Freeview boxes

I'm after a freeview box so I can watch the Tour de France on ITV2

Are they all the same?

Any recommendations?

TV is just a regular Sony so I'm not bothered about high resolution or anything as I don't watch it much really.

Comet has a Phillips for £80?

s/hand?

 

If you do a search you'll find a few thread on this.

I've got a Pioneer TF100 job. Nice colour and contrast, bit "digital" at times.

Have a look at http://www.freeview.co.uk/ and check coverage for your area.

 

they're pretty much all the same. Pace (i think) make the best atm, but the Philips it pretty damn good too.

£80-90 seems to be the going rate.

if you fancy second hand, you can probably pick up an old OnDigital or ITV-Digital box for £40-50.

 

Pretty much all digiboxes will be - its not the box but the compression on the channel, you are seeing artifacts - blockiness is the main one.

 

Go for the one with a card slot (for top-up TV)
And co-axial digital outputs to hook up to your DAC and Hi-Fi.

I got a Nokia MediaMaster. Can be bought for the reduced price of £100 now.
Remember to do a PostCode check for reception in your area first.

I live in 'no mans land' between Rowbridge, IOW and Brighton transmitters. But can pick up all cahnnels with the MediaMaster

 

nononononono

you want a Sony VSTX800 £100-120

thats the only one you want.

I got a Philips one as described above (and as in signature) and its ok, but compared to my Dad's Sony box theres no competition. The Sony has better sensitivity, faster channel switching, much MUCH easier to use, never crashes and
this is the good part...

in the Autumn you'll be able to get a 7 day program guide so wave goodbye to your Radio Times etc. The Sony is also SO easy to record to your DVDR/VCR as long as it has SmartLogic/SmartLink/Qlink/TV Link etc. Just highlight the program using the program guide, press the Record button and it automatically switches the vcr on, puts it to the right scart input and tells it to start, and stop recording. It really is a fantastic machine. And it has an optical out.

the only ones to have card slots are the older On and ITV digital boxes. Ok if you're in a very strong signal area, but the newer boxes, esp. the Sony will hawl in all the channels even if you're in a weaker area. Plus they're much faster etc.

 

I've got the Philips DTR1500, I can't fualt. You can buy it cheaper at RS though.

 

I considered Sony. But its proprietory digital output put me off. An it is only optical considered to be inferior to electrical co-ax.

I have the DAC and hi-fi about 5 feet away from the TV and set-top box. Co-ax cable put together from low loss satalite cable and co-ax phono connectors from Maplin did the trick

The new Nokia Media Master may be a shade more expensive but it a sophisticated and well thought out design.

 

I considered Sony. But its proprietory digital output put me off. An it is only optical considered to be inferior to electrical co-ax.

I have the DAC and hi-fi about 5 feet away from the TV and set-top box. Co-ax cable put together from low loss satalite cable and co-ax phono connectors from Maplin did the trick

The new Nokia Media Master may be a shade more expensive but it a sophisticated and well thought out design.

"the only ones to have card slots are the older On and ITV digital boxes."

This is out of date information! TopUp TV was introduced just couple of months ago and if you want to receive these you must have a card slot. Nokia MediaMaster already has this slot.
The others has yet to catch up.

 

ok, i was unaware of the Mediamaster having the card slot, but it still won't give you 7day EPG

it isn't a proprietory digital out on the Sony, its just a 3.5mm optical. You can easily get 3.5mm to toslink convertors and with Freeviews reasonably shabby bitrates, could you honestly say you'd notice the difference between optical and coaxial?

 

Me thinks not!

 

Another vote for the Sony. I'd sell you mine, but a mate just got his grubby little mits on it - sorry!

You can pick one up from Dabs for £90, and sure you could find one for less if you tried.

 

many thanks fellas

Now, who's going to win the Tour?

 

ok, last post about the Sony (promise)
also just read that u have a Sony telly. The Sony freeview box will control the volume and program and power functions off that too, so you'll only need the Freeview boxes handset!

I don't watch the Tour De France.

 

Another one worth considering is NetGem i-Player Interactive Freeview Digital with a keyboard for internet access and inter-active services.

I have seen BT's version of the NetGem for £64.50 at BT Shop online. ncludes caller display and free QWERTY keyboard. Was a few months ago though.

In addition to Freeview TVs and Radios, i-Player provides:
 digital services (Digital text, What's on programme guide)
 interactive services (TV portals, Email, Internet)
 enhanced connectivity via the USB port.

The connections are:
 RF in and out (pass-through)
 SCART output socket
 SCART AUX (pass-through) socket
 jack stereo line out
 telephone jack (RJ11)
 USB port (for digital accessories)
 DVBCI (pay-TV)
 Mains

http://www.netgem.com/main/faq.xml

More details and mini review at http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeview_netgem.html

A good place place for up to date research is http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/terrestrial/
They also have a forum full of experts.

 

The Sony looks like the one. Amazon has it for £80 which is about what I expected to pay.

Many thanks