HUMAX Digital ATSC TV Tuner for HDTV Reception
Occasional Lockup
I've had this unit for about a month. It pulled in more stations than another unit I bought (Digital Stream), which I hope to have repaired under warranty (it died after 6 months). I'm not sure, but I think the images were sharper with the Digital Stream. It could also be that I was amazed by my first taste of HD reception and the Humax came along after I had acclimated myself to it. Only a side-by-side comparo with otherwise equal equipment can I be sure.<br /><br />Filling a 16:9 screen w/non-widescreen broadcasts was not possible unless you change the format setting to 4:3. On the Digital Stream, a single button allowed switching modes.<br /><br />The built-in TV guide works a magnitude times better than the Digital Stream's. They both often report \\"no information available\\" until you surf to the channels, but the Humax seems to refresh faster. The Humax offers a small TV window in the upper-righthand corner. It offers more info and overall response seems quicker. Again, the Humax' TV guide is much better.<br /><br />The remote has a wider range of sensitivity; on the Digital Stream, I had to find a good line-of-sight to get the remote to work. I have been frustrated enough to get off my duff to operate the remote at point blank range. Not so with the Humax.<br /><br />The remote's \\"freeze\\" button works, and may be a novelty for most folks (I do not have TiVo).<br /><br />The unit froze on me 2 or 3 times during ownership. The screen was scrambled while frozen and I can't power off; had to unplug the unit in order to reset it. Ditto with the Digital Stream until it finally died, so I don't know if this is common with all ATSC OTA receivers. I also suspect known transmission problems from a local station causing this, but that's sounding farfetched.<br /><br />The Humax is smaller than the Digital Stream, and if tuner problems are inherent in the HiDef Age, I'd much rather ship a separate tuner out for repair than box up a large screen TV w/built-in tuner. Or pay for onsite service.<br /><br />I bought a 2-yr extended warranty since I felt bitten by the Digital Stream unit conking out. Once that one is repaired, I will hook it up to an LCD monitor I recently bought. I figure \\"what the heck\\" and have a backup system ready (ok, I'm spoiled now that I've abandoned the ol' rabbit-ears and snowstorm receptions).<br /><br />Given a choice (having an opportunity to \\"test\\" two competing products), I would opt for the Humax, which was $[...] or $[...] cheaper if memory serves me (it's been foggy lately).warranty since I felt bitten by the Digital Stream unit conking out. Once that one is repaired, I will hook it up to an LCD monitor I recently bought. I figure \\"what the heck\\" and have a backup system ready (ok, I'm spoiled now that I've abandoned the ol' rabbit-ears and snowstorm receptions).    Given a choice (having an opportunity to \\"test\\" two competing products), I would opt for the Humax, which was $[...] or $[...] cheaper if memory serves me (it's been foggy lately).