http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/ Ricability Set Top Box Reviews en-uk Copyright 2012 Ricability Sat, 4 Feb 2012 06:22:05 GMT Ease of use score: 83% / Price: £79 / Verdict: An easy to install freeview set top box capable of showing standard and high definition TV. The TV Guide shows a small picture of currently tuned channel. It is supplied with a long universal remote control that can operate up to three other devices eg TV, DVD and audio system. RECOMMENDED http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Humax HD-Fox T2 Humax HD-Fox T2 Humax 83% £79 An easy to install freeview set top box capable of showing standard and high definition TV. The TV Guide shows a small picture of currently tuned channel. It is supplied with a long universal remote control that can operate up to three other devices eg TV, DVD and audio system. RECOMMENDED http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/HUMAX_FOXT2_SKB1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/HUMAX_FOXT2_SKB1_Remote.jpg 0.67 watts 13.3 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes **** *** *** N/A **** 87% Ease of use score: 77% / Price: £Part of deal - contact supplier / Verdict: One of the boxes supplied by Sky for receiving digital TV via satellite - it's large with full controls on the top. Handles audio description and has a built in modulator for connecting to a no-SCART TV. Fairly high standby and in use power consumption. Good remote control that makes it easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Sky Amstrad DRX550 Sky Amstrad DRX550 Sky 77% £Part of deal - contact supplier One of the boxes supplied by Sky for receiving digital TV via satellite - it's large with full controls on the top. Handles audio description and has a built in modulator for connecting to a no-SCART TV. Fairly high standby and in use power consumption. Good remote control that makes it easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Sky box word GB.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Sky remote word.jpg 8.8 watts 9.9 watts Satellite No - via Help button Yes Yes Yes ***** **** **** *** **** 71% Ease of use score: 73% / Price: £29.99 / Verdict: Small, intuitive and simple to use box with a fairly large and well designed remote control, dedicated subtitle and audio description buttons and an easily readable TV guide. No favourite channel groups but you can hide unwanted channels. It also has the assisted retune feature - this makes re-tuning for digital switchover much easier. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=TVonics MDR-240 TVonics MDR-240 TVonics 73% £29.99 Small, intuitive and simple to use box with a fairly large and well designed remote control, dedicated subtitle and audio description buttons and an easily readable TV guide. No favourite channel groups but you can hide unwanted channels. It also has the assisted retune feature - this makes re-tuning for digital switchover much easier. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TVonics_MDR240_SGE1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TVonics_MDR240_SGE1_Remote.jpg 1.8 watts 3.8 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes **** **** **** *** N/A 59% Ease of use score: 65% / Price: £119 / Verdict: Smart looking box that received Freesat standard and high definition services, needing a satellite dish. Also played back multimedia files from a USB stick or from a home network. Fairly easy to use with dedicated subtitle and audio description buttons on the remote control, but generally the buttons were not well laid out, the TV guide was very slow to fill up and quite bright and setting favourites was laborious. Low standby but high in use power consumption. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=TechniSat HDFS 0008/4750 TechniSat HDFS 0008/4750 TechniSat 65% £119 Smart looking box that received Freesat standard and high definition services, needing a satellite dish. Also played back multimedia files from a USB stick or from a home network. Fairly easy to use with dedicated subtitle and audio description buttons on the remote control, but generally the buttons were not well laid out, the TV guide was very slow to fill up and quite bright and setting favourites was laborious. Low standby but high in use power consumption. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TechniSat_HDFS_SGB1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TechniSat_HDFS_SGB1_remote.jpg 0.2 watts 15.74 watts Satellite Yes Yes Yes Yes **** *** *** *** *** 74% Ease of use score: 63% / Price: £Part of deal - contact supplier / Verdict: This is a fairly basic STB with some niggles, eg poor remote control labelling, limited teletext, poor instructions and poorly labelled front panel controls. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Virgin Media Samsung SMT-2110C Virgin Media Samsung SMT-2110C Virgin 63% £Part of deal - contact supplier This is a fairly basic STB with some niggles, eg poor remote control labelling, limited teletext, poor instructions and poorly labelled front panel controls. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/ntl-samsung-smt-2110c.