Geniatech T328B PC/Laptop USB Freeview TV Receiver and Recorder – Support Windows Vista
Product Description
This Geniatech USB Freeview receiver enables you to watch over 30 Freeview channels, listen to over 20 digital radio stations, record your favourite TV programmes on your hard drive with instant, time-shifting and schedule recording modes.
It comes with a user friendly software, a portable TV antenna and remote control. All you need to do is to plug the device into a USB port of your computer, insert the CD and install the software by following the instructions. Your computer will start working as a portable high-definition TV and DVD recorder.
It is compatible with the latest Windows Vista, comes with sleek and compact design and high quality finish.
There may be difficulty to receive freeview TV signal by the included portable antenna in some areas where the signal is not sufficiently strong. This is due to that the freeview service (www.freeview.co.uk) in the UK is not fully operating yet. The reception will be improving along with the progress of Digital Switchover Program. A signal amplifier or booster may improve reception capability in regions where the signal is marginally strong. (please note that reception capability may also be affected by various factors such as proximity to freeview TV/digital radio transmitters, tall building structures, thick walls, ceilings and etc.). A rooftop TV aerial may be required to watch freeview channels in regions where the signal is insufficient for a portable antenna.
- USB 2.0 digital TV receiver, watch over 30 channels Freeview digital TV on your PC or laptop.
- Plug & play, powered by USB port, dimension: 86x29x14mm, weight: 23g
- Universal and regional channel scan, real-time and schedule recording
- Support playback of DVD disks, support HDTV reception
- System Requirements: ·Windows XP/2000/Vista·CPU 600MHz/2GHz for SDTV/HDTV·Memory 256 MB or higher · VGA 16/32MB RAM · Sound card
Geniatech T328B PC/Laptop USB Freeview TV Receiver and Recorder – Support Windows Vista
I chose this over the Freecom, as it was reported as having problems with Vista. This on the other hand was Vista Compatible out the box, so I didn’t have anything to lose.
Received the product in two days, and found a remote control with batteries, tv tuner, mini aerial with magnetic base and cd software/drivers.
Extremely easy to install. Plug in. Install the software from the CD (Do not let Windows perform this) and choose to install Total Media viewing software. I personally use Media Centre that came with Vista Home Premium. It works straight away.
About the service, with the rooftop aerial, I got every channel the household gets. It is preferable to do this, to make sure you can “see” as many channels as possible, even if the signal from the supplied aerial is not so good.
WIth the supplied aerial, after positioning I found it only works well next to a magnetic surface. So I chose my magnetic grill speakers, which the aerial sticks to. I got a strong signal for every channel except ch4, itv, itv2. These are either choppy, or load a black screen. Occasionally, I get ch4 and itv, but erratically.
The product is finished in glossy white, which feels cheap, but looks good. The lid is initially tight, but may get lost in the future, so look after it.
In all, it works well for the price point. I can record shows, and the quality of channels is quite good, especially with widescreen signals. The supplied aerial is very hit or miss, but if you position it correctly, you will be sure to get a decent picture. Just make sure you scan for all the channels with a rooftop aerial first, then use the supplied antenna to find the best position for watching.
Rating: 4 / 5
I recieved the Geniatech USB freeview reciever very quickly and rushed upstairs to see if it worked. I first tried it on my laptop. It was easy to install and the software and drivers were up and running in no time. I first tried to use the provided aerial but I didn’t recieve any signal at all. YOU REALLY NEED AN OUTDOOR AERIAL FOR THIS TO WORK!
No problems for me there though as I already had an outdoor aerial in my room. Quickly plugged that into the reciever and scanned for channels using Windows Media Centre. After 2 minutes of scanning I was up to 60% done and NO CHANNELS! All of a sudden, BAM…70 channels. Everything WORKED PERFECTLY. I was able to easily record programs, even series if I wanted, browse the guides, switch channels, everything.
The bundled software works just as well as Windows Media Centre, but I suggest using WMC just because it looks a little prettier and I think it’s a bit more user friendly.
I only have 2 issues with the Geniatech USB Freeview reciever:
1) The remote control didn’t work out of the box. I read the instructions over and it said not to let windows install drivers when you first plug the USB stick in to your computer. I reinstalled the software and drivers from scratch and then the remote worked fine!
2) The USB stick is a bit tacky and white. It also feels quite weak and easily breakable. When it’s plugged in, it feels loose and hangs out a bit too much. Doesn’t seem to affect the image though so it’s not a major problem.
Also, I’ve used an extra connection from the back of my computer to the scart socket in the back of my TV so I can have a bigger picture than on my 19 inch monitor.
Overall, for this price, why not? Some freeview boxes and recorders cost double the price of this and if you can output the image to a TV from your computer then there’s hardly a difference. Well worth it!
Rating: 4 / 5
Item comes as described casing looks ok and work well with Vista, only issue I had was the install, I had to do a work around as the driver kept coming back with incompatible messages etc. oh and the ariel is useless you will need a different one or plug into home ariel, if you are buying as a portable TV for your lap top don’t bother it won’t work unless linked to a strong home ariel.
Rating: 3 / 5
what a revelation, electronics and software for a PC that works from the off- and works well. I had been thinking of getting a Freeview box with integral disk. However with this small piece of kit I can watch and more impotrantly scedule recordings to disk( not simultaneously unfortunately).
creating DVDs of my wifes favourite programmes was then easy using nero to burn disks. the only negative thing I can say is that here in mid-wales it does not lock on to BBC3 BBC4 although all other freeview channels are fine- 62 signals in total detected, including usual radio suspects and shopping channels. To get these I had to use the indoor ariel usually used with our conventional Freeviw box.
I run this and the supplied media software on an intel dual core desktop and am pleased I had opted for a 450Gb hard drive and an integral DVD WRITER.the mpeg files work out at around 1.4Gb per transmitted hour when recorded and saved to hard disk.
FILM4 TO DVD, who could ask for anything more for under £20.
P.S. correction may 2009: the problem with BBC3/BBC4 noted above is because of the transmission times of the different channels that share frequencies. To get the BBC chanels it is necessary to scan for channels after 7p.m. and this is not restricted to bbc output
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a very simple, easy to use usb tv ariel. I couldn’t be happier with it. Simply plug it in, load up the software, position the ariel and you’re away. It has great features and was well worth what I paid for it. Vista supports it and overall it’s quite a neat little bundle really. Much cheaper than some conventional computer tv products. Make sure that you stick the ariel onto something magnetic because it will boost the signal and give you a better picture. If however, you’re unhappy with the tv signal you recieve I would suggest taking a larger indoor ariel (the kind you get with a portable tv) and plugging it in. I’ve done just that and get all the channels and never get any breaks in signal.
Rating: 5 / 5