Is there much difference between digital set top boxes?

Question

Tesco are selling one for £24.97

Answer 1

They all do the same job really, the only differences are in the amount of scart sockets,the programme guide and the reliability, also you may want to look for one with a twin tuner if you want to record one channel while watching another.
I work at tesco's on the electrical desk, and these cheep digilogic and astratech freeview boxes make more work for me, as I have to do the refunds and exchanges and then send them to the returns center.
Each tesco's will stock slightly different things, but in general you should stay away from the cheep ones and go for the middle of the range boxes, for around £30 you can get a sagem (£28), or a bush (£35), they are the most realiable that tesco's stock (more reliable than the more expensive models).
If you are more concerned with cost, it doesn't make much difference what you buy, cheep boxes from asdas and other places are crap as well, although having said that, it is really about luck, not all of them are faulty and you could get one that will last for years and do a perfecly good job, but when youv'e seen people take back 3 or 4 in a row before they get one that lasts longer than a month, you get a bit put off.
In the long run I would say it's cheeper to go for a slightly more expensive model.
You may also want to ask a member of staff if the model you choose comes with a scart cable, they are not expensive to buy seperately, but it will be pretty annoying if you get home and find you haven't got the right cables,and if youv'e got an old tv without a scart socket ask if it can be connected with an rf cable as some of the newer models can only be connected via scart.

Answer 2

Some of the cheaper boxes don't have the facility to delete or re arrange the "favourite" channels in your own preferred order, which can be a real nuisance, as the transmitted numeric order has no logic to it beyond the original five terrestial channels.

The other facility that many people find helpful is a full (minimum) seven day Electronic Programme Guide, rather than just the basic "now /next" channel by channel information on some machines which doesn't give an overview from which to choose what you would like to watch.

It is very unlikely that most store staff will be able to provide any of the above information, unless it is already written on the actual box or shelf ticket, in which case they will normally proceed for some annoying reason to read this out loud to you!

Fortunately it can usually be found quite easily with a little internet research for the specific model in question, and sometimes it's even possilble to download the actual user handbook from the manufacturer, which will tell you everything you need to know.

If you should decide that this particular model doesn't provide exactly what you want, there are now many others that will do - which at even up to around the £40 mark would still a real bargain and well worth having.

Answer 3

particular. a ordinary digital field isn't able to receiving severe Definition programming out of your Cable or sattelite provider. in case you join any severe Definition channels you p.c. an HD digital receiver. a ordinary digital receiver even with the undeniable fact that no longer in a position to offer you severe Def television provides you with a clearer photograph than an analog receiver.

Answer 4

they are all basically the same. some will accept a top up tv card and some wont. not all have the 7 day epg.

Answer 5

Nope.
Buy it.
If it's crap dump it.
£25 is a meal out. Hardly expensive.

Answer 6

They all do the same, Argos have them about the same price.

Answer 7

Sky is much better

Answer 8

No

Answer 9

No

Answer 10

dunno but as they are that cheep i'll get one tommorrow for my daughter for her xmas box
tar for the price