Mediasonic Homeworx (2024 Model) OTA HD Digital TV Converter Box PVR DVR Recorder Review HW250STB

[@Raab24]

I just ordered this converter box today and should receive it in a few days. Watching this video has given me a good advance understanding of the setup process and the box's features, which will definitely be helpful when the unit arrives. Thanks!!!

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

Glad to hear it! I hope you enjoy it.

[@Raab24]

​@@NorthcoasterHobby I received my unit yesterday morning and spent the day setting it up and playing with it. So far I love it! Thanks again for your video. 😊

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@Raab24 That’s great, thanks for watching my channel!

[@Nicholas_Chris]

In some countries radio stations broadcast on UHF TV band or VHF High band and you can listen to them on your TV or STB and you don't need an FM radio unless you want to listen to local stations. OTA Radio stations are exactly like satellite and cable radio stations.

[@MindHunger]

I came to KZbin searching for this exact DVR. Your video made up my mind, thank you.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@MindHunger Thanks for visiting my channel!

[@kensmith5694]

I am happy with the older version one I have.

[@kensmith5694]

A good review but I will add a few points: 1) When the box is off you and move the USB to your PC to rename the files if you want. Windows and Linux can read and write those files. You can also play them on your PC and/or edit them if you want. They use a standard format. 1B) On my older box, it is best to tell the box to format the drive before you start using it. It uses the Microsoft NTFS format but one specific version of it. Windows and Linux can read that version of NTFS with no trouble. 2) If you put a folder on the hard drive and put movies in it, you can watch old movies you download for free like "Its a wonderful life" which is in the public domain. Folders within folders is an option so you can group things. 3) The pictures feature will slide show all the images in a folder. This is a good thing to let run in the background as a way to have pleasant images. 4) The music thing works really nicely to play a collection of music. This can give you some nice background music while you do something. 5(ish)) I used that info-info feature to do a video where I tested different "baluns" to see in the more expensive ones are worth it. 6) This product line has a good sensitivity on it receiver hardware. It is better than many TV sets. 7) There seems to be high upper limit to the number of channels it can know about. I have 129 channels where I am and it works fine with the long list.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@kensmith5694 Thank you for sharing all this information.👍

[@onoone58]

Very helpful my friend. No questions from me, all were answered. Thx for the video and a BIG thumbs up from me. 👍

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@onoone58 Thank you very much!👍

[@bloqk16]

Some suggestions when using the DVR feature with this DTV converter box: If you use a conventional USB flash drive, of a 3.0 speed, there could be glitches when the recording is played back. So, with that in mind, I've found the external solid-state-drives, known as SSD, by Samsung are very good for digital recordings, as it has a higher-speed digital transfer rate that prevents playback glitches. The Samsung is also reliable, too. I've used one SSD for thousands of hours of TV airchecking over the past six years, with fewer than a dozen hours of video having problems with playback. But, I've found using the high-capacity SSDs that there is a lag-time for the recording feature to engage . . . meaning that if the recording is set to start at 5:00 PM. The SSD won't start recording for 15 to 30 seconds after the 5 PM start time. The workaround for that is to manually set the start time at 4:59 PM.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@bloqk16 Thank you for the suggestions.

[@Mainuh]

Great video. Used you affiliate link to order one today. Thank you!

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@Mainuh Thank you very much!

[@zandig666]

Cool NCH !! Interesting to see how this compares to your tv's tuner 🙏 🙏 did it bring in more channels ??😄😄📶📶 and signal meter capabilities 🍻 When i buy i will be sure to use your link !!

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

Same amount of channels as TV. But I only get three channels here .The signal metre is always handy to have.👍

[@kensmith5694]

The box gets more channels than some TVs. Its tuner section is good.

[@zandig666]

@kensmith5694 thanks !! that's an added bonus if u bring in an extra channel or 2 I'm in. !!📶📶

[@johnyoder9302]

The tallest antenna I have ever climbed was 100 feet, and that was to replace the directional Roter on it. I was young back then and had no fear.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@johnyoder9302 You’re braver than me.☺️

[@donbest5024]

These boxes are also good if you have multiple antennas pointed in different directions,just use one on each antenna location hooked to different inputs on tv.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ True.

[@fernablo702]

This model is working good for me so far, the only issue is that it's not able to display the only channel in my area that's in 1080p (not 1080i)

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@fernablo702 That is very strange. Can you receive the channel on another tuner? (TV’s tuner, or another box for example)

[@fernablo702]

@NorthcoasterHobby Yes, the other turners, which are all built into the TV sets, are able to display that channel.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ What is the station name?

[@fernablo702]

@@NorthcoasterHobby KDNU-LD, channel 7.9, MTRSPT1 (it's a new addition, so it might not show up on something like RabbitEars, etc.)

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ That’s a low power station. Is the Mediasonic box connected to the same antenna as the other TVs?

[@megacap55]

The converter box has the same displays and menues format as the 2 ones that I use for ISDB-T are exactly the same menues and displays presented

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@megacap55 Most boxes use the same software interface.