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/ 15.2 watts 16.6 watts Cable Yes Yes Yes Yes ***** *** *** ** ** 68% Ease of use score: 63% / Price: £130 / Verdict: One of the boxes delivering free-to-view, standard and high definition services via satellite that had a host of versatile features, including audio description. It also provides access to some internet services such as BBC iPlayer when connected to a home network. It could be easier to use though - the main buttons on the remote control were scattered for use without looking and setting favourites was long winded and not very intuitive. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Humax FOXSAT - HD/GB Humax FOXSAT - HD/GB Humax 63% £130 One of the boxes delivering free-to-view, standard and high definition services via satellite that had a host of versatile features, including audio description. It also provides access to some internet services such as BBC iPlayer when connected to a home network. It could be easier to use though - the main buttons on the remote control were scattered for use without looking and setting favourites was long winded and not very intuitive. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/SBA1_Humax_Foxsat_HD.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/SBA1_Humax_Foxsat_HD_Remote.jpg 0.9 watts 16.2 watts Satellite Yes Yes Yes Yes *** *** *** ** **** 79% Ease of use score: 63% / Price: £94.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. The quick start guide was not that helpful but tuning in was assisted by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. Generally quite easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Philips DTR5520/05 Philips DTR5520/05 Philips 63% £94.99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. The quick start guide was not that helpful but tuning in was assisted by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. Generally quite easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Philips_DTR5520_SLC2.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Philips_DTR5520_SLC2_Remote.jpg 0.88 watts 5.4 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes *** *** *** N/A *** 69% Ease of use score: 63% / Price: £99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard definition TV only. It is a talking box developed with the RNIB, it announces what's on the screen, which remote control buttons you're pressing and programme details via the on-screen TV guide. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up, it also prompts and assists you to retune when necessary. But it is not easy to installl and the TV guide is not that easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Goodmans GDB20TTS Smart Talk Goodmans GDB20TTS Smart Talk Goodmans 63% £99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard definition TV only. It is a talking box developed with the RNIB, it announces what's on the screen, which remote control buttons you're pressing and programme details via the on-screen TV guide. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up, it also prompts and assists you to retune when necessary. But it is not easy to installl and the TV guide is not that easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Goodmans_smart_talk_SLF1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Goodmans_smart_talk_SLF1_Remote.jpg 0.2 watts 4.7 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes **** *** **** N/A N/A 68% Ease of use score: 62% / Price: £58.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It also allows access to PayTV channels at an additional cost. The box is very slow when turning it on from standby.The on screen menus are intuitive and the TV guide offers a number of display options. The remote control consists of a number of small buttons each with very small labels. Audio description is supported but finding it in the menu is difficult - there is no direct access button. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Icecrypt T2200 Icecrypt T2200 Icecrypt 62% £58.99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It also allows access to PayTV channels at an additional cost. The box is very slow when turning it on from standby.The on screen menus are intuitive and the TV guide offers a number of display options. The remote control consists of a number of small buttons each with very small labels. Audio description is supported but finding it in the menu is difficult - there is no direct access button. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Icecrypt_T2200_SLB1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Icecrypt_T2200_SLB1_Remote.jpg 0.36 watts 14.5 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes *** ** *** N/A *** 66% Ease of use score: 60% / Price: £43.