Of course, being able to pick up and process HD signals, including full 1080i resolution, is very impressive and gives this tuner a major advantage over its non-HD competitors. The HD signals that we viewed were simply stunning and really makes me wish I could get HD service through my local cable company or lived closer to a larger city so I could receive the free HD channels OTA.
The fact that this tuner didn't require an external power source is also a plus. This simply means there is one less cable to fool with when transporting the tuner with your laptop. Speaking of transporting, AutumnWave also included a nice carrying pouch for the tuner and antenna which worked really well.
The tuner software worked well. The overall layout was pretty simple to understand, lacking any flashy GUI that you will find with most other software. This was just fine with me, but some people may like fancy GUI layouts. I was a bit disappointed by the fact that you can only use the timeshift feature with digital signals. Those like myself who are currently stuck with analog cable are out of luck.
I really liked the included full-size remote control. It was easy to hold, much like a regular TV remote, and had plenty of buttons (even programmable ones). Anything smaller and it would likely be cumbersome and lacking in terms of functionality.
My main complaint with the OnAir GT tuner is the antenna. I found that it just wasn't able to pick up signals as strongly as I would have liked, which led to lagging while watching HD content and increased static/fuzz/ghosting with analog OTA signals. I understand that a small antenna was included for portability, but I think it would be a fair trade off to increase the size of the antenna to improve signal strength. Keep in mind that you can use your own antenna with the OnAir GT, but of course, you must supply that yourself.
The OnAir GT USB HDTV Tuner retails for $179 USD, which may seem like a lot for a TV tuner. But, if you travel frequently and/or have access to free OTA HD signals or HD through your local cable company, than this product definitely becomes much more desirable.
NOTE - Save $20 instantly by using our coupon code: OCIAGT08 at the AutumnWave Store.
OCIA.net has awarded the AutumnWave OnAir GT USB HDTV Tuner our Seal of Approval.
