ATSC Digital Converter Box for TV, HDMI Cable Recording PVR Function Output USB LED Timer Display AT-300
Brand | ViewTV |
Number of Channels | 1 |
Video Input | Composite, USB, HDMI |
About this item
- Function: Convert Digital TV Broadcast to your Analog TV and use as Personal Recorder with a USB drive. Also compatible for HD TVs or monitors and projectors via HDMI. Not a replacement for your Cable box
- Output: Receive HD (720p) and Full HD (1080p) Channels with an antenna (sold separately except in bundle). Reception and number of channels will vary on location and the type of antenna used
- Features: Auto Tuning, Program guide, Recording PVR, Closed Caption, Favorite Channel List, Parental Control Function, 12 Hour Time, and LED Time Display
- In the Box: ViewTV AT-300 , New Upgraded Remote, 1 Composite cable, 1 HDMI Cable (Signal Meter NOT included)
- USB Multimedia Player: Plays Divx, AVI, MKV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264/AVC, VOB, MOV, FLV, and VC-1
Similar items that may ship from close to you
- Amazon Basics 4K HDMI to HDMI and Audio (RCA Stereo or Spdif) Extractor Converter (Supports Apple TV, Fire TV and Blue-Ray Players), BlackFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- HAUPPAUGE WinTV-DualHD Dual USB 2.0 HD TV Tuner for Windows PC 1595,BlackAmazon's Choicein Internal TV Tuner & Video Capture CardsFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- THE CIMPLE CO RF Modulator - RCA Composite to RF Coaxial - Converts Standard Definition Signals to Coax, Includes AV CableAmazon's Choicein RF ModulatorsFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- SDI to HDMI Converter Adapter Mini 3G HD Sdi Hdmi Adapter for SD-SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI SignalsFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- RF Modulator RCA Coaxial Adapter UHF Demodulator Composite Converter w/Antenna (ANT) in/Out & Channel Switch for Roku Fire Stick PS3 Cable Box HD Digital AV Component Video to Analog NTSC Coax TVFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
- SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex Duo 2 x ATSC Tuners - HDFX-2USFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Monday, Apr 1
Product Description
Have an old tube TV with an analog tuner and want to bring it back to life?
Have a new HDTV and want to add a recording feature to it?
Look no further than the Viewtv AT-300 ATSC Digital TV Converter Box. It is the latest model in the ViewTV line of free tv solutions.
All you need to do is hookup a digital TV antenna to your AT-300! Want to record? Just plug in a flash / thumb drive or an external hard drive into the USB port on unit, and you're ready to go!
Features:
- Converts digital broadcast to your analog TV
- Cable loop through
- EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) and program information
- Favorite channel list
- Parental control function
- Auto tuning (finds all digital broadcasts)
- AUTO, 16:9 Pillar Box, 16:9 Pan G Scan, 4:3 Letter Box, 4:3 Pan G Scan, 4:3 Full, 16:9 Wide Screen
- Closed Captioning
- EAS (Emergency Alert System) to alert you of any emergency information from TV stations
- Full function remote control
- Real time recording and appointed recording
- 1080P output / CVBS output
- Timing startup and shutdown
- USB multimedia player
- Front Panel 12 Hour Time Display
In the Box:
ViewTV AT-300 Digital Converter Box
Remote Control
HDMI Cable
Composite Cable
NOTE: - Please do NOT purchase this device solely for QAM/Cable use. Please be advised that it will work ONLY with DECRYPTED channels. It may NOT work with most Cable providers.
- New HDTVs WILL allow you to watch one channel using TV's digital tuner and record another, but you MUST enable "Loop Through" Under MENU/ Channel Search/ Modulation.
- IMPORTANT: European DVB-T RF signal is NOT supported and will NOT work!
- Please REMOVE Clear Plastic Covering from the top of Viewtv Box before use! It cause's box to overheat!
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Package Dimensions | 9.53 x 8.35 x 2.2 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 1.7 pounds |
ASIN | B01MF9X5V9 |
Item model number | AT-300 |
Customer Reviews |
3.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #220,829 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #44 in Analog-to-Digital (DTV) Converters |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | October 19, 2016 |
Manufacturer | ViewTV |
Feedback
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the value of the digital video recorder, saying it's well worth the price. They also like the picture quality. However, some customers have reported issues with the responsiveness and buttons. They say the menus and remote buttons are extremely convoluted and oddly-named. Customers also dislike the channel guide. Opinions are mixed on quality, ease of setup, and performance.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the picture quality of the electronic signal converter. They mention that it provides a good picture display without need for the user to adjust anything. Some say that the video quality is not terrible, and the HDMI is a better picture than the analog out. They also say that it has sweet uncompressed high fidelity, and that the quality of recording is excellent.
