Entered CNET Catalog: 11/01/2006
SKU: 052507HW
Manufacturer: Monsoon Multimedia
Manufacturer description
HAVA Wireless HD is a new wireless solution for high quality home viewing, multicasting and remote viewing. Watch your TV on a PC/Notebook anywhere in your house up to 300 feet from your HAVA Box. Transmit and watch video anywhere in the world via the Internet. Simply connect your HAVA Box to your TV or set top box at home, with no messy wires to your Access Point/Router.Product summary
The good: Streams sources to any broadband-connected Windows PC in the world; built-in wireless networking support; great integration with Windows Media Center PCs; can accept as many as four A/V inputs (composite, S-Video, RF, and component) with pass-through; no host PC or monthly charges required; simultaneous streaming to multiple clients on a LAN; controls many brands of cable and satellite boxes and DVRs; excellent video quality over LAN, decent video quality via the Internet.
The bad: Only compatible with Windows PCs (so far); promised HD support has yet to be activated; software and remote control options aren't as polished or thorough as those on the Slingbox; recording function and Media Center streaming doesn't work outside a LAN; device is somewhat large and unsightly; just one audio input for three inputs; monopolizes the attached device during viewing.
The bottom line: It's a little rough around the edges, but the Hava Wireless HD's combination of built-in wireless and Windows Media Center integration makes it one of the more promising Slingbox competitors.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/08/2006
On paper, the Hava Wireless HD one-ups the Slingbox with some worthwhile additions. First and foremost, it has a built-in 802.11g wireless capability, so it can interface with any existing wireless or Ethernet network (Slingbox is Ethernet only). Secondly, it integrates with a PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition, allowing you to record live streaming video on your PC when you're streaming inside your home (a standalone PC viewing application is provided for non-MCE machines). And finally, the Hava allows multicasting, which means that, within your home network, several users can watch the stream at the same while one person watches remotely via the Internet (Slingbox allows only a single viewer at a time).
Design and connectivity
The Hava Wireless HD looks like a big network router, measuring 2 inches high by 12 wide by 7 deep. Our review unit was a generic silver box with four green status LEDs on its front panel. And while it's one of the more homely-looking pieces of electronic equipment, giving Scientific Atlanta cable boxes a run for its money on the ugly scale, Monsoon has been tinkering with the design of the enclosure, so future models could offer a different look and feel (the guts of the box should remain unchanged).
On a more positive note, the rear panel is jam packed with more jacks than an average DVD player. There are composite, S-Video, and component inputs, along with one set of stereo audio jacks (red and white RCA connectors) and a screw-type RF input. You can feed as many as four sources to the box, including an unscrambled RF source such as an analog cable feed or an antenna, which takes advantage of the built-in TV tuner. But because the composite, S-Video, and component inputs share a single set of audio jacks, you'll need to purchase Y-cable adapters to feed them simultaneously. Likewise, you'll have to have the second and third devices powered off (or muted), or you'll get a mash-up of all the simultaneous audio streams. Alternately, you might use the second input as a video-only security camera feed--just plug in your camcorder. (By comparison, the Slingbox Pro has discrete audio inputs for each of its video sources.)
Rounding out the Hava's rear panel is a connector for the included dual-headed IR blaster, which remotely controls the A/V sources of your choice, such as cable/satellite boxes and DVRs. To interface with your home network, the Hava has both a standard Ethernet port (for wired connections) and dual wireless antennas.
The Wireless HD is the first of three Hava models. The lineup has recently expanded to include the $200 Hava Pro HD, which is basically identical except that it offers only wired Ethernet connectivity--no Wi-Fi. Monsoon is also planning to release an entry-level Hava Gold model (no wireless, no built-in TV tuner) for just $100. If the company meets that price point, it'll be the most affordable standalone placeshifting device to date.
