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HAVA Titanium HD TV Device with Wi-Fi | List Price: $249.99
Discount Price: $139.99
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Brand: Monsoon Multimedia
Binding: Electronics
Features: - Lets you wirelessly stream television content via your home network and watch from anywhere with a broadband internet connection
- Automatically adjusts video encoding for smooth video, no matter the network activity
- Functions as a PVR, letting you record, pause, and rewind live television
- Two USB ports allows you to add an external hard drive and upgrade the wireless capability from 802.11g to 802.11n
- Backed by a 1-year warranty
Very easy to use! DVR functionality rocks! [Posted on 2008-09-25]
Wow, setup for this system was a breeze! From opening the box to fully installed software, watching tv on my laptop took less than 30 minutes. Unlike my previous experience with Slingbox, there were absolutely no issues to resolve with network/firewall etc. (I am using this with Vista Home Premium on my laptop.)
So far, video and audio quality are excellent, even over G wireless to my laptop. The player allows for full-screen mode, with no additional frame, controls, etc on the screen, so it looks just like a tv display.
I LOVE the built-in DVR functionality. Basically, wherever you install the player (e.g. laptop, desktop, etc), the player just sets aside space on your computer's hard drive to allow for both pause/resume of live tv as well as saving an entire program. The Slingbox player does not offer either of these functionalities.
One negative for me, is the absense of a remote control template for the Tivo HD. There are some older Tivo remotes (Direct TV, Tivo SD, Tivo Series 3), but none of them work fully with the Tivo HD. Given that Tivo HD is the current standard model of Tivo and has been on the market for over a year, it seems like a major ommission on HAVA's part. This does concern me somewhat, as a poor reflection on how well they will support various remotes in the future as well as their overall support of their software.
Also, the lag time for response from pushing a remote control button is about 5 seconds, so this is a bit frustrating when you are trying to navigate Tivo menus, etc.
With regards to resolution, it is important to understand that while HAVA can HD video input (component, not HDMI), its output is still always standard def. Unlike, Slingbox, however, whose output is fixed at 640x480, the HAVA appears to ouput at 480p, including full 16:9 aspect ratio. If it is important for you to have HD video streamed across your home, you may want to wait and consider the Slingbox Pro-HD, to be released in late-Sept 2008.
I wish I could rate this higher... [Posted on 2008-09-29]
I wish I could give the Hava Titanium HD WiFi more than three stars. I really, really do. But, with all the rough edges that I've encountered over the couple of days, I just can't.
First the good news: It works. As a matter of fact, I'm sitting in my office, typing this review, while watching WGN in another window. The video quality is good and the sound is in sync with the video. It's pretty cool. Video input signals can come from composite, component or s-video sources. Note that there are no HDMI connections. Audio can come from standard right-left audio inputs where necessary. Pass-through outputs exist for every input. Your home network can be connected via either wired or wireless connections. I tested both; they both work fine, but settled on the wired connection as the wireless signal is weak in the room where I placed the Hava.
Now...the problems: It's obvious that this is a work-in-progress. The unit I received had software and firmware that was two releases old. The software partially installed, suggested that I download the latest version and then promptly bombed when I tried to install the upgrade. After numerous reboots (and a few words that I don't use around the kids) I finally managed to install the shipped -not the upgraded- version. Unfortunately the shipped version doesn't support a hard drive on the USB port for video storage...you can only use your computer's hard disk. Filling up my laptop's hard drive with reruns of 'My Mother the Car" doesn't seem like a particularly intelligent idea. Since I couldn't get the latest software/firmware version to install, I found an intermediate version which included hard drive support (1.7.3.322-Beta, if you're curious) on the myhava.com web site. It installed and forms the basis of this review. If I ever get 1.7.4.7 to work, I'll file an update.
Over the last year and change, I've owned DirectTV, ATT U-Verse, Comcast and finally TiVo DVRs. (Don't ask...it's a basic character flaw.) This gives me a pretty good basis to evaluate the Hava as a DVR. I'm controlling the Hava using the Have-supplied PC client, not Vista Media Center Edition or something else more sophisticated. It works fine recording and playing back a video stream, but there are several key features that are missing. First of all, there's no program directory to assist you in recording a specific show. You set-up a recording by entering the date, start time, program length and channel number. Obviously, if you're watching TV, you can pull up your provider's program directory, but there's no interaction between that and the Hava. Secondly, once you've programmed it to record something, I haven't found a way to cancel that recording, or even list what's queued up to record. These may be included in a future update...or might not. Meanwhile, they're pretty serious deficiencies.
