2010-06-16

The world's smallest combined receiver?

Sandberg has released a very small, tiny in fact, product onto the market. It doesn't look like anything special and it only sticks out a tiny bit from the side of the computer when plugged into the USB port. It may appear small from the outside but inside it has a powerful digital TV receiver and FM receiver plus a DAB radio receiver too.

After unpacking the device, you will not only find the receiver but also a room aerial, a small adapter and a software disc as well as an easy to understand user guide and a warranty card. First install the driver and user program. It's quick and easy. Then plug the adapter into the USB port and it will quickly be recognised by the computer.

Now you need to choose an aerial. A small room aerial is included which works well in many places. But if you have an aerial on the roof, this will be sure to give a better result. Use the small adaptor to connect an standard aerial connector from e.g. a roof aerial. It is important to note that not everywhere has signal coverage, so it is a good idea to check the coverage in your area before you buy the dongle.

You're done! That's all there is to it. Now your computer has become a media centre with digital TV, FM radio and DAB radio. It should also be added that the program can receive up-to-date programme listings and also supports Teletext, Mpeg2 and Mpeg4 as well as the different standards for subtitles. Everything is presented in an impressive way.

But it doesn't end here! The supplied program can record programmes, pause live programmes and take snapshots of screen images. It is, of course, also possible to set the timer to record programmes.

Anders Petersen, Product Manager at Sandberg A/S, has this to say about the incredibly small gadget: "First it was Bluetooth, then Wi-Fi and now digital TV has been miniaturised. I am personally very satisfied that we have managed to fit so many functions into the device. Normally you need to compromise on functionality when you makes things that small, but we have actually taken a different path and put more functions than normal in the receiver, as well as making it smaller than its competitors. I don't know all the receivers on the market, but I can almost certainly guarantee that this is the world's smallest combined receiver with so many functions."

When asked who actually needs such a combined receiver to be so small, the Product Manager replied: "It's all about mobility. Ultra mobility. This device will become a permanent accessory for thousands of laptops. Then you will have access to radio and TV everywhere you go. In the car, at campsites, in hotel rooms and during breaks. It's full mobility. You may be able to watch TV and listen to the radio on the Internet, but the mobile data network is simply not advanced enough to be able support TV to a sufficient quality. Where mobility is concerned, everything apart from screens and keyboards has to be as small as possible."

The Sandberg Mini DVB-T Dongle is on its way to shops throughout Europe at this very moment. Find your closest dealer at www.sandberg.it, where you can also order and get deliveries from a local webshop.

Information about the company: Sandberg A/S