Plexter ConvertX (PX-TV402U)

We would like to thank Plexter for This unit for review .

So you say What is this thing for and Why would I use it.

I find this unit to be a tv/video capture unit(it's what it is) for users who may not want to void their warrenty or,

just don't want to open their case.

How is this done you say?

The unit uses your usb port thats how.

It has a hand full of feature that we don't even have time to get into.

The specs of the unit and features are here.

Test System:

Amd 1.4 gig duron

FX5700 256 meg video card

512 ddr PMI

MSI K4mv

40 gig hd maxtor

LG cd-rw/dvd

a modest system at best and it plays Doom 3 ,Return to wolfenstein etc(Quake 4 with the Xp2500 in it Look for this review soon).

Ease of Use:

This has to be a easy to use item for novice and end users that don't want to crack their case open.

An in this area where this unit should be marketed it just works it's a usb device .

You hook up your cable or svideo etc and you should be able to get up and running with out reading a thing.

The unit worked well in XP and a little while after it's release Plexter released a SDK for Linux.

The SDK is for the Plexter PX-M402 and the PX-TV402.

You'll also need hotplug, hotplug firmware, and USB support compiled into your kernel.(from NewsForge)

That link will bring you to their review for our Linux users out there.

So if you use MythTV maybe in the newer releases you should be able to use it.

We found the unit well built and rather capable to do the task we set before it.

Testing:

We didn't have any s-video cables or devices on hand that used this well so we went with our coax cable.

I must say that it made channels we get here on basic really much nicer when we got a good channel.

(we have issues here just as we did in the states.ie when you payed for the better cable it still messed up and was full of snow so we don't get that any more and don't get us started on HDTV.)

But besides our little rant there lest get back to the mission at hand.

The unit recorded live tv very well on our test system.

We recorded BET a 50 Cent Video and play back was smooth and clean .

I'm sure on another better system it would be even better.

Pros:

Ease of use.

feature set

options to connect to other video sources(cameras,vcr ,etc)

Linux support check out the review on News Forge

Cons:

Tv tuner is rather slow changing channels and

if you click to many times while you wait it will skip a bunch of chanels.(software tuner issue)

Does get hot .

Over all we feel this product deserves to be in your home if you want to try and recorde do pvr with live tv, vhs,beta(yes I remeber a beta max tape(your own)) tape backup,home movies etc.

It's another reason Plexter is where they are they bring items to the end user that make it easy and work well.