Freeview boxes sub £20 - Can you beat it?

MSE_Martin

16 April 2007

What's this all about?

Freeview is the set top box that relies on a normal ariel to give you digital TV and access to get 30 more TV and 20 radio channels. Prices have plummeted so for a one-off £20 you can now get it much cheaper than joining a monthly subscription package (to cut the cost of that see the Digital TV Cost Cutting article)

Check you can get it first

The official way to check whether you can get the signal is on the official site: Freeview. Yet that's not fool-proof, ask nearby neighbours for their experiences, or if possible borrow someone's Freeview box to try.

The cheapest boxes instore & online

Online

• £17.98 including delivery MedionShop (refurb): This refurbished Medion MD29292 is available, though it may have 'minor cosmetic imperfections'. To navigate to the item using the link above, click 'refurbished stock' on the left-hand menu, then 'refurbished electronics', and you should see it.
• £24.67 Amazon: The DIGIHOME DVB915* is available from Amazon, and as it's over £15, delivery is included.

Instore

• £19.95 Richer Sounds (Refurb): The cut price hi-fi retailer has a Mico STB235 as a refurb (called 'graded' on the site), with one year gaurantee. Availability is limited although, if there's a store near you, it's worth popping in to check out.
• £19.97 Tesco: The Digilogic DSTB1000 is available for reserve and collection in several Tesco stores.
• £19.97 ASDA: Instore, an ASDA own-brand box is available for just under £20.
• £19.99 Argos: Reservations for store pick up are also available for the Digi Home DV940B.
• £24.99 Woolworths: Some stores stock the Technosonic Set Top Box, though it's worth calling first to check availability.

Freeview Boxes with hard-drive

A hard-drive enables you to record the programmes, for instant playback (just like a computers memory does). The cost of these more advance Freeview boxes is dropping rapidly too; though I suspect if you hold off another six months they'll become really cheap.

• £58.74 in-store at Morgan Computers: A Ferguson FPVR1T 80GB Freeview Recorder is available in its four stores located in Greenford, London, Birmingham and Manchester, and comes with a six months warranty. Alternatively it can be delivered for an extra £11.75.
• £76.35 (incl.del) at Micro Direct Ltd: An 80GB DigiFusion FVRT200* is available with 1 year's warranty. It has 80 hours of storage a twin-tuner (you can record one channel whilst you watch another).
• £83.99 (incl. del) at HomeCinemaTV.co.uk: The Humax PVR8000 80GB Hard Disc Drive Recorder, with a single tuner, is available.

IF YOU FIND A CHEAPER BOX THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED ABOVE PLEASE REPORT IT IN THE THREAD BELOW

Martin

* Using these links helps the site stay ad-free and free to use, as they’re ‘affiliated links’ which invisibly take you via commercial price comparison services like Moneysupermarket or Find, which then pay this site per click. You shouldn’t notice any difference, the links don’t impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things I write) is NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it is still recommended and still included. For the sake of transparency go to amazon.co.uk or microdirect.co.uk for an unaffiliated link. Click on the following link for more details on how this site’s financed.

caverncity

Asda are selling one for around £19. only just gone on the shelves.

fryster2006

Goodmans GDB6 Freeview Tuner - "Grade A Stock" from ebuyer for £21.92 delivered. However, add something for £8.08p to your order and go via google checkout for £10 off and this then costs £11.92!

scoobies

MSE_Martin wrote: »

[*] £83.99 (incl. del) at HomeCinemaTV.co.uk: If you'd prefer to go for a branded make, the Humax PVR8000 80GB Hard Disc Drive Recorder, also with a twin-tuner, is available.

The Humax 8000T is a single tuner!

Dalkirst

fryster2006 wrote: »

Goodmans GDB6 Freeview Tuner - "Grade A Stock" from ebuyer for £21.92 delivered. However, add something for £8.08p to your order and go via google checkout for £10 off and this then costs £11.92!

Yes but surely it's then £20 not £11.92 as you've added the other item for £8.08 to make it £30 to get the £10 off?;)

crandy07

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Online

• £24.67 Amazon: The DIGIHOME DVB915 is available from Amazon, and as it's over £15, that includes delivery too.
  

I've got this box. It's very good for the price, but seemed to have some problems with letterboxing. When your watching something thats usually widescreen on a 4:3 telly on the box, it sometimes flickers between having black bars on the top and bottom and stretching the picture. It may just be my box, but it gets annoying.

simate

scoobies wrote: »

The Humax 8000T is a single tuner!

Read it again, it says 'also with a twin-tuner, is available.' The twin tuner model is the Humax PVR-9200T, however it cost around £180.

cigar_2

simate wrote: »

The twin tuner model is the Humax PVR-9200T, however it cost around £180.

And it is excellent. I've heard that it should be supporting Series Link too, which is one of the few features missing versus the Sky+ digibox.

OK_Sauce

Dabs value twin-tuner with 80GB HD for £59.99
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4DDP&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=freeview&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

Dack

Refurbed one over on https://www.medionshop.co.uk at 14.99 plus postage - MD29292.

Not sure of postage but believe it's about £2

MINCER_2

Dack wrote: »

Refurbed one over on https://www.medionshop.co.uk at 14.99 plus postage - MD29292.

Not sure of postage but believe it's about £2

From website -

SHIPPING CHARGES
For orders up to £49.99 shipping charges are £2.99.
For orders between £50 and £99.99 shipping charges are £3.99.
For orders between £100 and £499.99 shipping charges are £4.99.
For order over £500 shipping charges are £7.99.
All prices include V.A.T.