Freeview Box

vicstar_2 · 3 April 2006 at 12:17PM

I would like to buy a cheap basic freeview box for my television. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

Vic

heatherw_01 · 3 April 2006 at 12:18PM

I got a Durabrand from ASDA and it is brilliant! It only cost about £26 too.

IClaudius · 3 April 2006 at 12:37PM

Asda everytime if you're looking for cheap. Especially as if it goes "kaput" they exchange without any quibble

Fatal_Swan · 3 April 2006 at 1:30PM

With Freeview boxes it seems it's just as important where you buy as what you buy. Almost all of them seem to have some glitch or other, and reception quality can be very variable even with more expensive models. Ideally you should try and make sure that wherever you buy from will be happy to take it back (as new) within a certain period, for whatever reason - otherwise if the picture's no good they'll just say your aerial needs upgrading and you'll be stuck with it. Yet even with a fairly weak signal (like mine), a different model might still give excellent results. At least if you can take them back no questions asked you can use trial and error!

I've had 5 different brands of box with only 2 being acceptable. The cheap and notorious Alba box is definitely one to steer clear of. The Wharfedale box from Argos is better than many, currently £40 but was selling at £35 a while back. Not as cheap as some of the lower-end boxes but it does have 2 scart sockets, 7-day EPG, and a scart cable included.

loopylass · 3 April 2006 at 1:35PM

we bought a panasonic when it first came out £99.99
and bought one to go upstairs a few weeks ago from argos i think it was about £26 and its brilliant the only difference is the most expensive one has a menu but thats not important if you have a tv guide

Pjdanie · 3 April 2006 at 1:45PM

I would use ASDA every time,

loopylass · 3 April 2006 at 2:20PM

How much are the Asda ones because we want to get a couple more for the bedrooms upstairs

worto03 · 3 April 2006 at 2:57PM

don't get the alba one from sainsburrys (£30)- mine only lasted 3 months (& wasn't very good when it was working)

now they keep blabbing on about my aireal when I know it's fine as I have tried my mates freeview box & it works fine.

I'll have a look at the asda one - is the guide any good on it & does it respond to the remote quick enough?

worto.

Greenwellies_2 · 3 April 2006 at 6:31PM

I had the Alba one from sainsburys, yup, had it four days and the sound went, got a replacement and that failed too. it was a really naff machine.

I got a refund and brought a £40 phillips one. It's faster than the alba one, but at 8pm without fail it begins to get tempremental.

Oh and the other thing, sometimes you can change a channel and you get a black screen ???? If it doesn't come on within a few minutes I end up unplugging it and then plugging it back in.

HTH

Greenwellies

moonrakerz · 3 April 2006 at 9:56PM

If you are in a weak signal area try an Echostar - might save you the cost of a new aerial. Amazon used to sell them.

hulltrucker · 6 April 2006 at 3:32PM

Argos are doing on in Hull for £24.99 (dont know about other branches) dont know what its like - I would suggest buying a the cheapest you can find from a Good retailer (Supermarkets are tops) as most of the cheap ones are made by Alba/Goodmans/Bush and all seem to be unreliable - the Supermarkets are usually pretty good at changing things when they are out of guarantee especially if you start talking about "merchantable quality"

Freeview Box

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