Question 1

Will this product convert OTA signals ?

Accepted Answer

If OTA means over the air, yes. I use it to receive our local stations on an amplified antenna. We are on direct tv but a couple of the sub channels are not in our channel line up. It will convert them to analog for the older tvs that only receive vhf and uhf frequencies. I also use it as a dvr with a 16 gig usb memory stick. It will record about 6 hours or more of tv. My only complaint is the programming guide only downloads about 18 hours of schedule at a time so if you want to record something a couple of days from now it won't show up in the schedule. Hope this helps.

Question 2

Can flash drive be used with this devide?

Accepted Answer

If you have a flash drive with a fast write speed it may work for you. In my experience my media played fine from a flash drive but when recording live TV it stuttered a lot. I have a Toshiba Canvio 1 TB portable hard drive connected to mine that works great with all functions. So far this converter has played any media file format I have tried.

Question 3

Will this work with Comcast service?

Accepted Answer

I use the 3500STBII with a broadcast antenna, therefore all inbound signals are digital.

I purchased the 3500STBII to enable my analogue TV to display the broadcast digital signal and have the capacity to record the broadcast signal.

My experience with another cable provider, not Comcast, was that the signal provided was always digital, although frequently not high definition. I had used an older converter box to make the signal work on my analog TVs.

Based on my experience, and assuming that Comcast is transmitting a digital signal, the 3500STBII would convert that to analog data that will display on an analog TV.

However, in the unlikely case that Comcast is sending out an analogue signal which is converted to digital at the set top box two things will be true: there will be no "high definition" and the 3500STBII will have no way to recognize the in-bound signal.

If Comcast claims that it transmits true high definition, it must be digital and the 3500STBII will convert that signal for use with an analogue TV. My impression is that the 3500STBII records, what is saved in the memory media (mine is a 32 gig flash drive) is the digital data stream. It works great for movies, recording what is on GET-TV overnight for early evening entertainment.

Question 4

Can I use this box instead of renting from Verizon fios?

Accepted Answer

Try, but these are not returnable. I have Comcast Xfinity and can not get any HD channels.  And the few cable SD channels look terrible. REASON: FCC has recently approved letting carriers protect all their channels. So, a dedicated HD box to each TV is required for any HD service now with Comcast (somewhat, see below).
I live outside a large US city and the box works great pulling in NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX,PBS, a few other Over-the-Air channels for an old HD rear projection set that had the old tuner which is now obsolete. This box has the new ATSC tuner so local HD channels come in clear via HDMI or Component. 
Another option for people to consider, my HD cable boxes have two (2) outputs. Usually a five wire component and single wire HDMI connections. I have 2 TV's on both my boxes. The HD TV further away gets HDMI because you can buy up to 100ft cable and power adapter cheap. When I am in the other room (kitchen), I use my Android Xfinity App on my tablet to change channels if I want. NOT ideal but it works for the brief period of time that I am viewing a telecast which is preparing and eating lunch or dinner for a short period of time . The other setup includes my workout area so several hours a week it is not worth to me to have another $10 month Comcast HD box on that HD set. You have to think this out and plan what you are going to do but it works fine.

FYI, since this FCC ruling, people have complained alot. To offset this, Comcast is rolling out a $1.99 month HD DTA box that has limited HD capabilities via HDMI output. But for $2 a month, I am getting a couple of these when they become available in my area. Check it out with VIOS.

Question 5

My main goal is to run my cable into an HD switch, so it can make it's way to my audio reciever.  I get my cable from an local-small-town provider.

Will this device pick up my channels? They go from 3-70.  Some (unused) radio stations are 71-x.

Accepted Answer

Eric,
There is a menu item that allows you to select either over the air or cable for channel access.

I do not have "regular" cable service, but have AT&T's UVerse.  I use my 3500 with a TV antenna on the roof for OTA local channels to help alleviate using up all the space on my UVerse DVR.  It is hooked up via HDMI to my plasma set which has three HDMI inputs along with the UVerse box and my HTPC.

