Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. ZapperBox M1 has been shipping since July 2022. We ship within 48 hours and shipping is free within USA. We expect that models M2 and M3 will start shipping around mid December 2024.

The ZapperBox M1 has one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port and one SD-Micro slot. You can see a 360-degree view of the ZapperBox at this link. Scroll down to the second panel.

DVR works with USB drives or the micro-SD card. Both are not needed. DVR requires a minimum storage of 128GB. There is no maximum drive size restriction. See FAQ #22 for more on supported drives. We recommend that the 60-minute pause buffer be disabled when using microSD cards and thumb drives. This will help ensure a long life for such storage.

Models M2 and M3 have one USB 2.0 port and one microSD slot. Model M3 is not a DVR, just a gateway client. At this time it does not use its USB port or microSD slot.

Currently, each TV requires a ZapperBox. The TV and the ZapperBox need to be connected by an HDMI cable. Starting with version 3.0 we will start adding support for multi-room viewing. Version 4.0 will add support for apps on non-ZapperBox devices. Version 3.0 is being released during November 2024. Read about this entire roadmap at this link.

You do not need to buy a new TV. However, regular HD TVs typically support a resolution of 1920x1080. A 4K TV supports a resolution that is 4 times higher or 3840x2160. 4K TVs are also referred to as UHD, or Ultra High Definition TVs. A new feature called HDR (High Dynamic Range) for rich colors is supported in most new 4K TVs. Technically, it is possible for regular HD TVs to also support HDR, but that is unlikely. ATSC 3.0 has three main advantages: 4K, HDR and Dolby® AC-4. If you have an HDR capable TV you can enjoy HDR colors. If your TV does not support HDR, you can still enjoy Dolby® AC-4 features. All ZapperBox models support HDR10 and HLG formats for HDR. Dolby Vision also works with HDR10. ZapperBox does not support SL-HDR1 at this time.

The dual-tuner version of ZapperBox has the following advantages:

1. While one tuner is being used to watch TV, the other tuner is used in the background to keep updating guide data being received over the air on other frequencies. This way, whenever you press the guide button, you see the most current guide data. See FAQ #45 for a much more detailed description of how guide data works.

2. The second tuner can be used to record a program that is not currently being watched.

3. A dual tuner box can record two programs simultaneously while a third pre-recorded program is being watched. A single-tuner device can record one program at a time while another pre-recorded program is being watched.

We plan to announce a date by the end of March 2025.

The 14-day guide data subscription is priced at $29.99/year, for up to two M1 or M2  units at the same address. 14-day guide data requires an Internet connection. Devices under the same account, same physical address and same IP address are considered to be at the same address. The fee for additional devices beyond two units is priced at $15/year. M3 (Zapper Mini) units do not require a guide data subscription since they do not have a tuner.

A 14-day guide data subscription allows you to use the following advanced DVR and gateway features:

1. Record from the OTA grid guide
2. Record from the search menu.
3. Cover art for recorded shows
4. Share recordings between networked devices.

Without a subscription, you can still use the following DVR & gateway features:

1. Record the current show being watched.
2. Schedule a manual recording by specifying the channel number, date and time.
3. See recorded show lists without cover art.
4. Watch live TV across networked devices starting with software version 3.3.

Yes. All ZapperBox models work with all encrypted channels in all markets. Our current implementation of content security requires an Internet connection. Content security without an Internet connection will be supported soon with a software update. Recording and playback of secure content will also be supported soon with a software update. We regularly update our release notes page to announce dates for such feature updates.

If you purchased your ZapperBox on Amazon or are not on our mailing list, please register for our newsletter updates at the bottom of our home page using the “Newsletter Sign UP” block.

Please download this 14-page document (click here) that provides detailed, step-by-step, instructions on using Harmony remote controls with ZapperBox. Thanks to ZapperBox user David Henderson for his efforts in putting these instructions together.

See this blog post for our 2025 plans to upgrade all ZapperBox devices from DVRs to gateways. 

Our long term roadmap is listed on the "Release Notes" page under the "Roadmap" section.

