Great Cheapest Freeview Box Hunt

malcolmord

Dixons have just started a TV ad for one 50% off
Model - Mitsubishi BD68STB
Product Code - 541525

for £49.99

see

http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1369205005.1101249703@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadddefdjllicflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&sku=541525

alexj2002

rumpy [O]ld [D]uffer link=board=fiddly;num=1099337312;start=90#97 date=11/21/04 at 13:32:16]There seems to be a rush of interest in the Freeview Digital Boxes this Xmas (me included), but I've found out from my local Curry's that if you cannot pick-up Channel 5 on your analogue TV aerial, then you won't be able to pick-up Freeview .... without I'm assuming additional expense such as having a Digital TV aerial installed. ???

Now I know all the advertising states that Freeview is widely available, but it's going to put most of Bath in a blind-spot, until the Bathampton Transmitter is upgraded.
I did check my postcode on the Freeview website, AND it did say that it could not be picked-up, but many people have stated that they have picked-up Freeview even though that the Freeview website stated differently. I was going to take the gamble and buy a box, but as Curry's have given the 'Channel 5' scenario as a guide I'm glad I didn't fork-out the 'dosh' for the box. :-/

AFAIK that is absoulute rubbish. Channel 5 analogue isn't anywhere near the Freeview channels.

If you've checked the official FV site also check here : http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/coverage.html - this gives a channel by channel as opposed to a yes or no.

This says I can recieve most but not all channels (I can recieve them all in reality) whilst the FV site says I can't get it.

Niggy_2

I don't think this "channel 5 rule" will apply to everybody but it kind of applies in my area too.

People here receive TV from one of two transmitters, one gives channel 5, the other doesnt. The one that does also supplies freeview.

Therefore, in my area, if you can get channel 5 then you are getting your signal from the right transmitter to get freeview. If you don't get 5 then invariably you can't get freeview (in my area).

So the sales assistant was kind'a right - if the same applies in Bath

Woby_Tide

http://www.five.tv/home/frameset/?content=98903&

the rule certainly isn't true, we definitely don't get the analogue signal but digital is fine, there is a checker on the 'Five' website, you can even see the coverage maps highlight the difference, The whole of the SouthEast/West and North Wales are probably biggest difference

Silent_Bob_3

We bought the Panasonic TUCT30 for one set of parents back in September from Richer Sounds for £55 and have to say it's very good. Twin scarts but no TUTV slot (waste of money that it is).

Looking for another one for other parents and cheapest I've found is now at Argos where it's reduced to £69.99 but add in the £5 voucher and it's effectively £64.99.

Getting it from there as we have vouchers we need to use up.

Niggy_2

You're correct Woby_Tide the rule definitely isnt true if applied to everybody across the country but for a single area it could be true for most people.

The assistant may have been right for people living in the Bath area but as a general rule it certainly wouldnt apply.

The assistant should really have qualified his statement but he was probably told about this "rule" by his manager who didnt explain it properly (or the assistant had sold hundreds of cheap STB's that day and couldnt be bothered explaining fully)

I was just trying to point out that the same, in most cases, applies in my area - so i could understand what he was trying to say.

(saying this though - I can't get 5 analogue but i can get digital - so the "rule" doesnt apply to me, probably because of my aerial or where my house is situated, but I know lots of people in my area who do fit the "rule" perfectly - this is why the statement should be properly qualified!!!!)

Ricardoro

have also just got the Technosonic from Boots and gets
all the channels I expected except Sky News and Sports News, can anyone please suggest why these two arent available (signal from Crystal Palace)

Clairog

I've just installed this box tonight too and am very pleased with it ;D
Only thing I can't work out is I have a few channels listed that aren't on the box details (TCM, Discovery etc ) I haven't got a picture for them - very odd. Any suggestions ??? ???Claire

Ricardoro

I think you have to subscribe to Top Up tv to get Discovery, UK Gold and some others

photome

I've just installed this box tonight too and am very pleased with it ;D
Only thing I can't work out is I have a few channels listed that aren't on the box details (TCM, Discovery etc ) I haven't got a picture for them - very odd.  Any suggestions ??? ???Claire

I think you will find that the box will pick up lots of digi channels, but you will only be able to view the ones that are free.