Setup
Setting up the Hava is a two-step process: you need to connect the A/V cables to the video source(s); then connect it to your network, which involves installing the included software on a PC. Linking up with your home-theater components is just as straightforward as hooking up a VCR or a DVD recorder. We appreciated the pass-through outputs, which let the Hava sit innocuously in the chain between our cable box and the A/V receiver, without the need for splitters or monopolizing precious video outputs. Of course, as with any placeshifting box, the A/V source you connect to the Hava will determine how much you'll get out of it. A cable or satellite set-top box will let you watch all those channels on your PC, but a TiVo-style digital video recorder will provides the added value of accessing those great DVR features--pausing and rewinding live TV, watching previously recorded shows--remotely.
Once the Hava box is hooked up and powered on, you have to install the setup software on a nearby PC. The Hava boasts a pretty decent setup wizard; it wasn't flawless, by any means, but it did an admirable job of taking us through the process step by step. We installed the software on a wireless laptop (the Hava software is Windows only). The setup program logs in to the Hava itself--wirelessly--and asks you to input your network's wireless encryption key (it's WEP-only for now, but Monsoon is pledging to add WPA support soon). Thereafter, the Hava itself can access your wireless network, and you should be good to go. We installed it at least three times on three different PCs, and there were a few hiccups here and there--the process can occasionally "confuse" a PC's wireless card, for instance, and might require some manual intervention. But as far as wirelessly configuring a network device goes, it's among the more impressive and successful experiences we've had. In fact, it bested Sony's LocationFree LF-B20 in two big ways: the setup process was not only smoother but truly wireless throughout; Sony requires its unit to be connected via Ethernet during the setup process. That said, if you don't have a Wi-Fi network, the Hava works just as well via Ethernet.
Performance
Like the Slingbox and the Sony, you configure the Hava viewing software to control your set-top box remotely by verifying the make and model during the setup process. The Hava seemed to list most of the major brands of cable and satellite boxes and DVRs (as well as a variety of other manufacturers, such as TiVo, Sony, Panasonic, and the like), and it had no trouble controlling a standard DirecTV box or a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR via its IR blaster. But the onscreen remotes were a disappointment: they were generic bare-bones models, not the "skinned" versions offered by Slingbox, which offer onscreen doppelgangers of the real clickers. While most of the more advanced buttons were available via a drop-down menu, the DVR's control was missing at least one all-important button: the List key. As a result, we were unable to access all of our recorded shows. (Monsoon is pledging to add skinned remotes in a later software update.)
Remote issues notwithstanding, there was a lot to like about the Hava's performance. Wirelessly or wired, streaming was--for the most part--smooth and steady. The system uses MPEG2 streaming on a home network, and with the ample bandwidth therein, the video quality was excellent. Even when the window was maximized to full size, the resulting picture was very watchable. It wasn't quite DVD quality, but given the rather muddy signal we've come to expect on DirecTV's standard-def channels, it wasn't a big step down from the TV itself. When accessing the Hava from a remote location (via the Internet, outside the home network), the quality was ratcheted down to MPEG4, the higher compression making better use of the restricted bandwidth. As always, the quality is largely dependent on the available network bandwidth; you'll want at least 300Kbps on both upstream and downstream connections, with 400Kbps to 500Kbps (and beyond) offering a noticeably better picture.
Distinguishing features
The Hava's distinguishing features all proved to work as advertised, though they aren't without their caveats. Multicasting worked fine: we were able to watch a stream simultaneously on two different PCs logged into a closed LAN--Monsoon claims it's test more than 50 simultaneous viewers on a closed network--plus a third on the outside via the Internet. Furthermore, the Hava viewing software is always buffering (a la TiVo), so you can pause and rewind live video feeds as well as manually record programs to your hard drive for later viewing. The catch is that this function works only on a home network--not when you're watching remotely via the Internet.
