KWorld SA295-Q DE External ATSC/QAM TVBox HDMI Edition

Pros: Easy and quick setup. Tunes into to 123 digital channels on Comcast Basic cable (some HD, some just digital). Excellent picture quality. Turned our 10 year old 32" SD TV into a very usable great quality TV. Box is very fast in changing channels.

Cons: Firmware included with box had to be flashed before all channels were found. Goods news was that support in Taiwan responded very quickly and efficiently to support request and immediately provided detailed instructions to flash and new firmware on first email. EPG is a bit rudimentary and could use some fine tuning.

Overall Review: Make sure you have firmware X 2.00 12082009 if you are using this product - email support@kworldcomputer.com if you need the latest firmware. The reset to factory default screen shows you your current firmware level.

Pros: This is one of the few stand alone HD capable ATSC/QAM tuners for under $100 that can be used with a computer monitor. It does everything it says it does. Keep in mind that VGA is not capable of 1080i, but it can display 720p. Truthfully, I doubt most people can tell the difference between the 2 if they didn't know themselves what they were watching. The ATSC tuner is about the same reception as my internal AverMedia tuner on my PC, better than my Channel Master tuner on my TV, and way better than the AccessHD tuner that I no longer use. These were all tested using the same "coat hanger UHF" antenna. As far as the remote is concerned, it is really not that bad. So what if the images are not terribly intuitive? Look at the manual for 10 seconds and you are set. The assortment of cables and connectors is great. I don't really know why they bothered with the little antenna, but it is a nice gesture of completeness.

Cons: The unit looks nice, but it only contacts the shelf with two thin metal ridges on the bottom of the unit. I assume this is to allow for adequate airflow, but it makes the unit slide around easily. Just use non-skid pads to solve this issue. As most people indicate, it is not possible to remove unwanted channels after tuning. This isn't a big deal for me but I can see it being annoying for others. The EPG could stand to be improved but it isn't terrible. My beef with the remote is that there is not a way to change between display mode (Fill, Zoom, and Letterbox). Since I am using this on a small monitor, SD 4:3 programming is way too small when viewing in Letterbox and it must be viewed with Zoom mode. However, HD wide screen programing looks better in Letterbox than it does in Zoom. It would make more sense to have a button to change the display mode, than a button to change the resolution. After the initial set up it the resolution should stay the same unless you change monitors.

Overall Review: I can't really list this as a con, but I didn't get any QAM signal from my Verizon coax out of the ONT. This might be a problem with the unit or it might be a problem with Verizon/ONT. I didn't want to bother finding out since the ATSC tuner worked so well. AV output also works fine for standard RCA inputs on a TV (Make sure you are in the right mode or it will be BW). Honestly I think everything works, you just have to set everything up right, which might take some reading (Heaven forbid). As far as the comment about being overpriced I can only guess that person paid the full price because there isn't a better option for this price and what kind of antenna do you really expect?

Pros: Tuner function works fine. Great picture. Gets all available channels and the sub-channels. low price compared to the few other STB.

Cons: There is a bug. In L.A. there is a channel on 62 and if you go up another it should roll over to ch2 and if you go down from ch2 it should roll to ch62, but it locks up, no picture or sound and will not respond to the remote or any buttons on the box. You have to unplug the power to restart it. Remote is mediocre, with poor markings.

Overall Review: The only way to get around the lockup is to unplug the antenna and redo the auto scan so it finds no channels, because you can't erase the auto programmed channels. Now that is has no programmed channels you re scan for channels using the manual function and don't choose ch 62. Now it rolls from high channel to low, and vice versa, OK. Sent first unit in for replacement. Didn't figure out the fix until I found the second unit had same problem and realized it is a generic bug not just a failure in the first box. I didn't want to go in circles about it with Newegg or the manf so I spent more time looking for a fix. Cost me the return shipping on the RMA.

Pros: This external TV tuner worked well with my 50in. TV except for a snapping sound in the speakers that started after about a month of operation. It sounded like a short jumping from the box to the TV. This problem could be solved by setting the volume on the Box full on and controlling the sound level on the TV remote. The box received HD over the antenna and gave a very sharp picture. 1080i

Cons: The box failed to turn on about 18 months later and I cannot get any information on what might be wrong with it. Kworld doesn't have a Q,A on this product and their on line consulting doesn't work. Not a very good company to try to deal with!

Pros: nice looking, many cables and connectors, manual may be improved over earlier review dates. Does what it is supposed to do but could be better. That will never happen.

Cons: no tech support phone # and worthless FAQs. Manual not bad in places but sometimes doesnt address issues or give you complete information. Sometimes picture seems wobbly but usually clears up over time. this is the device as I have another flat screen with built in tuner and picture if beautiful--so it is not the antenna, my location, or the 60" TV that has always worked well. Annoying but it goes away is the menu/info bar that appears at the bottom when you change channels. It covers 25% of the picture until it drops out of sight. Would rather have smaller bar. Do not expect any new improvements to this device because of diminishing need as old TVs get retired. I spent a day looking for options on the net and found nothing at the time.

Overall Review: Because prior reviews have been all over the place there is a question about quality and longevity. I solved this by buying a 2 yrs extended warranty. There are not a lot of choices remaining for old HD TVs with no tuner installed. I have a very nice Samsung 60" projection HD that i wanted to save given the still high prices of similar sets. This device is worth the gamble for this size TV. If you have a small set may be worth replacing with new flat screen that is just plug and play. I have only been using it for 3 days and will report back if my opinion changes.

Pros: Works, works, and oh yeah, works, two years now. Pretty good reception in my area, better then my Samsung. Uses sony codes for remote (It used to argue with an old Sony I had in the office, untll I ditched the Sony). Comes with more cables and adapters then anything I've ever purchased.

Cons: Kinda klunky at times, make sure your using the latest firmware update. Configuring subtitles for a larger/different font is a PITA. No HDMI Audio, as it's really a DVI device. Sometimes it looses it's mind, and needs to be reprogrammed.

Overall Review: Would be nice if it could be configured to ignore the extra 120 pixels on a 16:10 display.

Pros: Converts coax in (OTA or QAM) to HDMI out! I have a high-end home theater system and a wall mounted flat panel LCD TV with the wires hidden in the wall. When we dropped cable, my wife was going to kill me if we didn't find a way to hide the coax running from the wall to the TV. This does the trick!

Cons: Audio only 2.0 stereo through the DVI-HDMI interface. Also, audio drops out from time to time which is annoying. The only work around I figured out is to change the channel, and then change it back.

Overall Review: Drop cable, stream movies online and get local HD channels through this device.

Pros: This is great running off of my Comcast cable. I have not yet tried the provided antenna to see how it might do with terrestrial signals. It took about 3 minutes to hook up and about 10 minutes to scan channels on my limited, basic cable. It found 107 channels in that time. Picture quality is excellent. Seems to be a good value.

Cons: The item shipped to me was very obviously used. No effort was made to disguise the fact that someone had this out of the box and used it then stuffed it back into the box very carelessly. I complained to Newegg customer service and they assured me that they only sell new merchandise. I guess I'm stupid. A smart person would get this from another online seller which starts with A and ends with N at the same price and in new condition. Live and learn.