When you press the red power button on the remote control, the ZapperBox does not really turn off. It goes into standby (red light). During this time the HDMI output is turned off but all other internal functions keep working. In standby mode, a single-tuner box does channel scans to update guide data. A dual-tuner box is continuously using the second tuner to do channel scans whether it is on or in standby. Therefore, it is more important to put a single tuner box in standby and not so much a dual-tuner box. Putting a box in standby does not save any power.

The ZapperBox remote control uses NEC IR wave forms. The NEC device ID code is 0xBD02. Here are the hex codes for each key:

On/Off: 45
Mute: 80
DVR: D2
Live TV: 5D
Record: 95
BA: D0
Guide: 19
Info: 99
Up: CA
Left: 99
OK: CE
Right: C1
Down: D2
Zap: 42
Menu: 41
1: 43
2: 03
3: 44
4: 46
5: 07
6: 47
7: 55
8: 17
9: 56
Decimal: C3
0: 1B
Back: 11

All ATSC 3.0 broadcasts in the US carry Dolby AC-4 audio. The ZapperBox can:

1. Transcode AC-4 to Dolby Digital Plus or MAT when connected to newer AV receivers and Dolby Digital when connected to legacy AV receivers.

2. Decode any Dolby encoding to PCM stereo in Downmix Mode and send it over HDMI.

3. Passthrough AC-4 audio over HDMI if the connected device is capable of decoding AC-4 audio.

Please see this one-minute video on our YouTube channel for a quick review of how to program the LEARNING KEYS.

No. At this time we do not recommend using the ZapperBox without an Internet connection. Also see FAQ #5.

Yes. The FCC has announced that all ATSC 3.0 signals must be simulcast on ATSC 1.0 until July 17, 2027. We have paid a lot of attention to supporting it as well as ATSC 3.0. All tuners used in ZapperBox support both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0.

SanDisk 512GB Ultra microSD card - https://a.co/d/hvxXQua
SanDisk 256GB Ultra microSD card - https://a.co/d/84y2l1Z

No. These are used for factory programming. Trying to use these buttons may make your box unusable. Do not try to use them.

We plan to offer two programs to involve the developer community. More details will follow when we are ready.

1) We’ll open our box as a developer platform for A/344 app development after we release A/344 support.
2) We plan to add IP controls to our box and will open up the SDK to developers for smart home integration.

ZapperBox requires a minimum drive size of 128GB for DVR. HD and 4K recordings require about 5GB/hour and 1080p recordings require about 2.2GB/hour. This means that a 1TB drive can store 200 hours of HD or 4K video and about 450 hours of 1080p video.

Most hard disk drives work with ZapperBox but require an external powered USB hub or external power. Flash drives and solid-state drives do not require external power. So far, all external disk drives that we have tested work fine with the ZapperBox.

The USB ports on the ZapperBox do not supply enough power for hard disk drives. We have tested a few different USB powered hubs for supporting disk drives and they all work fine. Here is one that is Amazon’s Choice and works fine.

microSD cards and thumb drives have a “burnout” problem unless the 60-minute pause buffer is disabled. We have not experienced such problems with SSD (solid state drives) yet. Read about it in this blog post. If you use a microSD card or a thumb drive please ensure that its read speed is rated at 100 MBytes/second or higher.

We use the following three websites to see what channels are available at a given address. These are ranked by ease of use. The more complex websites provide more technical info but add complexity.

If you have a USB keyboard you can use it like a wired remote. Just plug in the keyboard into a free USB port. Press ‘m’. Does the Menu pop-up? Voila! Your keyboard is working. Here are the key mappings for all the ZapperBox remote keys:

Red power button – none. This key is trapped by Android. It cannot be entered from a keyboard.
DVR – PgDn
LiveTV – F9
Record – F4
BA – F3
Guide – g
Info – i
Zap – F8
Menu – m
Left, Right, Up, Down – arrow keys
OK – Enter
Digits & decimal – digits & decimal
Exit/back – Esc/backspace

Yes. The ZapperBox can work with any Dolby Surround or Dolby Atmos capable AV receiver (AVR). The ZapperBox has three settings for audio decoding:
   1. Auto (let the ZB and AVR decide)
   2. Stereo downmix (ZB decodes to stereo)
   3. Passthrough (ZB passes undecoded audio to connected device).

