Ematic Digital Converter Box Software Update

I have one of these Ematic boxes. Absolutely love the thing since it lets me record a whole weekend of shows that I'd be missing when I go on a long work shift and spend several days in a row just working and sleeping. Only issues I ever have is sometimes it will lose everything in the DVR schedule from a certain channel and change everything from that one channel to 37-1.

• Ematic At103b Digital Converter Box

Seems to only really happen around 3am EST on one particular channel, no others. It also has an issue where it doesn't like to write to my flash drive at 720 and 1080 and will sometimes block up or lag for no apparent reason in the recordings but it displays just fine watching that same show live with 80%+ signal. It's a 3.0 flash drive, so it's not the bottleneck there is there anything with the processor overheating that might cause that? I already have it stood on end for better air flow around the box, haven't tried a fan on it yet.

I used to avoid recommending the HW-180. V9 and V10 firmware were pretty buggy.

But V10.1 was OK, so I'm hoping the current version, V11, is fairly bug-free. (If not, you can always exchange it for the 150.) Also, the savings used to be minimal, but the last time I checked the HW-180 was only $20 (plus shipping) while the HW-150 was $33 plus shipping, which seems like a big difference if you don't need the 150's component video or coaxial digital audio. (Amazon's prices can be very volatile.)That reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you.

If you move your eMatic's HDD to a PC, do you see strange 6Kb files with the extension '.mts.meta' for each of your recordings? (The recorded video/audio has a simple '.mts' extension and is, of course, much larger.)The people saying their recordings aren't good might be using flash drives, many of which are too slow in writing to record HD video. And/or they may have reception issues.After purchasing several AT103b's, I find they are always 'less than advertised,' no two units seem compatible with each other (recording on one does not allow playback using another), and every unit has some quirk or defect that prompts a return to vendor.Nor is the Ematic site worth a damn.

My browser reports authentication issues and I cannot find a way to upgrade the software - as implied by the option to do so in the menu.Is there another converter worth trying out? It appears that the Ematic is sold under different 'brand' names with some slight changes to the case and placement of the usb port, etc. I would love to find a units that allowed one to record a show on one and, plugging the drive into another, find and play that recording back.Anyone?

After purchasing several AT103b's, I find. No two units seem compatible with each other (recording on one does not allow playback using another)Is there another converter worth trying out?Anyone?On the compatibility question, there are two 'flavors' of these boxes, based on two different chips: a 7816 and a 7802. Recordings can generally be played back only on another box with the same chip. (There is a trick which doesn't always work but is worth a try: the recordings are files with the extension.mts. If you change the files on a PC to have the extension.m2ts instead, the recordings will show up under the 'Movie' section of the USB menu instead of the 'PVR' section, and will often play even on the 'wrong' box.)Usually you can see which chip a box uses by going to Menu / System / Information and looking at the HW version. Most of these boxes will show a string with either 7802 or 7816 somewhere in it.That said, all the new boxes these days seem to use the 7802 chip.

I haven't seen a new box with a 7816 chip in over a year. When eMatic (along with everyone else) switched, their firmware got really buggy for a while, but the latest firmware seems to be better.As for the best brands of these boxes, iView and HomeWorx seem to be both the most popular and have the most reliable firmware. There are also versions of these boxes with better-known brand names: RCA and Channel Master. But a better-known name doesn't mean a better box or better support!

IMO HomeWorx is probably still the best bet; if you read back through this thread (it isn't very long) you'll find that Mark, who switched from eMatic to HomeWorx, was mostly satisfied. OTOH I use an iView 3200 and find it works fine for me (although I had to cross-flash it with an iView 3500 firmware version to get those good results).There are threads for all these brands in the HDTV Recorders section of this forum. But that said, none of these boxes is anywhere near bug-free. You just have to find a box whose bugs are minor enough to live with. Generally, I'm very satisfied with my eMatic, but I have a minor irritation with the Program Guide. It's just that sometimes the Program Guide will show episode information and sometimes it won't. Even if I simply change the channel and them go back a minute later, it disappears.

I realize that sometimes the program info isn't provided by the broadcaster. I'm talking about episode descriptions were there and then disappear.Is there some way of keeping the info?I've had several of these.

Program information details are ephemeral at best. I only get the PBS station at the moment and find they update their data sporadically. In my experience, the fault lies with the broadcaster. The Ematics are buggy, of course, and each one you purchase is likely to be 'unique.' After buying and returning several unis, I finally found one that will allow playback of shows recorded on another device - yet it will not allow editing of the PVR (time change, view/record) for some reason and the remote works differently than one from another unit.I also find the support from Ematics severely lacking.

If there is a software upgrade to download - I've not been able to find it! On the compatibility question, there are two 'flavors' of these boxes, based on two different chips: a 7816 and a 7802. Recordings can generally be played back only on another box with the same chip. (There is a trick which doesn't always work but is worth a try: the recordings are files with the extension.mts. If you change the files on a PC to have the extension.m2ts instead, the recordings will show up under the 'Movie' section of the USB menu instead of the 'PVR' section, and will often play even on the 'wrong' box.)Usually you can see which chip a box uses by going to Menu / System / Information and looking at the HW version. Most of these boxes will show a string with either 7802 or 7816 somewhere in it.That said, all the new boxes these days seem to use the 7802 chip. I haven't seen a new box with a 7816 chip in over a year.