"...The picture quality seems to be quite good, but my viewing distance is less than 10 feet, and my TV isn't the size of a billboard...." Read more
"...Their screen images, set-up procedures, screen layouts are absolutely identical. So it probably doesn't matter what brand you buy...." Read more
"...picture quality is superb both live and playback...." Read more
"...Feb 2020 - Now once I pause TV and then un-pause to watch, the picture jitters or pauses briefly every 10 seconds or so...." Read more
Customers like the value of the electronic signal converter. They mention it's well worth the price, cheap, and does not require a subscription.
"great value despite its downsides. as others have written it reboots randomly even with external power suppply...." Read more
"...anything else that can record over the air TV and they do not require a subscription fee...." Read more
"...Cons:* The remote stinks. Literally. It gives off that "cheap plastic" smell and would not go away even after cleaning it and letting it sit..." Read more
"...It is pretty good for it's price--only $39 at the time I purchased it...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the signal converter. Some mention that it works good, is pleased with the results, and is accomplishing its intended purpose. However, others say that the remote feels like it isn't working most of the time, is unusable in the way they originally intended, and that the buttons are cheap.
"...It also became useless and would not un-freeze. Many people have written in and described the EXACT same problem...." Read more
"...The remote for this device has large dimensions, great buttons, and works fine. The only problem is, the remote must be pointed directly at the box...." Read more
"...the remote is very weak and needs to be pointed exactly at the receiver and from less than about 10 feet...." Read more
"...So far, it's been working great. The setup was very easy and intuitive and it has been working perfect ever since. I leave it on 24 hours per day...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the digital video recorder. Some mention that it mostly records reliably, has an excellent digital tuner, and records well from standby. However, others say that it's clunky to figure out how to do it, and that it won't record anything.
"...picture quality is superb both live and playback. great tuner, finds and shows more stations than the tv can and more than a fancy tablo does...." Read more
"...Included in the package, is a pair of AAA batteries, a rather stiff HDMI cable, (and unlike previous models) an A/C power supply that can be replaced..." Read more
"...Overall, I would say this unit is very well built and does the job of bringing in distant TV station in HD very well...." Read more
"...I was also able to view a recorded program by plugging the flash drive into my Windows laptop and using VLC viewer...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of setup. Some mention that the setup was very easy and intuitive, and the programming is not difficult. However, others say that the interface is basic, and not always intuitive. The few pages written do not give good instructions on its features or how to use this, and that the user interface is a little rough. The operating manual is really bad and takes some getting used to.
"...Except for playing files in the pvrlist, operation thru the menu is never difficult...." Read more
"...button is the same size, the buttons are tiny and they are not logically laid out...." Read more
"...So far, it's been working great. The setup was very easy and intuitive and it has been working perfect ever since. I leave it on 24 hours per day...." Read more
"...Update 9/6/2020: the documentation is abysmal...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the channel guide of the electronic signal converter. They say that it would not receive some channels, would not change channels, volume, or record. They also mention that the remote does not work properly and that it freezes on channel 40. Some customers also say that the box receives fewer channels with worse quality than a built-in tuner in their old TV. Customers also say the CC does not works on every channel while viewing and does not show at all during. Depending on where you live, it may not tune all your available channels.
"...-Depending where you live, it may not tune all your available channels!..." Read more
"...I have only two complaints with this unit. First, the channel selection is very slow. It could take up to 5 seconds to change stations...." Read more
"The good:- Tunes all the ota channels I was expecting.-..." Read more
"...That one stinks! Well the biggest issue was, it didn't receive my channel (MeTv), from the exact same antenna that others did...." Read more
Customers have negative opinions about the buttons on the electronic signal converter. They say that the menus and remote buttons used are extremely convoluted, oddly-named, and not intuitively labeled. They also say that there are many buttons on remote, and some of them serve dual purposes. Some customers mention that it takes multiple pushes of buttons on a remote to work some times, and that most buttons don't work.
"...There are many buttons on the remote, and some of them serve dual purposes. For that reason, there may be several features, hiding among the buttons...." Read more
"...They are: located at the bottom of the remote, each button is the same size, the buttons are tiny and they are not logically laid out...." Read more
"...I can say the remote control is much more impressive than a competitor that I went through previously (two of the competition boxes)...." Read more
"...fixed that by buying a $11 remote extender 👍🏻. The controls on the remote are hopelessly laid out...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the responsiveness of the electronic signal converter. They mention that the names of the functions make no sense, the remote can be slow to respond, and the menu and interface seem pretty slow to response. They also mention that fast forwarding didn't really work, and that the performance is not acceptable.
