WeTek was one of the first manufacturers to launch Android set-top boxes with built-in tuners starting with WeTek Play, later followed by WeTek Play 2 model a few years later.
In recent years, the company also introduced other Android media devices for the business sector with WeTek Hyperion 4G LTE Android TV TV box, and WeTek Nix with all DRM required for the IPTV market. But it appears WeTek is coming back to the consumer market with their Google certified WeTek Air TV box running Android TV, and equipped with DVB-T2/T/C (Europe), ATSC (US), or DVB-S2 (Worldwide) tuner.
WeTek Air hardware specifications are pretty similar to their WeTek Play 2 model, but with various improved features thanks to a new processor:
- SoC – Quad core Arm processor (Likely S905D, TBC)
- System Memory – 2 GB DDR4
- Storage – 16 GB eMMC flash + micro SD card slot
- Video & Audio Output – HDMI 2.0a up to 4K @ 60Hz with HDR-10 support
- Video codecs – H.265 & H.264 AVC up to 4K60Hz, H.264 MVC, MPEG-4 ASP, VC-1, AVS, MPEG-2, MPEG-1 up to 1080p60
- Audio codecs – MP3, AAC, WMA, RM, FLAC, Ogg, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS
- Twin Tuners
- Europe – Digital Terrestrial and Cable Television [DVB-T/T2/C]
- World – Satellite Television [DVB-S2]
- North America – Over-the-Air Television [ATSC], Cable Television. Note: Work in progress
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, dual band 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1, Zigbee radio
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports
- Misc – IR receiver
- Power Supply – DC 12V/1.5A
- Dimensions – 157 x 117 x 35 mm
One of the obvious benefit of the new model is support for HDR (High Dynamic Range), and the built-in Zigbee module must be it’s also suitable for home automation, but the company did not expand on this. If the processor is indeed S905D and twin tuners are used, you’ll also be able to record one channel, while watching another at the same time.
The box runs Android TV 8.0 Oreo with WeTV app handing both IPTV and live TV from the tuner. The unit will ship with a remote control, an HDMI cable, a power adapter suitable for multiple countries, and a user manual.
Price and availability are not known at this time, but you can find out a bit more on the product page.
Good things come to those who wait.
Discover the new #WeTekAir with #AndroidTV, certified by #Google : https://t.co/yRayZBGK92 pic.twitter.com/Al4g8szeh0— WeTek (@WeTekOfficial) November 19, 2018
Thanks to Mark for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I already have a Play 2 that has been working just fine at collecting dust in my closet for quite some time. I don’t see any need to upgrade it.
Fool me once, same on you.
Fool me twice, same on me.
DO NOT BUY FROM WETEK You pay an extra for a product from a European company, expecting longer term support and updates which actually improve something. For the Wetek Play 2 we got crappy software from the beginning and they have not been able to deliver anything at all for the last year after repeatedly promising fixes for the buyers. Not even Netflix works, and that was one of their main advertising points. In fact I am running Coreelec now, it is the only way I can have something decent running on one box. I am now waiting for a… Read more »
“I am running Coreelec now”
But you know that Wetek has a close collaboration with OpenElec/LibreElec/Coreelec right?
Wetek products works great with OpenElec/LibreElec/Coreelec because is one of the sponsors (that provide longer term support and updates)
As all Chinese OEM boxes do. Nothing new here.
Thats not true. Wetek has official support from OpenElec/LibreElec, Chinese OEM boxes no, just from CoreElec.
I can see who pays your salary, I understand you would like your company to survive. Some questions: Why is there a Coreelec fork? Amlogic What works better on Wetek/amlogic? Coreelec. Why is my device still on? Coreelec What about this .air device? Sorry, NO support for dual boot, that means no *elec distributions. What will happen in the future? According to previous experience, you will not update it after one year and your customers will be screwed (again). If you guys did things right I would not be writing this comments. I definitely do not recommend anyone spending 180… Read more »
Was just trying to explain that Wetek is involved on the development of the different ELEC flavours.
