freeview set top boxes

[skeetly]

It appears I ned to install electricity in the house and get digital tv.
I can get sky without removing a mountain.
I'll allow a budget of £75ish.
Whats good and will just 'work'.
Not fussed about recording facilities but would like a volume control on the set top box so we dont need a multitude of remotes.
I have googled until I'm blue but I don't want to spend 200 odd quid on a 'humax' type of thing....
Oh and for it to be little :)

Cheers.

[maviczap]

Get a second hand sky box off Freecycle, install a dish and get a Freesat card from sky.

Sky box will be free, maybe you can get a dish for free. Freesat card will cost £25 from Sky.

Or go to Argos and get the same, but installed I think for £75.

Or go to Maplins and get a digital satellite kit, but not sure how much. If you can avoid it don't get roped into getting a Sky subscription.

[skeetly]

damn typo

I CANT get sky without removing mountain :)
Dish cant see satellite see...

[maviczap]

Ah problemo :evil:

Don't know if you'll have better luck with a freeview box or not :confused:

Again try freecycle for a set top box rather than shell out for one

[skeetly]

I should clarify this I guess.
We dont get digital TV until October.
We don't/can't have sky so we'll have no TV.
I want a good set top box so I don't get grieft from the TV users in my house (not fussed myself really).
I don't mind the shelling out so much as having the thing work hassle free so I don't get moiddered by the goggle box collective at my house :)

[svdemon]

Humax do their boxes refurbished for £99 on their site.

[the_runt69]

I should clarify this I guess.
We dont get digital TV until October.
We don't/can't have sky so we'll have no TV.
I want a good set top box so I don't get grieft from the TV users in my house (not fussed myself really).
I don't mind the shelling out so much as having the thing work hassle free so I don't get moiddered by the goggle box collective at my house :)

Yes you do have digital TV, just means the analouge gets turned off in October. Have a chaepo £19 digibox in the bedroom I bought from Asda a couple of years ago works and gets all the freeview channels. Dont need to pay the earth for a digibox, get a cheapo one and wait till you upgrade your TV

[skeetly]

no we really dont :) Trust me. /waves from the frozen wastes...

[Woz]

Yes you do have digital TV, just means the analouge gets turned off in October. Have a chaepo £19 digibox in the bedroom I bought from Asda a couple of years ago works and gets all the freeview channels. Dont need to pay the earth for a digibox, get a cheapo one and wait till you upgrade your TV

Same here. Got a couple for the kids and they 'just worked'. Even with cheapo indoor aerials.

[maviczap]

Same here. Got a couple for the kids and they 'just worked'. Even with cheapo indoor aerials.

Depends where you live, round here on the East coast our Digital signal isn't great. They can't turn the power up on the transmitter as it will affect our Dutch neighours TV signals, although I've seen their TV progs and they'd be better off with our :smurf:

'57 channels and nothing on'

But I've got Sky \\:D/

[DarrenSV650S]

no we really dont :) Trust me. /waves from the frozen wastes...
So are you saying that the terrestrial signal will be turned off at the same time that the digital is turned on? I thought they were supposed to be overlapped to allow people to sort out their set up

[maviczap]

Digital is switch on in most places now. But there will be definite dates when the analogue will be switched off

[Spiderman]

I have a cheapo set top box that is now redundant since i bought a Humax TV with built in freeview.

It has its own volume control too and i paid about £20 for it last year. Make me a silly offer and its your if you want it. Its all in the box with instructions etc and like new. And very small too.

This (http://www.dealclick.co.uk/product/12898130/Durabrand-CG5660-M.php) is about the only image i can find online, its about 6inches wide x 4inches deep x 1inch tall and comes with its own stand so it can sit "up" like a PS3 does.
If you want some pics let me know

[skeetly]

So are you saying that the terrestrial signal will be turned off at the same time that the digital is turned on? I thought they were supposed to be overlapped to allow people to sort out their set up


Digital is switch on in most places now. But there will be definite dates when the analogue will be switched off

You can get digital on sky. I cant get sky. So I have to get my digital through my aerial from what is presently an analogue relay transmitter.
The main transmitter is being switched from analogue to digital on a certain date.

[tigersaw]

tesco had some for a tenner and all the setanta sports branded ones are discounted now too

[-Ralph-]

tesco had some for a tenner

Head! Nail! Wallop!

[skeetly]

And these very cheap ones from tesco are bother free?
Mind for a tenner do I gaf

[Lou M]

damn typo

I CANT get sky without removing mountain :)
Dish cant see satellite see...

Ah don't worry, we don't need Snowdon!!! LOL!

Why don't you do as we are, we're not going digital, when its switched off round here, 2010 I think, we'll be telly-less. I've got books and DVD's, a motorbike and dinghy to entertain me.

I refuse to go digital, it's a long and boring story that I won't bother with now.

[tigersaw]

Bother free? you plugs one end in your tv, one in your aerial and away you go.
Then again, things keep changing, they did 'something' at Rowridge transmitter here the other month and zillions of people were without tv, even some set top boxes stopped working for ever, so nothings simple.

[skeetly]

Ah don't worry, we don't need Snowdon!!! LOL!

Why don't you do as we are, we're not going digital, when its switched off round here, 2010 I think, we'll be telly-less. I've got books and DVD's, a motorbike and dinghy to entertain me.

I refuse to go digital, it's a long and boring story that I won't bother with now.

Oh dont encourage me.
Unfortunately I am outnumbered so I have to sort it out :(
Hence my need for no hassle :)

[skeetly]

Bother free? you plugs one end in your tv, one in your aerial and away you go.


Hmmm. I just know there will be complaints about volume control, too many remotes, why does the sound drop out now and again, why cant I see all the channels straight away etc etc.

I did a google and was just overwhelmed with the variety of boxes and the complaints everyone had about them for one reason or another.

So thought I'd ask on a bike forum.
Made sense at the time.....................

[DarrenSV650S]

I refuse to go digital, it's a long and boring story that I won't bother with now.
When you do bother telling the story please let me know

[chiefrick]

Do you have a half decent broadband connection? Just watch the TV on the internet?

Google OVguide...

[Spiderman]

And these very cheap ones from tesco are bother free?
Mind for a tenner do I gaf

The one i posted about was from Asda and £20 new last year. It really is easy to use, has a sensible menu system and programme guide, last chanell button (you know the good one to avoid annoying ads) and never gave any of the issues you mention re dropping sound.

You're always gonna have the multiple remotes issue tho unless you get one of those One For All remotes, which i use. But you have to accept they have their own limitations to a degree as well.