It’s relatively easy to find an DVB-T2 Android TV box, and DVB-S2 TV boxes are less common, but last time I checked I could not find any Android media player with ATSC tuners to watch free-to-air channels in North America, South Korea, and a few smaller countries. But now there are at least two models Geniatech / Mygica ATV1220A, and Vigica C70A, both powered by Amlogic AML8726-MX dual core processor.
I’ve also written about Geniatech ATV1220 at the beginning of the year, which only came with a DVB-T2 tuner at the time. There’s now an ATSC version, but the rest of the specifications are identical.
So instead I’ll have a closer look at the technical specifications listed for Vigica C70A:
- SoC – AMLogic AML8726-MX dual core Cortex A9 @ 1.5 GHz + Mali-400 GPU
- System Memory – 1GB DDR3
- Storage – 4GB NAND flash + micro SD card slot
- Video Output – HDMI 1.4a, AV
- Audio – HDMI, AV, coaxial S/PDIF
- Terrestrial Digital TV – ATSC tuner, 1x RF IN, 1x RF OUT
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports
- Misc – IR receiver
- Power Supply – 12V/1.5A DC
- Dimensions – N/A
- Weight – N/A
The product comes with an IR remote control, a power adapter, an AV cable, and a user’s manual. The specifications are nearly identical to ATV1220A, except it only features with two USB port (vs four), uses a 3.5mm jack instead of RCA connector for AV output, and adds coaxial S/PDIF. Both Android STBs run Android 4.2.2 with an ATSC app, and C70A runs the MediaBox launcher found in most recent Amlogic TV boxes on the market. There are many screenshots on Aliexpress.
Genaitech ATV1220A is available on Aliexpress for $109, and Vigica C70A can be bought from several sellers on Aliexpress, Ebay, and Amazon US for $124.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I bought the usb based atsc tuner from geniatech , and it’s somewhat disappointing. While it scans and detects channels I have yet to actually get watchable video. I’m not sure if it’s a reception issue or the nexus 2012 (android 4.4.4) is too underspec’d, or it’s the dongle itself.. which gets gets VERY HOT after just a few minutes.
@ben
I assume you have the PT-681 dongle with microusb connector. It is known to have overheating problem and has been revised within the last month. Did you buy it direct from Geniatech?
What version software are you running.
Does the Nexus recognize the dongle? IOW, do you get a popup when you insert the dongle?
Which antenna are you using? There are 3 possibilities but I do not know what shipped with yours
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