So...to make a long review short, I'd give the Hava an "A" for its networked video capabilities, but only a "C" for use as a DVR.
a very cool gadget [Posted on 2008-10-01]
I love new tech devices alot but this one is going to be one of my new faves next to my wii of course. I love this it very handy to be able to watch tv on the computer specially being self employed and most of my jobs are net based I can do my work for example here on vine sit here watch my fave show fill out the reviews. another handy portion of this device is being able to record and burn on to dvd. I have digital cable from time warner lots of channels all premiums I am a HBO oz fan from the way back and those are hard to come by even on DVD. So being able to have a device like this makes it easier just record the shows when they're one burn to dvd. being able to pause live tv is neat all though we have a feature like that on our convert boxes anyhow. this is the most handy and coolest device I have ran into in a while . If anyone's looking to get a christmas gift for their gadgetfreak on you xmas list then LOOK NO FURTHER. get them this they'll be your best friend for life. who wouldn't wanna watch tv on a computer. This one of my fave gadgets here so far that I have been sent. Really as I said COOL and fun to use. hook up is easy follow the set hook it up to you cable converter. install software . put the ethernet chord into the back of your router and your all set to rumble. can be a bit frustrating a bit at first the set up but seems to go smoothly once you figure out what your doing .
lots of pros havent ran into any cons yet and will update if i do and doubt i will .really handy for those who like tv series and dont' wanna miss any shows and wanna keep a archive of their favorite programs as well .
Difficult To Use, Disappointing [Posted on 2008-10-04]
What appeared to be simple "plug & play" equipment turned out to be a real challenge!
The quick start guide included (the manual is on the CD) is too brief to be of much use. The self-adhesive sensors that are supposed to control the channels and volume etc, do not stick well and it does not properly do its function either.
There was a decent selection of hook-up cables included. However the manual suggested I use the "supplied" S video cable if other connections were in use but, annoyingly, it was not in the box.
I tried to sync the unit several times with my wireless router, it failed every time and I ended up using the (supplied) Ethernet cable.
When I eventually got it working the picture and sound are actually very good. It can be used on a TV, Satellite box or DVD player etc as claimed but if you have everything already hooked up together in you living room for example, it becomes pretty complicated. Also,it is not easy to use and a complete novice at this will end up spending many frustrating hours trying to set this up.
Do use the manual found on the CD instead of the quick start guide.
The whole design of this thing is poor, not user friendly and it is not as good as described. Unless you are comfortable at hooking up such equipment, I don't recommend it.
Nice unit for the price [Posted on 2008-10-13]
I have a sling player so I was interested to see how the HAVA matched up to the sling. There are a couple of features that I really like on the HAVA compared to a similar priced sling. The first is the ability to have more than one PC viewing at a time. This is a limitation of the the sling player that I wished was fixed as there are times I have wanted to watch something when I'm on my laptop doing some work but my wife is already watching something from her laptop in the kitchen. Another feature I like is the wireless capabilities. For the average user this is a nice addition and seems to work well. The sling does not have wireless so I have a power line ethernet adaptor hooked up in order to transfer from my TV to my router. That can cost a fair amount of money if you don't already have a power line ethernet adaptor. The final feature I like is the HD ability. For the price of the HAVA this a great feature. You have to spend more for a HD Sling.
Now to the bad. Currently you can only use HAVA with Windows based PC's. Those with Mac's or Linux are out until HAVA finished the clients for those OS's. I ran into this same issue with Sling when it first came out and it took a lot longer for Sling to come up with the Mac client then they first planned on. So if you have a Mac or run Linux, I would wait until a production version of the clients come out.
Setup of the HAVA was straight forward for single router household. Like the Sling, you have to do port forwarding if you have a 2nd router for things like Voice over IP. For an average user this might be a difficult concept to understand and setup. If you have VOIP and have the VOIP router in front of your home router you will need to setup port forwarding if you want to view your TV from another location.
For those who have not tried out a unit like HAVA or Sling, they do work and they do work well when you travel. I have not tried the HAVA when traveling but I have used my Sling overseas and if you have a good internet connection it is great. The ability to watch your home TV stations when traveling abroad is nice.
Overall I would give the HAVA a good value rating as for the price it offers a lot of nice features.
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