Channel Master was kind enough to send me a review unit of their DVR+. The Channel Master DVR+ (affiliate link) is a digital video recorder that is targeted at Over The Air TV viewers. Channel Master describes it as “The only subscription-free over-the-air DVR that integrates online streaming services and lets you choose your recording capacity. It’s TV Freedom.”

From my time with the unit I can attest that their marketing is mostly accurate. Channel Master has the makings of a winner, in fact with a few tweaks it could be the de-facto gold standard for cord cutters. In it’s current incarnation however, it falls shy in a few areas. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a strong product and for many scenarios I highly recommend it. The problem is that it’s hard to see a product come so close to cord-cutting nirvana and not quite reach it. It makes me harsher on the product then is warranted because I can see the potential that is within reach. That’s why I’ve decided to split my review into two posts. This is the first post which covers the foundation of the DVR+ as it is.

Style

Let’s start with what’s good. Nearly everything. The device itself has a very pleasing compact design. It’s VERY thin and easily fits in all but the most stuffed media cabinets. It’s about the width and length of a 2nd generation (the smaller) Xbox 360, but it’s only half an inch tall.

The remote has all the functions I expect and can be programmed to operate the TV volume and power. The remote is also very thin. It has glossy edges that remind me of the chamfered edges on an iPhone 5. I do have complaints about the remote control that I cover in “Channel Master DVR+ Could be a Cord Cutters Dream“.

Setup

Setting up the device was very straightforward using the on-screen setup wizard. There were some nice touches during the setup wizard. For example, when it performs the auto-scan for channels it displays the channel number and station ID for discovered channels. It’s a simple thing, but it’s nice to have feedback during the auto-scan to let me know it’s working.

Guide

The on-screen programming guide was very pleasant utilizing transparency effects to overlay the guide over the live TV image. Connecting the DVR+ to the internet gives the guide more accuracy and adds some added graphic flair to the menus by way of channel logos. In my testing the guide was always accurate and made it easy to schedule recordings. Perhaps the best part of the guide is, unlike a TiVo, the guide is FREE. There’s no monthly payment to continue to use it.

Streaming Video

The guide also gives you direct access to Streaming Video channels. At the time of my review only Vudu was available. Channel Master says they are working on getting more streaming providers included. The addition of Netflix and Hulu would go a long way toward making this a must have device. Having Vudu built into the device makes it very easy to rent a new release streaming movie without having to change TV inputs or use another remote. I can picture myself going from watching live evening news to turning on a streaming movie. The DVR+ makes that a very easy proposition.

DVR

It’s a DVR. All the things that make DVR’s great apply. You can pause a live show for a bathroom break or pause a show near the start for 10 minutes and then skip the commercials after that. You can record shows and watch them on your schedule instead of the networks. I wish they had included the ability to record an entire season of a show. Hopefully, they will include it in a future update. In any case, the recording quality is great. On my test 720p TV I couldn’t tell the difference between live TV and recorded TV. They both looked sharp and clear.

The DVR+ has dual TV tuners. Dual tuners allow me to watch one show while recording another or to record two shows simultaneously. Large, TV heavy, families may desire more than two tuners, but I find two is generally plenty. Cord-Cutting often comes with the realization that you’re not watching THAT much TV anyway, so dual tuners seems like a good balance of having the bases covered without paying a premium for something that will be overkill for many people. Both tuners only require one TV antenna input.

The recorded TV storage is easily expandable. The DVR+ supports external USB hard drives for storing recorded TV. External USB hard drives can be purchased in a wide assortment of capacities at pretty much any big box store making it easy to upgrade or customize storage space based on your needs.

Six months to Freedom

The basic DVR+ sells (affiliate link) for $249.99. The USB WiFi adapter which many people will need is $39.99. An external USB hard drive is about $99. So, when all is said and done Channel Master is suggesting an investment of about $400 for the DVR+. If cutting cable/satellite saves $70 a month the return on investment is about 6 months. For that price the DVR+ is the most easy to use over-the-air DVR solution on the market that I’m aware of.

Please be sure to check out Part 2 of my review “Channel Master DVR+ Could be a Cord Cutters Dream“