Lowest priced Freeview DVB-T

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richarda

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#58849 21-Mar-2010 17:11

Hi
I am looking for a low priced Freeview DVB-T for my Mum. Any suggestions?
Cheers
Richard

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#309555 21-Mar-2010 17:33

The Warehouse sell Sanyo Freeview HD STB for $199

Or DSE with their own Branded ones for $249

Check out

http://www.freeviewnz.tv/products/listing/hd

cassadee

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#319615 17-Apr-2010 10:22

if you have a pc you can get a usb one for $35

mentalinc

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#319634 17-Apr-2010 12:24

cassadee: if you have a pc you can get a usb one for $35

But will need a high-end system to run it.

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cassadee

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#319655 17-Apr-2010 14:27

mentalinc:
cassadee: if you have a pc you can get a usb one for $35

But will need a high-end system to run it.

p4 2.0 ghz 1gb ram usb 2.0 is the min you should have if running dvb-t

Deev8

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#319724 17-Apr-2010 18:27

richarda: I am looking for a low priced Freeview DVB-T for my Mum. Any suggestions?

Assuming that your Mum doesn't want to run a solution on a PC, and that you want a set-top box you will be paying $200+. Just keep in mind that the cheapest isn't necessarily the best value, and that spending an extra $10 or $20 can be very worthwhile. For quite some time this was one of the cheapest STBs available - a lot of people posting on that thread regretted the decision to buy it.

So - look for cheap, but also look for feedback on how the boxes perform as well.

sbiddle

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#319731 17-Apr-2010 18:39

cassadee:
mentalinc:
cassadee: if you have a pc you can get a usb one for $35

But will need a high-end system to run it.

p4 2.0 ghz 1gb ram usb 2.0 is the min you should have if running dvb-t

You're obviously not referring to DVB-T in NZ... A system with a spec that low has no chance of delivering a watchable picture.

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#319732 17-Apr-2010 18:42

sbiddle:
cassadee:
mentalinc:
cassadee: if you have a pc you can get a usb one for $35

But will need a high-end system to run it.

p4 2.0 ghz 1gb ram usb 2.0 is the min you should have if running dvb-t

You're obviously not referring to DVB-T in NZ... A system with a spec that low has no chance of delivering a watchable picture.

And you will also need a good graphics card supporting H.264 hardware decoding.

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cyril7

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#319750 17-Apr-2010 19:51

Having dealt with more DVB-T STBs that I care to think about, I have to say that the good old Zinwell/DSE box which can be bought for $249 and seems to be one of the more reliable boxs with far fewer firmware issues than most, the only real issue I can find with it is the dodgy IR pickup, you do need to point the remote straight on to the device.

Next to the Zinwell/DSE box all the mainline TV idTVs seem to do a very good job also with few issues, ie Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and LG.

Cyril

sDew

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#320753 20-Apr-2010 16:57

I have the dse box and it has been great except for the remote which I hated. I replaced it with a Logitech harmony 525 and that fixed the problem.

cyril7

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#320755 20-Apr-2010 16:59

Hi, thats interesting, I had always assumed the Rx in the box was the issue, so your saying changing the Tx (hand remote) fixed it, thats good.

Cyril

richms

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#320823 20-Apr-2010 19:04

Flatmate has the dse box and I have not observed any remote issues on it.

Not using rechargables in it are you? 2 cell remotes really need the extra voltage that primay cells give over ni-mh.

Richard rich.ms

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Loismustdye

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#320854 20-Apr-2010 19:42

the dse box is a known issue from what Ive read, I also have the same issue. Although switching to the logitech remote didnt help.

sDew

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#321115 21-Apr-2010 08:44

Switching to the Logitech fixed the issue for me. With the DSE remote I have to hold it up in the air and point it just right for it to work (used to drive me nuts). With the Logitech remote it works as well as any remote i've had, I don't have to hold it up or anything. I didn't buy the logitech remote just to fix that issue, it was just a big bonus.
I'm just guessing but the Logitech has 4 batteries not 2, that may be the difference (more grunt).

Jaxson

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#321195 21-Apr-2010 10:09

The logitech remotes have multiple LED transmitters/beams so they're pretty good and don't have to be too specific with the aiming.

The DSE/Zinwell DVB-T boxes have been pretty reliable. They copped a lot of flac early on but this was a carry over from their crap satellite boxes I think, and later their initally crap myfreeview unit. The main problems weren't really problems, things like they ran hot, which they do, but they still work fine.

Only downside I saw was that there was no auto resolution setting, you couldn't pass the broadcast resolution on to the TV, everything got scaled to 720 or 1080. Oh and no HD on component output, but that's a freeview certification thing anyway.

trig42

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#321331 21-Apr-2010 14:48

Interesting about the DSE box and a Harmony. I bought a DSE box for my parents, and they pretty much gave up on using it because of the remote.
I got them one of the Homecast boxes that were on special to GZ users a couple of months back, and they love it. Means they have a DSE box sitting around doing nothing. Might have to claim it and check it out with my Harmony.

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