Kworld ATSC TV stick UB-435Q

[tuckster]

I saw this tuner on Newegg's deals today for $30. Specifications say QAM capable, but some of the reviews suggest that it doesn't work with SageTV or other software. Does anyone know if it will work with GBPVR? Is the tuner worth $30?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as..._-15260023

[johnsonx42]

It will work with GB-PVR for ATSC, but QAM support is another matter. I've read a few comments here on the KWorld QAM tuners that if you enable QAM in the app that came with the tuner (arcsoft total media I think?), then you will be able to do a QAM scan in GB-PVR. However as soon as you reboot, or unplug and replug the tuner, it will revert to the ATSC tuning space. I think someone (maybe whurlston?) suggested in some thread that there is a registry setting that may get it going. Search the forums for kworld and qam and see what you get.

Up until a few days ago I was reasonably happy running a KWorld ATSC-340U (which is practically identical to the 435Q, even uses the same driver). However it developed a problem where sometimes after re-booting it would not be usable until I unplugged it and plugged it in again. After awhile it was EVERY reboot, and re-plugging it would result in the dreaded "this usb be device can perform faster" message... but still another un-plug/re-plug cycle would always get it going. Finally on Sunday it quit working altogether - plugging it in to any port on any computer in the house would yield the "usb device can perform faster" message, no matter how many times I tried.

So I went to Fry's hoping for a good deal on a 435Q, but they were only $10 cheaper than the Hauppauge HVR-850... as my sig attests, the HVR-850 got the nod. The 850 doesn't tune QAM, but that's not an issue for me.

I may buy that 435 for myself, since I'd like a 3rd tuner and $30 is so nice and cheap (and I have other things to order from newegg today, so the shipping won't be an issue either).

If I wanted to tune QAM I'd be really hesitant to buy any tuner that didn't already exist in GB-PVR's BDA.INI file with the (QAM) designation.

[johnsonx42]

hey, newegg has the 950Q for $50 after $20 MIR. Yes, that's quite a bit more than the kworld, but that way you KNOW you'll get good QAM support.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6815116034

[johnsonx42]

ok, I got curious and found the long thread about QAM and KWorld devices:

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=33939

You'll see they eventually did get it working with a registry edit, a new entry in the BDA.INI file, and QAM.ini with explicit frequencies rather than channel numbers. The same should all work for the 435Q, but I'd rather pony up for the Hauppauge 950Q and avoid the headache.

[tuckster]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll pass on this one.

[Engineer_Ted]

ok, I got curious and found the long thread about QAM and KWorld devices:

http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=33939

You'll see they eventually did get it working with a registry edit, a new entry in the BDA.INI file, and QAM.ini with explicit frequencies rather than channel numbers. The same should all work for the 435Q, but I'd rather pony up for the Hauppauge 950Q and avoid the headache.

I didn't see the 950Q listed as supported in the wiki. Also seen a lot of threads with issues with this tuner.

Is it pretty much a plug and play capture at this point? If so, I'll probably buy a few.