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It prompts and assists you to re-tune when necessary, but this does not work well and not at all if the energy saving mode is on. The remote control was generally good but some buttons were small and rather close together. The TV guide was not easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Sharp TU-T2 Sharp TU-T2 Sharp 60% £43.99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It prompts and assists you to re-tune when necessary, but this does not work well and not at all if the energy saving mode is on. The remote control was generally good but some buttons were small and rather close together. The TV guide was not easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Sharp_TU_T2_SLD1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Sharp_TU_T2_SLD1_Remote.jpg 0.67 watts 7.3 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes *** *** **** N/A N/A 61% Ease of use score: 60% / Price: £39.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. Easy to set-up with assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. The TV guide is well presented and continues to show a small picture of the tuned channel. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Alba STB300HD Alba STB300HD Alba 60% £39.99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. Easy to set-up with assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. The TV guide is well presented and continues to show a small picture of the tuned channel. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Alba_STB300HD_SLA2.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Alba_STB300HD_SLA2_Remote.jpg 0.77 watts 7.2 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes **** *** **** N/A *** 61% Ease of use score: 60% / Price: £29.99 / Verdict: This box had a built-in 'modulator' so useful for older TVs with no spare SCART socket. Remote control with centrally placed navigation buttons, good size and easy to press, but interactive coloured buttons in the wrong order. TV guide very slow to fill with programmes and fairly fuzzy looking, and favourite channels unintuitive to set. Standby power consumption relatively high. Poor instruction manual - lacks detail. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Manhattan Plaza DT-100 Manhattan Plaza DT-100 Manhattan 60% £29.99 This box had a built-in 'modulator' so useful for older TVs with no spare SCART socket. Remote control with centrally placed navigation buttons, good size and easy to press, but interactive coloured buttons in the wrong order. TV guide very slow to fill with programmes and fairly fuzzy looking, and favourite channels unintuitive to set. Standby power consumption relatively high. Poor instruction manual - lacks detail. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Manhattan_Plaza_DT100.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Manhattan_Plaza_DT100_Remote.jpg 8 watts 10 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No ** *** *** ** *** 59% Ease of use score: 60% / Price: £Part of deal - contact supplier / Verdict: This is a complex system with a well laid-out RC, but is let down by poor navigation keys, a busy on-screen menu display and a limited TV Guide. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Virgin Media Pace Virgin Media Pace Virgin 60% £Part of deal - contact supplier This is a complex system with a well laid-out RC, but is let down by poor navigation keys, a busy on-screen menu display and a limited TV Guide. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/telewest-broadband-pace.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/ watts Not tested Cable No Yes Yes Yes ***** *** *** *** ** 61% Ease of use score: 60% / Price: £29.97 / Verdict: This box has 2 SCART sockets and a useful built-in "timeshift" feature which allows you to pause a live TV programme for approximately half an hour. The TV Guide only shows one channel at a time, and is very slow to fill up but it does show a small picture of the currently tuned channel. It has no favourite channels option but unwanted channels can be deleted or locked. It does not have any front panel controls and the box tested had a sound to vision lip-sync problem. It was considered easy to install. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Grundig GUD1600TS1G Grundig GUD1600TS1G Grundig 60% £29.97 This box has 2 SCART sockets and a useful built-in "timeshift" feature which allows you to pause a live TV programme for approximately half an hour. The TV Guide only shows one channel at a time, and is very slow to fill up but it does show a small picture of the currently tuned channel. It has no favourite channels option but unwanted channels can be deleted or locked. It does not have any front panel controls and the box tested had a sound to vision lip-sync problem. It was considered easy to install. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Grundig_GUD1600TS1G.