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Old 01-11-2004, 9:28 PM   #1
MSE Martin
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Default Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

It's all the rage for Xmas. Get digital channels for a one off fee just for the sake of buying a box. What's the cheapest box you've spotted?

One thing to note, the boxes with a card slot allow you to access Top-Up TV - which gives a few extra channels. Please note whether the box includes this or not when you spot the price

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Old 01-11-2004, 9:59 PM   #2
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

I'll start this one off ;D

been looking already and Argos at £39.99

Sagem ITD58 Freeview Set Top Box.

532/0390
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Old 01-11-2004, 10:19 PM   #3
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Quote:
One thing to note, the boxes with a card slot allow you to access Top-Up TV - which gives a few extra channels. Please note whether the box includes this or not when you spot the price
This one looks like it does not.
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Old 01-11-2004, 11:52 PM   #4
airwalk
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

39.90 matusi 7.99 delivery though dcbyaw £2 off
free delivery on over 50
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Old 02-11-2004, 12:13 AM   #5
airwalk
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

great bargin here from lxdirect


enter codes
ZG3722 (20 off 45) !and
XX520 (free delivery at the checkout)

2 slightly more expensive ones avaliable
39.99 using same codes

Insert From Martin:


Please can the poster confirm that these are readily available codes and not specifically for an individual. Are these published and open to all discount codes. If not use of them could be fraudulent?
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Old 02-11-2004, 11:08 AM   #6
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Please don't just go by price.
A leading consumer magazine (which one is that) gives a top 10 as follows:
1)HumaxF2 Fox T 2)Sony VTXD 3)Nokia 221T 4) Philips DTR1500 5)Panasonic TU-CT30 6)Alba STB1X1 7)Goodmans GDB4 8)BT digi TV Adaptor 9)Samsung SDT-7000plus 10)Strong SRT 5115
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Old 02-11-2004, 11:25 AM   #7
Billie_no_mates
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Hi,

I bought a BT box about a year ago via Greasypalm. It cost about £40.00, but I still haven't managed to get it to work! It is me, not the box!
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Old 02-11-2004, 2:23 PM   #8
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Echostar T101+ (certainly the most reliable of the cheapo boxes) 44.99 at woolies.

Portland freeview box at Sainsbury's for 39.99. Looks exactly like the Labgear and has the SetPal logo on - also highly recommended, although I would say the Echostar edges it - that's probably personal opinion.

Also seen the Daewoo Setpal for 39.99 at Richer sounds, but knowing them stocks are infrequent probably. Pretty much the same deal as the portland.

Echostar has 2x scarts and 7day EPG (make sure you get the PLUS version for the EPG) but no RF out, and the two SetPals have 1 scart, No EPG thus far, but does have RF out which may be a necessity for some.

Regarding the servey results by (which magazine was it again? ;D ) The Nokia mentioned is generally considered a load of rubbish so don't believe everything you read. I've also heard bad things about the philips, panasonic and the strong!

Urg forgot to mention both are freeview only - no slot...





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Old 02-11-2004, 5:16 PM   #9
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Goodmans GDB4 £44.21 delivered here: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/shopp...XJ0&stid=3

The GDB3 is currently £49.99 at Argos, although I'm sure my friend picked one up there for £44.99 a couple of months ago? ???

In any case, these two boxes have the same electronics inside as far as I can tell, the difference is in the styling. My friend's installed quickly and easily and it works smoothly. Albeit that we live pretty close to the Crystal Palace transmitter, the reception is perfect using just a coathanger and a short coax lead as an aerial. The only problem we had was that it caused the playback from his VCR to distort, although it would record absolutely fine. The solution was simple, turn off the box when watching tapes, and it may be an issue with his VCR (rather than with the STB) in any case.

They are not TUTV compatible. To me, that's no loss :P

Rich :¬)
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Old 02-11-2004, 6:02 PM   #10
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

ive been reading in a satelite forum that its easily possible to get all freeview channels through your cable connection. i.e if you have had cable fitted to your house but do not use cable anymore the feed is still there and all you have to do is get the cable end converted to a normal uhf plug that fits in your tv, then its a case of fine tuning your tv to pick the channels up, also ideal if you live in a poor reception area.!! that has to be the cheapest option as it will cost you about £2 for a cable end connection. but unfortunately only for people who have had cable fitted to their house.
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Old 02-11-2004, 8:19 PM   #11
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Nightshot - tell me more...mum and dad used to have cable...I'm sure it could run to a £2 cable if they could then pickup Freeview ;-)...what was the site?
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Old 02-11-2004, 10:26 PM   #12
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Quote:
Nightshot - tell me more...mum and dad used to have cable...I'm sure it could run to a £2 cable if they could then pickup Freeview ;-)...what was the site?

