Audio Video News

ZapperBox, the Des Moines-based maker of the M1 TV tuner/DVR that lets you receive and record high-definition TV signals over the air without any fees, has announced an update that enables the M1 to decode encrypted TV channels.

"Our team has invented a proprietary process that enables us to field-provision content decryption in a highly secure manner," explained ZapperBox founder Gopal Miglani. "This achievement underscores the longevity of our hardware platform."

To get the update, M1 owners must visit the support page on the ZapperBox website and put in a request. Once the request is received, the company will activate the update and notify the owner when it is live. The process takes about a day-and-a-half. ZapperBox says the update does not conflict with streaming services and is designed to conserve bandwidth while delivering TV channels over the air. Details on the update, including instructions on how to submit a request, are available here.

The ZapperBox M1 can be used with any 1080p or 4K TV that is not equipped with an onboard digital TV tuner and is compatible with signals broadcast in the original ATSC 1.0 and more recent NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) digital formats.

The device is ready to receive 4K Ultra HD broadcasts when they become available in the U.S. and supports Dolby Atmos sound and high dynamic range (HDR) video; standard high-definition broadcasts with HDR are broadcast in some markets.

The M1 comes with a remote control and is available in single-tuner ($250) and dual-tuner ($275) versions, the latter of which allows you to record two channels simultaneously while watching one of them or a previously recorded program. With the launch of NextGenTV broadcasts in New York City last week, more than 70 percent of the U.S. population is now able to receive ATSC 3.0 TV signals over the air, according to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).