My STB3500 has worked perfectly since installing it in my system and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone based on my experience and parameters...but, with the cable service question thrown into the mix, I really can not guarantee that the 3500 and your local cable system will play nicely with each other.

From the 3500 info page:
"Why replace your analog TV?  IVIEW 3500STBII will convert digital signals to your analog TV. Why pay exhorbitant cable subscription fees?  IVIEW 3500STBII supports OTA (Over-the-Air) and QAM tuner built-in.  QAM stands for Quadrature Amplitude Modulation. IVIEW3500STBII has the capability to pull certain unencrypted digital cable channels  (also known as ‘in-the-clear” channels), watch them on your Television without using any additional set-top box that you have to pay monthly subscription. "

You might look at the product info page at the iviewus dot com page for more info...seems as if the "rules" for answering questions will not allow links, etc., there are also questions from users at that site named for the South American river that may be helpful to you, too.

Good Luck

Question 6

Does this unit convert digital cable/satellite feeds or is it just for use with an antenna? I need something that will convert digital cable/satellite signals to an analog VCR.

Accepted Answer

I use it with an antenna.   It records HDTV great! Needs a USB drive or a thumb drive that will record 20+ MB/s (write speed). The instructions claims it will receive unscabbled digital cable (QAM).  I have not tried it.  No A/V input. Just 50 ohm. An avsforum has info from other users (some pretty technical info) that isn't in the manual.

Question 7

Is it a way to used a Universal remote with this unit?

Can you set this unit up if you have cable tv

can you scan in local Cable & OTA on the same box.

Accepted Answer

I've been asked if I could answer your questions, but I don't have the answers.  I didn't have a universal remote, nor cable TV.  I think it is intended for OTA.  I have recorded to the USB drive and that worked well. I am pleased with the unit for what that is worth.

Question 8

Does this unit connect to cable TV?

Accepted Answer

No.  I get a basic cable TV signal with my cable internet and tried using this box as a DVR with the cable signal but it did not recognize or decode the signal.   It does work well as a digital OTA receiver and DVR.  I am using one of thse boxes connected to my 1080p DLP projector with a 106" screen  for watching football.

Question 9

Can it pass dts multichannel audio over usb port? Dolby dig 5.1works,but dts no sound.

Accepted Answer

I am owner of this model as an end user.  This is just my view.
The product is marketed as an ATSC/cable-clearQAM receiver (which happens to support recording/play-back function thru external USB storage.)
I would not position this model as flexible as a Roku or other universal (on many video format and audio format) media players.  Of course, if the mfg wants to improve it, that's welcome.

ATSC (and digital cable) is using Dolby AC3 and that is the supported audio compression format. On the other hand, DTS is not on the ATSC supported format.

My take: if this toy can playback the video/audio format that you acquired somewhere else, view this as luck and as a bonus.
Get a dedicated media player that can support various format would be a less headache solution, IMHO.  BTW, I have already have few
media players which I know are not so "universal" after all.  Supporting garden variety of format is an elusive dream.

Question 10

can I record a show for later play back and can this box be 
attached to more than one TV?

Accepted Answer

Recording requires an external USB hard drive which would be plugged into the units only USB port on it's front panel. I have a small portable 500GB Western Digital Passport HDD connected to mines. This digital tuner box can be connected to four monitors(TV's) but only by different connectors and wont have independent control for each TV by the remote. Everything done on one screen would be seen on the others. The output connectors are: RF, component, composite, and HDMI. The HDMI and component video outputs are the recommended high quality outputs since through those you would get full resolution video at their proper aspect ratios. The HDMI may not be able to connect over long distances, though. In many cases, if you use the low quality RF and/or composite connectors, you may not get the proper aspect ratios displayed on TV's connected by those lower quality outputs. Unlike most converter boxes, this unit will actually give you the broadcasters full resolution without down-converting the way most "converter" boxes do. That means, you lose virtually no picture quality in your recordings. If they broadcast 1080p you get 1080p; even in your recordings. The file type that this unit records in are the mts(.mts file extension) file type; which are playable on most media player devices such as smartphones, tablets, blu-ray players, set-top media players, and PC's.

Questions & Answers