"...-Recording time is seriously limited unless you're a professional nerd. See above...." Read more
"...of box is really not super user friendly with the remote, or the slow 'boot' up, or the tv guide...." Read more
"...I did have problems fast forwarding through recordings if I went faster than 2X though...." Read more
"...the game ended I replayed it from the beginning, but fast forwarding didn't really work...." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
As you can see from the reviews posted here, this is the page where the AT-300 was sold. But, at the moment, "currently unavailable". Information on the page changed over time, but still carried the terms, "AT-300" and (New Model). In late 2017, I received an AT-300 thru this page. But in early 2019, I ordered thru the link in My Purchases to this page, and received an AT-263 which I had to return. There was no error on my part, I checked the info on the page before placing my order.
When this item arrived back in November of 2017, I tested the device with an analog TV that had composite video only, and was satisfied with the operation and performance. The box that I received - Model: ATSC / SW version: Oct. 28, 2016, 14:00:41 / HW version: 7802-ATSC-26.
In February of 2018, I pulled the box from storage, and learned that when using an HDMI cable, the audio was silent. The settings in the box (and the TV) were not at fault, and I checked the HDMI for audio in PCM and RAW modes, but no sound. Changing the cable did not help. Still, I'm happy with audio & video thru the red/white/yellow composite wiring, and the box works great. But should COMPOSITE fail, I would not have the option of HDMI.
The remote for this device has large dimensions, great buttons, and works fine. The only problem is, the remote must be pointed directly at the box. There are many buttons on the remote, and some of them serve dual purposes. For that reason, there may be several features, hiding among the buttons. The manual does not help with this. Included in the package, is a pair of AAA batteries, a rather stiff HDMI cable, (and unlike previous models) an A/C power supply that can be replaced. The AT-300 does not need or have vents on top, and is nearly twice the size of the smaller AT-263. The AT-300 case has a very nice appearance and a large green display. The software appears to be the same in both models.
There are a number of lesser and greater bugs.
Bug 1 - when playing files with the media player, every time a file is closed, the menu kicks the selection bar, back to the beginning of the list. To find a file and resume play, an annoying search must be conducted.
Bug 2 - when the media player is in-use and the ASPECT button is pressed, "Invalid" is displayed on screen. The aspect feature does work, but only during a live broadcast. Together with Bug #1, this makes performance during playback, much less than expected.
Bug 3 - when playing a recorded file, the info box that displays is too small. Add to that, a fuzzy shade of light gray, and little contrast shows, making the text hard to read. The date & time of a file in the pvrlist, helps with finding that file, and resuming play (as in Bug #1).
Bug 4 - when viewing a live broadcast, the info box that displays, sits too low on the screen, and the extreme lower portion of the message box isn't visible.
Bug 5 - bug 5 is scratched, cancelled, trash-canned. A "direct access to the book list" was found thru on-screen instructions. Just press EPG, then INFO, and the scheduled recordings (the book list) will appear.
Bug 6 - the clock insists on displaying a time that is two hours later than my time zone.
Bug 7 - occasionally, the EPG will display program start-times that are minutes earlier than top-of-the-hour, along with stop-times that are also minutes early. The clock is set to Auto. Is this faulty broadcast information, or does the clock lose sync with the broadcaster ?
Bug 8 - the file sizes written to the flash drive are double what I expected.
Bug 9 - the manual needs more detail concerning operation of the remote & box. There are buttons on the remote having a dual-purpose, but the functions are not listed in the manual. There is a PAUSE button and a HOLD button. The Hold is Full-Screen, not Pause, and that's okay. But the dual-purpose buttons have no label, and a hidden secondary function works only when a specific screen is displayed. The manual could help.
The most unusual bug, and I still find this hard to believe, is that after 3 days of power-on, the menu is displaying bits of color. A green hi-lite bar appeared in the list of movies that lie outside of the PVR folder. The gray bar still made the selections, but the brite green bar marked the previous file, and that helped. In the EPG, a small orange dot appeared from nowhere, and marked each show (or book event) as I entered them into the Book List (schedule). A welcome feature, because I could now see what was programmed in the EPG, without going to the Book List. Perhaps there will be additional color embellishments that awaken soon. :)
Here is an unknown feature that I discovered with the remote. Description: Using the on-screen keyboard, you can rename .mts files in the "pvrlist". Just press the PVRLIST button on the remote, then press the TIMER button, and the on-screen keyboard will appear. This is a lot like the remote command in Bug #5.
