Freeview set top box choice

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MikeB4

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#101886 11-May-2012 09:39

Is it just me, but, with the Digital switchover just around the corner the range of choice of Set top boxes especially recorders is woeful.

I am trying to find a decent HD set top box for my sister and the best seems to be Tivo, this is not saying much as Tivo would seem to be the best of a bad bunch. I have experienced Tivo and it is lacking in many areas including quality.

I would have thought by this stage there would a lot of boxes available or is this going to be yet another half assed tech roll out for NZ.

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#623404 11-May-2012 09:56

Perhaps somebody could give you some feedback on these set top boxes.

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Transonic-UHF-Freeview-Set-Top-Box-TC2884STB?SKU=1538182

freitasm

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#623405 11-May-2012 09:57

I have a TiVo here and it works well... What is it missing for you?

Jaxson

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#623414 11-May-2012 10:10

If you're looking for a basic freeview HD box then I think you owe it to yourself to spend a bit more and get the TIVO option instead.... (Assuming you have a broadband connection) TIVO is very good for the price and offers stupendous functionality over and above a simple single tuner box.

If you do go with something else then just keep the receipt! I agree mostly with you though, it is a jungle of cheap crap out there. None of the major names (eg sony/panasonic/samsung/LG etc) have released a standalone freeview set top box.

To be honest, rather than go down the set top box only (no PVR) route then I'd sell whatever TV you have and buy one with an integrated tuner.

steve2222

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#623419 11-May-2012 10:21

ajw: Perhaps somebody could give you some feedback on these set top boxes.

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Transonic-UHF-Freeview-Set-Top-Box-TC2884STB?SKU=1538182

I have one of these and it is excellent - especially for the price.

There is a specific thread on here somewhere about this device.

MikeB4

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#623420 11-May-2012 10:21

freitasm: I have a TiVo here and it works well... What is it missing for you?

As I said, the Tivo is currently the pick of the crop but there is some issues, I had one, my sons have it in their flat, but my first died, the replacement would grey screen or freeze quite often although my sons having been without these, I suspect my signal was too strong. Caspa is a joke, end that story.

However it just seems somewhat half finished or maybe the model we have here is just old and we need to latest Tivo devices.

The current lack of networking is a pain.

There seems to be an opportunity here that the retailers in New Zealand are missing in the hope I think of flogging off more TV's they would rather people buy new TV's with Freeview as opposed to set top boxes.

stevenz

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#623422 11-May-2012 10:24

If money is no object:

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/magic-mtv3700td-myfreeview-terrestrial-recorder-p-680.html

@KnightNZ

MikeB4

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#623425 11-May-2012 10:28

stevenz: If money is no object:

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/magic-mtv3700td-myfreeview-terrestrial-recorder-p-680.html

Those things right now are as common a rocking horse poo. You cannot get them. But having said that they do look good.

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allan

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#623426 11-May-2012 10:32

ajw: Perhaps somebody could give you some feedback on these set top boxes.

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Transonic-UHF-Freeview-Set-Top-Box-TC2884STB?SKU=1538182

Based on the previous discussion at http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=96748 I bought one of these for my elderly Dad's analogue TV which he didn't want to give up. Works a treat.

freitasm

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#623427 11-May-2012 10:33

KiwiNZ:
freitasm: I have a TiVo here and it works well... What is it missing for you?

As I said, the Tivo is currently the pick of the crop but there is some issues, I had one, my sons have it in their flat, but my first died, the replacement would grey screen or freeze quite often although my sons having been without these, I suspect my signal was too strong. Caspa is a joke, end that story.

However it just seems somewhat half finished or maybe the model we have here is just old and we need to latest Tivo devices.

The current lack of networking is a pain.

There seems to be an opportunity here that the retailers in New Zealand are missing in the hope I think of flogging off more TV's they would rather people buy new TV's with Freeview as opposed to set top boxes.

Probably too much noise in your signal. Caspa is nothing to write home about but there is networking capabilities on TiVo - you can have more than one and see programs recorded from one device on another, or a PC.

old3eyes

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#623436 11-May-2012 11:17

How about a Panasonic one. http://www.panasonic.co.nz/products/home-entertainment/dvd-and-blu-ray/dmr-xw390/

Though it may cost more that a TiVo

Regards,

Old3eyes

scuwp

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#623467 11-May-2012 11:46

I have tried 2 of the decoders, one cheapie off Trade Me and one supposedly 'top of the line' from a major retailer. Both were absolute junk.

Best thing I ever did was get a TiVo or two, they may not be perfect, but by gosh they are the next best thing IMO.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

stevenz

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#623470 11-May-2012 11:53

I suspect it's one of those things that NZ will suffer much like the Sky UHF and TCL decoders, even the "latest" models tend to be pretty far-behind the curve. Anything genuinely high-end would likely need to be imported and hopefully it'll support the right frequencies. Unless it's a system (DVB-T supporting the NZ freqs) that is supported by a large enough market (i.e America) then we'll get either fairly budget hardware or oddball asian-market stuff.

Are there even known "good" units out there beyond custom HTPC-style units?

@KnightNZ

MikeB4

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#623478 11-May-2012 12:11

It's a pity the Magic TV offering is currently not available it does look like a reasonable product.

cb1

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#623503 11-May-2012 12:42

KiwiNZ: It's a pity the Magic TV offering is currently not available it does look like a reasonable product.

Freeview shop says more stock arriving May 14th
Freeview shop

MurrayM

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#623596 11-May-2012 16:32

KiwiNZ: It's a pity the Magic TV offering is currently not available it does look like a reasonable product.

I've got the older Magic TV box and it was the best purchase I ever made. I can't be more happy with it, does everything I want and I've never had a problem with it.

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