Question about Walmart $35 DVR

[jimdagys]

Walmart has this standard digital to analogue converter ( to watch on-air broadcast on older TV), but it also accepts a USB stick to record the TV broadcasts.
See here:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/iView-3500STBII-Digital-Converter-Box-with-Recording-Media-P...ingMethod=p13n
I am curious if anybody has used these cheap boxes to record on- air TV shows. I would like to know what bit rate (adjustable or not?) and format (avi, mpeg2 , etc) they record. Also, if you are watching something on-air TV and you quickly decide you want to record it, how much of a hassle is this. (On a VCR just hit the record button; less than 2 seconds of setup time to start recording.)

[usually_quiet]

There is no bit rate adjustment. These converter box/DVR devices record the tuned ATSC transport stream as is, similar to an ATSC PC TV tuner.

[mail2tom]

I bought one for my sister because she couldn't afford cable. The quality of the captures was great but the device seemed to lose the channels on a regular basis requiring constant reprogramming.

[jimdagys]

usually_quiet,
OK, so the format of the recording is .ts? Is that right? Also, if I downloaded a video with my computer and put it on the USB memory stick and insert the stick into this box, what formats can it play? Will the box play AVI, ts, mpeg2, etc?

[usually_quiet]

usually_quiet,
OK, so the format of the recording is .ts? Is that right? Also, if I downloaded a video with my computer and put it on the USB memory stick and insert the stick into this box, what formats can it play? Will the box play AVI, ts, mpeg2, etc?

According to the thread at avsforum it uses MTS format for recordings . I suggest you read through the avsforum thread yourself and get the information you want from them first hand. I don't have an Iview-3500STBII.

[theewizard]

I have the "Mediasonic Homeworx HW-150PVR ATSC Digital PVR Converter Box, Black"

also listed on the page you linked to

almost (2) yrs of use and absolutely no problems

IF you are watching and hit the record button on the remote, it WILL take longer than 2 seconds to start, more like 20-30 seconds
but the recordings are great, No program memory problems with mine
you get exactly what the broadcaster is transmitting
that better be a large USB stick, (1) hr of Hi-def TV is between 4gig and 7gig of data, depending on wheter the broadcast is 1080i or 720p
so if you want to record a series or on a regular basis use at least 32gig or more, i have mine connected to a 2TB external hard drive
if i want to edit the files to remove commercials and save the movie or TV special, i use VideoRedo
the NBC 3hr live broadcast of "Sound of music" was 16gig before editing

[texas1]

I have the "Mediasonic Homeworx HW-150PVR ATSC Digital PVR Converter Box, Black"

also listed on the page you linked to

almost (2) yrs of use and absolutely no problems

IF you are watching and hit the record button on the remote, it WILL take longer than 2 seconds to start, more like 20-30 seconds
but the recordings are great, No program memory problems with mine
you get exactly what the broadcaster is transmitting
that better be a large USB stick, (1) hr of Hi-def TV is between 4gig and 7gig of data, depending on wheter the broadcast is 1080i or 720p
so if you want to record a series or on a regular basis use at least 32gig or more, i have mine connected to a 2TB external hard drive
if i want to edit the files to remove commercials and save the movie or TV special, i use VideoRedo
the NBC 3hr live broadcast of "Sound of music" was 16gig before editing

can you do a mediainfo on one of your files and publish the result here? Would be interesting to see the bit rate and other stuff. BTW, is there a better diagnostic tool than mediainfo?

[theewizard]

here you go, two shows two different broadcasters

short version

General
ID : 299 (0x12B)
Complete name : G:\HBPVR\BONES - PATRIOT IN PURGATORY.mts
Format : BDAV
Format/Info : Blu-ray Video
File size : 6.34 GiB
Duration : 59mn 59s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 15.1 Mbps

General
ID : 295 (0x127)
Complete name : G:\HBPVR\Agents of Sheild 02-04-2014-1959.mts
Format : BDAV
Format/Info : Blu-ray Video
File size : 4.36 GiB
Duration : 1h 1mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 10.1 Mbps

click the links for the full text file of each INFO

[texas1]

thanks theewizard - excellent results with MPEG2 video, AC3 audio, 59.94fps, 720p.
Just wondering though -- the first one was 15.1 MBS; the second one was 10.1MBS. No way to adjust bitrate, true? How can this significant difference be explained? Was there a decipherable difference in video quality?

so it's just a matter of plugging in the USB drive, pressing a record on the remote, and that's it for OTA recording? No antennae?

[theewizard]

its (2) different channels, (2) different broadcast stations
what you see, is what they were transmitting, all stations do not broadcast exactly the same signal

YES of course you need an antenna signal, OTA over the air .. aka antenna, or cable that is in the clear .. no box

HDMI or A/V output. but only antenna Broadcast RF input,

NOT a game box, does not record hdmi

if you have an HD tv you connect to the TV via hdmi cable

if you have an old analog tv, you connect via AV cables

either way you use the PVR as the TUNER to select the channel to watch / or record

just like using a VCR

[wulf109]

Do these boxs accept a channel 3 output from a satelite reciever?