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Grundig_GUD1600TS1G_Remote.jpg 0.8 watts 3.9 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No **** *** *** N/A N/A 61% Ease of use score: 59% / Price: £Part of deal - contact supplier / Verdict: This is a Virgin Media cable TV set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV for a monthly subscription. It is fully installed and demonstarted as part of the set-up process. The remote control and on screen menus are easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Virgin Cisco V HD Box 4585DVB Virgin Cisco V HD Box 4585DVB Virgin 59% £Part of deal - contact supplier This is a Virgin Media cable TV set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV for a monthly subscription. It is fully installed and demonstarted as part of the set-up process. The remote control and on screen menus are easy to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Virgin_VHD_SLE1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Virgin_VHD_SLE1_Remote.jpg 0.5 watts 14.5 watts Cable Via two buttons Yes Yes Yes ***** *** *** N/A *** 56% Ease of use score: 59% / Price: £129.95 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It can accept a PayTV viewing card if desired and has the ability to act as a digital TV recording device if an external USB hard drive hard disc is attached - not supplied. It also has basic front panel controls. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. Easy to install and set up using the quick start guide in the box. But you will need a computer to read the information manual that comes supplied on a CD Rom. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=TechniSat HDFV TechniSat HDFV TechniSat 59% £129.95 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It can accept a PayTV viewing card if desired and has the ability to act as a digital TV recording device if an external USB hard drive hard disc is attached - not supplied. It also has basic front panel controls. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. Easy to install and set up using the quick start guide in the box. But you will need a computer to read the information manual that comes supplied on a CD Rom. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TechniSat_HDFV.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TechniSat_HDFV_Remote.jpg 1.21 watts 6.8 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes **** *** *** *** ** 49% Ease of use score: 59% / Price: £15 / Verdict: This is a standard and high definition Freeview set top box with no front panel controls. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. The TV guide is well presented, easy to use and shows a small picture of the currently tuned channel. Installation is also easy with a simple quick start guide to assist. But retuning requires remembering a four digit pin. Generally easy to use and is one of the cheapest HD products on test. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Technika STBHDH2010 Technika STBHDH2010 Technika 59% £15 This is a standard and high definition Freeview set top box with no front panel controls. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. The TV guide is well presented, easy to use and shows a small picture of the currently tuned channel. Installation is also easy with a simple quick start guide to assist. But retuning requires remembering a four digit pin. Generally easy to use and is one of the cheapest HD products on test. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Technika_STBHDH2010_SQB1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Technika_STBHDH2010_SQB1_Remote.jpg 0.77 watts 7 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes - when set by main menu Yes **** *** **** N/A N/A 58% Ease of use score: 58% / Price: £70 / Verdict: This box can receive standard and high definition Freesat services, needing a satelite dish. If connected to a home network the recorder can access internet services such as BBC iPlayer. The remote has dedicated subtitle and audio description buttons. It was fairly easy to install and overall ease of use satisfactory. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Bush BFSAT03HD Bush BFSAT03HD Bush 58% £70 This box can receive standard and high definition Freesat services, needing a satelite dish. If connected to a home network the recorder can access internet services such as BBC iPlayer. The remote has dedicated subtitle and audio description buttons. It was fairly easy to install and overall ease of use satisfactory. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/BUSH_BFSAT03.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/BUSH_BFSAT03_Remote.jpg 0.52 watts 8.7 watts Satellite Yes Yes Yes Yes *** *** *** N/A *** 55% Ease of use score: 57% / Price: £49.99 / Verdict: This is a Freesat standard definition set top box so requires a satellite dish. The TV guide was easy to navigate but slow to fill up and cramped on the screen. It was easy to install and satisfactory to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Manhattan Plaza DS-100 Manhattan Plaza DS-100 Manhattan 57% £49.99 This is a Freesat standard definition set top box so requires a satellite dish. The TV guide was easy to navigate but slow to fill up and cramped on the screen. It was easy to install and satisfactory to use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Manhattan_Plaza_DS100_SPF1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Manhattan_Plaza_DS100_SPF1_Remote.jpg 0.65 watts 7 watts Satellite Yes Yes Yes Yes **** *** *** *** ** 52% Ease of use score: 56% / Price: £38.99 / Verdict: Freesat box receiving standard definition services, so needing a satellite dish. Generally straightforward to use. A well laid out TV guide, though slow to fill up. It was satisfactory to set up and use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Grundig GUFSAT02SD Grundig GUFSAT02SD Grundig 56% £38.99 Freesat box receiving standard definition services, so needing a satellite dish. Generally straightforward to use. A well laid out TV guide, though slow to fill up. It was satisfactory to set up and use. