Zinwell's ZAT-600HD ATSC HDTV set-top box

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From Matthew Torres, former About.com Guide

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The Bottom Line

It works. I am able to watch HD programming on my tunerless HDTV. This is a good thing. Zinwell's ZAT-600HD is a low-cost solution for people owning tunerless HD-monitors that want to get free HD. It is lightweight and easy to use once installed. My only issue is that it adds another remote control to the mix because you change channels through the tuner...not the TV.

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Pros

Low cost - $135
Small, lightweight design
Supports all 18 ATSC formats and VHF/UHF

Cons

Menu system is visually boring
Doesn't scan for TVs native resolution

Description

The tuner came with a default 720p output resolution. My HDTV is 1080i so this caused install problems.
You can get a page that shows all stations being received by the tuner. This is good if you have multiple cities stations.
Package contents include the receiver, remote control with batteries, all cables, power adapter and a manual.

Guide Review - Zinwell's ZAT-600HD ATSC HDTV set-top box

The ZAT-600HD arrives from the manufacturer in a nicely-packed box. Within the package you get:

1 - HDTV receiver
1 - Remote Control w/ two AAA batteries
1 - Component video cable
1 - Composite video and RCA audio cable
1 - S-Video cable
1 - Power adapter
1 - User's Manual

Installation

The ZAT-600HD was easy to install. I connected the receiver to an antenna with coaxial and to my television with component video cables. This posed an issue. I couldn't configure the tuner because I couldn't see the menu system. The problem was that the tuner comes with a default output setting at 720p. This is fine if you own a 720p HDTV but if your TV is 1080i then the tuner will scramble the signal.

After calling the customer service number in the user's manual, I learned that you should connect the tuner to your TV with a composite or S-video cable then change the tuner's outpot setting to your TVs native resolution. So, after doing that I was able to configure the tuner. I then switched back to component video to watch TV.

Operating the ZAT-600HD

The menu system is somewhat ugly but it was easy to navigate. I liked how you had a list of available channels and the ability to change aspect ratios through the tuner. You can set parental controls, lock your settings, change audio settings and configure on-screen presentation of the menu.

Aside from having to use another remote control, I liked using the ZAT-600HD. It was simple to use. I can watch HDTV on my HD monitor. That is cool.

Design

The dark black casing looks good but it doesn't sit in the stand very well. It feels like you just rest the tuner in the stand rather that it clicking and locking. The user buttons on the tuner casing are not marked well or easy to read. I recommend using the remote control when operating or configuring the tuner.