TechRadar Verdict
Pros
- +
Painless setup
- +
User Friendly
- +
Record live TV to HDD
Cons
- -
Ultimately, a tough sell against online tele
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
It may look like the graphics card from your first PC in 1997, but the VideoMate S800F from Compro is a handy bit of PCB that allows you to watch and record live television on your PC.
Along with the S800F card itself, Compro has included a software suite, a remote control, and a vast multi-coloured spaghetti of cables.
Thankfully you won't need to use all the leads provided, they're included because the S800F is extremely versatile in terms of the aerial connections it supports. DVB-S (Freesat to its mates), DVB-T (Freeview) and the all-but-defunct Analog connections are all fully supported.
Compro's bundled software suite also lets you record live TV straight onto hard disk and take screenshots.
The S800F is intended to allow users access to TV with the ease they're used to from their actual idiot box, but with much more tweakery and functionality.
This impressive 4K drawing display I reviewed was so natural to draw on, I may never use paper again
Meta powers ahead with conscious chip uncoupling with Nvidia as it tests its first in-house training AI-PU
I wouldn't take the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank on extreme adventures, but it's great for my basic traveling needs
