Digital Converter, Ematic Digital TV Converter Box with Recording, Playback, & Parental Controls

I needed an external over the air tv tuner. I tried two others before ordering this Ematic. This gets the job done. Some reviews state that it doesn't record well or play back well. I have no idea about that, because I don't need to to do those things. I do know that I was able to receive 74 digital channels by using my long range digital antenna and this box. If you need a tuner, you should buy this box.

I have made the mistake and bought this converter box 3 times over the last few years. Solely due to my error. However, as a result I can firmly assess the weaknesses of this unit. It works fine until it doesn't want to anymore, and no matter what I have tried it just won't power back on again. This last one worked for ONLY 7 DAYS!!! Then it stopped and as with the previous two, I could never get it to power back up again. It tends to overheat quickly after just a few hrs. so there's that as well. I should have asked for a refund on that last one, but was so angry with myself I told my stupid self to eat it. 🙄

This is the second one I have purchased. The first died after three years of constant use, possibly from a surge in the power line. I have a tivo on my main setup (don't get me started on how tivo had a perfect user interface in generation one, and is now messed up) and wanted a backup for my bedroom tv. This little thing does the job with no fuss. It can record to a flash drive, but setting it up to record a show is enough of a pain that I just use it as a tuner and heaven-sent mute button. This setup doesn't use my big outdoor TV antenna, but a little indoor one that will be safe during tornado season.

I've purchased this year's ago from a store that stopped selling them. My device stopped working after a few years of using it. I purchased another one by the same company because I knew how to use it. The 1st one that was sent to me I couldn't get past the set up screen to select the language so I exchanged it for a new one. The second one works (so far) with no issues. I ordered a 3rd one for another television to replace another device that has issues with inserting the flash drives. I will update my review if need be. Some of these devices aren't made to last long. I have no issues with scanning and receiving channels but may have to adjust my antennas to get all I can which can be between 77-83 channels. (I place 2 antennas by attaching a splitter to a coaxial cable that connects to the converter box and put the 2 antennas on the other end facing different directions.) The converter box is okay so far.

This is the exact one I wanted and I really like the DVR feature. It's really the best value for the money.

I am on my third device in 4 years. It works as described but has not been durable. I use it as a backup for when my streaming service hiccups. After about 18 months or so, devices have no powered up. The remote control requires line of sight to device so if you have a cabinet with audio/video equipment, the remote control is not so convenient.

I was so impressed with this item I bought a second one for another room. Be sure to get a good HDMI antenna!

I purchased two of the Ematic Digital Converter boxes from Fanci Innovations LLC. through Amazon. Both units have the same issues. At first I thought the issue was with me not programming the units correctly, but I finally decided it was not me. Some of the issues with these units are: occasionally rebooting while watching a show, locking up when making changes to fast, ( apparently the processors are slow), not recording programs that have been scheduled, the TV volume has to be set high in order to hear a program.Unfortunately for me, I went out of town for about two weeks after purchasing the units and that put me outside the Amazon return window. I had already been using them for a couple of weeks still believing I was doing something wrong. I attempted to contact Fanci Innovations LLC., but I never received a response. I also contacted Amazon hoping they could influence them to respond. The company never did respond. Apparently Amazon does not much influence over the sellers. As the purchase was outside the 30 return window I attempted to obtain some assistance from Amazon for the purchase. Amazon reviewed my requests, yes I made more than one request to Amazon, but they finally declined to be of any assistance.For those that have purchased these units, I discovered they work best for recording if you set the recording time, turn the unit off, then the unit will come on about two minutes before the scheduled time and turn off at the end of the set recording time. Occasionally even using this procedure, the units will fail to record. The programming for the operating system on these units is pretty bad. When setting recording times these units will occasionally force you to make several attempts to input a time before it will accept the time. They are not worth the time or money spent on them.You have been informed of some of the issues with these units, so purchase a different brand and from a different supplier.Olton Decuire