When eMatic (along with everyone else) switched, their firmware got really buggy for a while, but the latest firmware seems to be better.As for the best brands of these boxes, iView and HomeWorx seem to be both the most popular and have the most reliable firmware. There are also versions of these boxes with better-known brand names: RCA and Channel Master. But a better-known name doesn't mean a better box or better support! IMO HomeWorx is probably still the best bet; if you read back through this thread (it isn't very long) you'll find that Mark, who switched from eMatic to HomeWorx, was mostly satisfied. OTOH I use an iView 3200 and find it works fine for me (although I had to cross-flash it with an iView 3500 firmware version to get those good results).There are threads for all these brands in the HDTV Recorders section of this forum. But that said, none of these boxes is anywhere near bug-free.

You just have to find a box whose bugs are minor enough to live with.Well, I've noted this as well. Problem is, one cannot order a unit with a specific chip.

I think they simply re-package thse we return and sell them off again as 'new' or perhaps after a cleaning and 'refurbishing.' I've returned as many units as I've purchased and advise all to hook them up and test them as soon as they arrive so as not to get caught in the short return window trap.Buying from Walmart (ship to store) makes the return process easier unless you have Amazon Prime. I've had several of these. Program information details are ephemeral at best. I only get the PBS station at the moment and find they update their data sporadically. In my experience, the fault lies with the broadcaster.

The Ematics are buggy, of course, and each one you purchase is likely to be 'unique.' After buying and returning several unis, I finally found one that will allow playback of shows recorded on another device - yet it will not allow editing of the PVR (time change, view/record) for some reason and the remote works differently than one from another unit.I also find the support from Ematics severely lacking. If there is a software upgrade to download - I've not been able to find it!I'm assuming the Program Information disappearing and reappearing is because the Ematic is getting that info from the broadcast signal. Sometimes that info also goes in and out when I am using the TV's internal tuner.

I was just hoping that there was a way to get the Ematic to save that info once it received it. But I'm guessing that's a 'NO.' Oh well.Otherwise, understanding the limitations of the unit (these aren't Tivos), I like it. I am only using it for recording a few programs we can't find on Hulu - Dr. Phil and Judge Judy (for my wife, REALLY). It fills that role well. I currently am recording 16 different shows on the Ematic AT103B with only local OTA in and out reception during storms.

The Ematic website is a joke. I also have a RCA DTA880. Both have the same two problems that annoy me. The time is only accurate on the local WB and PBS stations. The other stations are as much as 10 minutes off and I set my recordings with that in mind. I've had them both for about 3 months and I've gotten most of my programs. Neither keeps the local CBS or Fox stations for long.

The Ematic's sticking point is the alphabetical listing instead of record date on playback! Since there is no thread for this box I decided to open one. According to Amazon this box has been out since Feb 2014.

I bought one this week after my HW-150 remote did not work anymore. This one does not have the midnight bug like the iView/Homeworxs, so that's a relief. It also has a more modern look interface wise with a nicer thicker remote.Ematic webpage for the AT103B:Well, it looks like Photobucket now charges you if you want your photos to display somewhere else (like here at AVSForum)And it looks like eMatic's website is toast. '404 not found' at both the link above and at just generic ematic.usHowever, Amazon still has some.

What is on the other end of the wire you soldered to the board? What are you using to power the unit?Sorry, super late reply. Sorry, super late reply. Doesn't look like eMatic has firmware to download for the AT102 anyhow.Most other boxes are no better. Iview's firmware has had the same issue since it first came out in 2013. HomeWorx and Terk don't even have displays.But I did find this no-name box at eBay.

If the photo is to be believed, it displays the channel correctly:. So it should be possible.This unit loses channels for some unknown reason.I've already had to re-scan 3 times to get them back. (perfect signal quality)When I arrow up, the channels are gone and inputting the channel number directly from remote then says 'Invalid Channel.' Is this a common problem with these AT103B units??? This unit loses channels for some unknown reason.I've already had to re-scan 3 times to get them back. (perfect signal quality)When I arrow up, the channels are gone and inputting the channel number directly from remote then says 'Invalid Channel.'

Is this a common problem with these AT103B units???' Is this a common problem with these AT103B units???'

Short answer 'No.' It appears that there are several different Firmware iterations and one can never be sure which one they are getting 'till they get the unit home and check it. I've purchased several over the years and find annoying quirks with each, yet not all my units share the same quirks.It would seem that - if one could copy the firmware from one and use that to upgrade the firmware of the others (you own) they could at least enjoy uniformity - warts and all.I finally got a pair that allows me to record from one AT and play the recordings back on one of my other units. I need to read the firmware versions on these two and post them - too busy today.What I do, when I get a flukey unit, is buy a new one, put the fluke in the box and return it for credit,You may need to do this several times before getting one worth keeping.What we need is a Consumer Reports evaluation process where they buy a dozen units or so from as many retail outlets and take a Scientific approach. If this thread was more active and we had several members willing, we could do this online - maybe posting data points to a Google Sheet one of us sponsored. Doesn't look like eMatic has firmware to download for the AT102 anyhow.Most other boxes are no better.

Iview's firmware has had the same issue since it first came out in 2013. HomeWorx and Terk don't even have displays.But I did find this no-name box at eBay. If the photo is to be believed, it displays the channel correctly:. So it should be possible.If that unit does the trick, it might be worth a Google Search to see who else has imported the units.

Ematic At103b Digital Converter Box

I don't like buying on eBay when Amazon Prime offers better return process and policy. Best it a Ship to Store for Local Pickup as that assures one of an easy return should the advertised features be more smoke than mirror.The Display of the channel information on the TV Screen can be edited on my Ematic Units - however, such edits don't 'stick' and revert to the defaults inexplicably (maybe on a reboot, not sure).What is needed is a way to edit the file name for DVR as you set the recording so it is easy to find the shows when you cannot recall them by the time and date and channel selected when setting the DVR to record the show.