Freeview Set Top Box Recorder - August DVB482 - Watch and Record Programme From 2 Channels at the Same Time - HDMI Full 1080p HD Receiver UK Program Guide and TimeShift - Multimedia Player

Fantastic device. Everything working beautifully.Great picture and sound quality, PVR and timeshift recording (even two timeshift types) on a USB Stick or external HDD flawless, remote controller responsive, dual tuners to record two different channels or watch and record simultaneously, nice other features like favourite channels lists and so on.The only small issue is that the EPG doesn't show programmes on several channels at the same time. Doesn't bother me, the EPG still is usable enough.Coincidentally, I've bought several August devices during several years. Originally mainly because they are so affordable. No problems ever, always happy with them.It is difficult to understand why this August DVB482 gets quite many negative reviews. Maybe people just don't understand how to operate this kind of boxes? (Operating is very simple, especially if you are familiar with TV tuner and recorder devices.)Maybe people expect too much? This device does not wash your laundry, make your dinner or write your emails. It just beautifully shows and records TV programmes (and plays multimedia files from your USB device).Thank you, August.

OVERVIEWThe August DVB482 digital video recorder represents very good value at this price-point. It is compact, simple to operate and does almost everything that one might expect of a DVR. I have paired this unit with an Amazon Fire TV and this provides me with the best and most complete options in terms of streaming TV services and live TV.PRESENTATIONThe product is nicely packaged in a strong cardboard box that provides adequate protection against in-transit bumps. The product has a very small footprint, which is a good thing, as it takes up almost no space and can be located almost anywhere near to the TV.WHAT's in the BOX..?In the box you will find the following....DVB482 video recorderMains to 12 volt adaptorRemote with batteriesHDMI cable – good qualityUser Guide – well-written in good EnglishNOTE – The User Guide is also available as an online DownloadINSTALLATIONNOTE – I am assuming that very few users will still be using SCART technology, therefore this section only explains connection using HDMI. However, the procedure is the same irrespective of which technology you are using.On the Amazon website there is a link to an online User Guide. I recommend downloading this guide and while you are waiting for the product to be delivered, read the guide carefully as it contains all the useful information that you will need to obtain the best usage from the product to meet your needs.When you have unpacked the product....Open the battery compartment on the Remote and install the batteries. Press any of the buttons and check that the LED lights to confirm that the Remote is working.Format a USB drive using a Windows computer and the NTFS file formatting protocol. If you don't know how to do this then look online as there are many tutorial-type videos that will show you how.Locate the unit within reach of the antenna outlet; a mains wall socket and the HDMI socket on the TV. Insert the antenna coaxial cable into the "RF In" socket. . Connect the HDMI cable to the TV and to the recorder. (Do not use the RF Out Loop through). Plug the 12v plug into the power socket and the 3-pin plug into the wall socket. Switch on the wall socket. Using the Remote switch on the recorder.PRACTICAL USEVideo & Audio. Video and audio quality are good, better than expected at this price-point.Recording Media. Using a USB drive is exactly what I require. USB drives are inexpensive and are far more versatile than built-in hard drives. The USB can be formatted to the NTFS file format on any Windows computer. The benefit of this is that the recorded video files can be played on most Windows-compatible devices, which means that you can record a program and then take the USB drive with you and view the recorded video on, for example, a laptop. Very convenient for those times when you are away from home.User Interface. Not the most intuitive. Once you get to know (and memorise) the interface, it is relatively easy find your way. But, this aspect of the product can be greatly improved and definitely needs to receive further development. The "look-and-feel" of the user interface just seems a bit "yesterday", it works well, but it won't get any awards for design.Remote. The Remote works as expected. Even though it has a relatively small form, the buttons ore conveniently spaced and are easy to operate, even for a man's hands. The Remote is the centre-piece of this product. It is worth your time to spend an hour getting to know exactly how to use the Remote, once you can do that, using the product becomes much easier and more intuitive.Using only one Remote. The DVB482 Remote is an "intelligent" Remote in that it can "learn" to duplicate the key functions of the TV Remote. The User Guide provides detailed instructions how to do this.Record & View. You can record a live channel while viewing another live channel. However, you cannot record a channel and simultaneously view another previously recorded video. A solution to that issue is to have two USB drives and a TV with a USB port. You can then record a live channel on the DVB482 while watching a previously recorded video on the TV via the TV USB port and TV media player. This is the way that I use the product and it works perfectly.Record Options. You can record the live channel that you are currently viewing by pressing the "Rec" button. The recording menu offers options to record Once, Daily, Weekly. The EPG provides listings of live TV channels up to 7 days in advance.Favourites. The Favourites utility works about as expected. The only issue that I have found is that once you are in the Favourites utility you cannot exit the utility. You can move from one Favourite section to another but there does not seem to be an "Exit" function – the "Exit" key on the Remote does not exit the user from Favourites. The solution to this issue is to simply use the button on the Remote to put the unit into Standby mode and then wake it up again – that is the easiest way to exit Favourites.

Good product for the price, easy to set up

We have never been able to set up the item and we've had it since March, just had a professional person in to set it up for us and they said this is far too complicated. So we ditching it and getting a different one and i notice on eBay there are a lot being sold, pre-owned, perhaps others have found the same problem. you need an engineers degree to set it up!!

Good points:Very inexpensive.Easy set-up and works straight out of the boxExternal storage via USB is great - you can expand and add as much storage as you like, and your library is portable between devices. Over the last 10 years we have had 3 BT YouView boxes die, and lost all library recordings each time.Setting a program to record is easy, and playback quality is good. How to delete a recording is not immediately obvious - you mark it for deletion in the library (or 'list'), then update settings.Catch-up streaming via iPlayer, ITVX, etc. works wellBad points:The device is pretty basic - which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on opinion and expectations.No other streaming service apps (e.g. Amazon, Netflix) are available - but Firestick is cheap and fixes thisElectronic Program Guide is a bit clunky and not nice to look at. Scrolling up and down the EPG or using the Next Page / Previous Page button on the handset result in the unit changing channel to whichever channel is highlighted - you cannot browse without selecting the new channel, so you can't look to see what else is on now or later on other channels and still keep the current program running in the background.Series recording is not available: You can view the EPG and set a program to be recorded, and you can set the frequency of recording (every day, every week, etc.) BUT the setting is for the channel and the start time & end time - NOT the program. If schedules are revised you will miss the program you were hoping to record... I haven't seen a timer as basic as this since mid-1980's VCR's before VideoPlus was a thing!Volume level is really low - For comfortable listening when watching live broadcast through the TV, TV volume setting is around 20 (max volume on the TV is 50) - but when watching the same program via the August box and with the volume setting up full on the August box, the TV volume has to be on 30-40 to get similar sound. So if selecting a different input source (Firestick, DVD player, or live broadcast via the TV) you are suddenly deafened if you forget to reduce the TV volume before switching from the August box.Pairing with TV remote only partly successful - will turn TV off & on, but generally easier to just use two remote handsetsSummary:Until it died last week, we watched all TV through the BT YouView box, almost never watching live through the TV tuner, and using the YouView remote for everything. With the August box it's the complete opposite - I'm only turning the unit on to watch a recording or when there is a program I want to record, but once the timer is set I turn back to watching directly from the TV - and only using the August remote to control the August box, not any of the TV functions. But catch-up streaming works well.

Very basic but good value for money. Works great. I put a large SD card in it for more program storage.