Does the Bad Outweigh the Good? GTMedia HDTV X1 with ATSC 3.0
Last Updated on December 31, 2024 11:13 am by Jeffrey Powers
ATSC 3.0, or “NextGen TV,” is the latest standard in broadcast television (I took a tour on ATSC 3.0 years ago), offering 4K resolution, interactivity, and enhanced over-the-air (OTA) features. So when GTMedia came out with the HDTV X1, I was intrigued. Only issue is – does the issues with an outdated Android TV box outweigh the good?
What is the GTMedia HDTV X1?
The GTMedia HDTV X1 Android TV box presents itself as a TV box that will get over the air ATSC 3.0 channels. Priced around $100, it also offers PVR functionality, and can run your streaming apps via Google Play or Apitode TV.
Setup and Recording
Setup is straightforward. Channel scanning worked well ( I don’t have any ATSC 3.0 channels in my market), and you can browse up to 6 hours of programming. This device can record on-air programming, but you might want to add a USB drive, as there is only 32 GB of storage on the device.
The Biggest Issue (Right Now)
Doing the deep dive into the device, I noticed the X1 is running Android 11 OS, when I have seen other OTT devices with Android 13. Further, the updates are grossly outdated, running a 2021 security patch. Apps like Netflix are updated, but other such as Chrome were at outdated versions.
Those apps also would only load using Aptoide TV, a third-party app store. This raises many security concerns, especially if you browse and bank using a web browser.
Geekazine has blocked older OTT devices, as they can be used for brute force attacks on the website.
Despite decent hardware, including the Amlogic S905Y4 processor capable of 4K 120fps with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB ROM, the software is cause for concern until an update is made. When I contacted the company, they mentioned they are not hands on with the OS programming, and an update will be out shortly (but an update to what Android version?)
The PVR feature is functional but clunky, and interface quirks like an unremovable recording indicator diminish the user experience.
Thoughts
The GTMedia X1 shows potential but is hampered by lagging execution. If you are using for a TV tuner only, it’s suitable for watching and DVR recording. Those wanting to have a computer in the TV, might want to wait until the updates.
The GTMedia X1 is available on Amazon for $119 **Affiliate link
