Looking for a set top box

Big_Penny

Hi,all'

I have just decided to dump cable,and get a set top box.
Does anybody know who sells the cheapest,are some better than others,or is there a set price?
ANY info gladly received.
Thank you,in advance.

JonSimmonds

my girlfriends family got a set top box form asda for £35, and they were very impressed

grumbler

Big_Penny wrote:

ANY info gladly received...

Which?extra:

Set-top boxes: Best Buy guide

---

All the boxes we've tested deliver good pictures and sound, but some have much better features and are more user-friendly than others.

Freeview offers a seven-day electronic programme guide (EPG) across the UK. We would only recommend buying a box that lets you access this service, such as the Humax and Sony below.

The EPG lets you see programme listings for the week ahead and also makes recording easier, especially if your video recorder has ‘Scart link’ recording (see features for more on this).

The Humax F2 Fox T is a good box and currently £80 from John Lewis. It has lots of features and is easy to use. This is the best choice if your TV doesn’t have a Scart socket to plug a set-top box into as you can connect it via the aerial socket instead.

Some readers had previously reported that the EPG doesn’t contain the full seven-day listings. An ‘over the air’ software update from Humax has now been released which has sorted this problem although the ‘I’ program information button is currently not working. Humax tells us that a further software update is planned that will solve this.

The Sony VTXD800 is a stylish box, which can be used horizontally or in an upright position depending on your preference (a bit like a Playstation 2). It’s got plenty of features, a decent EPG and, like the Humax, has a remote that can also control other makes of TV.

It costs £100 from Currys, Dixons and Miller Brothers.

Updated July 2005

Model Price (£) Total score (%)
Bush DFTA1 47 57
Daewoo DS700 50 59
Daewoo SV900 123 58
Digifusion FRT101 70 36
Digifusion FRT101T 60 60
Echostar T-105 68 51
Ferguson FDT2000 50 57
Goodmans GDB3 45 57
Goodmans GDB4 60 61
Humax F2 Fox T 85 81
Nokia 221T 140 71
Nokia 121T 100 40
Philips DTR500 70 60
Philips DTR1500 65 65
Sagem ITD 62 40 52
Sagem ITD 66 80 56
Samsung SIRU200I 73 53
Sony VTXD800 100 74
Strong SRT 5115 40 58
Thomson DTI 1000 76 54
Thomson DTI2300 80 56

Set-top boxes: Features explained

---

Getting connected
Scart sockets

Most boxes have a Scart socket for connection to your TV with a Scart lead. Some have two sockets, which makes it easier to connect the box to other equipment such as a VCR.

UHF modulator

If your TV doesn't have a Scart input (Scart isn’t usually available on older models), you’ll need a set-top box with a UHF modulator, which connects to the TV’s aerial socket.

The picture quality won't be as good as with Scart, and you’ll receive sound in mono rather than stereo.

UHF loopthrough

None of the Freeview set-top boxes lets you watch one digital programme while recording another on your VCR. However, if you opt for a box with a UHF loopthrough, you can record a digital programme while watching an ordinary analogue channel (or vice versa), with minimal disruption to your TV and VCR connections.

Audio output

Some boxes have a separate audio output, to connect the box to your hi-fi speakers. This is particularly useful if you plan to record digital radio broadcasts onto a Minidisc or other digital recorder.

Programming features
Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)

Freeview’s seven-day EPG lets you see what’s on all channels for the week ahead – but not all boxes let you access it, and some implement it better than others.

Our two Best Buy boxes – the Humax and Sony – display the EPG well – letting you scroll through listings, skip to the next day, see what’s on at a given time, and search by category (eg films).

The Sony shows seven channels at a time, along with a description for the highlighted show. The Humax has a simpler layout with larger text, but you need to press another button for information about the programme.

The manufacturers of the boxes that don’t let you access the EPG claim that you’ll be able to upgrade their boxes (via an over-the-air download), but many are vague about when this will happen.

Favourites

The ‘favourites’ feature lets you choose your favourite channels, making them quicker to access – handy with the plethora of digital channels on offer.

Timer

This lets you program the box to switch between channels at a certain time – handy if you want to record from more than one channel while you’re out. You’ll still need to program your VCR, too.

Scart link recording

If your VCR or DVD recorder has a ‘Scart link’ feature (this is called various names by manufacturers, but it should be obvious from the instruction manual), some set-top boxes can automatically trigger it to record via the Scart lead.

This means you need only to program the set-top box and it will switch to the right channel at the right time and ‘wake up’ the VCR or DVD recorder to record, so there’s no need for a timer.

Convenience features
Controls on box

Some models have controls on the box, as well as on the remote control. This is useful if you lose the remote or its batteries go flat.

Remote controls work with other TVs

The remote controls for some set-top boxes can also control some basic functions of various brands of TV.

This means you can use just one remote to turn the TV on and off, adjust volume, and switch between digital and analogue TV channels.

Parental locks

These let you block access to digital TV channels using a Pin. Some boxes simply block all channels, while others are more sophisticated and let you to restrict access to channels of your choice.

Internet access
One Freeview set-top box, the Netgem i-player, lets you access the internet via your TV when you connect it to a phone line.

It’s not as flexible as using a computer, but it works reasonably well – especially in conjunction with the optional £30 cordless keyboard.

Big_Penny

JonSimmonds and grumbler,

Thank you both very much for your help,most enlightening.