@CantankerousDave I personally hate all forms of advertising especially daytime commercials. Yeah I don't subscribe to Hulu or Netflix. Their services are like you said exorbitant and in my opinion do not provide a decent service. I see the benefit of OTA tuners. Pay once and you're done and you own your hardware. But other than local news it's meh to me. TH-cam Premium is the only worthwhile subscription in my opinion.
Not seeing any upside for consumers. It is my understanding that with DRM they can block DVR recordings of anything or block skipping past commercials. In theory they could also implement pay per view or a subscription model. Maybe comcast or DirectTV will get into it by handling the paid content for the local stations, and it just becomes OTA paid cable TV.
What a shame. Elderly, lower income, remotely located people and others who cannot afford or cannot receive the internet will have no access to ATSC3 over the air signals. All of us are owners of that spectrum and yet the industry and its lobbyists have managed to defeat the basic purpose of why we granted them use of the spectrum. The industry remembers the early years of digital music theft and is afraid someone will steal their content and they won't get paid. How about we take our spectrum back or take some CEOs out behind the woodshed!
It's more like $20/month TV at this point. Even with the cheapest internet plan available in the US you still have to pay an internet bill to watch "free" TV with ATSC 3.0.
Ahoy, thanks for the review. I watch streaming TV 99% of the time. However, when my internet goes down (as it did twice in November for a total of 21 hrs.) I use my OTA TV. So with this box if my internet goes down I can't watch OTA TV anyway. It kind of defeats the purpose of using an OTA tuner. Often I actually long for the old analog TV because even if I had a weak signal I could watch a channel somewhat. Now it has to be strong, you have to rescan periodically and (for boxes like this) you still need the internet. I'll take a strong pass on this. Thanks again & cheers, daveyb
You shouldn't need an internet connection to have the channels with DRM work. If you do, there is something implemented wrong at the station. I've tested this with 6 encrypted channels in Miami and I never connected it to the internet, ever. And it worked. This device has burned in keys.
@@LonSeidman One of my channels with DRM didn't work with the Zinwell box a few months back. I contacted an engineer for the station and they fixed it. I'd recommend you contact your local station.
I hope WNY will complete a side by side DVR functions video of this X-1 and ADTH. HD Homerun is dead until they can record ATSC 3.0 DRM with AC-4 sound. HD Homerun I hope you are listening.
My Zapperbox intermittently refuses to tune in encrypted stations. When it does this I have to switch back to the ATSC 1 tuner int he TV itself because I don't have time to deal with it before whatever I'm about to watch comes on.
You can get this significantly cheaper from the Chinese retailer that starts with the big 'A'. I got it for $70 including shipping and taxes. It does support DVR functions once you connect some storage to the USB port. Aside from the interface differences, this box is very much like the one offered by ADTH. The ADTH box is a better option as it uses WiFi instead of infrared for the remote, so no need for the ADTH box to be in the line-of-sight. The ADTH box also does not encrypt your recordings.
No, The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
2:16 "This won't function as an in home Gateway device for over-the-air television, and that is because the broadcasters don't allow it, so if you have multiple TV's in your house, their vision for the future is to buy a bunch of these crappy boxes and attach antennas to each one in order to get all of this to work." So, the future is a step back into the 1990s. As one of my high school teachers used to say to me all the time, how asinine.
12 Reasons why OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail. Just say NO to (DRM). Tell your USA Government about the Hostile Takeover of (OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN-TV) issues listed below. DRM (Digital Rights Management) Encrypted TV Station's signals. Why? Some 3.0 tuners at this time require you stay on the internet to decode DRM 3.0 TV Stations. Why? 3.0 Currently no 4K and you only get the Simulcasted main channel and no sub channels. Channel Crawling = super slow channel changing (DRM 5 + seconds slow). No sound because of Dolby AC4 audio codec does not have a legal open source license to decode legally on many devices. Some 3.0 tuners have Out of sync audio to video problems. Private Home Networked OTA antenna tuner boxes like (Tablo TV box) can not get official certified approval for DRM ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN-TV. Why? You may need non OTA home pay internet for updates and to unlock DRM encrypted ATSC 3.0 tv channels. Possible DRM restrictions on DRM ATSC 3.0 recordings and no viewing anywhere on any device with no sound. Emergency alert messages can not be received if DRM is blocking them. OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail because the FCC is not going to turn off ATSC 1.0 TV stations for many years if not enough people buy 3.0 TVs and 3.0 boxes. No one has solve the problem of no government money for free DRM 3.0 TV tuner boxes because 1.0 TV turners and recorders will not work after that TV Station switches to 3.0 TV broadcasts. (Range and signal error correction) OR (more sub channels and near 4k picture) trade off problem. FCC is not forcing any 1.0 TV Stations to move over to 3.0 TV. So some TV stations will be on 1.0 and others will be on DRM 3.0. The FCC is only allowing OTA Simulcasts of the ATSC 1.0 main channel at this time on DRM ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN-TV. DRM ATSC 3.0 is a not finished product and is a work in progress mix of unproven ideas that has never gotten full FCC approval at this time. Software updates for 3.0 tuner boxes may be needed for changes made to the unfinished and future added new official ATSC 3.0 standards modules. Patent License problems. LG no longer sells TVs with ATSC 3.0 tuners. Some 3.0 TV tuners companies may go out of business or stop updates leaving you with no DRM or software updates. OTA ATSC 3.0 is better but is not perfect and still can be affected by weak tv signals: (distance, weather, planes, trees, buildings, trucks, poor antenna, etc). FCC rules that 5 percent of old ATSC 1.0 coverage area does not need to be covered anymore = (SHORTER RANGE). Viewing zone outside of your 15 minute city or town could be blocked. Your TV viewing habits could be tracked by your serial number or IP address. ATSC 3.0 is updatable until it is not updatable without new hardware tuners (ATSC 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0......). Some of these 3.0 TV issues may be fixed over time. This is only some of the mess with DRM ATSC 3.0 TV. This is my opinion why DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail. IMO. Stay on OTA 1.0 TV until DRM is removed from OTA ATSC 3.0 by law. It is the people versus the hostile takeover by private DRM 3.0 TV stations for control over the USA public airwaves. IMO 2024..
