I wanna freeview box

Sparky29

Having ditched Sky I wanna getta freeview box. I don't know much about them. Are they all pretty much the same? Are some better at receiving weak signals? I am just about to move home (3 miles from nearest small town) and don't know what the reception is like as its semi rural (Gloucestershire). Do they all receive the same number of channels?

Incidentally, when I cancelled Sky I didn't tell them I was moving just to see what they would offer. I was on the £21 a month package. After telling them I was cancelling because the only channels we watch are the usual 1 to 5 and the only Sky channel is living TV as the wife likes "Most Haunted", they eventually offered me the same package for £7.50 and a second box for the bedroom thrown in. Bargain I thought, just a pity I didn't want it.

Anyway, I would be grateful for any advice/ experiences you may have had with freeview

Thanks

Edinburghlass_2

Tesco instore have a postcode checker to see if you get a freeview reception

Sparky29

Thanks Edinburghlass

I have checked on a freeview web site that I can get reception. They were plugging how good it is and what you can get. I was after recommendations or advice from personal experience as adverts only tell you what they want you to know.

Edinburghlass_2

Well, I have two and both are cheapies, Sagem and Alba. I am in a good reception area and run one off an indoor aerial with no problems but if you aren't in a good reception area you do need a good outside aerial.

They do all receive the same channels unless you get one that takes the top up card when you pay around £7/8 for more channels

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Just bought one today for my son's bedroom, a Goodmans from Comet, £29.99 I was really surprised how good and easy it was to set up, just plugged it in, auto scanned and found all the channels, I was quite impressed and excellent reception on a outdoor aerial, it seems very good value and my lads very pleased with it.

PS Its got a scart lead in the box, so you don't have to buy one.

Lord_Gardener

We have 2 freeview box's Matsui and Daewoo. Both work well after ariel upgrade - signal strength in Glos is not good. I've installed 6 other boxes for family and friends around Glos - all eventually needing the ariel upgrade! Try out box but be prepared!

julesgr

our signal is rubbish ...in fact th efreeview site says it's non existent we have two boxes and the only one we pick anything up on is the cheap one we bought from ASDA

Browntoa

the best one we've used sp far was the cheapest Matsui from Dixons/Currys

get hardly ant decent analogue signal at work but all the digital channels via the box

Sparky29

Lord_Gardener wrote:

We have 2 freeview box's Matsui and Daewoo. Both work well after ariel upgrade - signal strength in Glos is not good. I've installed 6 other boxes for family and friends around Glos - all eventually needing the ariel upgrade! Try out box but be prepared!

I'm moving into a rented end terrace house with a communal aerial so no chance of an upgrade. Looks like I will have to ask the neighbours if they have got it or take the gamble. A friend recommended a Sony box for poor reception areas but at £100 I was hoping for something more in my price range (ie as cheap as possible that works OK).

C_Ronaldo

we have a ferguson box and its done well so far in glos, needed a new ariel as the old one wasnt good enough,

Sparky29

C_Ronaldo wrote:

we have a ferguson box and its done well so far in glos, needed a new ariel as the old one wasnt good enough,

Moving near Tewkesbury which is pretty much in the sticks so it doesn't sound too good on the reception front. Might have to rip my Sky dish and all the cabling off the wall and take it with me. Bit of a pain.