Streaming Services.
Premium:
Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, Blockbuster, CinemaNow, M-Go, HBO Go, Google Play, Showtime Anytime, NFL Now, WWE Network, NBA Game Time, UFC.TV, MLS Live, sirius XM, Sling Television, CBS All Access, Fox Now
Other:
YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, Yes, TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Crackle, Vimeo, Plex, Watch ESPN, Vevo, Slacker, Livestream, Amazon Music, and more
Description.One of the more oddly shaped players, the Mohu Channels is a relatively small player (about 1.4 x 2.6 x 4.8 inches) with an elliptical shape. It's all white with the Mohu logo on one side and vent holes on the other. On one end there is the RF jack for the ATSC tuner, which allows you to view over-the-air channels when connected to an antenna, and then at the other end is the power receptacle, HDMI output, Ethernet jack, and USB port. It comes with a more advanced Bluetooth remote that has a full QWERTY keyboard, motion control, and the ability to control a TV's power, volume, and mute. Despite the large number of buttons on the remote, it lacks any dedicated buttons for easily selecting a streaming service like Netflix or Vudu.
Setup. This player is very easy to set up. All the connections are well labeled, so you can easily see where to connect the HDMI and other cables. The player automatically scans for available WiFi networks and lets you enter the Network's password with the QWERTY keyboard, but doesn't support WPS connections that let you pair the device without entering a password. It automatically does a scan for available over-the-air channels and populates the channel guide. It then directs you to program the universal features of the remote with an on screen video. Finally at the end of the setup there is a quick tutorial that shows you how to use certain features of the remote including the motion control cursor.
Ease of use. For everyday use the box is generally easy to use:
Interface. The main home screen is also the channel guide, which not only lists all the channels that where found during the channel scan and what programs will be shown in the next couple of hours in a grid, but also lists all downloaded apps and saved website bookmarks. There is no dedicated button on the remote to go directly to the list of apps, but the guide button will automatically bring you back to the home screen. You can even customize the order of everything in the guide so your favorite apps, websites, and channels are easier to get to, which can be very helpful if you happen to get a lot of channels. The customized order of channels and apps is also applied when channel surfing. So, if you have Netflix between CBS and NBC in the guide and change the channel while watching CBS, Netflix will begin to load. This player includes access to the Google Play Store, where you can download more apps and internet content, but they are all the tablet versions of the apps, so you will not be able to view any content from the different streaming services in full HD or with surround sound.
Remote control. The player comes with a more advanced remote that has a full QWERTY keyboard and a motion control cursor. It is pretty bulky and wider than most other remotes, but this shouldn't be a big problem since it is meant to be used with both hands. While it has a large number of buttons, they are well sized and labeled and have a backlight that is automatically activated when the remote is manipulated, so that they can be seen in a room with low-light conditions. There are separate arrow buttons for navigating the menus, but they are not distinctive from the rest of the QWERTY keyboard buttons and the enter button used to select things is not centrally located to the arrow buttons. You can also choose to navigate the menus using the motion controlled cursor (there is a dedicated button that will turn the cursor on and off), which is more like using a mouse on a PC, but it might take some getting used to. Also, there are two different buttons, enter and select, that are used for selecting menu items. When using the curser you use the select button, and when using the arrow buttons you use the enter button, which may get confusing.
Picture quality. This player supports 1080p output and can deliver top-notch picture quality when viewing over-the-air channels or video files via the USB. Unfortunately, the player uses the tablet versions of all the available apps, including Netflix, Vudu, Google Play, and Hulu Plus, so the streaming picture quality was worse than most other players. The streams are all the SD versions and therefore appear very soft, no better than standard DVDs at its best. For streaming videos, the quality of the video you'll get is also largely dependent on the speed of your wired or wireless network. (We tested all the players using a wired Ethernet connection.)
Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio via its HDMI when available. Unfortunately, the streaming apps used do not support video streams with multichannel audio.
Connections. It has a good number of connections, including one HDMI output, an Ethernet port, and an ATSC tuner. It has built-in WiFi, but while it claims to supports dual-band 5GHz networks, it would not find the 5GHz network we have setup in our lab. While it lacks DLNA compatibility and screen mirroring support, it does have a USB ports (that can be used with an external hard drive) so you can play images, videos, and music.
Miscellaneous. This box has a built-in ATSC tuner so you can view free over-the-air channels and includes a thorough channel guide. It also comes with an HDMI cable. While it does have a sleep mode, you have to know to hit the Alt + Enter keys in order to activate it and it still consumes just under 5 Watts, which is more than what most other players consume while streaming.
Firmware Version. All players are evaluated using the latest firmware version available at the time of testing.
Firmware version for the Mohu Channels is: Build Number: V753_S734_A756
About Firmware Version. Our test results are valid for the version of firmware indicated above. If your player's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the players’s firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your player via a wired or wireless network, USB port, or memory card, depending on your player’s capability. You can check your player’s firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer’s website if further guidance is needed.