Hava really shines for owners of Windows Media Center Edition (MCE). The software installs itself in such a way as to "fool" Media Center into seeing the Hava as a built-in TV tuner card. As a result, you can use the Windows electronic programming guide and the computer's wireless remote to browse programs and record shows just as you otherwise would--but instead of being tethered to the cable/satellite box, you can be in another room or even in another country. As a result, watching TV programming on an MCE computer--especially a laptop--is a much more enjoyable and mobile experience. Unfortunately, the same caveat as above applies: the MCE streaming only works inside a home network. But anything you record can be played back anywhere.
Hava vs. Slingbox and Sony LocationFree TV
Comparing the Hava to the more established players in the placeshifting market yields a mixed--but promising--box score. Sling still edges the competition in some key areas: its software and setup routine remains the gold standard for ease of use and intuitive design for these sort of devices, and its impressive device compatibility--Windows PCs, Windows Mobile phones/handhelds, and Macs--is already set to grow in the near future. Meanwhile, Sony's latest LocationFree TV products add wireless networking and PSP viewing to the mix, but they lose points for their more complex software and setup routines. Hava, meanwhile, delivers the same wireless advantage found on the Sony products, plus the addition of the multicasting features, Media Center integration, and recording functionality--and it does all of it at a very competitive $250 price point.
In terms of performance, the Hava is no slouch. With the variables of source and destination bandwidth--and the fact that Monsoon, Sling, and Sony will continue to tweak and improve their respective compression technologies and algorithms--head-to-head comparisons will likely produce seesaw results in the months ahead, making it hard to choose an outright winner for the best video quality. But the Hava seems to equal--if not surpass--the impressive streaming offered by Sling's products on a home network, though we'd still give the edge to Slingbox for remote streaming over the Web.
As with all such networked products, Monsoon has promised a laundry list of improvements via future software and firmware updates. Among the forthcoming upgrades: WPA networking support, activation of HD video pass-through/streaming (via the component inputs), better onscreen remotes, the ability to use the Hava as a wireless access point, more streamlined setup, and improved software stability. And Monsoon has also mentioned its desire to add viewing clients for additional platforms, including Windows Mobile devices and Symbian smart phones. If that sounds like a lot, it is--and there's absolutely no guarantee as to when we'll see any of it. In other words, if any of those upgrades are a must-have for you, wait until they've been officially released before committing to the Hava.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the Hava Wireless shows great promise. It's still a little too rough around the edges to be a true Slingbox killer, but the overall Hava experience easily bests that of Sony's LocationFree TV in terms of usability and features--at least for Windows users. And if Monsoon's programmers deliver on the product's potential by adding incremental improvements in a timely fashion, there's no reason the Hava can't get even better as time goes on. For the time being, the Hava's rich feature set, low price, and impressive performance makes it a credible alternative for any potential Slingbox owners. Windows Media Center users, meanwhile, may very well find it to be a must-have accessory.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21out of 21 user reviews
I love my HAVA
Pros: As someone comfortable with technology, I had not trouble setting up and configuring my hava. More features are getting added all the time by monsoon, including standalone dvr functions. Works great on my Windows Mobile, and will soon be on iphone
Cons: NO osx compatability, YET
out of 21 user reviews
Save your money and time -- buy a slingbox
Pros: There is absolutely nothing good about this system.
Cons: Support in India that repeats everything 5 times
Buggy software
"Community" that deletes anything resembling a conversation
Doesn't work!
Save your time -- get a Slingbox.
The Hava support engineers are all based in India and they all read from a script. I think they get paid per minute. You'll be on the phone with them and explain the situation and then they will insult you by asking you questions for which you already gave them the information. For instance:
You: I have a Hava Platinum -- serial number is xxxx - and I can't get it to work. I am using Microsoft Windows XP. I downloaded and installed the latest player from your website. It's coming up with a fatal error.
Them: Okay so you have a Hava Platinum?
You: Yes?
Them: And what Operating System are you using?
You: ***GETTING MAD*** Yes, I just told you that.