If I remember well, one WeTek employer is still working on the 3.14 kernel used by LibreELEC.
Not is my intention start a flame about CoreELEC/LibreELEC, I’m a happy CoreELEC user.
About my salary or my company, is not related at all with the discussion, please there is not need to be rude.
CoreELEC actually supports the WP2 better than OpenElEC or LibreELEC ever did even though they don’t have a sponsorship from anybody, thanks to the open-source DVB driver they created unlike the closed source binary crap that both OE/LE was/is using.
I have to correct this. CoreELEC is not sponsored by WeTek nor any other Vendor. Only OpenELEC was and LibreELEC is sponsored by them afaik.
I received one WH and one WP2 when I was associated with LibreELEC.
In fact I gave my WP2 to our core DVB developer afl1 who wrote a free open source driver for their dvb (PR to LE pending for 7 months now ;)).
I didn’t say otherwise. So Wetek sponsors(ed?) LE, they do not want to support aml devices for their quirks and this guy comes to brag about Open source support when they have actually removed it in their new device.
BTW, thanks for your work on CE!
Sorry I don’t know why but the reply was supposed to be for Carlos:
https://www.cnx-software.com/2018/12/04/wetek-air-android-tv-4k-hdr-set-top-box-dvb-atsc-tuner/#comment-559061
Hi Raybuntu, Reading again my previous post maybe generate some confusion, my bad.
I’m also a little disappointed with the support from wetek. I have a core and there is really no support for it. I also think Libreelec still supports the core due to the sponsorship of wetek, but they rather want to get rid of it.
There are also geniatech TV box with tuner
Do you mean this one? https://www.geniatech.com/product/atv598max/
Looks nice, but no DVB-C
Yes, they have many…
https://www.cnx-software.com/2018/01/10/geniatech-atv598-max-is-a-certified-android-tv-hybrid-tv-box-with-atsc-dvb-t2-dvb-c-or-isdb-t-digital-tv-tuner/
https://www.cnx-software.com/2014/01/05/geniatech-atv1220-dual-core-android-tv-box-with-dvb-t-tuner-sells-for-95-and-up/
It’s customizable since Geniatech sells to OEM, unless they sell the device through their Mygica brand.
There is also Magicsee C300 Android 7.1 2GB 16GB dvb s2 dvb t2 dvb c Smart TV BOX KODI
And Sdmctech do DvB c boxes but they are OEM as far as I know.
For reference.
Magicsee C300 covered @ https://www.cnx-software.com/2017/11/14/magicsee-c300-is-a-70-dvb-t2c-dvb-s2-android-set-top-box-powered-by-amlogic-s905d-soc/
Several posts about SDMCTech @ https://www.cnx-software.com/tag/shenzhen-sdmc/ although only one about DVB products.
Just to add to the list, if you want to check out articles about boxes with tuners, or anything related to DVB / ATSC, you’ll find some at https://www.cnx-software.com/tag/dvb/ and https://www.cnx-software.com/tag/atsc/
I’ve a Wetek Core (2gb ram & a quad core arm processor) collecting the dust due to no software updates. I’ve been using in its place a Firetv stick that does everything I need & more, and has been getting continuous software updates for years. Don’t your time & money with Wetek.
personally, i dont like Android system. I prefer the other mentioned systems with automatic loading to Kodi.
I Android boxes that i had my hands were like WTF is this. Usually all people that had them confirmed that it was just mistake when they discovered other boxes (without Android!)
Android boxes are just like a Android tablet, all the ones I have tried Amlogic and Remix mini PC run Kodi fine. However Kodi is mainly about running a Nas with rips of DVDs and looking up covers. Streaming is becoming the norm, as industry reports show. Using Android, there are streaming apps that are leaving kodi behind.
i have tried many apps streaming NAS content, but i dont really like having Android as system platform.
As for the KODI, i am fine. but always open to anything else, if exists. I prefer the old KODI look then the new one
THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO BUY!?