Freeview Set Top Box Recorder - August DVB482 - Watch and Record Live TV From 2 Channels at the Same Time - HDMI Full 1080p HD Receiver UK Program Guide and TimeShift - Multimedia Player

Good product for the price, easy to set up

OVERVIEWThe August DVB482 digital video recorder represents very good value at this price-point. It is compact, simple to operate and does almost everything that one might expect of a DVR. I have paired this unit with an Amazon Fire TV and this provides me with the best and most complete options in terms of streaming TV services and live TV.PRESENTATIONThe product is nicely packaged in a strong cardboard box that provides adequate protection against in-transit bumps. The product has a very small footprint, which is a good thing, as it takes up almost no space and can be located almost anywhere near to the TV.WHAT's in the BOX..?In the box you will find the following....DVB482 video recorderMains to 12 volt adaptorRemote with batteriesHDMI cable – good qualityUser Guide – well-written in good EnglishNOTE – The User Guide is also available as an online DownloadINSTALLATIONNOTE – I am assuming that very few users will still be using SCART technology, therefore this section only explains connection using HDMI. However, the procedure is the same irrespective of which technology you are using.On the Amazon website there is a link to an online User Guide. I recommend downloading this guide and while you are waiting for the product to be delivered, read the guide carefully as it contains all the useful information that you will need to obtain the best usage from the product to meet your needs.When you have unpacked the product....Open the battery compartment on the Remote and install the batteries. Press any of the buttons and check that the LED lights to confirm that the Remote is working.Format a USB drive using a Windows computer and the NTFS file formatting protocol. If you don't know how to do this then look online as there are many tutorial-type videos that will show you how.Locate the unit within reach of the antenna outlet; a mains wall socket and the HDMI socket on the TV. Insert the antenna coaxial cable into the "RF In" socket. . Connect the HDMI cable to the TV and to the recorder. (Do not use the RF Out Loop through). Plug the 12v plug into the power socket and the 3-pin plug into the wall socket. Switch on the wall socket. Using the Remote switch on the recorder.PRACTICAL USEVideo & Audio. Video and audio quality are good, better than expected at this price-point.Recording Media. Using a USB drive is exactly what I require. USB drives are inexpensive and are far more versatile than built-in hard drives. The USB can be formatted to the NTFS file format on any Windows computer. The benefit of this is that the recorded video files can be played on most Windows-compatible devices, which means that you can record a program and then take the USB drive with you and view the recorded video on, for example, a laptop. Very convenient for those times when you are away from home.User Interface. Not the most intuitive. Once you get to know (and memorise) the interface, it is relatively easy find your way. But, this aspect of the product can be greatly improved and definitely needs to receive further development. The "look-and-feel" of the user interface just seems a bit "yesterday", it works well, but it won't get any awards for design.Remote. The Remote works as expected. Even though it has a relatively small form, the buttons ore conveniently spaced and are easy to operate, even for a man's hands. The Remote is the centre-piece of this product. It is worth your time to spend an hour getting to know exactly how to use the Remote, once you can do that, using the product becomes much easier and more intuitive.Using only one Remote. The DVB482 Remote is an "intelligent" Remote in that it can "learn" to duplicate the key functions of the TV Remote. The User Guide provides detailed instructions how to do this.Record & View. You can record a live channel while viewing another live channel. However, you cannot record a channel and simultaneously view another previously recorded video. A solution to that issue is to have two USB drives and a TV with a USB port. You can then record a live channel on the DVB482 while watching a previously recorded video on the TV via the TV USB port and TV media player. This is the way that I use the product and it works perfectly.Record Options. You can record the live channel that you are currently viewing by pressing the "Rec" button. The recording menu offers options to record Once, Daily, Weekly. The EPG provides listings of live TV channels up to 7 days in advance.Favourites. The Favourites utility works about as expected. The only issue that I have found is that once you are in the Favourites utility you cannot exit the utility. You can move from one Favourite section to another but there does not seem to be an "Exit" function – the "Exit" key on the Remote does not exit the user from Favourites. The solution to this issue is to simply use the button on the Remote to put the unit into Standby mode and then wake it up again – that is the easiest way to exit Favourites.

Fantastic device. Everything working beautifully.Great picture and sound quality, PVR and timeshift recording (even two timeshift types) on a USB Stick or external HDD flawless, remote controller responsive, dual tuners to record two different channels or watch and record simultaneously, nice other features like favourite channels lists and so on.The only small issue is that the EPG doesn't show programmes on several channels at the same time. Doesn't bother me, the EPG still is usable enough.Coincidentally, I've bought several August devices during several years. Originally mainly because they are so affordable. No problems ever, always happy with them.It is difficult to understand why this August DVB482 gets quite many negative reviews. Maybe people just don't understand how to operate this kind of boxes? (Operating is very simple, especially if you are familiar with TV tuner and recorder devices.)Maybe people expect too much? This device does not wash your laundry, make your dinner or write your emails. It just beautifully shows and records TV programmes (and plays multimedia files from your USB device).Thank you, August.

We have never been able to set up the item and we've had it since March, just had a professional person in to set it up for us and they said this is far too complicated. So we ditching it and getting a different one and i notice on eBay there are a lot being sold, pre-owned, perhaps others have found the same problem. you need an engineers degree to set it up!!

More difficult than my last one and have to use a memory stick to record, not really impressed

Very basic but good value for money. Works great. I put a large SD card in it for more program storage.

Pro: Comes with all items necessary to set up (HDMI cable, power transformer, remote control & batteries).Easy to set upCons: Unable to record any movies from tv channelsNo hard drive and requires a plug in USB driveFreezes while recording, need to remember channel number to selectRecording button only works with live screen. To schedule recording need to use red button on remote.Conclusion: This is only of any use if your tv doesn’t have built-in Freeview. Otherwise Freeview has its own catch-up facility. I felt the picture quality using it was slightly degraded. This is certainly not a replacement for something like Virgin’s TIVO box, it can’t record a series for example and only includes a couple of weeks in the EPG.