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Freecom DVB-T USB Stick
Installation - (see full installation history below) - I chose the "Digital" option initially and all appeared to be very straightforward, although I was initially fooled, by severe TV sound & picture problems, into thinking the install had not gone satisfactorily. I tried a few uninstalls/reinstalls, including trying the "Digital/Analog" option, which resulted in a system hang.
I eventually concluded the install was entirely satisfactory and, after trying out various things, I decided the problem lay with the antenna. I found that holding the antenna very rigidly pointing in a certain direction (ie - towards the transmitter) and simultaneously wrapping the antenna cable round my hand, resulted in excellent reception. Clearly not a permanent solution, but it did clarify that I needed a proper external aerial, capable of receiving Freeview stations signals. I briefly experimented with my existing external aerial (which is not set for Freeview transmissions) and with an extension co-axial cable to which I attached the antenna, but got no reception on either.
At a later date I reconfigured the distribution of my external aerial signal throughout the house, which resulted in very good reception and 60 channels received. Most of these operated satisfactorily, although some frequently suffered reception dropout and freezing. I presumed the problem lay either (a) with the type of external aerial.I have or (b) with the fact that the PC I used for the installation falls short of the recommended spec for processor speed and RAM.
At a further later date I installed an update to Total Media 3.4, found 61 channels, all of which operate perfectly. The only downside is that BBC1 and BBC2 no longer appear to be found.
Total Media Programme
I have not yet had time to review the improvements - if any - in Total Media Version 3.4 so the following refers to an earlier version.
I found the accompanying media portal software - "Total Media" - to be a useful and attractive programme. Screens were very clean and sharp, nicely laid out and provided the usual range of functionality, making a good job of handling TV, Photos, Music & Video in various formats.
The Photo function coped with JPEG, BMP, GIF and PSD formats - possibly more - and had a good slide show facility, which could be used with a music backing track. There were some limited, but handy, photo editing functions provided - red-eye, cropping, photo rotation. A useful facility.
The Music function played WAV, MP3 & MID files with good quality. The few WMA files I have would not play due to Digital Rights Management problems - presumably a product of my Windows Media Player programme which I used for some recordings (even although the disks in question were not protected files). Probably some experimentation would resolve that problem. The Music Playlist function was also very good, if basic - handled both M3U and WPL playlists without problem, allowed creation of playlists and provided a good "Shuffle" random play facility, all with accompanying screen visualisations (I did not get time to check if the visualisations could be changed - it did not look possible to change these). A good, albeit, a bit basic, music player.
The Video function was similarly good, but basic. MPEG, WMV and AVI files played without problem. I could not get DVDs to play, nor ripped VOB or ISO files but I did note that, when I loaded the analog/digital option, it gave me a DVD option on the main menu, so perhaps it does handle DVDs if I install the analog version - I'll try it sometime. I did not have time to hook up a camcorder or similar to try out the video capture function.
The Remote Control handheld unit was of very limited use, only operating within around 1 metre of the USB stick and having limited functionality - TV channel up/down, volume control, on/off control, etc. The stick has to be facing directly to the remote for it to operate (ie - the LED on the stick should face the remote control at all times). But, if the user is seated close to the PC most of the time, it's adequate for simple control.
GBPVR
Finding the original version of the Total Media package a bit limited, I briefly experimented with the freeware GBPVR multimedia application. Too early to comment on it in detail except to say I was extremely impressed with what I saw and there is much more to explore with that programme. For the moment, Total Media is sufficient for my purposes.
Summary
This as a decent bit of kit, augmented by an equally decent, if somewhat limited for the enthusiast, bit of multimedia software. The GBPVR alternative programme seems to offer much scope for maximising use of the stick. With simple installation and an adequate CD-based manual, the stick seems good value at £42 (price at time of writing).
The Techie from Sneckie
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Installation History
Freecom DVB-T USB Digital-only Stick
Received the following: USB stick; Antenna & stand; female to female co-ax adapter; USB to USB female cable; CD; Quick-install guide; Remote control
Installation Procedure (Windows XP)
1) Set XP Restore point
2) Inserted CD & checked CD manual - noted recommended system requirements
exceed pc I plan to install on
3) Connected USB stick to on-board port (with antenna attached & using
USB extension cable)
4) Found New Hardware wizard installed "USB Freecom Digital TV Receiver",
automatically using drivers from CD.
5) Installed Total Media software
6) Set Firewall permissions
7) Rebooted
8) Freecom Digital TV Receiver showing in Device Manager (Sound video &
games controller) - driver DTV 4/4/06 Version 2.0.1.8
9) Autoscanned & found 6 channels
10) Would only play BBC1, with severe dropouts and eventual picture freeze
11) Tried re-scan & found same 6 channels with antenna set higher. Noticed
that moving the antenna cable during TV viewing produced intermittent break
up of sound/picture - suspect antenna may be ineffective or cable may be damaged?
12) Re-scanned again, with existing TV external aerial - no channels found
and Total Media hung (and would not end with Task Manager) at end of autoscan.
Rebooted.
13) Holding and pointing antenna towards transmitter while rescanning - found
41 channels but could play some only intermittently, others not at all.
14) Tried uninstall/reinstall with hybrid digital/analog option and using
USB PCI port (rather than motherboard USB port) - hung repeatedly.
15) Full uninstall/reinstall, using motherboard USB 2 socket and "Digital
Only" driver - noted that "Hybrid TV RC(A)" icon (relates to
analogue driver) remained active in XP clock toolbar (despite having been
uninstalled - suggests remains in startup folder). Now finds 30 channels (holding
antenna pointing very specifically towards local transmitter and with antenna
cable wrapped around hand).
16) Explored Total Media prog - very useful - see review below.
17) Later date - connected proper external aerial (correctly aligned with
transmitter although not the recommended aerial type for digital reception).
- full access to approx 60 TV and Radio channels, although some channels still
suffer reception dropout and freezing. Suspect aerial type may be unsuitable.
18) Later date - installed update to Total Media 3.4 - now perfect reception
on all 61 channels except BBC1 and BBC2 no longer found.