Review - Compro VideoMate U3 thumb-stick digital TV tuner

[Bob Crabtree]

We've looked at a number of USB 2.0 external digital TV tuners lately and now it's the turn of Compro Technology's thumb-stick-style VideoMate U3.

What really can differentiate one product from another is the software - it's usability, features and performance.

The best feature of the ComproDTV program, to our mind, is its multi-channel viewing capability. Up to three additional, secondary viewing windows can be activated, each showing a different channel.

Check out Steve's full review.

[davidstone28]

That loose antenna cable doesn't bode well - cheap 3rd party components being used by Compro.

I wonder how these sort of USB gizmos will work with WUSB?

[autopilot]

Anything's got to be better than Freecom's effort. On of the worst devices i have ever bought. The drivers and software were beyond a joke. But to be fair, every review of a USB DVB stick has basically been 'ho hum'.

[Silent Shark]

As a user of Compro products, i can vouch for their robust contruction. I have a DVB-T300 and a PVR/FM (both PCI cards). The software for the T300 is identical to the software here for the U3. I have to mention Compros constant work on the software.

When I got my card, the software was buggy and fiddly. The biggest problem was audio sync issues on any recordings you made. These were slowly reduced as more and more software updates came out. We are currently (I think) on the 28th or so incarnation of the software in the last year. You could get great results when everything worked though. Many of the features (Multi channel viewing being one) have only been added recently and you can be sure over time they will be improved upon. It also seems that the audio sync issues have been completly cleared up.

Basically what I'm saying is that Compro are always striving to improve the product. They are one of the few companies around that really seem to care.

But to be fair, every review of a USB DVB stick has basically been 'ho hum'.

You're right, and that's true for virtually every DVB tuner around (incl PCI ones). They are really starting to get into their stride now though, and the only thing missing is interactive options (like BBCi).

I'm looking forward to HDTV too .

[RavenNight]

Yeah I just got my greasy mitts on the DVB-T200 and I haven't been that impressed, the quality is average but what really pisses me off is the software, when i record stuff it merrily works away and then locks my PC whenever I try to view what I record, I'm left with having to restart the PC. But being able to turn on my PC from accross the room makes up for it.

[rabbid]

Reviving an old post... but with this stick (or similar ones) what format are the programs recorded in?

Also is it possible to record more than one program at any one time (and whilst watching another or a playback, etc)?

Does it record the additional stream info (interested in subtitles)?