Set Top boxes...

[stressed out]

I'm thinking of buying a Set Top box but there are so many different types available that i have'nt a clue what the differences are and what is the best for a reasonable price as they vary roughly from 20- 60 pounds.

Can someone help me to make a decision?

Thanks

[Buenchico]

Some boxes have got a built-in RF modulator, some haven't. I won't bother you with the theory. All you need to know is that you only need an RF modulator if your TV hasn't got a Scart socket. Otherwise, buying a box with an RF modulator is a waste of money.

Some boxes have one tuner, a few have two. If you've only got one tuner you won't be able to watch one digital channel while using a VCR (or DVDR) to record another. If this doesn't bother you, go for a cheaper box with just one tuner.

Otherwise, most boxes do much the same thing. As long as your TV has got a Scart socket and you don't mind that you can't record one digital channel while watching another, simply go for the cheapest box you can find.

Chris

[stressed out]

Thanks. Well my tv does have a scart and as my current t.v reception is really grainy and poo i'm hoping that it will improve when i connect the Set Top box as it is digital. Also can i plug into a portable from time to time so my son can watch Cbeebies and not disturb my t.v programmes or does that need a scart too?

Thanks again

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

I'm slightly worried by the fact that you say that your analogue TV reception is rather grainy. Digital TV reception usually requires a signal as good, if not better, than for analogue reception.

You might need to upgrade your aerial. The most frequently praised and recommended TV aerial, here on AB, is this one:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=P T18U&DOY=15m11
However, any reputable aerial installer should be able to provide a suitable product.

Please don't let that put you off getting a digibox and trying it out. The usual guideline for assessing whether you can get digital reception is that you should be able to receive Channel 5 clearly and that the postcode checker should indicate that reception is possible. ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/digital/tv/tv_nonsubs.sht ml ). Well, I get lousy Channel 5 reception and, when I bought my box, the postcode checker said that I was outside of the Freeview area, but I still got all of the channels straight away! You won't know until you try! ;-)

I'll try to answer your question about using the box with a portable TV (which, as I read it, hasn't got a Scart socket). For that, I need to explain a bit of 'techy' stuff:

The signal which comes down your aerial is 'RF' (radio frequency). What all digiboxes do is to decode that signal and convert it to 'AV' (audio/video). They can then feed that signal, via a Scart lead, to the TV, which simply passes it on to the screen and speakers.

[Buenchico]

If a TV hasn't got a Scart socket, there's an obvious problem because there's 'AV' coming out of the box but the only way to get a signal into the TV is to provide 'RF' into its aerial socket. Some boxes have an extra bit of circuitry, called an RF modulator, which converts the AV back to RF, so that it can send a 'decoded' RF signal to the TV's aerial socket. (You have to 'tune in' the TV to receive the signal, in the same way that you do if you connect a video recorder to a TV via the aerial socket).

All digi-boxes have an 'aerial out' socket on the back of them. With most boxes this only provides 'RF loopthrough' (which means that the signal coming out of that socket is identical to the signal which came from the aerial; nothing has been decoded). Connecting an aerial flylead from this socket, with this type of box, to the TV won't make it possible to view digital channels..

However, some boxes have a buit-in RF modulator. If you connect a flylead from the 'Aerial out' socket, of one of these boxes, to the aerial socket of a TV (which has been tuned to receive the signal) you will be able to view digital TV stations.

So, if both your TVs have Scart sockets, you can just buy any digibox but, if one of them hasn't, you need to look for a box which has an RF modulator.

Chris

PS: If your portable TV doesn't have a Scart socket but does have 'AV' (phono-plug) inputs, post again and I'll tell you how you can get by with the simpler, cheaper type of digibox (i.e. without an RF modulator), just by using a special lead.

[stressed out]

Hi Chris

Well i just moved into this house 3 months ago and in my previous home i had the coaxial socket in the wall so i just plugged in my white coaxial cable and Voila! Perfect reception. This place does'nt have that and i do have an aerial on my roof but can't ,for the life of me, see any wires or cabling coming through the house. I just plug my white coaxial cable to my tv and video and by readjusting and wiggling i get 90% good reception but i have to do this each time i change tv channels. Channel 5 for me is quite good.
Very interested to find out more about where my aerial connects or is located and to what you might be able to suggest.

Thanks so far.