Features to look for

So you are ready to go digital and you've chosen the platform and the type of kit you will need. Whether you've decided on a set top box, digital TV recorder or an integrated digital TV (iDTV), there are some features well worth looking out for.

They all bring you digital terrestrial TV and radio and have a lot of the same features. But some models are definitely easier to use than others and some are more versatile and convenient – check the ratings in our test reports. All the digital boxes and iDTVs will display an on-screen TV guide - have a look at the differences in the shop before you buy. And the remote controls you get with them vary a lot in how easy they are to use. Go to TV guide and Remote control for more information on these.

So what else is important? First here are general features then some extras to look for in digital recorders then digital TVs.

• Look for the digital tick logo. It guarantees that a digital TV product will work through and after switchover.
• Go for a full 7-day on-screen TV guide. Nearly all the boxes on test offered this, but some earlier models did not.
• With so many channels to choose from, a system that allows you to delete unwanted channels or, better still, to set up your own favourites list, is worth having.
• Look for a card slot so you can receive future pay TV services e.g. live premiership football from Sentanta.
• If you have a very old TV, you may find it has no SCART sockets. Then, choose a digital box that incorporates a modulator, so it can be connected into the TV’s aerial socket.
• A front panel display is handy if you listen to digital radio through a separate hi-fi system – it shows the stations without having to have the TV on. But you will need a digital audio output
• Take more care of the environment and save some money on energy bills by having a digital box that consumes less power. In particular check out the standby power figures in our test reports. Some carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo.
• With improvements and changes in the pipeline it’s worth having a box that does automatic updating.

Plus if you are going for a digital TV recorder:

• Make sure you’re buying a true digital TV recorder and not a simple hard disc drive video recorder without a digital tuner. A digital TV recorder allows recordings to be set using the on-screen TV guide and lets you pause live TV. These apply to all the digital TV recorders on test.
• A recorder with two tuners lets you record one digital channel while watching another. It’s only worth going for a single tuner digital TV recorder if you have an iDTV or already have a set top box, either of which will also include a tuner.
• Check the hard disc drive capacity. It’s pretty standard now to get 160GB, which will give you around 80 hours of recording.
• Buy one with Freeview+ features. This makes your recordings more reliable.

And if you are going for an iDTV remember:

• Controls on the TV itself are handy, especially when the remote goes missing.
• Make sure it has enough SCART sockets for your recording kit.
• i DTVs generally only have one tuner so budget for a separate STB or Digital TV Recorder if you want to be able to record one digital channel whilst watching another.

For all the model by model test results on set top boxes, digital TV recorders and iDTVs go to our separate Test reports.
Freeview+

Freeview+ sets a new standard for digital TV recorders. For these recorders to carry the Freeview+ logo, they must have passed Freeview quality testing and have certain features.

The features must include an 8 day on-screen TV guide and improved versatility for recording. This means Freeview+ digital TV recorders – with no monthly subscription - will do things that only the Sky+ satellite recorder offered subscribers in the past.

We’ve tested a batch of Freeview+ recorders – go to product search to find our reports. So what are these new features? They include:

• automatically adjusted recording times - really useful if the programme is running late or has been re-scheduled, Freeview+ will recognize this and start recording when the programme actually starts
  
• series recording – lets you set the recorder to record all episodes of a TV series
  
• resolving conflicts - if you have booked clashing programmes to record, it will automatically locate a scheduled repeat and record that instead.

For more information visit the Freeview website.

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