Them: And you're using a Hava Platnium? What's the serial number?
Save your time and go with folks that give world class support like Slingbox.
out of 21 user reviews
Some problem with the set up but works great.
Pros: Works everywhere I went. No need for extra equipment to connect to the router like slingbox.
Cons: Remote buttons are slow, set up could have been easier. The sound is a little off in tone.
out of 21 user reviews
Works half the time
Pros: Easy set up.. No extra add ons Cheapest sling box around
Cons: When out of town no Recording..Always telling me to upgade software when I have current version. Needs support with people that I can understand, No software for archos
I want to watch my home team sports if I can log on, Right now my system is Down and at my home base It is also down So I will have to wait until I get home to work on it and hope my next trip is ok
out of 21 user reviews
Support Phone calls?
Pros: Clean Picture seems to work with digital input only!
Cons: Support never answers the phone
out of 21 user reviews
Really upset customer
Pros: Sure, Better features than SlingboxPro
Cons: Very poor reliability. Customer service from hell.
By Savvy customer (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
Spent a long time comparing this to slingbox pro.
It's better in terms of features/cost. Used it for a week in pass-through mode for basic cable. Mostly worked great. Occasional disconnects here and there but bearable.
Cheap looking/build - but that wasn't important to me.
Then all of a sudden, it stops working (after over 1 week). Notice that pass through signal to TV is affected. Cannot tune in to certain channels and others have lots of static. TV problems go away when HAVA is removed.
Spent a few days debugging. Notice that pings from my laptop to the HAVA are unreliable. After trying everything, decided enough is enough. I'm an engineer. If it's an easy-to-fix problem and an engineer can't figure it out by following their debugging instructions, it's not worth it. Secondly, even if I figure it out, this should NOT be happening after 1 week of use.
Tried to return it. It's clear they're trying to save time/money by making use of their customers to perform trouble shooting. Instead of taking the unit back and debugging it in-house, they force me to describe my problems/debugging steps to customer support. On top of that the reps English is hard to understand (strong Indian accent).
Long story short, they WILL put you on hold repeatedly and do everything they can to try to make you debug the unit for them. After an hour, I finally had to REFUSE to do any more debugging and DEMANDED to speak to manager. Manager makes me repeat entire description of problem and tries his luck to convince me to debug again. I REFUSE. Finally, I say, look, even if I debug it for you and find the problem, I'm NOT going to keep the unit. If it stops working after a week, it's SUB-STANDARD and I'm returning it. He finally relents.
Story doesn't end here. I get transferred back to rep. Rep says he'll email me the RMA number in 2 hours. Never happens. Next day, I call back. He says, they're "discussing the return case with sales". What? Sales has to approve a return? So still no RMA.
Day 3. I call back and ask for RMA. A new floor manager then tries to make me repeat the entire problem description all over. I blow my top. I tell him the website clearly says Hava has a 30 day money back guarantee IF YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED. It doesn't say the return is contingent on me debugging the bloody device for them. Manager says, "fine, fine, no problem, I have your RMA here .... but wait ... I have one more thing for you ... we'd like to send you a replacement. I yell at him saying I've had enough. Give me my RMA # now or else you'll be hearing from my lawyer. Manager relents and finally gives me the RMA number.
Summary: The features on this product are awesome. But they have serious issues with quality and secondly, they do NOT know how to do business in the US. They have no understanding of how to treat customers. My guess is they're foreign and don't understand how to do business in the US. You don't make your customers do the work of your quality control engineers. Sheesh. What a nightmare.
out of 21 user reviews
Your Upload Speed Is Critical!
Pros: Easy to set up and configure
Cons: Functionality Depends on Your ISP, Other Hardware
out of 21 user reviews
Does what it promises
Pros: built in wireless connection to your wireless router. excellent picture quality on my laptop and my sch-i760 phone.
