Digital Freeview boxes for under £22

magic105

The best DVB box that I have used is a DVDSEG from Argos at £22. It is much more sensitive in reception than others- even clones of the same box are quite deaf!

..BUT if you live in N.Ireland and can get RTE reasonably well you can receive all RTE channels in digital. There is a wee trick though you MUST scan encrypted channels in order to get the extra channels. Its fab. Note other DVB boxes are deaf and cannot scan for Irish Channels.

PM me if unsure.

Enjoy!

anotherbob

r.mac wrote:

Ok following this line of thought.... We have just cancelled our sky subscription. We are paid up until the end of next month. We were going to buy a freeview box instead but it would appear from the above that we can just continue to use our sky box and card after cancellation to recieve the freeview channels???? Or have I read it wrong???

Does this mean I have saved myself the cost of a freeview box? Any help or clarification gratefully recieved!

You are correct. My son did that very thing last year, and can receive all the free-to-view channels.

BexTech

anotherbob wrote:

You are correct. My son did that very thing last year, and can receive all the free-to-view channels.

As well as all the Free-To-Air channels.

shwingbass

Alysie wrote:

Hi there
I bought a HDR with freeview for Christmas and am really disappointed that I now cant get ITV and all associated ITC channels, Channel 4, E4, More 4 etc, although I can get E4+1. Apparently its to do with the aerial reception - I live between Brighton and Eastbourne. Does anyone else have any problems getting various channels?

It's hilly as hell between Eastbourne and Brighton so you are probably lucky to get anything - also weather can affect a weak signal badly so keep watching and they might come back when the storms die down. I'm in a borderline reception area near you and can "lose" 20 to 30 channels at a time but they come back - eventually.

A pointer for anyone looking at cheap boxes, if you are in a strong signal area you will probably get away with it until they pack up (about 3 years on average! the older ones often seem to overheat), otherwise it's best to spend a bit more but keep your eyes peeled. If you look at the back of most of the modern Top Up TV (TUTV) boxes you will see they are all the same....surprise that! Not! There are really only a handful of box manufacturers so if they look similar or have similar remotes or connections then they are probably the same. I've got the Astratec TUTV which is the same as the Bush, Thomson, Humax, Panasonic etc etc but the TUTV boxes do get good reviews overall. Certainly better than my old Daewoo which melted!

If you really want to see the dirty washing on freeview boxes, have a butchers at the freeview forum here under "in my home moneysaving" or at https://www.digitalspy.co.uk but make sure you've got a fresh cuppa to hand - it'll take a while! Ooh they are cheeky!

nourishment

Might be off-topic but...

I had a sky subscription which used to be called the family pack I think. Basically all channels except sport & movies.

Cancelled my subscription in April 2005 and still have all the channels. The box has never been plugged into a phone socket and I suspect this has something to do it.

Used to have a laugh every time sky called to try to entice me back and I'd just respond with "We're not really missing it to be honest".

Eventually I got sick of them calling and asked them to completely delete my account (they keep the account even after you've gone).

Nearly two years on and saved £19.50 per month (and it's probably gone up since!!).

Given the absolutely attrocious service I got in all the years that I paid for my subscription I don't have the slightest amount of guilt!!

Moneymoney_2

Alysie wrote:

Hi there
I bought a HDR with freeview for Christmas and am really disappointed that I now cant get ITV and all associated ITC channels, Channel 4, E4, More 4 etc, although I can get E4+1. Apparently its to do with the aerial reception - I live between Brighton and Eastbourne. Does anyone else have any problems getting various channels?

I've been able to get freeview in one room in my (basement) flat but not elsewhere until someone suggested that I try a signal booster, which has improved reception and got freeview everywhere in the flat ... this might be worth a try (I got mine from Argos for 7.99)

smurf_2

mrsyorkie wrote:

Thanks Smurf

Did you just plug one end of the aerial into the box and the other into the telly?

I used one of the Scart outputs on the digi box to connect it to my tv, but i could have used the RF output also.
Just to let you know, using the scart output will give you a slightly better picture than if you were to use the RF lead.

duncanda

shupa wrote:

Does anyone know Telewest will do the same thing if I tell them I want to cancel my tv with them? I have phone and broadband with them too, and it gets expensive when you add bits on to the package so any saving is a welcome one. TIA!

shupa

Call Telewest and follow the options for something like "bill enquiries". Tell them you want to cancel your broadband because you can get it cheaper elsewhere, quote Talk Talk or someone else. The operator will then try and pursuade you that competitors aren't as good, but say you want to reduce your costs and then they come up with a deal for TV, Broadband and phone. I've nearly halved my monthly costs by doing this.

The deal I got is for three months, but the person I spoke to suggested calling back then to see what other deals they could offer. They don't want to lose your custom. Good luck.

ChrisRobinson

We've got the full Sky package but don't watch all the channels, just occasional sport - football & golf (my husband) Living, FX, Hallmark (yes, I know I'm sad!), and occasional films - grandchildren watch the Kids Sky package when they come round, of course, but we're 60+ now and need to watch the pennies so we can go on lots of holidays now we've retired! However we don't get a very good BBC or Five main reception so we tend to watch these through Sky instead. We were thinking of saving the money and downgrading - However, I really like Hallmark, and I think I can only get that on Sky. Am I right? what can you advise, please?

chrissiebabe, Chepstow

veralollipop

Thank you. I,ve just ordered one and got an extra £5 off with a voucher I,d won. Only cost me £16.98 and postage free...nice one, I,d been intending to buy one of these.