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Grundig_GUFSAT02SD_SGC1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Grundig_GUFSAT02SD_SGC1_Remote.jpg 1 watts 7.5 watts Satellite Yes Yes Yes Yes *** *** *** *** N/A 48% Ease of use score: 53% / Price: £34.99 / Verdict: This is a standard definition, Freeview set top box with no front panel controls. The TV guide usefully shows a small picture of the currently tuned channel. It was quite easy to use but let down by some some wobbly buttons on the remote and a squashed TV guide. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=EZ Box LT-105 EZ Box LT-105 EZ Box 53% £34.99 This is a standard definition, Freeview set top box with no front panel controls. The TV guide usefully shows a small picture of the currently tuned channel. It was quite easy to use but let down by some some wobbly buttons on the remote and a squashed TV guide. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/EZBox_LT_105_SQA1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/EZBox_LT_105_SQA1_Remote.jpg 3.42 watts 6.3 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No *** *** *** N/A N/A 39% Ease of use score: 52% / Price: £18.97 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard definition TV only. The TV guide is very slow to fill up but does conveniently display a small picture showing the currently tuned channel. The quick start guide is poorly presented but set up is helped with fully automatic tuning. Generally satisfactory and at the cheaper end of the market. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Dion VSTBAW10 Dion VSTBAW10 Dion 52% £18.97 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard definition TV only. The TV guide is very slow to fill up but does conveniently display a small picture showing the currently tuned channel. The quick start guide is poorly presented but set up is helped with fully automatic tuning. Generally satisfactory and at the cheaper end of the market. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Dion_VSTBAW10.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Dion_VSTBAW10_Remote.jpg 2.94 watts 3.5 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No *** *** *** N/A N/A 37% Ease of use score: 50% / Price: £89.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It can accept a PayTV viewing card if desired and has the ability to act as a digital TV recording device with Freeview + features if an external USB hard drive hard disc is attached - not supplied. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. It was easy to install but had a fiddly remote control and a TV guide that was slow to fill up. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Digital Stream DHP8100U Digital Stream DHP8100U Digital Stream 50% £89.99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. It can accept a PayTV viewing card if desired and has the ability to act as a digital TV recording device with Freeview + features if an external USB hard drive hard disc is attached - not supplied. It has assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. It was easy to install but had a fiddly remote control and a TV guide that was slow to fill up. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Digital_Stream_DHP8100U.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Digital_Stream_DHP8100U_Remote.jpg 0.31 watts 13.2 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes **** ** *** *** *** 71% Ease of use score: 48% / Price: £25 / Verdict: Fairly small black box with full 7 day TV guide that was not easy to read and a remote control not easy to use http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Philips DTR220/05 Philips DTR220/05 Philips 48% £25 Fairly small black box with full 7 day TV guide that was not easy to read and a remote control not easy to use http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/07Aa DTM8 Philips DTR220.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/07Bb DTM8.jpg 4.05 watts 5.11 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No *** ** ** *** N/A 64% Ease of use score: 48% / Price: £Part of deal - contact supplier / Verdict: Some useful features like digital video output (HDMI) but lacks basics such as teletext and subtitles. Standby power consumption was high. Not very easy to use with a poorly laid out remote control that meant a lot of shuffling and concave central navigation keys so they were difficult to press. TV guide was cramped by an advertising banner and it lacked useful prompts. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=TalkTalk TalkTalk TalkTalk 48% £Part of deal - contact supplier Some useful features like digital video output (HDMI) but lacks basics such as teletext and subtitles. Standby power consumption was high. Not very easy to use with a poorly laid out remote control that meant a lot of shuffling and concave central navigation keys so they were difficult to press. TV guide was cramped by an advertising banner and it lacked useful prompts. