At 9 inches (22.9 cm), the August DA900D is a real tiny TV. The mini TV is primarily designed for TV operation in a car or truck. But there is a lot in it and it is much more than just a loyal companion when traveling. We take a closer look at the television.
The August DA900D mini TV not only supports DVB-T and DVB-T2 with the compression standards MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and HEVC, but also analog reception in all relevant standards in the world. Of course, it supports all three color standards, i.e. PAL, SECAM and NTSC, as well as the transmission standards B/G, D/K, I, L, M and N. This small detail is important because antenna television is still far from being used the whole world is digital. Even in Europe (keyword Bosnia and Eastern Europe) you can still find analogue television. We can be confronted with this on vacation, but also at home with sporadic E over-range reception on channels 2 to 4 in VHF band 1. In analogue mode, the small August DA900D also serves all cable channels and scans continuously from 48 to 858 MHz.
The features of the August DA900D mini TV
There are seven buttons on the top for control. You can use them to select channels and volume. You can also access the full menu interface and also select the operating mode. However, the remote control is required for the recording function, the EPG and the teletext. Although this comes with compact dimensions, it still has 37 keys. That’s definitely enough for comfortable everyday use.
It should also be emphasized that the television reacts well to the handheld device, which is not a given in this price range. According to the user manual, the DA900D has a built-in 2,400 mAh lithium-ion battery. According to the homepage, its capacity is only 1,800 mAh. At half volume, the fully charged battery lasts for around three hours. In our tests it ended after exactly 183 minutes.
The connections
All connections are installed on the left side of the mini TV. These include a standard IEC antenna socket to which the supplied 9.5 cm high external antenna or any other antenna can be connected. There is also a USB interface. In addition to the obligatory headphone jack, there is also a second one through which the device receives analog AV signals. The DA900D has an HDMI input on board for a satellite receiver or a Blu-ray player. Unfortunately, this is designed as a mini HDMI socket, which is why special HDMI cables are required.
The commissioning of the August DA900D
The initial commissioning is completed in just a few steps. First you have to choose the menu language and set the country. There are six options available for both, including German and Germany. The autoscan then starts, which takes analog and digital signals into account. The digital scan can be carried out with or without LCN (Logic Channel Numbering). This term hides the option of ranking the channels found according to the storage location number they have transmitted. This principle is used in particular by channel platforms, which are intended to ensure what we call a customer-friendly channel list. If LCN is deactivated, the channels are added to the channel list in the order in which they are found.
Once the scan has been completed, the mini TV is fully ready for use. The compact television offers an automatic channel search and a blind scan for digital reception. Both deliver comparable results. The autoscan is particularly recommended when running on battery power, as it is completed much faster in 5 minutes.
The image quality
Despite a resolution of only 1024 × 600 pixels, the television image appears surprisingly sharp and you would hardly think that we are not even dealing with the small HD resolution here. In the end, the small screen also contributes to the good overall impression. After all, TV images appear sharper the smaller the screen is. The color fidelity and overall natural reproduction also contribute to the pleasant overall impression. A decisive advantage of the small television is the large viewing angle.
This mini TV can display photos, music and videos stored on an external USB medium, with numerous file formats supported. There are only limits to the maximum video resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, i.e. Full HD. The tiny TV also copes well with large image files and MP3s at 320 kBit/s. We also like that recordings made with other Linux receivers can also be played back. The recording function even turns the mini television into a TV recorder. A feature that you will definitely learn to appreciate over the course of operation.
Conclusion on the August DA900D mini TV
A lot of television for surprisingly little money: This conclusion suits him August DA900D quite good. The extensive media player as well as the recording function and the ability to dock analogue and digital players definitely enhance this TV world receiver. The fact that only free programs can be received hurts a little in Germany, and even a little more in Austria.
Text: Thomas Riegler / Editor: Felix Ritter
Source: www.digitalfernsehen.de