9:00 "Now, I was able to get access to the file system on the hard drive and extract the recordings, but they're all encrypted." Ah! I see they use M4V files, the same file format they use for content you download from the iTunes Store. M4V files are basically DRM protected MP4 files. You should be able to play the files on any iTunes compatible device connected to the Internet to retrieve the key.
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update of the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet.
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
@@joeysmith-t1o so this DRM needing to be connected to the Internet is a regional issue because broadcasters have not standardized on a standard? I will test this DRM operation in my area or Central FL today with my X1.
@@GTMedia-global "This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year" MEANING YOU HAVE TO BUY INTERNET to use OTA TV, PERIOD!
@@GTMedia-global I tested my X1 in Central FL and it will tune in ATSC 3.0 DRM without an internet connection. DRM is the broadcasters doing, not the makers of these tuner boxes.
That thing about multiple channels on a single frequency might disappear after (or if) the ATSC 3.0 transition completes. Once ATSC 1.0 is retired the broadcasters may move their channels back to the normal frequency blocks to get more bandwidth.
Apparently, ADTH is releasing their Gen 2 of ATSC 3.0 boxes (winter 2025). I already bought mine in August, and as a resident of northeastern Connecticut it works OK. But frankly, I don’t trust the next generation of boxes by anyone (especially ADTH) even though it has micro SD card support in addition to USB 3.0. What really did it for me is DRM encryption support without Internet connection needed. Like that’s going to happen.
I think it is a good device, software collected multi functions. Even if DRM or ATSC3.0 channels are shut down one day in the future, at least this device supports ATSC1.0 OTA channels, and the box also has a multimedia platform for play. 😂
Will an ATSC 3 tuner box work with an air tv box? I have Sling TV & get my air channels thru an outside antenna just wondering if it will work when it comes time to get a ATSC 3 tuner box. Thanks!
Wow, junk. Absolute security risk junk. It’s a real shame that broadcasters are destroying this market. These solutions are unacceptable for the consumer.
Does this device (or any of the other similar devices) not implement HDCP? I'm sure they are supposed to, but "supposed to" and "does" are two different things. If you were feeling sufficiently Rube Goldbergy, could you use any of these boxes as input to a video encoder to bypass the DRM?
Lon,Could the box switch channels quickly when playing ATSC 3.0 DRM? I've used other boxes before, and sometimes it takes 20-30 seconds to switch channels, perhaps because it needs to fetch DRM information from the network? What do you think?
@@Redwoods1225 3-5 seconds to switch between ATSC 3.0 DRM channels. From what I have been told, better than ADTH and Zinwell. And no you do not need to be connected to the Internet via Ethernet or Wifi to decript DRM. Internet is only needed to update the HDtv app that controls the unit or to use the android box side of the device.
@@tomgeriak3757 Okay, thank you very much for the information. If this product allows me to watch OTA TV smoothly (including ATSC 3.0 DRM programs) without having to pay any additional fees, I would consider buying it. I've seen in the video that the streaming capabilities of this product are not very ideal, but that's not my main concern.
@@Redwoods1225 I own the X1 for testing the ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 tuners work excellently. The DVR functionality is still being worked on. I have two ATSC 3.0 DRM Channels in my area of Central FL and they function just fine. I have issues with 3 non DRM ATSC 3.0 channels tuning but I think this is an issue with the broadcastcaster
@@LonSeidman It's using the Sony CXD6801GL receiver LSI, which I believe is the same as the HDHomeRun FLEX 4K. It's about as good as you can get for ATSC 3.0.
