bit SP2 and Windows XP SP3 and Linux Xubuntu 11.10 "Ocelot"

for ATSC "over the air" viewing -had some trouble with aborted timed recordings.Using "HyperMedia Center" or "TiVme" software for Windows and Kaffeine Media Player for Linux.

With Xubuntu 11.10 "Ocelot", my Kworld ub435-q USB TV tuner works great in Kaffeine Media Player v. 1.2.2 and KDE v. 4.7.4 for "over the air broadcasts" without any modifications.

A) Simply open up Kaffeine

B) choose "Digital TV" in the Start Menu

C) hit "Configure Television" option icon

D) Click on "Device 1" tab

E) Choose "Source" which for me was "us-ATSC-center-frequencies-8VSB" for over-air broadcasts

F) Close window, go back to Kaffeine TV window and click "Channels" option icon

G) In "Channels" window, make sure "Source" is set to "ATSC", then hit "Start Scan" button -the scan took about 3 minutes and 17 channels were found -I believe all that are in my area.

H) Once the scan is complete, highlight all channels found in the right-hand box "Scan Results" (or all that you would like to save) then click "Add Selected" and those channels will then appear in the left-hand box called "Channels"

I) Hit "OKAY" to get out of "Channels" window and you will return to Kaffeine "Digital TV" window with your selected channels appearing in the left margin column.

j) Double click on a channel to select -and now hopefully you are watching !

Thanks Ubuntu and Kaffeine for programming for this tuner.

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Many competing products also work as analog tuners perhaps so you can record analog cable signals on digital. I however bought this so that we could bypass cable TV entirely and since there are no longer analog OTA signals in the US, there was no reason to pay extra for a tuner with analog functionality as well as digital.

Installation? This was the first USB product I have ever tried that Windows (Windows 7 64-bit) didn't recognize and find drivers for. Instead I had to use the CD that came in the package. I didn't bother with the crapware on the CD. I just use Windows Media Center.

Result: it works great. Since all it's doing is getting MPEG-2 files encoded by a broadcaster from radio waves into your computer's hard drive, it'll either work or not. There aren't really any issues of quality to discuss. So far, it's been fine, and a small computer with Windows Media Center has replaced our Tivo HD box in the sitting room. The only thing the Tivo has that this doesn't match is a second tuner; I suppose I could just buy another of these and plug it into another USB port, but so far I haven't felt the need to try that.

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