We are approximately a week before the Super Bowl, and I am looking for tuners for large format 4K devices to be able to put the game up so we can watch. These devices include large monitors built into a videoconference device like the DTEN D7, an interactive whiteboard like the SMART QX Pro Series, and a large format commercial signage display from LG Business, which does not include a tuner. I am in Milwaukee, which has not yet deployed ATSC 3.0 in 2025 but has been on the "coming soon" list for several years. Green Bay to our North and Chicago to our South have both already deployed ATSC 3.0. I was using older digital tuners that in some cases were only receiving 480i or 720p signals. These are the inexpensive $20-30 devices from the local hardware store that still scan the 700 and 800MHz bands and analog channels.First, I should point out that the only instructions that come with this are a quick start guide to plug it in. I started with the LG Commercial 4K display and found that nothing came through on the screen. I tried the old tuner, which worked, switched back and forth, and wondered if this box did not work. It did not work with the LG in any case. I then took it over and plugged it into a SMART QX Pro. Here, it worked right away, and I got a welcome screen. This does not appear to work with all displays.I was drawn to the "upconverting" feature of this device, and after setting it up, I tried several local channels. None are broadcasting in 4K at this time. Some are 1080i, others 720p, and, of course, all of the sub-carriers are broadcasting 480. Primarily, I am interested in the 1080i broadcasts looking better on 4K. What I found, instead, was that the picture did not look "more crisp" and use AI to fill in the gaps, but instead was somewhat softer and had color blocks similar to "Chroma Subsampling" that was significantly worse than 4:0:0. Since this upconverting should be happening in the device and there is plenty of bandwidth between the device and the display, this surprised me. It created perceived artifacts that not only looked worse than 1080i but most significantly affected high-contrast areas on the screen, like where text would display. My device will not tell me the resolution being fed into it - but I do not believe that it is 4K.I think the other issue I would point out is the ability to lock on to and hold a signal. The display, amplifier, and antenna remained the same between the older cheap device and this device. However, the older device was able to grab and program more channels and maintain them more clearly. This device required a lot of playing with the indoor inexpensive antennae that I am using for this weekend and a small USB-powered amplifier. While I was able to get a final lock on Fox for the big game once I tucked the antenna up inside of ceiling tiles, I was unable to get our local CBS affiliate (where the NBA games would be shown.) When I tuned for CBS I never really got a good lock on, but then did not manage Fox at all. So yes, this worked, but I would not say that it worked especially well. It likely met the minimum requirements for my application.The back side of the quick start guide detailed how to use the remote to also control your TV. Since I am using a SMART QX Pro I did not think that any codes would be pre-programmed - it is not a "consumer" device. However, there are "extra" buttons on the remote like a yellow and green button with no label. (Our LG TVs have colored buttons like this, but 4 of them?) There is an "App" button on the remote, that does not seem to do anything at all. I tried to figure it out because it is an Android 11-based device to see if apps could be downloaded and installed, but short of going to additional lengths to sideload apps, it does not appear to be able to support this. I did make sure that both the Android and app versions were fully up to date.I cannot test the ASTC 3.0 4K functions, which are important in a review. But until Milwaukee supports them, I can't receive them. A year ago these devices were first coming on the market and I was still buying the "old" style $30 ones. I paid $129 on Amazon with free Prime next-day delivery. This is a $50-60 device. I did not open the case, but there is a fairly simple and basic Linux PC with minimal specs inside. I have ordered other devices, but this is the first to arrive and the first to be reviewed.

Updated:The cord cutters have been waiting for a NextGen Tuner for several years and now we have one!This is the first time I've seen 4K OTA programming on a TV show, typically the output is 1080p but that is what most networks are sending OTA. A shout-out for ABC broadcasts, their images are stunning and the sound quality is top shelf. Beautiful rear speakers separation, they are crystal clear, like they are supposed to work. This is the best sound source at my place.Not all Networks are the same, one of the main steam channels crops the image to 4/3 or no sound, there are workarounds, a bit of a hassle. On a positive note their standard1080p signal works very well.Once it is setup, you'll think this is too good to be a free service.Not an App, nothing hidden, not a pay for TV service.Internet is not needed - click skipSorry for the cropped screen grab -- copyright laws.

During a home renovation, my brother broke the coax connector to my mom's 2 year old TV trying to connect a coax cable that was now too short to connect her TV to the antenna. The TV was relocated further away from its previous location resulting in a shortened cable. To repair the coax connector would require me to disassemble her TV and remove the main board. Once removed, extract damaged connector from board and order another connector with the same part number to solder back onto board. That is assuming there is a part number on the damaged connector.Zat-600B tuner box has the capability of connecting to TV via HDMI. So I ordered one for it.Upon setting up the Zinwell tuner box, the basic manual provided vague instructions. I had to download the full instructions from the website to understand how to setup tuner box. Once I had batteries installed, I let the box scan for the 34 channels her TV tuner would pick up from over 40 miles away with her outdoor Antennas Direct ClearStream 4V antenna. Tuner box scanned 54 channels. Some of those were the Nextgen ATSC channels and some from a tower slightly beyond the 40 mile range. Most of those additional channels need perfect weather for the antenna to pick up without signal loss and or pixelation. The antenna is surrounded by 60-80 ft trees and there is a mountain range and rolling hills that it and this unit and some amplifiers are contending with to receive ATSC channels. Unwanted channels are easy to hide. I also updated an android driver on the tuner box.If you have a long Wifi password, be prepared to wait on the tuner box to process your alpha numeric password as you enter it into the password box. The operating system lags a bit. You can avoid the password by connecting tuner box via ethernet cable.After installation was completed, the universal remote was setup to control TV volume, mute, and power. It was a process to do. You have to do as the instructions require and aim universal remote to the TV remote and pair each basic function. It would be nice if this could be achieved by inputting a single code into the universal remote.The unit has a very bright LED for power on mode that turns red when it is shut off. If you get one for a bedroom, be forewarned that it might be too bright. You can place a piece of masking tape over it. The box itself is slightly larger than a Roku Ultra puck style box.The TV guide menu is decent but could be slightly improved with the ability to change text size.Tuner box has a USB media port for additional capabilities.I chose the Zat-600B over the cheaper units sold on here because some product reviews were claiming the various cheaper units would burn out a year or two after purchase. Hopefully this one will last a while for the price paid. It generates a nice sharp picture on the TV and good sound.Make sure Nextgen ATSC channels are available in your area before purchasing it.