Channel Master CM-7500TB1 Dual-tuner DVR with program guide, 1TB

This DVR is a good device if you wish to "cut the cable" (getting rid of cable television). This DVR delivers what it promises no monthly subscription fees and compares favorably to the competition: Magnavox and TiVo Roamio. I bought a Magnavox DVR, but returned it because it didn't have a television guide. The Channel Master gets 4 stars because it should have a built-in WiFi connection, not require users buy a special USB Wi-Fi adapter at an inflated price (currently $39). I bought the version with a built-in 1 TB harddrive. Shows you are watching through the DVR are recorded for upto 2 hours back, so you can rewind if you wish.SETUPSetup is quick and easy and takes about 4 minutes (including scanning for channels). The instructions recommend connecting to the internet and updating the units software; this took much longer.THE GUIDEThe guide is user friendly and resembles a Cable companies recording interface. You select the show and can record that show or the series (shows with the same name). The guide has two different appearances: 1) If you do not have an internet connection, the guide is only text based on the digital signal that comes through the air waves. 2) If you connect to the internet, the station logos are downloaded to provide the guide appearance showing on CM's website.Over the airwaves, the CM will get about two days of guide information. With an internet connection, the guide will get about two WEEKS of guide information. This extra information is necessary when searching for programs to record. The Guide does not allow a user to only record new episodes; cable DVR's have this function. It's not a big deal to me, but some purchasers should know.REMOTEThe remote is easy to understand and use. The buttons seem well laid-out and planned. It has an on button and a separate off portion of the button; this was unique to this remote. In addition, the Guide button has a sticky feel to it, which makes it easy to find in the dark. The bottom of the remote has a serious design flaw - the remote has a convexed bottom, so if the remote is placed about 90% on your nightstand, it will fall slide off of the nightstand and fall onto the floor. The remote should have a flat bottom to prevent this problem.APPEARANCECM has a small flat device that is only thick enough to house a notebook harddrive and wide enough for the connections.THE COMPETITIONCM has two tuners, which allows you to record two shows at the same time or record one show and watch one show through the DVR. CM offers about a dozen free streaming channels through the internet, including news channels like Bloomberg, Reuters, and ABC News. In comparison, TiVo Roamio has four tuners, but does not offer the free internet streaming content. Magnavox offers two tuners, but has an interface that resembles a VCR from 1990; literally with a record start time, stop time, and channel. A CNET review said the Magnavox units were supposed to have a Rovio guide, but the unit I purchased and returned did not. Hopefully Magnavox will have a useful guide. The Magnavox has a built in Wi-Fi card. Based on my research, I chose the CM. I think all of the units can use USB harddrives for additional storage capacity.ISSUESMy unit came with the antenna connection came bent about 15 degrees, but still works. There was no damage to the packaging, so I don't know how it was damaged. I tried using a generic USB Wi-Fi adapter, but it didn't work. The Channel Master is setup to only use its own USB Wi-Fi wireless adapter. Supposedly a USB Adapter with the Realtek Chipset RTL8192CU will work, but I haven't test it. Another work-around would be to have a wireless adapter that connects to the wired connection. Channel Master should just have a Wi-Fi adapter installed into the device, which would allow for a better antenna for improved connectivity.SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTSThe channel guide should show the relative signal strength of the different stations, so that you can choose to record stations with a stronger signal. I live in a metropolitian area, where I have local stations and stations from 60+ miles away, some of these are duplicate stations. It would be best to record from the stations with the stronger signal. I suggest have a Built in Wi-Fi card. Make the bottom of the remote flat, so it won't fall easily fall off of a table if 100% of the remote is not on the table.

I am a cable cutter, since my cable bill surpassed my electric bill and water combined. What kept me hooked to my brighthouse (now Spectrum) cable subscription was the convenience of recording shows automatically, the channel guide and the ability to record one show wile watching something else. This over the air DVR has the touch and feel of your cable set top box without the cost. I liked the fact that it did not require any subscriptions to use the program guide. Setup was easy. Reception is good. I love the slim line form and the fact it does not get as hot as my cable box did. The remote is pretty much self explanatory and the buttons arrangement is natural with the important ones in the center. I have already put a Ethernet connection to the spot where the living room TV is. If you do not have a Ethernet cable run to your TV console you will need the wireless adapter. It did not matter to me in this case but I feel that future versions should have the wireless feature already build in. There is some great potential in the digital channels by Channelmaster but it is not realized since you can only set up a few awkward ones that I will not watch. It would be great if there was a way to implement a version of Kodi on the Channel Master DVR since the kodi platform allows for countless add ons and access to a lot of free media and on demand content. A nice feature is that this DVR allows you to set up Sling TV account on the unit without extra hardware. Sling TV is ideal if you want to cut cable but want to keep a few essential basic cable channels at rates between $ 20 to 30$ per month. The Channel Master DVR is ideal if you live in an area where you have reception of a good selection of over the air TV stations. You might need a good antenna on your rood or in the attic if your distance is more than 15 or 20 miles to the next broadcast station. I am absolutely happy with the Channel Master and in a few months time the purchase of the DVR, and the antenna will have amortized and will save me a lot of money within the first year alone. If there is anything negative it is a little bit of delay when you use the program guide and flip channels up and down. But I guess it has to do how the system retrieves the info from the tv signal or the online database. Some people complain that it only has 2 tuners so you can record only 2 shows at once. That works perfectly fine for me. It would be good to have more flexibility with recording start and end times in case there is something like a football game before your show and there is a chance of a shift in the broadcast schedule. I like owning a DVR and not having a monthly bill. For that reason alone I can recommend this nifty DVR to anyone. Setup was easy and it controls also basic TV functions. I can turn TV and DVR on with one button, which I like. No working multiple remotes to watch television. If it had more flexible expansion capability like the amazon fire stick this would be even more perfect. But I use the Channel Master for broadcast network shows and I use the Amazon Fire stick for on demand features which gives me plenty to watch. I have not missed cable yet and its been a month and a half. Note that this DVR only works with over the air channels and not with any cable signal. So if you live in an area where you are supplied with a mix of signals there are other recorders that work better. Form me its the almost perfect solution.

belle image et facile d'utilisation