I have been using the X-1 in Central FL for a week now. I get all 8 ATSC 3.0 stations and about 80 ATSC 1.0. I think the tuner is fairly good. All my transmission towers are 35-45 miles away. I have a cheap $50 RCA rooftop antenna with an aftermarket amplifier. I intend to install a LTE 5g filter on Saturday to see if and signal strength and quality improve. As for the DVR functionality, it needs work. It seems to be starting out like the ADTH did (without DVR). As for not this is an ATSC 3.0 tuner with DRM keys that can play back AC-4 sound that allows for an instant recording function. True DVR not yet or not full fledged without a 14 day EPG. To date the means Zapper Box is the only ATSC 3.0 DVR.
DRM is usefull if channels like Discovery, HBO, ESPN would broadcast OTA so you don't have to install satellite dish or cable use your existing rooftop or indoor and subscribe to these channels. But DRM for free channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX it's stupid.
Just don't buy them at all! LET the TV broadcasters know that you won't support ATSC 3 with DRM encryption by not buying those tuner boxes at all!!! I'm not and neither should anyone.
@@graysonpeddie I don't think broadcasters want anyone to watch TV OTA. They made too much in re broadcast fees from cable TV. Soon cable TV will be dead too.
@@CrimsonTideGuy I don't. I have not paid for cable in 25 years. I have been watching and recording local TV since the ATSC 1.0 transition. I made my own ATSC 1.0 -4 channel DVR/HTPC and have been using ever since.
In my opinion, this is a borderline useless device. The entire DRM in ATSC 3.0 is a failure. In Europe, we have DVB-T/T2 standards where FTA transmissions are not encoded in any way, not to mention authorization via an internet connection. In Poland, I record DVB-T2 in HEVC transmissions on a cheap, Chinese tuner, and then download them to my computer and play them back without a problem. Recordings from TV are not a source of piracy, but a convenience for viewers who want to capture an important program.
Lon, I've got an Nvidia Shield Pro and Plex Pass and want to construct an OTA TV solution with an outside antenna that works well and into the near future. What can you recommend for a tuner box, amp and antenna that's reasonably priced?
Can't wait for them to offer a free tier of highly compressed 480i with DVR abilities disabled, but if you want more than 480i, then give them your credit card.
ATSC 3.0 is a complete nightmare. You mean to tell me you can't watch television "off the grid" with it? I think people are going to have a problem with that.
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
@@timbo303official9 this unit requires a remote to work. Yes it is IR. You may be able to control it over a home network or BT with a compatible android app since this is an android box. I can also control the box with my TVs remote using HDMI CEC.
HDTV Converter X1 has passed A3SA's DRM certification, Avanci's patent authorization, Google Widevine DRM certification, and DOLBY AC4 certification. It is not a pieced-together box. HDTV Converter X1 focuses on ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 functions and cost-effectiveness, so it does not use the more expensive Android ATV system, but only uses the free Android AOSP system. If you are willing to spend more, you can of course buy a box that includes everything. This kind of box may require you to pay a few to dozens of dollars per month for EPG fees, DVR fees, and program subscription fees. On HDTV Converter X1, these features do not require additional payment.
Not all devices that support DRM require an internet connection. And I don't think blaming DRM for the poor choices made by device manufacturers is fair. I don't like DRM either, but put the blame where it belongs.
It’s totally fair - we had a mature industry with some great innovation. Those players have been locked out by broadcaster collusion. What’s left is crap like this.
ATSC 3.0 will remain broken forever because instead of choosing a free audio codec they were lobbied into using Dolby which requires a license and royalties.
can you play media files from the hard drive like a media player? these guys are way to slow to include features like the 1.0 converter boxes most all of them allow you to record and play media files photos ect from the hard drive .seems like the 3.0 has made these companies stupid and forgot what features made all the 1.0 boxes better than the 3.0 limited lame boxes
I luv ya wasting my time with that comment crap. Hahaha. The POSs coming up with this crap just shows how far the broadcast industry falls to more and more control by the government and China. Just more echo chambers. This box was sent out free in the hundreds for reviews. Hahaha
For those of you still considering the Zapperbox, and I highly advise against it (a Facebook group for OTA enthusiasts literally laughed at me for buying it!) Also, performance is sluggish for skip forward during playback. I might do a 30 second skip ahead of 30 and have to wait 3+ seconds for the playback to resume. Not all the time, but always noticeably slower than my 15 year old dvr. While this performance is disappointing, it wouldn't have been a show stopper.
Love your content but apparently you've gone broke buying all those crappy 3.0 boxes and can't afford hand lotion-ouch-just watching those dry chafed hands is painful. 😂
This thing should have everyone nervous. The fact that this is an android tv box from China means its likely rooted and full of malware and unsafe to connect to a home network. You need to connect it to tune ATSC 3 channels.. Anyway Linus tech tips made a good video about why these chinese android boxes are so dangerous a little while back as I'm sure you are aware. As always though your honest reporting and disclosures are what will lead consumers to better choices. Good work!
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
@@GTMedia-global @GTMedia-global "This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year" MEANING YOU HAVE TO BUY INTERNET to use OTA TV, PERIOD!
