Which Freeview box to buy?

bgscotty

Hello!

I'd welcome any advice from the gang on here.

I'm going to buy a new Freeview box and wonder which ones are the best. I think they're all quite cheap nowadays :T

I don't need a new television, so an in-built one isn't an option.

Thank you in advance.

Scotty

moonrakerz

If your TV has a scart socket then any Freeview box will do, less that £20. To some extent you will get what you pay for.
If your TV doesn't have a scart socket you will need one with a built in modulator, these are not too common and tend to be at the "quality" end of the market - £50 ish.

fwor

Some features are also not supported by all makes. A good example is Audio Description, which at present is only implemented in a very few models. If someone with visual impairment is going to use it, or is likely to in future, then it would be worth checking out the RNIB's web site for AD-ready products.

One other thing that seems to vary a lot from make to make is the way that they show the EPG on screen. Some are good and others almost unusable!

Conor_3

Humax 9200 or Topfield 5800. Both are twin tuner PVRs. Once you've had one, you'll not be able to imagine doing without.

buglawton

Have Humax, agree 100%.

mostly

humax 3rd'd

bgscotty

Thank you people!

Twin tuner PVR??

Ehm... What's that??



Scotty

exprog

bgscotty wrote: »

Thank you people!

Twin tuner PVR??

Ehm... What's that??



Scotty

Twin tuner means that you can watch one station on freeview while recording a different freeview station.

As to pvr, I'm trying to find out. Some people say it means the same as dvd recorder. Others seem to think it means something slightly different but I can't understand what.

penrhyn

PVR Personal Video Recorder. Try wikipedia
Its similar to a Sky+ box but for freeview. You record programmes on an internal harddisk. Twin tuners allow you to watch one programme whilst recording another.
The Humax 9200 and the Topfield are the best brands to go for, but the will set you back more that £150 or so.

[Deleted User]

I think the OP just wanted a freeview box....

Here's a list with a LOT of them: http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewboxes.html

energy80s

The best cheap freeview boxes are the Woolies Worth-it box and the Wharfdale 832 from Argos. Both around £20. If you want something decent then go for a Humax or Topfield PVR - both will be over the £100 mark.