Digital freeview TV

[shero101]

I now have Digital freeview set top boxes for all the tv's in my house. One thing that puzzles me is why they always have to be on standby (unless they are unplugged obviously). Is this so that they can store the stations without having to scan every time ? Does this mean with new TV's that have inbuild digital tuners will always be left on standby ? I thought we are all being encouraged NOT to leave our TV's etc on standby for long periods when not in use.

[Tichfield]

I don't know why they don't have on/off switches, but you can unplug the box and it will work just fine when you plug it in again.

[spacechimp]

In the temporary absence of an expert...
TVs (CRT ones) use many times more power on standby than a simple set-top box, so given the convenience of being able to download the programme guide overnight and not having to switch yet another thing on- outweighs the negligible power loss.

[dinsdale]

spacechimps answer was, of course, correct, although i do understand your concern. The power used by your freeview box is so little in standby it is not really an issue. I have LED tvs in my bed room and kitchen, both with free view boxes, freefiew set to standby and tv off when not in use. I have gas plasma in the sitting room with a sky box, again tv off and sky to standby. this keeps the channels in memory and you dont get the "serching for listings" each time you want to watch tv. Keeping a single freeview box on standby will cost you less than 7p per year, even at todays high energy prices, keeping it on will cost you a lot more.

[Panic Button]

3am download of the programme guides.

[Frankcastle]

Most of your question has been answered, but as for the tv's being left on standby, very few tv's currently have the ability to completely turn off, of the ones i know of most panasonics will turn off completely and polaroid along with some hitachi televisions. Untill televisions have to declare there energy rating i dont think the power button will be an issure for manufacturer's.

[Toureman]

I have one digi box, i always switch it off at the socket at night, it does not lose programmes and takes about 10 seconds to start in the morning.