I have this X1 box. The one thing it does well is something HD Homerun can not. It can record and play back AC-4 sound. The HD Homerun must connect to a Silicon Dust server to decode the AC-4 but you still can not record it. Does the current firmware on the ADTH allow you to fully record and play back ATSC 3.0 DRM with AC-4 Dolby sound? I would like to know this as well if the EPG data provided with the ADTH is a full 24 house of EPG data. It is not on the X1 (only about 8 hours at this time).
Chinese boxes do last in some cases I have most these boxes anything can have bugs and be open once places online just to make centefied boxes look good they can be exapitable to the samething id rather have a box like this then a box that has ads Google TV os and Amazon keep up the work you do though most legitment box have crap spec if your that worried don't have your info or password on that box simple fix not many boxes do what your showing
Wow - what a piece of junk. Nothing there of interest to me. This whole DRM requirement will likely bring back interest in reading books. But to be fair, the quality of the broadcast content is doing that pretty well on its own... Take care and God Bless.
Has you noticed lately, when ever democratic get involved with your technology , they break it . I miss dvd 📀 cd and my technology Thank you democratic for destroying are technology everywhere.
Videos like this get me all excited about OTA tuners, but then I realize I don't want to pay money to watch commercials.
As opposed to Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, whose subscriptions have ads unless to shell out an exorbitant sum every month?
@CantankerousDave I personally hate all forms of advertising especially daytime commercials. Yeah I don't subscribe to Hulu or Netflix. Their services are like you said exorbitant and in my opinion do not provide a decent service. I see the benefit of OTA tuners. Pay once and you're done and you own your hardware. But other than local news it's meh to me. TH-cam Premium is the only worthwhile subscription in my opinion.
No, OTA is the real TV that does not need to watch any ads, right?
@@GTMedia-global not PAY for something for right to use OUR licenses
Record and FF through.
Not seeing any upside for consumers. It is my understanding that with DRM they can block DVR recordings of anything or block skipping past commercials. In theory they could also implement pay per view or a subscription model. Maybe comcast or DirectTV will get into it by handling the paid content for the local stations, and it just becomes OTA paid cable TV.
What a shame. Elderly, lower income, remotely located people and others who cannot afford or cannot receive the internet will have no access to ATSC3 over the air signals. All of us are owners of that spectrum and yet the industry and its lobbyists have managed to defeat the basic purpose of why we granted them use of the spectrum. The industry remembers the early years of digital music theft and is afraid someone will steal their content and they won't get paid. How about we take our spectrum back or take some CEOs out behind the woodshed!
Xfinity has their Internet Essentials for us low income folks, for around $9.95. I get 50Mbs down, capped around 1Tb.
This works with DRM without an internet connection. The keys are burned in.
Almost fortunate, the only thing on those channel is disinformation.
This product supports offline DRM
This Converter X1 device with OTA ATSC3 function for free, no need charge.
DRM will be the death of ATSC 3. Who in the blue hell is gonna buy these dodgy boxes to watch free TV?
It's more like $20/month TV at this point. Even with the cheapest internet plan available in the US you still have to pay an internet bill to watch "free" TV with ATSC 3.0.
Some of us will buy them to hack.
@@cysjunk This kinds of the device no need charge can watch ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 channel. no need pay.
not me, I'll just abandon broadcast channels
Thank you Sir! Very informative, honest & educational. As a new subscriber, which box do you use?
3:21 hahahaha... That look on Lon's face as he slams the device down says it all.
just ordered one cant wait to try it
Thank you for a great review Lon!
I was sent here by the Antenna Guy.😀
Ahoy, thanks for the review. I watch streaming TV 99% of the time. However, when my internet goes down (as it did twice in November for a total of 21 hrs.) I use my OTA TV. So with this box if my internet goes down I can't watch OTA TV anyway. It kind of defeats the purpose of using an OTA tuner. Often I actually long for the old analog TV because even if I had a weak signal I could watch a channel somewhat. Now it has to be strong, you have to rescan periodically and (for boxes like this) you still need the internet. I'll take a strong pass on this. Thanks again & cheers, daveyb
You shouldn't need an internet connection to have the channels with DRM work. If you do, there is something implemented wrong at the station. I've tested this with 6 encrypted channels in Miami and I never connected it to the internet, ever. And it worked. This device has burned in keys.
Might still be an issue in my area.
@@LonSeidman One of my channels with DRM didn't work with the Zinwell box a few months back. I contacted an engineer for the station and they fixed it. I'd recommend you contact your local station.
I hope WNY will complete a side by side DVR functions video of this X-1 and ADTH. HD Homerun is dead until they can record ATSC 3.0 DRM with AC-4 sound. HD Homerun I hope you are listening.
My Zapperbox intermittently refuses to tune in encrypted stations. When it does this I have to switch back to the ATSC 1 tuner int he TV itself because I don't have time to deal with it before whatever I'm about to watch comes on.
@@tomgeriak3757 Converter X1 would repair the DVR function as soon, the engineer already told with me this.
