Digital set top box
There are many different types of digital set top boxes on the market
and with the pending switch over to digital it is important that
people select the right digital box to suit their needs. The most
common set top box is for Freeview. As the name suggest the basic
free view package is free.
Digital TV Freeview set top Boxes
The most basic freeview boxes can be purchased for around £10 or less.
These will allow you to receive the standard 40 digital terrestrial
freeview channels free of charge. Over the last few years set top boxes
have come down in price from around £90 to £10 which is proof that
going digital need not be expensive.
The next step up with this type of set top box are the ones that offer
Top-UP TV which allows you to purchase certain specialist channels
on top of the basic ones such as the sports channel Setanta.
This type of box will come with a viewing card and start at around
£45.
Digital Freeview box with built in Hard drive
This type of box allows you to record digital tv on the built in hard
drive, with an 80GB hard drive you should be able to record around
80 hours of TV programs. This type of box should have multiple digital
tuners which will enable you to record one program while you are watching
another.
This type of set top box can be picked up for around £45, with the
larger the hard drive and more features increasing the price.
The other type of set top box is a freesat box which are relatively
new. These require a satellite dish to pick up the signal but unlike
sky the service is free.
Get Sky Digital TV, Broadband, Phone for £26, order online!
The set top boxes start at around £60. You
can also get Freesat boxes that will enable you to receive channels
in high definition should you have a compatible television. At the
upper end of the Freesat boxes you will also have a built in hard
drive which will allow you to record and pause live TV, similar
to Sky Plus
box, but without the monthly subscription fee.