Sit before reading this.

Legacy_user

About 12 yrs ago, we bought a panasonic viera tv which was perfect for us, later we bought a freesat box and dish. Never had a moment problem. About once a year I would do a search for new channels and that's about all. Great to be able to store recorded stuff. However, a bulb went inside and no picture. We could have asked a tV engineer to repair it, but as it was 11/12 yrs old, opted to replace it.

We decided on a Samsung T32E310 32" LED TV. We had it connected for us. First thing we noticed, was that it was lighter and when touched could easily have fallen, So we've always been wary when near it.

Having freesat, we needed to use two remotes, the tv one and one for freesat. This became a pain, so an engineer provided us with a "one for all". We manage, but frighted we might inadvertently touch wrong button.

Next, we turned it on one day, to read a notice stating "searching for new channels and new software. This never budged, despite trying everything, the only way it could be cleared, was to turn freesat off, wait a minute, then switch back on. This happens about monthly. It happened once when on holiday, consequently programs set to record, failed.

Called engineer in to stop auto search and switch to manual search, but it still happens. But we just have to put up with it.

House guests have accidently touch a button and lost picture, so help had to be sought to rectify it.

Decisions now have to be made. Should we forget about this samsung purchase (£219.99) and return to Panasonic Viera (TX-32FS503B Full HD £349 and also, forget about the Freesat and settle for the inbuilt freeview as we only record the soaps/series and the main 1-5 channels.

Yes its a long post, and yes, as I'm in late 70's, need a bit of advice and don't want to be fleeced by salesmen. Oh yes, I understand freeview channels are dependent where you live, we are on the coast in Dorset.

JJ_Egan

Freeview does not use Freesat dish it requires a airial .
Judged by your post i would go for the one you actually understand how to work .

[Deleted User]

If you're saying that you don't really need to record anything then remove the Freesat box and just plug the aerial cable in to the back of the TV. Of course your TV (actually sold as a monitor) is non-smart so you won't have access to any of the catch-up apps.

System

Back now. Have since spoken to local tv company, they are due 32" models in soon. Told them we want tv and that we have to be able to record, irrespective of freeview or freesat. Suggested that when we visit, will take Humax Manual, so they know which model we have and print off screen shots of messages that appear and will go from there I think.

JJ_Egan

Check with Richer Sounds web site for details on many models . That may give a better idea .

System

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Check with Richer Sounds web site for details on many models . That may give a better idea .

Thankyou for that.

getmore4less

Your existing Samsung will do Freeview so you can test out if that works before changing anything.

Do you have a regular aerial?

Is it the freesat box or the TV that is putting up the messages?

If the TV it may be that plugging in an aerial may help the problem as it might be looking for the freeview channels.


Which freesat box do you have?


there are TV with built in freesat tuners.


To get the best out of that Panasonic you refer to you need an internet connection for freeview play and the catchup services.

also it is not full HD only HD ready.

ajbell

Im afraid it may be your age and not the age of the TV that is the problem, my parents are the same and scared to touch buttons on the remote.
You cannot do any harm to the TV by pressing a button and as I tell my parents, a TV now is simply a display panel and you have to tell it what to display, analogue, digital, USB, HDMI etc.
You do not need an engineer out to do the things you ask.