There are two ways to connect the ZapperBox, AVR and TV.
   1. Connect the ZapperBox to an HDMI input of the AVR and connect the AVR HDMI output to the TV.
   2. Connect the ZapperBox to the TV first and connect the TV to the AVR via an HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel) port on the TV.

These are the instructions for configuring an LG Magic Remote so that it can control a ZapperBox and have been verified for the LG 65UN7300AUD model TV. The instructions for other LG televisions are likely similar.
   1. Connect the ZapperBox to HDMI input 1.
   2. With the television turned on, press the “settings” button on the remote.
   3. Select the “All Settings” option from the on-screen menu.
   4. Select the “Connection” option from the on-screen menu.
   5. Select the “Device Connection Settings” option from the on-screen menu.
   6. Select the “Universal Control Settings” option from the on-screen menu.
   7. Select the “MyGica” option from the list of possible devices connected to HDMI.

Once configured, not all LG Magic Remote buttons are recognized by the ZapperBox, but the remote can be used to change channels on the ZapperBox.

If LTE signals are strong enough in your area and you put them through an LNA, the signals can cause distortion products that spread out through the whole TV band, not just the adjacent channels. The distortion products of an overloaded amp include frequencies that are differences and sums of all the different signals going through the amp.

An LTE (Long-Term Evolution) filter is typically used to mitigate interference from nearby LTE or 4G cellular signals that could negatively impact the performance of TV signals, especially in areas where these signals are strong. The placement of the LTE filter in relation to a TV signal amplifier depends on the specific situation and setup.

In most cases, it's recommended to install the LTE filter before the TV signal amplifier. Here's why:

1. Filtering Interference: An LTE filter is designed to block out unwanted LTE frequencies while allowing the TV frequencies to pass through. If the filter is installed before the amplifier, it can prevent LTE interference from reaching the amplifier and possibly being amplified along with the TV signal.

2. Amplifying Clean Signal: Placing the LTE filter before the amplifier ensures that the TV signal that is being amplified is already free from LTE interference. This can result in a cleaner, higher-quality signal being amplified, which can lead to better picture and audio quality on your television.

3. Protecting Amplifier: If LTE interference reaches the amplifier, it could potentially overload the amplifier or cause other issues that degrade the TV signal quality. By placing the LTE filter before the amplifier, you're protecting the amplifier from potential interference-related problems.

Here's the typical order of installation:
   Antenna --> LTE Filter --> TV Signal Amplifier --> TV or Distribution System

However, every setup can be unique, so it's important to consider your specific situation. If you're unsure about the best placement for the LTE filter in your setup, you might want to consult with a professional who specializes in antenna and signal distribution installations. They can evaluate your situation and provide the most appropriate guidance.

You can also consider using our ZapperBox A1 Antenna by Televes. This antenna has all three components built in: Antenna, LTE filter, and amplifier. It also has a built-in antenna for 4G/LTE routers.

The ZapperBox M1 has a built-in buffer that allows you to pause Live TV for up to 5 minutes. Models M2 and M3 support a 1 minute buffer. If you add extra storage for DVR (SSD or HDD, see FAQ #22) you can pause live TV for up to 60 minutes even if you are not recording the show that you are watching.

We do not recommend using the 60-minute pause buffer with microSD cards or thumb drives as these do not support high enough lifetime rewrite cycles. Using the 60-minute pause buffer is only recommended for SSD and HDD drives. See our blog post about rewrite lifetime at this link.

All recordings made on your ZapperBox are kept in the following folder (the "D:\" is specific to a PC and may vary): D:\Android\data\com.bitrouter.zapperbox\files\recordings. Each recording is in a directory with a name that has the format of YYYYMMDD_xxxxxx. The YYYYMMDD is the date when the recording was made and xxxxxx are random characters to make the name unique.

To backup your ZapperBox DVR storage media, do the following:
   1. Format another drive on your ZapperBox. Let’s call this the target drive.
   2. Plug both the source drive and target drives into you PC or Mac.
   3. Copy the contents of the “\Android\data\com.bitrouter.zapperbox\files\recordings” folder from the source drive to the target drive's "recordings" folder.
   4. Plug the target drive into the ZapperBox to verify the backup worked and all your recordings appear in the DVR library.
   5. Remove the target drive and plug your original source drive back into the ZapperBox.

