Cheap Freeview Boxes discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

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geoffatno6

recently we in somerset have received an update to the list of channels, which is too big for the early boxes. My box ( a Labgear DTT100 )does not now work any more. A refurbed box may suffer from this problem. This was publicised on southwest local tv news the other day.

quantium

We have a Daewoo Freeview VCR SV900, and that has been trashed by the changeover. However it will still work if you connect another set top box to the scart socket. But you can only record on one channel per timer session (it will not change the channel on the set top box.) Also the set top box has to be permenently on to make timer recordings.

It has been said that this is due to the fact that SetPal software is not supported, but this doers not explain why the DRVT43, which also uses SetPal, does still work.

If SetPal is not supported, I think that whoever owns it ought to release full technical details to the world on a web site so that someone can come up with a fix. No doubt some cottage industry would appear on the internet selling replacement EPROMS or whatever is needed.

It is possible to access the engineer's menu on the SV900 by the following key sequence. Status, Select, Text, Text, Select. It was suggested elsewhere that these machines could be made to work by turning off all the features, such as MHEG. However this did not work for mine.

claire2202

CHEAP FREEVIEW DEAL - I got my freeview box (AKURA DV3) from Co-op supermarket for £7.50!!!!!!!!!!! Its great - infact its better than the Phillips one we paid £40 for.

SJC31

Try Argos for cheap Freeview boxes. They do the clarity one (532/0912) for £14.95 and a digihome one (532/0754) for £16.85, and there's always loads of stock of it. You can also get a half price scart lead with this one for £3.99.

bargainpault

On 30 June, I purchased from ASDA, Yeovil their own brand 'DURABRAND' Model ref CG5660-M Digital Set Top Box' with one scart socket and 7 day EPG for £10.

Previous experience with a 'DURABRAND' electric kettle had been poor but this digital box is very good value - so far.

Works fine - in fact this has replaced the so called bargain £10 'Techwood' brand from TESCO 11 months which proved unreliable.
Electrical accessories such as scart and extension leads usually cheapest in my experience at Wilkinson, especially when on offer.

I have heard that a TESCO store in the Bournemouth area was selling new FREEVIEW boxes about 2 weeks ago at about £7.50 but have no further details.

From my experience I would avoid TESCO - their post customer sales support especially on this item was apalling and very unprofessional.

kjk6466

Please don't do what I did!!! I went and bought a freeview box from ASDA (£15 by the way, scart not included for the Durabrand one in my local store in Belfast) which worked perfectly and then when I cancelled my Sky (in an attempt to tighten my belt a bit) I asked them what I should do about the Sky dish and the box, the woman told me that they are mine to keep and I can use them to access freeview. I've not tried it yet because I'd already hooked up the box I bought from ASDA but bit of a waste of £15!!

Helix

kjk6466 wrote: »

Please don't do what I did!!! I went and bought a freeview box from ASDA (£15 by the way, scart not included for the Durabrand one in my local store in Belfast) which worked perfectly and then when I cancelled my Sky (in an attempt to tighten my belt a bit) I asked them what I should do about the Sky dish and the box, the woman told me that they are mine to keep and I can use them to access freeview. I've not tried it yet because I'd already hooked up the box I bought from ASDA but bit of a waste of £15!!

There are some channels you get on freeview that you won't get on the sky freeview service which is actually called "freesat from sky" and not Freeview. It works the other way around as well and you will get some more on the sky service which aren't on freeview.

https://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk has a list of the channels that Sky offer for free.

nomadic_saver

"He who hesitates is lost." Well, that's me then. MicroDirect have sold out of FRT101s. I wonder if they are getting any more?

getcarter

James_Last wrote: »

Suggest you try http://www.discountfreeviewboxes.co.uk

Good luck!

James

James Last, do you post about anything else but freeview boxes - reported!

AndieJagain

geoffatno6 wrote: »

recently we in somerset have received an update to the list of channels, which is too big for the early boxes. My box ( a Labgear DTT100 )does not now work any more. A refurbed box may suffer from this problem. This was publicised on southwest local tv news the other day.

how many channels have you got now?. I find it hard to understand why the 'early' boxes can't cope. Freeview was basically a follow on from ITVdigital / cONdigital. Those where set up as a rival to Sky. The could orignally handle hundreds of channels, way more than freeview has had so far. Is you regionbeing trialed for channels similar the the free-sky package (ie more?) I can't have the sky deal as they refuse to install it unless I take out a landline with them, I did away with my landline last year and have absolutely no need for one, so if freeview is going to hit that number of channels soon, then good, saves me waiting for the other Freesat (not sky, the BBC/ITV one) to put there prices sensible.