[@megacap55]

@NorthcoasterHobby yeah I have realized

[@johnyoder9302]

How high is your outdoor antenna off the ground? I could do some math and get you more channels from your location. It is all about antenna height for OTA.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@johnyoder9302 There’s only 3 channels broadcasting here within a 100+ mile radius.

[@joe10117]

any. built in hard drive also previous model. sensitive to powering off same issue with newer version ...???

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@joe10117 There’s no hard drive built into any of these, and I’ve never had the problem with it powering off. Can you explain further?

[@joe10117]

thanks for responding earlier model when I shifted box on tv cabinet it would power off. is the newest model fixed this problem

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ You mean when you move the box it shuts off? Could be a loose wire.

[@salmack8842]

I have one it works fine but the information is slow when you change channels.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

The information does take a bit to load.

[@kensmith5694]

It gets the information as it is dribbled out over the channel you tune to. The data rate on it is really low.

[@DoushornLocke]

Can indoor antenna work with it

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@DoushornLocke Yes- but an outdoor antenna will give better results.

[@Nicholas_Chris]

Tthe European model has different name but the same design and interface, it only includes HDMI cable. If you want to connect to a CRT TV you must buy an RCA or SCART cable separately or RCA to SCART cable (works both ways). Some models have DVB-T2/C tuner you can receive free TV channels from both antenna and cable and HEVC codec. Another interesting part it has component out the european models have HDMI and RCA or SCART output no RF ouptut only loop out to connect to a TV so you can use the receiver as a PVR.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@Nicholas_Chris This box has a loop out feature too.

[@Nicholas_Chris]

@@NorthcoasterHobby So if I connect to a TV I get all digital OTA channels with analogue channel 3 or 4?

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ Channel 3/4 output? Yes. It’s an option. Or select loop out to pass the RF through to a TV.

[@PhearaXT]

Why’s the software operating system on every converter box is the same?!

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@PhearaXT It’s much cheaper for companies to source out the software somewhere else to use in the box, so it’s all the same. No company is going to write their own software for a box like this. Plus, more than likely most of these boxes are made by the same company and just branded with a different sticker.

[@jackdemus7890]

Have they improved the tuner sensitivity in this model? Mine is about six years old and works really good, but the tuner isn't as strong as my Digital Stream ota box.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

Seems like the tuner is pretty good, maybe a bit better than previous DTV boxes. I find some TVs have a much stronger tuner while with other TVs the tuner is worse than the tuner inside this box.

[@Mainuh]

I got my Mediasonic box today and jooked everything up and it seemed to be working. Guessing it takes some time to download all the program guides… was only seeing a few hours ahead on the 29 channels I receive. I didn’t see a way to format an external SSD HD for the unit so formatted for fat32 on my laptop and then hooked it up. Setup a test recording and shut off tv but left mediasonic box on. When I came back to check all I can get now is a quivering/flashing screen that’s nearly impossible to read. The channel is there bur flickering badly. I think I read somehwere about a setting or something that can cause this, but not sure what. Any thoughts before I send it back to Amazon anyone?

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

The formatting for an external drive must be done on a computer. The manual explains the details. Have a look there and then try another recording.

[@johnyoder9302]

Whith the curvature of the earth, 188 miles turn into about 120 miles. The higher you can get your antenna, the more channels you will receive, with a directional Channel Master antenna.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

The closest city is 200 miles away.

[@electronicreviewer2541]

I have the mediasonic usb stick version of this

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

I reviewed one of those stick tuners a while back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6rLe3eEaZhrpa8si=wVbhUNG4cl5__B21

[@electronicreviewer2541]

@NorthcoasterHobby mines has a fast forward button glitch

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ During live TV timeshifting or PVR playback?

[@electronicreviewer2541]

@@NorthcoasterHobby pvr function when i press fast forward on the remote the screen asks like i press when i press the hold button

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ Hmmm, these things always seem to be a bit glitchy.

[@ESJ_DeLeon_21]

Just wondering if you think this will work in the Philippines. If you dont know then its ok.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

I believe the Philippines uses a different TV standard called ISDB-T, so you will need a box that works with that standard. This one is designed for the ATSC TV system.

[@johnyoder9302]

I set up two antennas with the exact same length cables to a combination box and added 20 more channels to my OTA. My two antennas are facing 180 degrees apart. one is 30 miles away and the other is 60 miles away. if anyone wants to know how to receive channels 180 degrees apart, I can help. I will answer any questions you have.

[@joe10117]

how many channels can you record at sametime ?

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@@joe10117 One. There is only one tuner in this box.

[@kacwa124]

I prefer the external power supply units - these internal models are not very robust and fail without warning.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

Interesting, for me it’s the opposite. I’ve had better luck with the internal power supplies and have had the external power supply supplies fail before. Of course the benefit there is you can just use a different power supply of the same voltage and amperage.

[@stanleybest8833]

This is impractically complicated. Mediasonic made this box run off AC, only, so I wouldn't buy one.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

Some DTV boxes have an external DC power supply, They are somewhat cumbersome to operate, but that's why I make videos to explain how to use them.

[@stanleybest8833]

@NorthcoasterHobby OK thanks but the Free To Air is my limit. That and a few boxes of tapes.

[@NorthcoasterHobby]

@ 👍