Note: at this time you cannot play these recordings on your PC or Mac because we use a proprietary HLS manifest format to make the recording process more efficient. The ability to play "in the clear" recordings on other devices will be added in the future. You will not be able to play secure (DRM protected or encrypted) content on other devices.

Yes. Go to guide. Press Zap to enter "jump mode". Now the left/right keys let you jump back and forward by 24 hours. The up/down keys let you jump up and down one page at a time. Press Zap again to exit jump mode.

Yes. Press DVR. Select the show being recorded. It will have a red dot next to it. Select "Play" and start watching it.

1. The blue rainbow in the grid guide means that this is a NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) channel.

2. The purple key means that this channel is encrypted. Eventually, almost all NEXTGEN TV signals are going to be encrypted.

3. The two-sided blue arcs in the info bar imply that this is a NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) channel.

4. The two-sided white arcs in the info bar imply that this is an ATSC 1.0 channel.

5. The number below the two-sided arcs is the signal quality number. It ranges from 0 to 100. We combine the signal strength (SIG) and signal to noise ratio (SNR) to compute this number. You can see the actual SIG and SNR values by pressing the Zap key on the remote and activating the antenna setup screen.

1. Download the Sofabaton app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
2. Once it has been installed, open the Sofabaton App.
3. Create or sign-in to your Sofabaton account.
4. On the “Select your device” screen, tap “U Series.”
5. Press and hold the “-“ and “E” button on your Sofabaton U2 remote to pair it, then tap “connect”
6. On the “Devices” page, tap “Add.”
7. Next it will ask you if the device is Bluetooth or Infrared. Tap “Infrared” and then tap “Learn from original IR remote.”
8. Set your ZapperBox remote and Sofabaton remote on a flat surface, about 1-2 inches apart, with their IR sensors facing each other. Once you have them positioned, tap “Next.”
9. Now you will see the Sofabaton key layout on your phone screen. Tap on the key you want to program first.
10. Press and hold the corresponding key on your ZapperBox remote, until the app takes you back to the Sofabaton key layout screen. You will now see that the key you programmed is highlighted green and was programmed successfully.
   a. If learning fails, a pop up will briefly appear. Ensure the remotes are 1-2 inches apart and repeat step 10 again.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for each key until you have programmed all the desired keys. Tap “Next.”
12. Name your device, ex: “ZapperBox”, and choose an icon. Tap “Next.”
13. On the small screen on your Sofabaton remote, you will now see “ZapperBox”, in addition to any other devices you have programmed. Use the scroll wheel on the remote to highlight “ZapperBox” from the list of devices.
14. Your Sofabaton has now been successfully set up and ready for use with your ZapperBox.

We have created five playlists of instructional videos about ZapperBox on our YouTube channel. You can see these playlists at this link.

1. Tutorials
2. Tips
3. New Feature Updates
4. Insights
5. Hacks

The Reset Factory Defaults option does the following:
1. Deletes the channel map. A new channel scan is required after factory defaults have been reset.
2. Deletes the currently cached OTA guide data
3. Deletes all DVR series and scheduled recordings (existing recordings are not erased)
4. Reverts all settings found under the “Setting” menus to their original default state. These include themes, caption settings, language settings, audio settings, and hidden channel settings.
5. Deletes all diagnostic logs. For this reason, it is not a good idea to do a factory reset if you want us to investigate an ongoing issue.

It does not erase or change:
1. The OS and app version. These  stay unchanged and are not rolled back to the original versions shipped with the box.
2. Wi-Fi settings or passwords
3. Time settings
4. YouTube settings and account password
5. DRM (secure content) provisioning
6. Recording history

If you have a 14-day guide data subscription the current 14-day guide data is deleted but the subscription remains active and new guide data is loaded when the next guide data update happens.

We plan to offer a bluetooth remote control once we are caught up with our software roadmap. We will not offer suport for Bluetooth audio devices as the latency is between 100 to 300 milliseconds and this will impair video lip-sync peformance.

Antenna choice really depends on the exact location. You can start with a really inexpensive antenna on Amazon like this on https://a.co/d/hjNwyGl. We sell the A1 antenna by Televes which usually works much better as it has built in LTE filter and pre-amplifier. It can be used indoors and outdoors.