You can get this significantly cheaper from the Chinese retailer that starts with the big 'A'. I got it for $70 including shipping and taxes. It does support DVR functions once you connect some storage to the USB port. Aside from the interface differences, this box is very much like the one offered by ADTH. The ADTH box is a better option as it uses WiFi instead of infrared for the remote, so no need for the ADTH box to be in the line-of-sight. The ADTH box also does not encrypt your recordings.
The mandatory internet connection to tune in is insane. Half the point of wanting OTA TV is in an event when your internet is down.
No, The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
This wasn’t my experience
@@GTMedia-global I'll not buy your crummy product
@@GTMedia-global what are people without internet in rural America supposed to do?
2:16 "This won't function as an in home Gateway device for over-the-air television, and that is because the broadcasters don't allow it, so if you have multiple TV's in your house, their vision for the future is to buy a bunch of these crappy boxes and attach antennas to each one in order to get all of this to work." So, the future is a step back into the 1990s. As one of my high school teachers used to say to me all the time, how asinine.
Thank you for the honest review.
I have a TV with built in ATS 3 but I have no idea what to expect if I tried it.
12 Reasons why OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail. Just say NO to (DRM). Tell your USA Government about the Hostile Takeover of (OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN-TV) issues listed below.
DRM (Digital Rights Management) Encrypted TV Station's signals. Why?
Some 3.0 tuners at this time require you stay on the internet to decode DRM 3.0 TV Stations. Why?
3.0 Currently no 4K and you only get the Simulcasted main channel and no sub channels.
Channel Crawling = super slow channel changing (DRM 5 + seconds slow).
No sound because of Dolby AC4 audio codec does not have a legal open source license to decode legally on many devices.
Some 3.0 tuners have Out of sync audio to video problems.
Private Home Networked OTA antenna tuner boxes like (Tablo TV box) can not get official certified approval for DRM ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN-TV. Why?
You may need non OTA home pay internet for updates and to unlock DRM encrypted ATSC 3.0 tv channels.
Possible DRM restrictions on DRM ATSC 3.0 recordings and no viewing anywhere on any device with no sound.
Emergency alert messages can not be received if DRM is blocking them.
OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail because the FCC is not going to turn off ATSC 1.0 TV stations for many years if not enough people buy 3.0 TVs and 3.0 boxes.
No one has solve the problem of no government money for free DRM 3.0 TV tuner boxes because 1.0 TV turners and recorders will not work after that TV Station switches to 3.0 TV broadcasts.
(Range and signal error correction) OR (more sub channels and near 4k picture) trade off problem.
FCC is not forcing any 1.0 TV Stations to move over to 3.0 TV. So some TV stations will be on 1.0 and others will be on DRM 3.0.
The FCC is only allowing OTA Simulcasts of the ATSC 1.0 main channel at this time on DRM ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN-TV.
DRM ATSC 3.0 is a not finished product and is a work in progress mix of unproven ideas that has never gotten full FCC approval at this time.
Software updates for 3.0 tuner boxes may be needed for changes made to the unfinished and future added new official ATSC 3.0 standards modules.
Patent License problems. LG no longer sells TVs with ATSC 3.0 tuners.
Some 3.0 TV tuners companies may go out of business or stop updates leaving you with no DRM or software updates.
OTA ATSC 3.0 is better but is not perfect and still can be affected by weak tv signals: (distance, weather, planes, trees, buildings, trucks, poor antenna, etc).
FCC rules that 5 percent of old ATSC 1.0 coverage area does not need to be covered anymore = (SHORTER RANGE).
Viewing zone outside of your 15 minute city or town could be blocked.
Your TV viewing habits could be tracked by your serial number or IP address.
ATSC 3.0 is updatable until it is not updatable without new hardware tuners (ATSC 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0......).
Some of these 3.0 TV issues may be fixed over time.
This is only some of the mess with DRM ATSC 3.0 TV.
This is my opinion why DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail.
IMO. Stay on OTA 1.0 TV until DRM is removed from OTA ATSC 3.0 by law.
It is the people versus the hostile takeover by private DRM 3.0 TV stations for control over the USA public airwaves.
IMO 2024..
9:00 "Now, I was able to get access to the file system on the hard drive and extract the recordings, but they're all encrypted." Ah! I see they use M4V files, the same file format they use for content you download from the iTunes Store. M4V files are basically DRM protected MP4 files. You should be able to play the files on any iTunes compatible device connected to the Internet to retrieve the key.
No- m4v is not always encrypted. The format broadcasters have chosen is Google widevine which is different than Apple’s DRM
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update of the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet.
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
This wasn’t my experience
@@joeysmith-t1o so this DRM needing to be connected to the Internet is a regional issue because broadcasters have not standardized on a standard? I will test this DRM operation in my area or Central FL today with my X1.
@@GTMedia-global "This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year" MEANING YOU HAVE TO BUY INTERNET to use OTA TV, PERIOD!
@@GTMedia-global I tested my X1 in Central FL and it will tune in ATSC 3.0 DRM without an internet connection. DRM is the broadcasters doing, not the makers of these tuner boxes.