Hit the PAUSE button on the remote during a live broadcast, and a blue/red indicator bar will appear at the bottom of the screen. Whatever you see from that point on, will now be recorded until STOP is pressed. Hit the PLAY button to see the recorded live video again, during the current broadcast. I believe this is the Timeshift feature. Whether the recorded file will remain afterwards, I don't know.
I have the AT-300 connected to a digital TV. My main interest lies in recording, and using the box as a media player. During a book event (when the PVR is writing a file), I like to watch other channels. With no existing analog TV, the digital-to-analog conversion on Ch3/4 serves no purpose. So I have the loop-through function enabled, rather than Channel 3 or 4. LOOP THROUGH allows the aerial signal to be routed thru a second co-ax, and fed to the antenna connection on the back of the digital TV. Antenna-Composite-HDMI-(and others) can be selected from the TV input menu. In my case, COMPOSITE is the signal processed thru the AT-300 tuner, and the channel currently recording. By selecting ANTENNA from the TV input menu (and leaving COMPOSITE) all of the aerial TV channels can be viewed, including the one that is recording. That is the function of LOOP THROUGH. You can switch to the TV tuner & Antenna, while the AT-300 tuner is in-use. Or monitor your recorded channel with a second HDTV, if you wish.
The AT-300 can write to a 64GB/USB 2.0 flash drive without any difficulty. I also tested a 32GB/USB 3.1 flash drive. You may find that flash drives under 64GB are best for recording, and larger flash drives are best for playing files (and storage). During a recording, a press of the info button will display the available write time (recording time). The available write time for my 64GB flash drive was 47 hours. 90 minutes of writing to this flash drive produced a 2.0 GB .mts video file at 704 x 480p, with a frame rate of 29.976 Hz. Note, I use an extension cable to prevent damage to the USB port when a large flash drive is used. I also switch to Windows 7 or later, when formatting a flash drive greater than 32GB.
Examples of file sizes written by the PVR: 2 1/2 hrs (3.3 gb), 2 1/2 hrs (3.5 gb), 60 min (1.2 - 1.5 gb), and 30 min (625 - 725 mb). The last 4 digits of the .mts file name is the start-time stated in 24 hour format, preceded by the date. The time set by the AT-300 clock, the broadcast time shown in the EPG, and the time listed in TV schedules on the internet can cause scheduling errors. The problem is worse, when there are a dozen clocks in a home, and there is no time to adjust them all to Daylight Savings Time. The AT-300 will program directly from the EPG, and make the scheduling process fast and easy.
Any book event (the channel-to-record, plus start/end time) can be set quickly and directly from the on-screen broadcast information displayed in the EPG. Examine display choices in "Sort". Press the EPG button on the remote and go directly to scheduling, or navigate thru MENU. Programming can also be done from the TIMER button on the remote. Just enter 01 to add a book event. All start/stop times can be edited.
When the PVR begins a recording, a numerical display with a flashing yellow dot will appear in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. If you do not see this, the recording process has failed. Try starting with the box OFF. If nothing again, the book list may need to be emptied and refilled, good luck... If the box is ON, the channel in-use is displayed. If the box is OFF, the clock is displayed. The AT-300 displays channels in this manner: 3-3 is 0303, 10-2 is 1002, 15-1 is 1501, etc. (channels are no longer displayed as C001, C002, C003 as with the AT-263). If a book event is scheduled, and the box is OFF & displaying the time, the device will power-on, display the channel, start recording, and power-off when done !
The AT-300 works great, and only lacks refinement. Except for playing files in the pvrlist, operation thru the menu is never difficult. Also, the box is not slow or sluggish, and any channel can be locked out for dubious content. The picture quality seems to be quite good, but my viewing distance is less than 10 feet, and my TV isn't the size of a billboard. 480p looked very sharp to me, and I just can't see the need for anything over 720p.
Watching recorded TV is much more enjoyable than watching 'live' TV. Never miss a minute, and come back to see a recorded show, right where you left off. Just look for "Resume or Cancel" at the top of the screen. The AT-300 plays many formats & recent codecs. There is a nice ViewTV logo when the device boots. A second AT-300 will allow recording on different channels at the same time, and you will acquire a spare A/C adapter and another remote ... think about it.
For the features, the price, and the satisfaction, the ViewTV AT-300 gets a rating of 5.
A new refined/enhanced/polished product at double the price would be quite acceptable !
.
Channel Master:
For about five minutes it was working OK. It booted up with no problems. But..... When I was deleting channels I did not want it: froze on one channel, the screen went blank, the audio was being broadcast of that channel and NOTHING worked to unfreeze the box or even shut off the box. So, I unplugged everything. When I plugged everything back together it automatically re-booted. And..... It continued being stuck on the same channel with no picture at all but the audio could be heard. Oh well. Sent it back.