All you need to know here Golly -------->

http://forum.moneysavingexpert.com/c...num=1095716013

I saw this thread and have applied it with great success it does not get you the freeview but crystal reception on all terrestial channels and some selected satelite channels such as:

Sky News
ITN News
Discovery
Sky One {at the moment but this will go and be replaced by another}

No great shakes but if your problem is poor reception this is ideal.

By the way all the connections needed are readily available @ B&Q
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Old 02-11-2004, 11:37 PM   #13
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

ben500 -thanks for that, I'm going to give it a go!

cheers ;D
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Old 02-11-2004, 11:49 PM   #14
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Currently "OFFER OF THE WEEK" at Boots : £39.99

Technosonic Freeview Set-Up Box

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_de...tail=position5 !;D
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Old 03-11-2004, 1:35 PM   #15
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

I appreciate that this does not fit in with the heading but the cheapest is not necessarily the best value.

'Which' Magazine have done Set Top Boxes this month and their 'Best Buy' is the HUMAX F2 FOX T (£70 from Dabs.com )

This gives the 7 day Electronic Programme Guide, which makes watching and recording digital tv much easier.
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Old 03-11-2004, 3:37 PM   #16
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Quote:
Echostar has 2x scarts and 7day EPG (make sure you get the PLUS version for the EPG) but no RF out, and the two SetPals have 1 scart, No EPG thus far, but does have RF out which may be a necessity for some.

Can you explain this a little further please - i'm not very technical? what is RF and EPG? :-[

Thanks
rx
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Old 03-11-2004, 4:08 PM   #17
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Quote:
ive been reading in a satelite forum that its easily possible to get all freeview channels through your cable connection. i.e if you have had cable fitted to your house but do not use cable anymore the feed is still there and all you have to do is get the cable end converted to a normal uhf plug that fits in your tv, then its a case of fine tuning your tv to pick the channels up, also ideal if you live in a poor reception area.!! that has to be the cheapest option as it will cost you about £2 for a cable end connection. but unfortunately only for people who have had cable fitted to their house.
Wow I still have my old cable coming through the wall been there 5 years just dormant didn't know what to do with the thing. So whats this plug thingy (I'm not technically minded) would I need a sparks to fit it? Tell more tell more you have me all a fluster lol
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Old 03-11-2004, 4:10 PM   #18
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Quote:


All you need to know here Golly -------->

http://forum.moneysavingexpert.com/c...num=1095716013

I saw this thread and have applied it with great success it does not get you the freeview but crystal reception on all terrestial channels and some selected satelite channels such as:

Sky News
ITN News
Discovery
Sky One {at the moment but this will go and be replaced by another}

No great shakes but if your problem is poor reception this is ideal.

By the way all the connections needed are readily available @ B&Q
Ok in my excitement only just noticed Ben's post, cheers think that just about answers how it works etc but where can I get this gadget for end of cable, I have terrible reception here for teletext
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Old 03-11-2004, 5:30 PM   #19
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

I believe I had found the cheapest Freeview box out there! Just been walked past my local Currys in Loughborough and saw half price freeview box advertised. So I went in to see if they had any instock....and they had loads!!!!

They were £69.99 but now half price at only £34.99!!!

It is a FERGUSON FDT 500

FEATURES:
Remote Control
RF Loop Through
Digital Text
Electronic Programme Guide
Timer Function
1 No of Scarts
Scart cable included
Silver Colour

Hope this helps people, I presume it must be a countrywide offer!!??

Scholsey
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Old 03-11-2004, 5:42 PM   #20
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Default Re: Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

Boots have Technosonice *which ive never heard of* for £39.99 for this week only. dont think it is TUTP comatible though.

i got a philips one off boots.com last christmas *except i didnt know about promotional codes at the time! doh! could have got some extra points on it!* and its really good. not topuptv compatible though but never mind the main reason i got it was for Five which i cant get on analogue so im quite happy. CSI was blaring away last night, yay.
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