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Tiscali_pvr_stb.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Tiscali_pvr_stb_Remote.jpg Router off 9.03 watts, on 17.06 watts STB + router 18.39 watts Telephone-based No No ***** ** *** *** *** 52% Ease of use score: 46% / Price: £161.11 / Verdict: Receives Freesat standard and high definition services so it will need a satellite dish. Has a USB socket that can be used for viewing photographs and playing MP3s on to the TV and handles audio description. Unintuitive to use with poorly laid out remote control and on-screen menu and very unhelpful instruction manual - lacks detail. Versatile TV guide, well prompted, but slow to fill up with programmes. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Metronic Sat HD 100 Metronic Sat HD 100 Metronic 46% £161.11 Receives Freesat standard and high definition services so it will need a satellite dish. Has a USB socket that can be used for viewing photographs and playing MP3s on to the TV and handles audio description. Unintuitive to use with poorly laid out remote control and on-screen menu and very unhelpful instruction manual - lacks detail. Versatile TV guide, well prompted, but slow to fill up with programmes. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Metronic_Sat_HD100_SEF1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Metronic_Sat_HD100_SEF1_Remote.jpg 1 watts 16.4 watts Satellite No - cannot turn off subtitles from remote control Yes Yes Yes *** ** *** * ** 59% Ease of use score: 46% / Price: £25 / Verdict: This box has basic front panel controls and a front panel display. The TV Guide is not well implemented as it does not always show programmes for all channels. The box has 2 SCART sockets and was considered easy to install but poor overall. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Icecrypt T5000 Icecrypt T5000 Turbosat 46% £25 This box has basic front panel controls and a front panel display. The TV Guide is not well implemented as it does not always show programmes for all channels. The box has 2 SCART sockets and was considered easy to install but poor overall. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Icecrypt_T5000.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Icecrypt_T5000_Remote.jpg 1.5 watts 5.4 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No **** *** ** N/A **** 59% Ease of use score: 46% / Price: £50 / Verdict: This is a standard definition Freeview set top box. The TV guide is easy to use but the remote control is not, it is too small with small buttons positioned very close together. Overall it does not perform as well as other set top boxes tested. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Bush BU10FVZS2 Bush BU10FVZS2 Bush 46% £50 This is a standard definition Freeview set top box. The TV guide is easy to use but the remote control is not, it is too small with small buttons positioned very close together. Overall it does not perform as well as other set top boxes tested. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Bush_BU10FVZS2.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Bush_BU10FVZS2_Remote.jpg 0.69 watts 4.3 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No *** ** *** N/A N/A 56% Ease of use score: 45% / Price: £Part of deal - contact supplier / Verdict: Awkward to use due to the poorly laid-out on-screen menu, lack of prompting and poor remote control. But the only Aerial box receiving audio description. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Netgem Technology Iplayer(plus) Netgem Technology Iplayer+ Netgem 45% £Part of deal - contact supplier Awkward to use due to the poorly laid-out on-screen menu, lack of prompting and poor remote control. But the only Aerial box receiving audio description. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/netgem-I-player-wr.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/netgem-i-player-remote.jpg 5.6 watts 7.1 watts Aerial No Yes Yes Yes ** ** ** ** N/A 55% Ease of use score: 44% / Price: £49.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview standard definition set top box designed to receive Sky Sports subscription channels. Setting up was easy with a clear connection diagram and assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. But there was no information on how to use the Top Up TV card slot. The TV guide only shows one channel at a time so makes browsing hard and the remote control was small with buttons spaced too close together. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Top Up TV T215 Top Up TV T215 Top Up TV 44% £49.99 This is a Freeview standard definition set top box designed to receive Sky Sports subscription channels. Setting up was easy with a clear connection diagram and assisted tuning giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. But there was no information on how to use the Top Up TV card slot. The TV guide only shows one channel at a time so makes browsing hard and the remote control was small with buttons spaced too close together. