Argos returns policy

giraffee

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me with personal experience and advice with returning items to Argos that are excluded from their money back guarantee

I've just bought a Bush Freeview HD recorder in the sale however upon setting it up its not working nearly as well as I expected. I already have an indoor ariel which when used with the built in freeview in my television works fine and picks up all the channels including HD but on the new freeview recorder I only get maybe half the channels and no HD ones and alot of the ones I do get have an awful picture/bad signal

In my eyes this means the item is not as described or fit for purpose as I know I get a good enough reception so it must be the box that is no good but will argos accept that since it is excluded from the money back guarantee? As it cost too much to be stuck with something no good!

Any advice apreciated

zoob

I would say that it's a 90% chance that's there's no actual fault in the unit, more than lightly it's an aerial issue, set top aerials struggle at the best of times with the digital signal for a single freeview tuner in your TV, but 3 freeview tuners virtually no chance, every connection and component reduces the signal, people years ago had similar problems with video recorders.
Digital TV requires a good strong clear signal to work properly, a lot of people had to change to outdoor aerials at the digital changeover because set top aerials not been able to deliver a strong clear signal.

Zandoni

Being excluded from their money back guarantee will make no difference if the product is faulty.


I do agree with zoob though, an indoor aerial doesn't stand much chance unless you are extremely close to the transmitter.

bod1467

zoob - where are you getting "3 Freeview tuners" from? Are there 3 built into the PVR?

OP - have you tried an active (powered) signal booster between the aerial and the box?

neilmcl

bod1467 wrote: »

zoob - where are you getting "3 Freeview tuners" from? Are there 3 built into the PVR?

That would be my understanding. If you want to watch one channel whilst recording one or more others then this will require multiple tuners within the device. Most, if not all PVRs, will have a minimum of 2.

Helix

I don't think there are any Freeview PVRs on the market with 3 tuners - 2 is the norm. However many will let you record 2 and watch a 3rd as long the the 3rd channel is on the same multiplex as one of the first two.

bod1467

Makes sense. I'd also expect those multiple tuners to have suitable attenuation/amplification built in so as to present themselves as a single tuner load to an aerial source.

zoob

3 tuner, 2 in the recorder and 1 in TV

giraffee

The box i bought has 2 tuners, when using it the ariel had been disconnected from the TV tuner so was only using the 2 but would explain why the signal was bad compared the build in TV freeview if it requires better/more signal

are signal boosters any good and has anyone used them before? have seen i can get them in argos for a tenner but dont want to spend more money if it won't help..

bod1467

I use a signal booster. I got one when we moved the TV to the other side of the room and had to run a coax extension. (I think this was one I got from Argos, many years ago now).

I also use one upstairs to split the one aerial feed to two TVs (in the bedrooms).

giraffee

Do you need to spend much on them or will the cheapo (ish) ones do the job?

I do have pretty decent signal already on the signal tuner so hoping it only needs a little boost...