TV converterbox / PVR

[Tom_M1]

I just ordered a HomeWorx HW-150PVR ATSC Digital Converter Box w/ Media Player

It looks promising as a cheap PVR. You add a USB storage device and it supposedly records in HiDef.

I purchased it from Newegg.com. If you are a Newegg registered user it sells for $37.99 using promo code EMCWXTW234 (as of 10/31/13). I believe the code is only good for one day.

Mediasonic link
Newegg link

[MrWizard]

ant > PVR > usb hard drive
hdmi cable from PVR to TV

PVR/tuner receives signal and records to the usb HD

pvr tuner is ALSO media player and will play the recorded program and display it on the TV

[TurnThePage]

Well, that appears to be a bust. It found 243 channels. Only a few of them actually had content, and it wasn't the kind one would generally be interested in recording. Four local access channels and a bunch of music channels that kept cutting out. I couldn't find any regular (ABC/CBS/NBC/Etc.) channels. I've switched it back to OTA and it works better but not as well as it originally did. Time for bed. I'll explore it more tomorrow.

[TurnThePage]

1492 wrote:

BillyW wrote:

Did your unit come with v8 initially? Mine did. I tried the v13 update, and the unit just immediately restarts. It won't actually do the install.

Yes, mine came with v8. No problem updating. Try quick reformatting the USB flash drive w/fat32.

That did the trick!! I was totally unwilling to format my current USB stick because nearly all 64Gb were full. I scrounged around and found a 2Gb that worked perfectly after formatting. It's in the middle of the channel discovery process as I type. THANKS!

[1492]

BillyW wrote:

Did your unit come with v8 initially? Mine did. I tried the v13 update, and the unit just immediately restarts. It won't actually do the install.

Yes, mine came with v8. No problem updating. Try quick reformatting the USB flash drive w/fat32.

[John___Angela]

BillyW wrote:

1492 wrote:
I did update my HW-150PVR to v13 QAM firmware. Very easy and quick. It will add the "cable" option to Signal Type. Though haven't tested it as I'm using this specifically for OTA channels.

BTW, Newegg has both the Homeworx HW-150PVR(w/promo code: 1127BF10) or the iVIEW-3500STBI(w/promo code 1127BF09) for $32.99 w/free ship.

Did your unit come with v8 initially? Mine did. I tried the v13 update, and the unit just immediately restarts. It won't actually do the install.

Ours came with 12 but could not see the ATSC/Cable choice in the menu. V13 fixed that.

[TurnThePage]

1492 wrote:
I did update my HW-150PVR to v13 QAM firmware. Very easy and quick. It will add the "cable" option to Signal Type. Though haven't tested it as I'm using this specifically for OTA channels.

BTW, Newegg has both the Homeworx HW-150PVR(w/promo code: 1127BF10) or the iVIEW-3500STBI(w/promo code 1127BF09) for $32.99 w/free ship.

Did your unit come with v8 initially? Mine did. I tried the v13 update, and the unit just immediately restarts. It won't actually do the install.

[1492]

I did update my HW-150PVR to v13 QAM firmware. Very easy and quick. It will add the "cable" option to Signal Type. Though haven't tested it as I'm using this specifically for OTA channels.

BTW, Newegg has both the Homeworx HW-150PVR(w/promo code: 1127BF10) or the iVIEW-3500STBI(w/promo code 1127BF09) for $32.99 w/free ship.

[John___Angela]

1492 wrote:
Here is the HW-150PVR V13 QAM firmware. I'm not sure why Mediasonic doesn't post it on their own forum site for convenience, as this QAM firmware download link was apparently posted by them on another support forum. You can find firmware update instructions here.

Thanks, beat me to it.

[1492]

Here is the HW-150PVR V13 QAM firmware. I'm not sure why Mediasonic doesn't post it on their own forum site for convenience, as this QAM firmware download link was apparently posted by them on another support forum. You can find firmware update instructions here.

[John___Angela]

We found V13 which adds it. It wasn't on the main page. I'll see if I can find it again.

[1492]

Someone posted a Homeworx v12 firmware link on AVS, but doesn't appear to be available anymore?

[TurnThePage]

Tom_M wrote:
Unfortunately this will not work for you. It will only record an RF ATSC signal coming from an antenna or channels from unencrypted QAM cable feed.

Apparently unencrypted QAM is no longer supported. They had a firmware update (v12) that added it, but it's been removed. I bought one, hoping to use it with cable and OTA. It doesn't work with cable at all. I'm thinking about returning it, even though otherwise it appears to be a pretty darned good unit.

[MrWizard]

OK did a timed record this morning of 'figure skating' on NBC for the DW
it worked correctly, and i now have a 2 hr 12.3 GB recording for her to watch

[John___Angela]

LittleBill wrote:
ok for you guys that have this, will this work with an analog signal?

im not looking for guides or anything. im simply trying to use this with comcact DTA box, which converts the encrypted signal to analog

im simply trying to find a replacement for a vcr. i just need it to be able to record analog stuff on channel 3 or 4, nothing else

it mentions analog pass through but does not mention if it can record that????

Sorry Bill. As Tom said this will not work for you. Curious though, what is your source of the analogue signal. Getting rare these days. We use ours exactly as you describe (a simple VCR) but with over the air signals and clear cable. Our local cable has no analogue signals nor is there any over the air. Hope you find what you are looking for.