[usually_quiet]

Do these boxs accept a channel 3 output from a satelite reciever?

They have no ability to record analog channels. They can only record from ATSC channels (and possibly clear QAM, depending on the make and model).

[Edit]I can't recall seeing any with an analog tuner. Some (the iView 3500STBII Digital Converter Box is one) have an analog pass-through feature, which means it can pass on the NTSC signals it receives via its RF out to some other device with an analog tuner. The feature is not of much use these these days.

[theewizard]

the Homeworx also has RF pass Thru
i have used it, so that i record one program using the PVR
while watching another different program using the TV's own ASTC tuner

pass thru.
TV set to hdmi
set up and record OTA broadcast
switch TV to Tv/antenna mode
watch a different channel

but i found it easier just to get an inline Rf splitter, and put one coax to the TV and another input to the PVR and then hdmi from pvr to TV
that way i don't have to be concerned about wheter the pass thru is on or off

[jimdagys]

Well, this is all quite complicated. According to what I've read on this thread, these $35 boxes record exactly what was broadcasted on the over the air signal. Is that right? In this case, it is very different from a VCR connected to a Digital to Analogue converter box. A VCR connected this way will always record the exact same kind of analogue signal, no matter what kind of signal (high or low resolution) the broadcaster is transmitting. If these $35 boxes record the exact over the air signal, wouldn't that raise eyebrows (simple, cheap consumer device to record exact digital copy) from the broadcast industry? Another question: if I record a TV program with this $35 box, and try to play back the file on a PC, what free software will play ALL the different types of files that might be recorded with the box?

[jagabo]

If these $35 boxes record the exact over the air signal, wouldn't that raise eyebrows (simple, cheap consumer device to record exact digital copy) from the broadcast industry?

No. You're specifically and legally allowed to record OTA ATSC in the USA. Hollywood hates that, of course.

[usually_quiet]

If these $35 boxes record the exact over the air signal, wouldn't that raise eyebrows (simple, cheap consumer device to record exact digital copy) from the broadcast industry?

No. For years now it has been possible to the same thing with a TiVo, the Channel Master DVRs, or a PC TV tuner. Per FCC regulations, over-the-air broadcasts are always supposed to be copy-freely, which means you can make as may copies as you like for personal use. If you are caught sharing your recordings with everyone on the Internet, you could still find yourself in legal trouble.

Another question: if I record a TV program with this $35 box, and try to play back the file on a PC, what free software will play ALL the different types of files that might be recorded with the box?

The box records MPEG-2 video and AC3 audio to an MTS container. I know MPC-HC, VLC, and Potplayer can play MTS files with MPEG-2 video and AC3 audio, but they are likely not the only software players that do. VLC is the best choice if you need closed caption support.

[theewizard]

i use vlc and mpc for playback, i haven't tried potplayer although i see it increasingly mentioned
someday i guess i will try it

there is only one recoreded format
all files are mts.. makes no differemce which station , 1080i or 720p
the data rate will vary a little depending on the broadcast station, but its all hi-def mts bluray compatible fps, resolution, data rate
standards are controlled by the FCC

[jimdagys]

usually_quiet,
You said the box records MPEG-2 video and AC3 audio to an MTS container.
Question #1
If that is the case, why doesn't the above Media Info (posted above by heewizard) list mpeg2/AC3/MTS? Instead the Media Info
says "Format: BDAV
Format/Info : Blu-ray Video".
Question #2
If the recorded program is mpeg2/AC3/MTS, is there a simple free software that will extract the mpeg2 video and AC3 audio from the mts container? I might want to recode the mpeg2 to a lower resolution/bit rate (standard definition) to play on an older PC. Also, I'm not sure if the audio will be part of the mpeg2, or a separate file. My goal might be to recode the file from the $35 box to one simple mpeg2 file at a lower resolution/bit rate that contains the video and audio together.

[usually_quiet]

usually_quiet,
You said the box records MPEG-2 video and AC3 audio to an MTS container.
Question #1
If that is the case, why doesn't the above Media Info (posted above by heewizard) list mpeg2/AC3/MTS? Instead the Media Info
says "Format: BDAV
Format/Info : Blu-ray Video".

That is because theewizard didn't post the complete Media Info report. If you download the text files he linked to in his post, they say the video is MPEG-2 and the audio AC3. Also, OTA broadcast TV in the US can't use anything else at this time.

Question #2
If the recorded program is mpeg2/AC3/MTS, is there a simple free software that will extract the mpeg2 video and AC3 audio from the mts container? I might want to recode the mpeg2 to a lower resolution/bit rate (standard definition) to play on an older PC. Also, I'm not sure if the audio will be part of the mpeg2, or a separate file. My goal might be to recode the file from the $35 box to one simple mpeg2 file at a lower resolution/bit rate that contains the video and audio together.

