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Kworld USB 2.0 TV Tuner

Wednesday, February 1st, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews

This Kworld USB TV tuner box is a good idea, but fails to deliver on all its promised features.

The packaging contains the tuner box, remote control, hardware and software and a ten page manual. The tuner box is good-looking, designed to be stood up vertically, and includes TV, composite and S-video inputs. In contrast, the remote control is somewhat generic and plain, and even includes some FM tuner buttons which seem to serve no purpose in this application.

The idea behind this Kworld USB 2.0 TV tuner box is that the computer screen can be used to display broadcast programs, which can be an advantage for certain circumstances, e.g. for a college student who can make dual use of the screen in confined dorm conditions. This also allows you to watch TV on a flat screen, which is cool and space saving.

Functions are included that enable you to use your computer to have a TIVO like pause and restart of the broadcast.

The machine is easy to hook up. Everything is clearly labeled, and the video inputs are on the front, making it easier to connect your camera or VCR. The USB cable is included. Although some functionality is possible with the earlier and slower USB 1.1 port, the name of the device is USB 2.0 TV Tuner, and you really need to have a USB 2.0 port installed to avoid choppy video.

The software installation is straightforward, but some of the drivers for which it is optimized appear to be older versions, and there can be conflicts with updating. This would be resolved by regular updates of the software, but it is reportedly hard to come by these.

TV can be watched on the computer monitor without turning on the computer, and this is possibly the best way. When you have the computer involved in the video, for instance, when trying to record a program or pause for a TIVO moment, the computer is extremely burdened, and it is best to ensure than all other programs are closed down to give the CPU a chance to keep up. The programs are saved in an MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 format, and instead of the encoding being in the tuner box, the software requires the computer to do the work.

The other complaint that a lot of users have is the synchronization of the sound and the picture. If the sound out of the computer is linked to the box, then the speakers connected to the box, there is a noticeable delay. The best way to link it is with the box directly connected to the sound card, and the speakers to the sound card pass-through.

The quality of the picture is not great, whether watching a broadcast directly or playing a VCR. There is also a high pitched sound from the box on several channels. All in all, this device is fine for a technophobe who wants to wrestle with the problems, but it can’t be recommended for the person who just wants to buy a solution.

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