J**F
I bought this to listen to FM Radio -- No CD Key for included Software
(Attention: Updates Below)1 -- 03/25/20142 -- 03/28/2014I bought this to listen to FM Radio.I just installed it. It's working with the software/drivers that came with it. The software is called "Presto! PVR". When you install the software you have to look on the CD for the file CD-Key.txt and use that key to activate your software. There are no instructions tell you that.I'm using Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit.I primarily want to listen to 101.7 Air One at work on my laptop and it picks up that station and sounds clear and good (as good as FM can be). The antenna cable is long to reach the window. The antenna is sitting on the window sill. The antenna disconnects so you might be able to connect a different antenna.I changed USB ports and then it wanted to setup the TV part. I noticed that under the country choices USA, United States, America ... was not there. I'm not sure why the good old USA wouldn't be there.I've tried using the remote that came with it to mute the radio and the software says "MUTE" on the screen but it doesn't mute the radio. It doesn't work from the program either. The volume worked when I first loaded the software but it's not working now. I tried using the channel up and channel down and web browser scrolled up and down. It does work if "Presto! PVR" has focus. I'm not sure how useful that is. If you have to give the program focus why not just click on the buttons with your mouse.I paid $18.88 for this and it's definitely worth it.The software that came with it works for the FM radio. The software is kind of lame but it works.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Update 03/25/2014The included software that came with the dongle was "Pesto! PVR". It came with no CD Key except a file on the CD called CD-Key.txt and this turned out to be a temporary evaluation key.I've tried to get it to work with Windows Media Player but Windows Media Player is hung up on the fact that the TV tuner will not work in my area. I don't really care about that I just want the FM antenna.At the moment, it's useless.I'm looking for some software so I can use the dongle to listen to FM radio again.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Update 03/28/2014The software that came with this "Presto! PVR" was apparently a trial version. I cannot find or buy a registration key to get the software to work.I give up.It's too late to return this.I had already ordered the following external FM Tuner/mp3 player:www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGW1PFA/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1I haven't reviewed it yet. I just started using it today.Maybe this is better. This device doesn't need any resources off my laptop (CPU/RAM ...).
C**E
Will probably arrive damaged
The space for the antenna in the packaging is just a little bit too short, so it's a bit squished in there. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but...I've ordered a few of these and they tend to arrive with slightly crushed USB connectors. The connector is made of a very soft metal which bends easily. It's great that you can easily fix it, but not so great that you have to. Be careful when bending the connector back to its proper shape - there's a small, easily damaged component hidden in there and I damaged one while fixing it.Also, the plastic housing is held on with a weak friction fit and might just open up if you let it bounce around in your backpack. A couple of drops of superglue should fix it.Aside from that they work well enough with gnuradio and gqrx. Tuner goes from 24-1766MHz.There seems to be some sensitivity to power supply, though this has not been rigorously tested yet. These receivers don't power up or enumerate through a 6ft USB extension cable that works with many other devices.
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