That thing about multiple channels on a single frequency might disappear after (or if) the ATSC 3.0 transition completes. Once ATSC 1.0 is retired the broadcasters may move their channels back to the normal frequency blocks to get more bandwidth.
It sounds like the new FCC chair wants to sell off that spectrum. It''ll be interesting to see how it plays out.
Apparently, ADTH is releasing their Gen 2 of ATSC 3.0 boxes (winter 2025). I already bought mine in August, and as a resident of northeastern Connecticut it works OK.
But frankly, I don’t trust the next generation of boxes by anyone (especially ADTH) even though it has micro SD card support in addition to USB 3.0. What really did it for me is DRM encryption support without Internet connection needed. Like that’s going to happen.
Does this box help bring in channels that are spotty in your area??? If it was, then that may be a great feature!
I think it is a good device, software collected multi functions. Even if DRM or ATSC3.0 channels are shut down one day in the future, at least this device supports ATSC1.0 OTA channels, and the box also has a multimedia platform for play. 😂
GTmedia is a good company
Thank you
Ha. For spamming in comments.
@@graysonpeddie So you only deserve to pay on time every month
Will an ATSC 3 tuner box work with an air tv box? I have Sling TV & get my air channels thru an outside antenna just wondering if it will work when it comes time to get a ATSC 3 tuner box. Thanks!
Wow, junk. Absolute security risk junk.
It’s a real shame that broadcasters are destroying this market. These solutions are unacceptable for the consumer.
To be fair the Zinwell I had to side load all the apps I needed. They were normal android tv versions.
Does this device (or any of the other similar devices) not implement HDCP? I'm sure they are supposed to, but "supposed to" and "does" are two different things. If you were feeling sufficiently Rube Goldbergy, could you use any of these boxes as input to a video encoder to bypass the DRM?
Lon,Could the box switch channels quickly when playing ATSC 3.0 DRM? I've used other boxes before, and sometimes it takes 20-30 seconds to switch channels, perhaps because it needs to fetch DRM information from the network? What do you think?
It's not that long but it's not as fast as ATSC 1 channels switch.
@@LonSeidman Thanks for your insights; it's been helpful.
@@Redwoods1225 3-5 seconds to switch between ATSC 3.0 DRM channels. From what I have been told, better than ADTH and Zinwell. And no you do not need to be connected to the Internet via Ethernet or Wifi to decript DRM. Internet is only needed to update the HDtv app that controls the unit or to use the android box side of the device.
@@tomgeriak3757 Okay, thank you very much for the information. If this product allows me to watch OTA TV smoothly (including ATSC 3.0 DRM programs) without having to pay any additional fees, I would consider buying it. I've seen in the video that the streaming capabilities of this product are not very ideal, but that's not my main concern.
@@Redwoods1225 I own the X1 for testing the ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 tuners work excellently. The DVR functionality is still being worked on. I have two ATSC 3.0 DRM Channels in my area of Central FL and they function just fine. I have issues with 3 non DRM ATSC 3.0 channels tuning but I think this is an issue with the broadcastcaster
Wonder how sensitive the tuner is? I tried the ADTH and it was horrible. Only the ZB, and the Zinwell pulled in ok.
Tuner felt pretty solid - I have it connected to the weaker connection on my Televes antenna and it was working pretty well.
@@LonSeidmanThank you Lon.
@@LonSeidman It's using the Sony CXD6801GL receiver LSI, which I believe is the same as the HDHomeRun FLEX 4K. It's about as good as you can get for ATSC 3.0.
I have been using the X-1 in Central FL for a week now. I get all 8 ATSC 3.0 stations and about 80 ATSC 1.0. I think the tuner is fairly good. All my transmission towers are 35-45 miles away. I have a cheap $50 RCA rooftop antenna with an aftermarket amplifier. I intend to install a LTE 5g filter on Saturday to see if and signal strength and quality improve.
As for the DVR functionality, it needs work. It seems to be starting out like the ADTH did (without DVR). As for not this is an ATSC 3.0 tuner with DRM keys that can play back AC-4 sound that allows for an instant recording function. True DVR not yet or not full fledged without a 14 day EPG. To date the means Zapper Box is the only ATSC 3.0 DVR.
What's going on with Hd home run?
Broadcasters are trying to put them out of business
@@LonSeidman ah too bad.
@@LonSeidman how???
@@mc1412007 See my series: th-cam.com/play/PLCZHp4d1HnItSSUpA-DskfKKKrQ_LQYwP.html
Great video.
DRM is usefull if channels like Discovery, HBO, ESPN would broadcast OTA so you don't have to install satellite dish or cable use your existing rooftop or indoor and subscribe to these channels. But DRM for free channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX it's stupid.
You only need an internet connection for channels like Discovery, HBO, ESPN. No need for satellite dish or cable boxes to get them.
Just don't buy them at all! LET the TV broadcasters know that you won't support ATSC 3 with DRM encryption by not buying those tuner boxes at all!!! I'm not and neither should anyone.
