Review:

A neat little tuner that allows one to view television on their computer. It also lets one connect their X Box, Play Station or Game Cube to TV Box 9, and have fun game playing on the PC. One can also connect a DVD player, camcorder or vcr. Just like the PC monitor, be it CRT or LCD, TV Box 9 also worked well as a tuner with any flat screen tv.

Easy to setup, and no software required. Can either lie flat or stand as a tower in the provided stand. The user disconnects the VGA cable out to the monitor from the PC, then attaches the cable to the VGA out jack on TV Box 9. Another provided VGA cable is connected from the VGA in on the TV Box 9, to the PC. Disconnect the speakers from the PC, into the speaker out on TV Box 9. Another supplied cable will be placed from the audio in jack on the unit, and to the audio out on the PC.

For audio/video sources, the provided jacks are the regular RCA/composite, F pin coaxial video cable, or by plugging component cables into what is called an s-video/component 2 in 1 cable. The supplied cable has female component ends, while the other end, s-video, plugs into the TV Box 9.

With a neat silver coloring, the unit has channel up/down buttons, and volume buttons. Did like the neat blue tint to the Off/On light.

The remote control is the main work horse, operating with an on screen display. Of course, just like a regular remote, takes care of scanning for channels to set, viewing source, and parental lockout codes. The user can also fine tune the picture quality via the remote.

PIP funtion is fun with the TV Box 9. Besides the usual PIP that can be moved around the screen, and multiple PIP's, 13 at one time, the PIP can also be translucent allowing the user to watch a program, and work on the PC at the same time, seeing the project underneath the televised image.

Overall picture quality was very nice. Resolution of 1280 x 1024, 3:2 pulldown, 3D Motion Adaptive De-Interlace, and progressive scanning. The resolution can be set to seven different levels. 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024, 1280 x 768, 4:30, and panorama.

TV Box 9 also does closed captioning. The user also has the option of adding external self amplified speakers instead of using the computer speakers. Headphones may also be used.

With a list price of $179.99, TV Box 9 can be found at most computer and consumer electronics stores.

Summary

• Input Signal:
  
• Coaxial TV Antenna Input
• Audio Input (R/L)
• VGA Input
• Composite (RCA) Video Input
• S-Video Input/Component Input (via S-Video/Component 2 in 1 Cable)
• PC Audio Input
• Output Signal:
• Audio Output (Earphone)
• Audio Output (Speaker)
• VGA Monitor Output - Dimensions: Base Unit: 6.3”x4.5”x1”
• Remote Control: 7”x2.25”x0.5” - Weight: Base Unit: 0.6lb
• Remote Control: 0.2lb
• Warranty: 1 year limited parts & labor
• Compliance: FCC

• Features:
  
• Supports Resolution up to 1280 x 1024 (SXGA)
• Multiple Channel Preview (Up to 13 Channels)
• Great to use with Game Console, DVD Player, VCR or
• Anything with Composite/S-Video/Component Output
• Picture-in-Picture (PIP) Function (PIP See-Through
• Translucent Mode) Supports up to 1024 x 768
• 3:2 Pull Down Technology (For NTSC System Only)
• Progressive Scan
• 3D Motion Adaptive De-Interlace
• Supports all LCD/CRT/Plasma/Projection Displays with VGA Inputs
• Stereo Sound/SAP (for NTSC System only)
• Closed Caption/Parental Control (For USA Only)
• Supports Multiple Input Sources (TV Tuner, S-Video, Composite Video, Component, VGA)
• All Frequency/All Channel Scan with Channel Memorizing Function
• Plug-n-Play, No Software or Drivers Required, Applicable to all O/S
• User Friendly OSD (On Screen Display) to Control Functions
• Fully Functional Infrared Remote Control
• Sleep Timer
• Favorite Channel Programming
• Fine Tuning Function
• Brightness/Contrast/Tint/Color/Sharpness Adjustment
• Supports NTSC, PAL-N and Pal-M