Yes, VideoReDo TV Suite ($100). Recordings from broadcast streams often have transmission errors, which other software doesn't handle well. It is rare to get a recording containing absolutely no transmission errors. (At least that is my experience with over-the-air recording using a TV tuner card.)

[KarMa]

Yes, VideoReDo TV Suite ($100). Recordings from broadcast streams often have transmission errors, which other software doesn't handle well. It is rare to get a recording containing absolutely no transmission errors. (At least that is my experience with over-the-air recording using a TV tuner card.)

The better your reception on a given channel, the fewer errors you get. On my OTA channels with the best signal, I rarely get any errors. Some channels go from great to bad based on the sun ionizing different parts of the atmosphere, dense rain clouds, lightning, even heavy wind. Many of my channels come from 100 miles away, and so are more vulnerable to the atmosphere.

[jimdagys]

Recordings from broadcast streams often have transmission errors, which other software doesn't handle well.

I still would like to know if there is free software that will extract the mpeg2 from the MTS container. I'm just experimenting now and don't want to use any pay/trial software. I don't care if the result isn't perfect. Final goal would be to convert the on-air higher definition to a lower resolution/bit rate (standard definition) file that is a more standard file (not MTS).

[theewizard]

you should be able to play and convert the mts video using VLC
you can convert it to another format mpeg avi etc.

i have tried avidemux, and it has problems with mts streams
which is why i use videoredo

almost eveybody prefers free tools
but sometimes, you just can't get a free tool for a particular job

and videoredo is the best tool i have used for mts streams
vlc is NOT an editor, so you are not going to be able to edit out commercials
until you convert the file and then edit with another program
redo will let you edit the mts stream and output an mpeg2 file that you can import into any dvd authoring program

[godai]

im curious its available any dual atsc recorder box?

those chinese boxes not are very friendly for scheduling recordings, im wondering why this kind of item dont get better improve, after several years.

[usually_quiet]

im curious its available any dual atsc recorder box?

those chinese boxes not are very friendly for scheduling recordings, im wondering why this kind of item dont get better improve, after several years.

Yes, but none are simple recorders with VCR-type timers like the cheap Chinese boxes. They have a full program guide and some streaming video apps included. These are the Channel Master DVR+ and Tablo's 2-Tuner DVR, plus of course TiVo's Roamio with 4 tuners.

[godai]

well thing its about affordable price and also available options you can count with one hand.

channel master i guess its over 100 , tablos 200 and tivo cost more and you need a suscription.

[usually_quiet]

well thing its about affordable price and also available options you can count with one hand.

channel master i guess its over 100 , tablos 200 and tivo cost more and you need a suscription.

I never said they were cheap. Apparently there are cord-cutters who want a program guide and streaming apps and are willing to pay extra to have them.

As for the paltry selection of models, there are not many different models of the cheap Chinese boxes with ATSC tuners to choose from either. The small number of OTA TV recorders is probably a reflection of the fact that far more people in the USA are using a paid TV service.

BTW the least expensive Channelmaster DVR+, which uses an external hard drive supplied by the buyer, is around $250. The high price is due to the guide service that you are paying for up front.

[theewizard]

usually_quiet,
OK, so the format of the recording is .ts? Is that right? Also, if I downloaded a video with my computer and put it on the USB memory stick and insert the stick into this box, what formats can it play? Will the box play AVI, ts, mpeg2, etc?

yes my box will play other formats beside mts
i tested it with avi, xvid, mkv

[godai]

well thing its about affordable price and also available options you can count with one hand.

channel master i guess its over 100 , tablos 200 and tivo cost more and you need a suscription.

I never said they were cheap. Apparently there are cord-cutters who want a program guide and streaming apps and are willing to pay extra to have them.

As for the paltry selection of models, there are not many different models of the cheap Chinese boxes with ATSC tuners to choose from either. The small number of OTA TV recorders is probably a reflection of the fact that far more people in the USA are using a paid TV service.

BTW the least expensive Channelmaster DVR+, which uses an external hard drive supplied by the buyer, is around $250. The high price is due to the guide service that you are paying for up front.

very probably and its frustrating , i dont see in detail but i feel DVB-T2 -T1 comes with wide options for dvr, i know some lg tv comes with recording function for example.[dvb]

[digitalfreaknyc]

I have this box
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882576003

It's worked great except for the fact that it doesn't receive the signal as well as it does if I just plug my antenna into my TV, oddly enough. The signal is never as strong.

[theewizard]

that looks like the one i have
in my case, it seems to have a stronger tuner/receiver than my TV,
there have been instances where, i could get a signal lock on a particular channel with the PVR, when the TV tuner would not keep a lock on the signal
i would be watching, not wanting to record , using the TV and have problems, out of frustration i would switch to the PVR for comparison and get a lock and finish watching the show

could be you have a really good tuner in the TV, or just got a PVR with weaker than avg tuner ?