@@graysonpeddie I don't think broadcasters want anyone to watch TV OTA. They made too much in re broadcast fees from cable TV. Soon cable TV will be dead too.
in order for this to work, We have to all decide not to buy streaming live package that pays the broadcasters.
@@CrimsonTideGuy I don't. I have not paid for cable in 25 years. I have been watching and recording local TV since the ATSC 1.0 transition. I made my own ATSC 1.0 -4 channel DVR/HTPC and have been using ever since.
Does it do the ATSC 3 interactive stuff that is on WFSB and WVIT during network programming?
In my opinion, this is a borderline useless device. The entire DRM in ATSC 3.0 is a failure. In Europe, we have DVB-T/T2 standards where FTA transmissions are not encoded in any way, not to mention authorization via an internet connection. In Poland, I record DVB-T2 in HEVC transmissions on a cheap, Chinese tuner, and then download them to my computer and play them back without a problem. Recordings from TV are not a source of piracy, but a convenience for viewers who want to capture an important program.
As long as the stations don't do away with ATSC 1, I'm good. ASTC 3 is a non-starter for me.
@@dm95422 you don't need this device for ATSC 1.0. HD Homerun would better suit those needs.
Lon, I've got an Nvidia Shield Pro and Plex Pass and want to construct an OTA TV solution with an outside antenna that works well and into the near future. What can you recommend for a tuner box, amp and antenna that's reasonably priced?
Unfortunately that won’t support DRM
@@LonSeidman You mean, there are no ATSC 3 tuners that can work at all with Plex?
@@CF542 Nope! They won't be able to be DRM certified.
Can't wait for them to offer a free tier of highly compressed 480i with DVR abilities disabled, but if you want more than 480i, then give them your credit card.
Could you recommend an excellent DVR that works seamlessly with Plex? I’m based in the UK.
Plex is a DVR so one of the HDhomerun boxes would work great for you.
ATSC 3.0 is a complete nightmare. You mean to tell me you can't watch television "off the grid" with it? I think people are going to have a problem with that.
The younger generation doesn’t even know that TV broadcasts are a thing, and I’ve honestly had to tell one that no, watching OTA TV isn’t “piracy.”
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
@@GTMedia-global You keep spamming your comment all the time. Get out of TH-cam.
@ Ah, thank you for sharing that detail.
Though, I still think it a shame such keys need to be used at all.
@@graysonpeddie Trash like you will never be able to watch free 4K TV in your life, and you are destined to pay every month.
If you're gonna spend $100.00 might as well get the Zapper Box, I like mine.
So far the zapperbox is the best, but it still lacks functionality we’ve had for well over a decade.
or buy none
Can you post a link for the IR Transmitter you used?
Check it out here! th-cam.com/video/4MJu_64vuv4/w-d-xo.html currently out of stock on amazon
Does this box use ir for the remote by any chance?
@@timbo303official9 this unit requires a remote to work. Yes it is IR. You may be able to control it over a home network or BT with a compatible android app since this is an android box. I can also control the box with my TVs remote using HDMI CEC.
0:26 "lousy hacked together boxes from China" pretty sure the manufacture didn't see it before it was uploaded LOL
HDTV Converter X1 has passed A3SA's DRM certification, Avanci's patent authorization, Google Widevine DRM certification, and DOLBY AC4 certification. It is not a pieced-together box. HDTV Converter X1 focuses on ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 functions and cost-effectiveness, so it does not use the more expensive Android ATV system, but only uses the free Android AOSP system.
If you are willing to spend more, you can of course buy a box that includes everything. This kind of box may require you to pay a few to dozens of dollars per month for EPG fees, DVR fees, and program subscription fees. On HDTV Converter X1, these features do not require additional payment.
Is this box compatible with plex or jellyfin ….. if not it’s not worth it
Nope drm prevents gateway usage
@ then this box isn’t worth it …. And I’ll keep my hd homerun
once my local broadcasters add the DRM requirement, they will lose this viewer, nuff' said from me
Yes, broadcasters will add more DRM content for their own benefit. Users will pay more for DRM, unless you don't use it.
Can just imaging the head scratching going on at Silicon labs to make the ATSC 3.0 HomeRun
S905
Wow
I remember having these things before getting the updated shield
They're terrible.
Not all devices that support DRM require an internet connection. And I don't think blaming DRM for the poor choices made by device manufacturers is fair. I don't like DRM either, but put the blame where it belongs.
It’s totally fair - we had a mature industry with some great innovation. Those players have been locked out by broadcaster collusion. What’s left is crap like this.
@@LonSeidman that doesn't jive. that's like saying the Yugo was a crappy car because of brakes.
Why can't someone just create an Android app that works with the nVidia Shield with a ATSC3 USB tuner to decrypt the DRM?
They are trying to figure out a way to get me to pay for free TV. Ha!
