Listener Review: brite-View BV-980H Digital Antenna HD DVR

On a recent show we recommended the brite-View BV-980H Digital Antenna HD DVR (Buy Now $195) to a listener so he could get over the air HD to his theater room. Allen from Cleveland, Ohio decided to buy one and check it out for himeself. He was kind enogh to write a review which we are posting here.

Hardware specs:

• Size: 9.0 x 5.2 x 1.8 inches and 1.5 pounds.
• 1 HDMI output
• 1 composite video and R/L RCA output
• 1 composite video and R/L RCA input
• 1 Coax input
• 1 USB input
• 1 terrestrial ATSC and digital cable clearQAM tuner
• 1 2.5 inch 320 GB hard drive

Operation:

Set-up was easy.  I simply plugged everything in and turned it on.  I did have a little problem with the HDMI port working at first but more on that later. After I went through the initial set-up screen to set the time and date and things like that, the unit scanned for channels and had no problems finding all of my local broadcasts, (already much better than my previous product). After this initial set-up I installed a firmware update by downloading it off from the manufacturer’s website and installing it through the USB port on the back.  No problems there.

Basically, this unit is a very simple device.  There is nothing flashy about it. Operation can be glitchy at times but once you get on the same wavelength and understand what its limitations are eventually you get what you want out of the box.  There is was a slight delay when changing channels and navigating through the menu, but the firmware update sped that up a bit.

I have learned to look at this device as a HDTV tuner that can record than a full DVR.  There are many functions missing that you’d expect from a modern DVR, like a 30 second commercial skip.  The menu system is cumbersome, and clunky.  Setting up a recording and watching what you recorded is buried deep in the menu system, which is something that should be at the tip of your fingers.  There also appears to be no way to tell the unit to repeat recordings such as recording the same time slot every Monday-Friday, or every Thursday.  Each recording has to be set individually and manually.  Getting to those recording is more like a computer file directory system which you have to navigate though folders to find your show.  When you are watching a recording, since there isn’t a 30 second skip, skipping commercials isn’t as easy since you have to use their fast forward and rewind buttons that aren’t very smooth and responsive, but does work. There is only one tuner in the devise so you can’t record one show and watch another.  I don’t think you can even watch a recording while recording another, only one thing at a time. 

The only thing I find really frustrating is I am connecting this unit to an old Sony CRT HDTV that doesn’t have a built in ATCS HD tuner and uses a DVI port for HD signal.  The Brite-View seems to have a problem with my HDMI-to-DVI cable and doesn’t think it is hooked up to anything.  It must be some sort of HDCP handshake issue that isn’t happening.  I did hook up the unit to another LCD TV that has HDMI and it worked, so the unit isn’t defective.  My older TV does have component video inputs, but unfortunately the Brite-View doesn’t have a component video output so I am stuck with the composite video feed.  I might find a work around for this issue in the future, but for now I am stuck without full HD.

I’d like to get away from discussing its shortcomings and say some positive things about the Brite-View.  It is subscription free and only cost is the initial purchase of the unit.  You can pause live TV like you’d expect from a DVR. The USB port allows the user to attach up to a 2 TB hard drive for more recording space.  The unit has an EPG TV guide section where it downloads TV show titles ~24 hrs in advance.  The simple nature of it does have its flaws, but that is also a good thing since I was looking for a no frills set-top box.  My primary use for this is a “back-up” to my main DVR in the home theater.  It is installed in our bedroom and will be used to record NOVA, local news, or maybe late night TV talk shows to watch before I fall asleep, so all the more user friendly things that should come on a DVR aren’t really needed.  It is better than having to use a computer to record and watch TV and obviously, better than having no DVR capability at all.

Summary:

The Brite-View is simple, but it works.  One reviewer on amazon really summed it up by saying “It’s better than a VCR”.   For $200 I’d really expect more out of the user interface considering the DTV-PAL DVR I already have cost $250 three years ago and is much more user friendly.  The price point for this product should really be around $100 or less in today’s smart phone app world.  But, since there really isn’t any other products with subscription free DVRs (that work) out there I’m stuck.  I wouldn’t use it in my main home theater, and wouldn’t really suggest it to anyone to use it as their main unit unless they can be happy with its clunky nature and no other options exist. The real review here is I am happy with my purchase, I’m keeping it, and would suggest it to anyone to try it if they are thinking about going antenna only and want a subscription free DVR (just don’t expect a TiVo like experience).