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ViewSonic’s VTV35 is the most basic portable TV player we’ve seen. It has no SD card slot or USB port, so you can’t play MP3s or view video or image files on its 3½in screen. This goes a long way towards explaining why it costs so little. The VTV35 looks remarkably similar to the Icy Box IB-MP101. However, the extendable antenna is much longer than the flimsy one on the IB-MP101, and reception was much better. However, it’s let down by the lack of an external antenna port. Build quality is basic, with plain black plastic all round, although it feels solid. The program guide and menu system are easy to follow and clearly laid out, with an EPG providing only now-and-next information. The screen flickered a bit in menus, but TV was fine. Our main disappointment was that the TV picture didn’t take up the entire screen, with narrow black bars above and below. This is because the screen is a 4:3 ratio, while the Freeview signal is 16:9. You can force it to display at 4:3, but you’ll either squeeze the image or lose the edges.
If you want to listen to music, view photos or watch videos as well as TV, Hauppauge’s myTV Player is better, but it costs £40 more. The VTV35 is an adequate TV and radio, but as with all portable TVs, you’ll often need to search for good reception.