Unlike the HDHomeRun and 4th Gen Tablo, ZapperBox also has an HDMI output  that allows you to connect directly to a TV or an AV receiver to enjoy 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. The ZapperBox supports ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0, while HDHR does not support ATSC 3.0 encrypted channels and the Tablo does not support ATSC 3.0 at all. ZapperBox software version 1.x was only a tuner. In October 2023 we released version 2.x that added DVR capabilities. In November 2024 we are releasing version 3.x that will add gateway capabilities like HDHomeRun and Tablo.

Unlike HDHR and Tablo that are single point gateway systems and can support only one antenna and one storage device, multiple ZapperBox devices can work like a distributed gateway. They can support multiple antennas and multiple storage devices and share all the storage and antenna feeds across all receivers in the home. See a blog post about this architecture at this link. See our roadmap to upgrade all DVRs to gateways at this link.

Currently, we are selling three ZapperBox models; m1 is a dual tuner device. M2 is a single tuner device and m3 is a client device without any tuner. All three devices can be used in any room to view any channel and any recording from any other device or its own connected storage and antenna. See a comparison between all three devices at this link.

Starting with version 4.0 we will start adding apps for other devices like Roku, Google/Android TV, and other TV operating systems.

Starting with software version 3.0 in November 2024, ZapperBox devices can share recordings across multiple rooms in a home. A following 3.x version will extend this feature to live TV viewing. This requires a physical ZapperBox connected to each TV. All ZapperBox devices can share their storage and tuners with each other. We are selling the tuner-less model m3 that does not require a physical antenna connected to it. See a blog post about this distributed gateway architecture at this link.

Starting with version v4.0 we will start adding apps for other devices like Roku, Google/Android TV, and other TV operating systems. See our roadmap from DVR to gateway at this link.

Due to industry rules for DRM, recordings made on a specific device can only be played back on that device. However, if the device was defective and returned to us, we can update your box to enable these original recordings to be played on your replacement ZapperBox. Please email support@zapperbox.com with subject line “Enable Encrypted Recordings on my replacement ZapperBox” and include:

1. The device ID of your new ZapperBox
2. The device ID of the old returned ZapperBox (if you know it)

We can enable your replacement ZapperBox to play the original recordings.

Currently, we are selling three ZapperBox models; M1 is a dual tuner device. M2 is a single tuner device and M3 is a client device without any tuner. All three devices can be used in any room to view any channel and any recording from any other device or its own connected storage and antenna. See a comparison between all three devices at this link.

Starting with version 4.0 we plan to start adding apps for other devices like Roku, Google/Android TV, and other TV operating systems. See our roadmap from DVR to gateway at this link.

Signal quality is the number between 0 and 100, displayed on the info bar when you change channels or when you press the info button on the remote control. Signal strength and SNR values are displayed during a channel scan and also in the signal meter. In order to show the signal meter, press the Zap button on your remote and select the last option on the Quick Menu.

SNR or Signal to Noise Ratio is the most important signal attribute for a good viewing experience. Typically, video starts to break below an SNR of 20dB. Since SNR can vary over time it is best to have a typical SNR of at least 26dB to give yourself some headroom.

Signal strength is measured in dBm and typically ranges from a low of around -86dBm to a high of +6dBm. We test all ZapperBox receivers to work with a signal as weak as -86dBm. However, in order to allow headroom for signal strength to vary, we recommend a typical signal strength of at least -60dBm.

The signal quality number is a value we compute to show an easily understandable signal attribute that ranges from 0 to 100. We weigh it heavily in favor of SNR. A signal quality value of at least 45 is typical for being able to watch TV.

Thanks to ZapperBox user Raj Dhir for his efforts in testing this process and putting these instructions together.

Logitech's Harmony Elite Hub can be used to control all the devices in your home entertainment system including ZapperBox. It can control any device using IR or RF signals while you control the hub using a smartphone app or the Harmony remote control. 

While Logitech is no longer manufacturing the Harmony Elite Hub and its accompanying remote control, they remain committed to supporting these devices. Search for “Logitech 915-000238 Harmony Home Hub” for online resources to buy the device. 

