While much of the television-viewing public is now getting their television viewing content via cable or satellite providers, good old-fashioned over-the-air broadcasting still exists. In fact, most major networks offer high-definition content over the air (OTA) for free. The problem is that most of us don't have any way of grabbing that content.
The Artec T14A Digital TV tuner is among a growing number of small, portable, USB-based HD antennas that fix that. The concept is simple: An inline HD tuner is connected to a USB 2.0 plug on one side and a book-cover-size antenna on the other (connected via a standard coaxial cable). The antenna is attached to a flexible stand and suction cup, so you can attach it to windows or virtually any other smooth surface and then bend the neck to point it toward your nearest OTA HD source.
Connecting to any PC with a free 2.0 or 1.1 USB port, the device works with Artec's proprietary tuner software. Hook it up and run the software, and it will scan for HD and digital channels. Once that's accomplished, the tuner then lets you watch, and even record, all available content.
By and large, the $79.95 (list) device works as advertised. I placed the antenna on a file cabinet in my New York City office (about 20 feet from the nearest window), installed the software (twice actually, as the first version froze my PC), scanned for channels using the somewhat rudimentary interface, and managed to find roughly 25 channels of HD and digital content. Pretty cool. —Next: Now for the Bad News
Now for the Bad News
Sadly, the software interface appears to have been built by someone who doesn't know the fundamentals of human/interface interaction. For instance, video deck controls (restart, fast forward, rewind, forward to end) stand in for channel controls (respectively Channel Up, First Channel, Last Channel, and Channel Down). Next to them is a record button that functions as visually advertised. Channels found are listed on the right-hand side of the screen. The playback takes up the center. Over it are non-standard icons for channel scanning, file open (to open recorded content), preview, to scan through up to four channel thumbnails on the main screen, and to capture a screen image. Above the icons are three tabs: Play, EPG (a rudimentar
Artec T14A Digital TV Tuner : Full Set
Artec T14A Digital TV Tuner : Back View
Artec T14A Digital TV Tuner : USB Connection
Artec T14A Digital TV Tuner : Size Comparison