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TopUpTV_Sky_Sports_Digital_SPH1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/TopUpTV_Sky_Sports_Digital_SPH1_Remote.jpg 3.77 watts 4.9 watts Aerial No Yes Yes No *** ** ** N/A *** 52% Ease of use score: 43% / Price: £59.99 / Verdict: A freeview set top box capable of showing standard and high definition TV. Installation is long winded and confusing but it does help you tune and retune the box by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. The remote control is poorly laid out so you may find yourself searching for buttons. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Bush DVB680 Bush DVB680 Bush 43% £59.99 A freeview set top box capable of showing standard and high definition TV. Installation is long winded and confusing but it does help you tune and retune the box by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. The remote control is poorly laid out so you may find yourself searching for buttons. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/BUSH_DVB680_SKA1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/BUSH_DVB680_SKA1_Remote.jpg 0.69 watts 7.7 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes ** ** *** N/A *** 48% Ease of use score: 43% / Price: £69.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. Tuning in was assisted by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. But it was not easy to install or to use. The TV Guide was versatile offering different display options. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Linsar FHD1 Linsar FHD1 Linsar 43% £69.99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. Tuning in was assisted by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. But it was not easy to install or to use. The TV Guide was versatile offering different display options. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/LINSAR_FHD1_SKC1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/LINSAR_FHD1_SKC1_Remote.jpg 0.69 watts 7.5 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes ** ** *** N/A *** 48% Ease of use score: 43% / Price: £56.99 / Verdict: This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. Tuning in was assisted by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. But it was not easy to install or to use. The TV Guide was versatile offering different display options. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Metronic T2 HD Zapbox 441830 Metronic T2 HD Zapbox 441830 Metronic 43% £56.99 This is a Freeview set top box capable of receiving standard and high definition TV. Tuning in was assisted by giving regional TV options to choose from when multiple signals are picked up. But it was not easy to install or to use. The TV Guide was versatile offering different display options. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/METRONIC_T2_ZAPBOX_441830_SKD1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/METRONIC_T2_ZAPBOX_441830_SKD1_Remote.jpg 0.68 watts 7.5 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes Yes ** ** *** N/A *** 48% Ease of use score: 42% / Price: £37.18 / Verdict: A basic Freeview set top box that is easy to install and set-up. It features a useful retuning shortcut via the blue button and also benefits from an easy to use TV guide. But ease of use is let down by the remote control that consists of small and wobbly buttons that are too close together. The button labels are also small and difficult to read. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Metronic Eco zapbox 2 Metronic Eco zapbox 2 Metronic 42% £37.18 A basic Freeview set top box that is easy to install and set-up. It features a useful retuning shortcut via the blue button and also benefits from an easy to use TV guide. But ease of use is let down by the remote control that consists of small and wobbly buttons that are too close together. The button labels are also small and difficult to read. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Metronic_Eco_Zapbox2_SJF1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Metronic_Eco_Zapbox2_SJF1_Remote.jpg 0.61 watts 3.7 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No **** ** *** N/A *** 46% Ease of use score: 36% / Price: £19.99 / Verdict: This is a small Freeview standard definition set top box with no front panel controls. The TV guide only shows one channel at a time and is very slow to fill up. It was easy to install but considered poor overall mainly due to an unintuitive TV guide. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/index.asp?Product=Currys Essentials C1STB10 Currys Essentials C1STB10 Currys Essentials 36% £19.99 This is a small Freeview standard definition set top box with no front panel controls. The TV guide only shows one channel at a time and is very slow to fill up. It was easy to install but considered poor overall mainly due to an unintuitive TV guide. http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Currys_Essentials_C1STB10_SMA1.jpg http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/assets/images/reports/stb_resized/Currys_Essentials_C1STB10_SMA1_Remote.jpg 0.83 watts 3.5 watts Aerial Yes Yes Yes No **** *** ** N/A N/A 29%