Cons: the initial setup can be tricky.
out of 21 user reviews
Great for Xbox Gamers to Record Game Plays
Pros: Wireless, Full Compatibility with MCE and Xbox
Cons: Not the pretties UI
Check it out at http://www.myhava.com/solution_mmc_xbox.html
out of 21 user reviews
Hava takes TV everywhere
Pros: Reliable over broadband, software stable
Cons: Remote commands over internet are slow, but that's expected
I just wish they'd hurry and implement the PC to TV functions that the device appear to be capable of.
out of 21 user reviews
Easy setup. Works as advertised
Pros: Setup went smoothly.
Cons: Occasionally will lose signal
The setup was smooth, no problems there. After the install I was immediately watching tv on my computer. I got this unit instead of the Slingbox because it has recording capability and it was wireless.
Quality is actually pretty good. It has HD capacity and on the HD channels I noticed a slightly improved picture but nothing fantastically better. I have an old computer with an old video card so if you have something better I'm sure you'll get better results but I'm happy with it as it is.
Been using it about a month and had it lose the signal once. Had to power cycle the box and I was back up. They say they have a patch for this problem which is caused by a glitch in dynamic IPs but I haven't installed it yet.
Some people say if you live in close quarters with a lot of wifi networks nearby you'll encounter some problems so consider your location before you go with the wireless unit.
Customer support responded to a few questons I had within 1-2 days.
Overall I'm very satisfied.
out of 21 user reviews
Easy to use, does all it promises
Pros: Simple to install, good quality, built in wireless, multiple inputs
Cons: Remote skins can be improved
out of 21 user reviews
Absolutely Fabulous
Pros: its TV where i want it when i want it!
Cons: Does it come in red?
out of 21 user reviews
works unbelievably well
Pros: easy to install, great video quality
Cons: want full HD
out of 21 user reviews
It's a cool gadget to watch my Indian video programs
Pros: I could now watch cricket free in my computer
Cons: There is no remote video multicast
out of 21 user reviews
HAVA is an excellent addition to our home, sharing TV in rooms that we never could before.
Pros: Easy to use, TV anywhere in my house, Pause live TV!
Cons: Everybody has to watch the same channel if two or more are watching TV at the same time.
out of 21 user reviews
Best Christmas gadget I received !
Pros: Super easy to install, TV quality is really impressive, Directv/Tivo remote control is exactly same as the real one!
Cons: A little big, IR cable not long enough
out of 21 user reviews
BEWARE Hava, nothing but trouble
Pros: Still thinking...
Cons: False advertising, bad support, lots of bugs
out of 21 user reviews
The WORST product ever!!!!
Pros: Absolutely none!
Cons: Too numerous to mention!
out of 21 user reviews
Ruff Start, but enjoying HAVA
Pros: MCE and multiple connections at the same time
Cons: Set-up and lackluster tech support in Indaia
I will be even happier when the update for HD and a more user friendly remote control come out (Mid Dec????).
out of 21 user reviews
Very Cool Device
Pros: HAVA works with MCE
Cons: no mobile client
Router details: Netgear WGR614 802.11g Wireless Router
For remote Viewing I used default ID.
Input selection worked awesome!
IR Device Details:
I first chose DVR, DirecTV, Hughes Network Systems. 5 code sets were offered: 0739, 0740, 0745, 1239, 1240.
EXCELLENT VIDEO QUALITY
I ran two laptops in my home office where my wireless router is. Video quality was EXCELLENT on both.
I was very pleased to see that once my HAVA was all set up and running with my own laptop, I was able to use a second laptop I brought by merely connecting it to my home network and launching MCE. They automatically got the feed from my HAVA.
However, when I took one of the laptops to my patio (some 150+ feet, I’d say, with 4 walls to traverse), video/audio became blocky, but then stabilized
EXCELLENT VIDEO QUALITY for local viewing and I would say VCR Quality for remote viewing
Very good PRODUCT