I think Converter X1 just trying to support the tv without pay. lol
dummies think people will always have an internet connection during storms so they can tune into the local news channels for storm updates
You blame China let's also blame the united states for allowing TV stations to encrypt programming.
It's a shame you need a $100 to watch over the air tv
@DavidLeo-p6z it's a nice looking device. If I watched over the air tv I would buy. We don't watch cable TV
Things are going to get much worse singing through the orangemen. Is going to try to get rid of all these consumer protection agencies
ATSC 3.0 will remain broken forever because instead of choosing a free audio codec they were lobbied into using Dolby which requires a license and royalties.
Dang it! I keep hoping for good news. This thing is awful. 😢
can you play media files from the hard drive like a media player? these guys are way to slow to include features like the 1.0 converter boxes most all of them allow you to record and play media files photos ect from the hard drive .seems like the 3.0 has made these companies stupid and forgot what features made all the 1.0 boxes better than the 3.0 limited lame boxes
I luv ya wasting my time with that comment crap. Hahaha. The POSs coming up with this crap just shows how far the broadcast industry falls to more and more control by the government and China. Just more echo chambers. This box was sent out free in the hundreds for reviews. Hahaha
I guess I'm gonna get a lot more books read and honey-do projects done if this crap comes up to Canuckistan...🤔
For those of you still considering the Zapperbox, and I highly advise against it (a Facebook group for OTA enthusiasts literally laughed at me for buying it!) Also, performance is sluggish for skip forward during playback. I might do a 30 second skip ahead of 30 and have to wait 3+ seconds for the playback to resume. Not all the time, but always noticeably slower than my 15 year old dvr. While this performance is disappointing, it wouldn't have been a show stopper.
All of these devices do not make the switch to 3.0 look at all inviting. Losing so much functionality for this upgrade.
You lost me at "unable move the recordings off the device " 😒
Love your content but apparently you've gone broke buying all those crappy 3.0 boxes and can't afford hand lotion-ouch-just watching those dry chafed hands is painful. 😂
It's that time of year .. I use a lot of moisturizer but it just isn't working.
Question for lon t.v here can you use a VPN on these tuner boxes to help with the fight against DRM?
Nope
This thing should have everyone nervous. The fact that this is an android tv box from China means its likely rooted and full of malware and unsafe to connect to a home network. You need to connect it to tune ATSC 3 channels.. Anyway Linus tech tips made a good video about why these chinese android boxes are so dangerous a little while back as I'm sure you are aware.
As always though your honest reporting and disclosures are what will lead consumers to better choices. Good work!
My God....not another crippled ATSC 3 device 😢.....I'm out ✌️
too bad it's doesn't have ISDB-T tuner, so i can use it. Also it's another one of thouse "BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK" products.
We get it DRM sucks. You need to get there isn’t anything we can do about it.
Hopefully the drm gets cracked
Even if it does get hacked, it's already illegal in the US to "traffic" in tools that can crack it. Damn DMCA!
The DRM function of GTMEDIA Converter X1 is genuine certification. This device has burned in keys. It can work normally without the Internet. Some radio stations need to connect to the Internet once to get the update for the new encrypted channels. The next time you watch the channel, you don't need the Internet. This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year to watch all ATSC3.0 channels.
@@GTMedia-global @GTMedia-global "This means that you only need to connect to the Internet once every six months or a year" MEANING YOU HAVE TO BUY INTERNET to use OTA TV, PERIOD!
no way on that device i have an adth box abd its good
I have this X1 box. The one thing it does well is something HD Homerun can not. It can record and play back AC-4 sound. The HD Homerun must connect to a Silicon Dust server to decode the AC-4 but you still can not record it.
Does the current firmware on the ADTH allow you to fully record and play back ATSC 3.0 DRM with AC-4 Dolby sound? I would like to know this as well if the EPG data provided with the ADTH is a full 24 house of EPG data. It is not on the X1 (only about 8 hours at this time).
write your congress people. That model is ridiculous.
No need for smart tvs, you just need a monitor...then buy stupid drm tuner....who thought of this crap for OTA?!?
ATSC 3 is so dumb.
Chinese boxes do last in some cases I have most these boxes anything can have bugs and be open once places online just to make centefied boxes look good they can be exapitable to the samething id rather have a box like this then a box that has ads Google TV os and Amazon keep up the work you do though most legitment box have crap spec if your that worried don't have your info or password on that box simple fix not many boxes do what your showing
You are right
@GTMedia-global would love to review your boxes I have some ideas 💡 in mine about things for real 🙏🙏
Wow - what a piece of junk. Nothing there of interest to me.
This whole DRM requirement will likely bring back interest in reading books. But to be fair, the quality of the broadcast content is doing that pretty well on its own...
Take care and God Bless.
Has you noticed lately, when ever democratic get involved with your technology , they break it . I miss dvd 📀 cd and my technology
Thank you democratic for destroying are technology everywhere.
this was first proposed during trump presidency
@@CrimsonTideGuy OK trump proposed it , but everything dems have put there hand on they break it .
And yes I'm a Democratic, not a fan of trump.