Digital Set top boxes

[zulander]

My dad bought a cheap one a few months back for £20 - but recently it has decided to change channel, turn itself off or loose the sound when we have been watching it. Has anybody got a suggestion for a decent make/'model - its his birthday soon so i may as well get him a new one

[Howard]

We bought my sister a dirt cheap Philips box and it's been faultless

[Behemoth]

To be honest, whichever one you buy will go wrong before it's warranty is up, they are so cheaply made these days. I've done returns on pretty much all of them, Philips, Panasonic they are all essentially made from the same compnents, just with a different name slapped on them and a slight change to the software that controls them.

[greenalien]

How about spending a bit more and getting him a PVR? They now cost the same as Freeview boxes were when they first came out....

[UltraMagnus]

what about just a cheap linux pc in a set top box type case with a couple of DVB-T cards?

[Howard]

what about just a cheap linux pc in a set top box type case with a couple of DVB-T cards?

Whatever for?

[directhex]

Whatever for?

pvr duties

but it can rarely be done both cheap, silent, and good-looking

[usxhe190]

any model is fine...there really isn't much of a difference - maybe the only difference is the menus

[Magnets]

maybe the only difference is the menus

Yeh, most of the cheapo boxes are made by vestel, and all have the same software/menus (search google images for "vestel epg").

I've got a vestel one, and a tvonics (re-branded as wharfedale). The Tvonics has a much better EPG. Assuming your old one was a vestel, the tvonics is better in that:

• Better EPG
• Can hide channels (remove from EPG/list)
• Remote has a button that allows you to cycle between current channel and last channel (good for flicking over during ads)

But, it's not all great.

• Remote takes CR2032 battery
• Doesn't have now&next screen (only full EPG)
• Shows a preview, but behind the EPG (this could be good or bad really)

The only real great advantage is the EPG, IMO.

Here's a pic of the EPG (no, you can't change the colour)


this is a link to argos, where i got it. But a week or so after i bought it, i saw it in Tesco but with their own brand (digi-home? or something) for £5 less. Was £40 when i got it.

This is quite amusing, This is the rebranded one £30 Tesco also sell the tvonics branded one for £15 more Although i believe you get an upright stand and a suction cup.
Currys also sold it, but branded it a "logik vesa V2", but it was £50 or something.

[Howard]

pvr duties

but it can rarely be done both cheap, silent, and good-looking

Yeah I know, for a geeky Hexite it might be worthwhile but not for someone's dad, that was my point

[zulander]

yeah my dad needs summat ultra simple at the mo we have a sagem box but like i said its not brilliant, ill have a shop around if they are that simelar see how much the budgest stretches to, cheers

[tiggerai]

I've got a goodmans that I've had for 3 years that is still going strong... Got sky installed a couple of months ago but still keep it in my room for when I'm being lazy.