Use the following installation process using the Harmony app:

1. Devices / Edit Devices
2. + Device
3. Chose Entertainment Device
4. Manufacturer Name: ZapperBox
5. Device Model Number: M1 [model M1 will also work for models M2 and M3]

After the ZapperBox is successfully added, you need to manually add two missing keys: 'Live TV' and 'BA'. All other keys are predefined. To add these keys using the App:

1. Devices /Edit Devices
2. Select 'ZapperBox'
3. Add / Fix Command
4. Command Missing
5. Follow the process to add these two missing keys - Live TV and BA

Logitech support can be reached at (510) 683-5644. Mon. - Fri.: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM EST

There are cases where it may appear that the guide data for channels is gone after some time. Guide Data behavior depends on:

1. Whether you have a single or dual tuner ZapperBox
2. Whether you have 14-day guide data or are using the 12-hour over-the-air guide data

If you have a single tuner ZapperBox, after the first-time setup, the channel scan has been performed and you will have over-the-air (OTA) guide data fully populated for all channels. However, if you leave the box on and stay on a single channel, the next day, it may appear that you have no guide data except for the channel you’re watching and perhaps a few other channels if they are on the same RF band.

Since there is only one tuner and it’s tuned to one RF band, the ZapperBox cannot change channels to the other RF bands to update the guide data for all channels. If this happens, the 12-hour guide data will “run out” and you’ll not see any more guide data for the channels that have not been tuned to in a while.

When you tune to those other channels, ZapperBox will have access to guide data for those channels and will populate the guide. So, if you changed channels, then went to the guide, you would see the guide data show up.

If you put the box on standby by pressing the red Power button on the ZapperBox remote, the tuner is free to scan for guide data in the background unless it is recording a show. So, it will refresh the guide data about every 10 minutes. When you turn the ZapperBox on the next morning, it will have guide data fully populated because of the background channel scan.

Dual tuners behave the same way. However, they have a spare tuner if it is not being used to record a show in the background. ZapperBox will use the spare tuner to do a background scan and keep the guide data up to date. “Running out of guide data” is far less frequent on dual tuner boxes, even if you do not put them in standby.

If you subscribe to 14-day guide data, you will never encounter this issue. That’s because the 14-day guide data downloads over the internet once a day. Leaving the ZapperBox on a single channel for days does not affect the guide data, in this case, because 14 days of guide data is being updated daily instead of relying on the OTA (over-the-air) guide data from the tuner.

See FAQ #6 for a much more brief explanation of this concept.

m1 - 2A6D5-G6C72N

m2 & m3 - ZJU-ATV316FAMILY

Starting with software version 3.0 all ZapperBox models on the same home network can see each others recordings. With v3.3 they will also be able to share their tuners.

To share your recordings, do the following:

1. Make sure that all devices are on the same network.
2. Go to the "Settings->Sharing (Beta)" option and turn on "Share My Recordings".
3. Under "Share My Recordings" you can also see other remote devices on your home network and if they are sharing their recordings with you.
4. You may need to restart your devices after changing these settings.

Once you can see the remote ZapperBox under the "Sharing" option, do the following to play back recordings:

1. Press the DVR key on your remote control.
2. On the top left corner you will see a list of all the remote devices.
3. Press the up-arrow key until you can select the ZapperBox you want.
4. Press the OK key to view the recordings on the selected ZapperBox.
5. Play back the recording you want, just like you would if it was on your local ZapperBox.
6. Press the "Live TV" key to stop playback. If you stop playback by pressing the pause button, the remote ZapperBox will stay engaged and another ZapperBox cannot stream from it.

Caveats:

1. The 14-day guide data subscription is required to play back recordings over your home network.
2. If you do not have a subscription you will still be able to watch live TV over the network starting with v3.3 software release.
3. You do not require a subscription to swap drives in order to view the recordings made on another device. Encrypted recordings will not work when you swap drives.
4. Encrypted recordings will be supported in a future release this year.
5. Our user interface currently limits the number of viewable devices to four. This limit will be increased in the future.
6. Currently, each ZapperBox with a tuner can play back one recording locally and one over the home network at the same time. We plan to increase this limit in the future.