freeview boxes

[EdT]

Hi all.. anyone know if freeview boxes are all the same? In Makro there was a Philips (think it was) for £70, but also a Bush for £40. I assume that the badge costs the extra £30, but not sure if some offer better features .

regards
Ed

[mustard]

Get the Sony, yes i know its £110 quid but all the reviews say its far and away the best, and after sorting my dad one out I was well impressed! picture quality was superb (i'm used to sky) even with his dodgy ariel (obviously this varies area to area)

[EdT]

mustard said:

Get the Sony, yes i know its £110 quid but all the reviews say its far and away the best, and after sorting my dad one out I was well impressed! picture quality was superb (i'm used to sky) even with his dodgy ariel (obviously this varies area to area)

Do you know the model no.?
Ed

[FunkyNige]

£110? Can't tell the difference betweeen a DVD and my freeview box and it cost about £90 6 months ago!
Just make sure the box has 2 SCART sockets in the back, otherwise recording is a pain.

[agent006]

Ex on-digital box off ebay is by far the best choice.

[chrisjl]

FunkyNige said:

Just make sure the box has 2 SCART sockets in the back, otherwise recording is a pain.

I would have thought FreeView->Scart->Video->Scart->TV was enough, or are you saying 2 SCARTs lets you watch one thing and record another?

[mustard]

Sony VTX800U

[FunkyNige]

chrisjl said:

I would have thought FreeView->Scart->Video->Scart->TV was enough, or are you saying 2 SCARTs lets you watch one thing and record another?

With that setup you would have to watch TV through the video - 3 controllers to turn the TV on seems a bit excessive!
We've got:

Freeview-->Scart-->TV
Freeview-->Scart-->Video

With that setup you can record a terrestrial channel whilst watching digital, or record digital while you watch terrestrial. Also, if your video has two Scart sockets you can plug a DVD player into it.
I would think most (if not all) new FreeView boxes have 2 Scart sockets, but it's best to check .
Nige.

[EdT]

mustard said:

Sony VTX800U

dribble..

[DustyC]

I have the phillips one. It stands up as the Sony one does.
Comparing it to 3 other models and I cant spot a difference in the picture quality. The menus layout is different on each model. People tha town other brands have liked the menus on my Phillips one. Said its better for that reason.
Has all the right holes (2 scarts and digital sound out).
And...
Boots are selling them for £60.

[Podie]

If you've not got enough Scart connections go for the Pioneer, as that can run through the normal aerial connector.

Found the Philips box VERY slow on the menus, and the sound quality of the Sony was not better or worse than the Pioneer.. so picked the £50 Pioneer (on offer from £70) over the £110 Sony...

[DustyC]

No matter which box you get apart from BBC3 & 4 everything other channel is utter sh!te!

(Unless you like QVC or travel type channels!)

Does give good Ch5 reception though.
Best thing about them is digital radio (especially Q and Kerrang)

[Edt]

DustyC said:

No matter which box you get apart from BBC3 & 4 everything other channel is utter sh!te! (Unless you like QVC or travel type channels!) Does give good Ch5 reception though. Best thing about them is digital radio (especially Q and Kerrang)

I get a good few hours of bid-up.tv under my belt at friends place last weekend. Loved it! Staggering how the presenters manage to keep spouting utter cr*p for hours on end.

Ed

have bid on a philips box, ebay

[DustyC]

try their rival, price drop tv.
(Its true!)

Its even worse.