(I have two "real" Channel Master DVRs. They are $400.00 units. They are first and second generation units. I have had them for years. On occasion they freeze up and I have to unplug and re-boot them. Problem solved. Channel Master doesn't even list the CM-7003 on their website.)
***UPDATE***
I returned the Channel Master unit.
ViewTV AT-300:
I had previously purchased an Ematic digital converter box, Model: AT103B. It worked OK. It didn't freeze up and become useless. What I didn't care for on the Ematic unit was the poorly designed remote. The buttons for controlling the playback were almost an afterthought. They are: located at the bottom of the remote, each button is the same size, the buttons are tiny and they are not logically laid out. But the unit did work and I didn't know what I had: A unit that works and doesn't freeze up. So I returned it too.
Soooo.... Next I tried a ViewTV AT-300 digital converter. And.... It froze up at the exact same channel as the Channel Master (Trust me: NO pun intended.) It also became useless and would not un-freeze. Many people have written in and described the EXACT same problem. So it is either a design flaw or evidence of problems in the manufacturing process. So now that one will be returned too.
I tried calling the ViewTV 1-800 number and all I got was an answering machine. (A friendly voice said to leave a message and phone number. I didn't bother. Another Amazon customer said he left a message and never got a returned call.) I tried the internet and the website for ViewTV is not operational. Both dead ends.
Now: Having been the (proud?) owner of three different units from three manufacturers, I can report that ALL three use the exact same chip/programming. Their screen images, set-up procedures, screen layouts are absolutely identical. So it probably doesn't matter what brand you buy. You will get the same hardware/software package.
Why did the Ematic NOT freeze up? I have no idea.
So I guess you get what you pay for. Any of these units for $30-$45 dollars is a bargain and great technology.....if they work.
But for the price, despite all these downsides, we'd buy again in a heartbeat. This plus a remote extender for less than $50 and you have a great system, albeit with the worst designed interface ever.
picture quality is superb both live and playback. great tuner, finds and shows more stations than the tv can and more than a fancy tablo does.
Update 9/6/2020: the documentation is abysmal. What manuals can be found are just pictures of what you already can see by selecting various menu items. There's no website for the manufacturer, so no way to update the firmware. Have yet to find out how to set a favorite 🙄 but nevertheless at this price and functionality given the competition I'd buy this again.
update 2/10/2021: it finally started to reboot too often and was failing to record reliably. no software or location change so guessing the hardware must be failing. we got a good year out of it so not disappointed, but moving on.
Top reviews from other countries
DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT & STAY AWAY FROM BOTLEY STORE!!!
This company is sleazy, & all they care about is ripping people off! Look at their store rating - why do you think it's only 78% positive?!
Also, DO NOT BUY ANYTHING MADE BY ViewTV! Their products are Chinese made GARBAGE, poor quality, unreliable & don't last very long. Also, the company is unreputable - any reputable company handles warranty claims for manufacturers defects THEMSELVES! The fact they passed the buck onto the seller, who was so greedy & money hungry to NOT fulfill their contractual obligations to ViewTV proves this company is BAD NEWS! AVOID THIS COMPANY & ANYTHING THEY MAKE!!!!!!
Original review:
Bought this to use with a AmazonBasics tv antenna on a 2008 Toshiba LCD tv so I could PVR programs. While this is a good tv tuner, surprisingly it's not as good as the digital tuner built into my 2008 Toshiba! Unbelievable that a 12 yr old tv has a better tuner than this brand new one! I had to use 2 preamplifiers with this tuner just to get the same channels that I got with 1 amplifier on the Toshiba's built in tuner.
In addition, the remote is VERY finicky and a pain to use. Many times, you have to point the remote "just right" at the box in order for it to get the infrared signal from the remote and work. And almost constantly, I am having to move & get closer to the box just for the remote to even work!! Also, when it DOES start working, the remote will jump over channels and over react when you press the button you want to work. I will also point out that before moving to get the remote to work, I am usually seated a reasonable distance away from the box that one would expect a remote to still work. So there's ZERO excuse for the remote not to work properly, let alone be as finicky as it is!
I contacted the manufacturer, who reassured me that they knew of the issues I pointed out & would send a new improved remote when it becomes available. However, I was also unimpressed that they suggested I should use my smartphone & a app from their website to replace their junky remote control! As much as this box does the job and has more outputs than other tv tuner boxes available here on Amazon, until the manufacturer improves the quality of the remote & the tuner, I cannot recommend this product.