Freeview box.......any good ?

steady__eddie

Our region went over to digital a couple of months ago which didn't cause any probs except for the bedroom which had an anologue. I've been looking for an el cheapo set top box for a while but only came across ones with a hard drive in, (already have 2 downstairs).
Just came across this in Aldi on Thursday.
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_21927.htm?WT.mc_id=2011-11-14-12-15
A Tevion in my price range with a 3 year waranty. I've had a fair few Tevion products in the past with no probs (including the lappy that I'm typing this on).
I thought that the knowledgeable peeps on here will be able to tell me that it's a rebadged Samsung (I wish) or "I wouldn't touch that with Silvio Berlusconi's bargepole".
Any comments gratefully accepted.

fwor

Generally the thing that's critical is how well thought-out the user interface is, and you'll only know that by buying and trying. Given that they have a 60 day refund period you don't seem to have much to lose - but obviously you will need to keep all of the packaging to be able to return it.

The major limitation to me is that it's SCART only - it appears to have no HDMI, which means that if you have to replace your TV it almost certainly will no longer be compatible.

aerostar

fwor wrote: »

The major limitation to me is that it's SCART only - it appears to have no HDMI, which means that if you have to replace your TV it almost certainly will no longer be compatible.

The majority of replacement TVs still have Scart connections, and wanting HDMI on a £15+ box, you must be joking.
For the price it seems good value for money.

There are also many other set top boxes without hard discs, I do not know why you only found those with HD.

Argos have a number of standard boxes.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID72/28608375/c_1/1%7ccategory_root%7cHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7c14419512/c_2/2%7c14419512%7cDigital+boxes+and+services%7c14419633/c_3/3%7ccat_14419633%7cBasic+set+top+boxes%7c28608375.htm?!!!!!tactDigitalSwitchover_8

Tesco also, and probably usual Curry,Dixons outlets.

fwor

aerostar wrote: »

The majority of replacement TVs still have Scart connections, and wanting HDMI on a £15+ box, you must be joking.

Fair point - though if you have lots of "legacy" gear such as Sky, DVD, VCR players, it won't have enough SCARTs.

aerostar

fwor wrote: »

Fair point - though if you have lots of "legacy" gear such as Sky, DVD, VCR players, it won't have enough SCARTs.

Google "scart switch boxes", many types available.

steady__eddie

Many thanks for your replies, the T.V. is only a 14" or thereabouts so H.D. is not a prerequisit, it is a D.V.D. combi thingy so no probs with scart sockets. I bought it about 4 years ago from new for her who thinks she must be obeyed to keep her amused when I was away, (don't understand why she watches it when I'm at home).
I'll pick one up on Thursday, (I'm too mean to shell out for a new T.V.)

shackalak

We've got one of the cheapo freeview boxes on our analogue tv/dvd combo in the bedroom (combined with a cheap ariel from Argos). It works fine during the programmes but it sticks/freezes/clicks like mad during the adverts - no idea why. It used to drive us mad but I think we've just got used to it now. If you change the chanels up and down it seems to clear itself.

Just as a test, I borrowed a different box from my mum to see if it was the box but it did exactly the same.

Serves its purpose though.