Key to summary test reports

Price. We take into account the typical selling price according to the manufacturer when we bought the product, or otherwise the price we paid for it. Once a quarter we check widely available high street prices for all the current products on the site, and update to the cheapest of these.

Overall usage. A score which combines the overall ease of use rating and overall convenient features score – both explained below. It is a weighted score on the basis that ease of doing things is more important than the helpful features that each system had.

Digital tick. A box can carry this logo if it has been tested to carry on working through and after digital switchover. Currently it does not guarantee the box can take on new features that are being introduced – see updates in the more information summaries for manufacturer assurances on this.

Verdict. Our view of the pros and cons of each product.

Features
Tuner. A digital TV recorder with two tuners lets you record one digital channel while watching another. Worth having.

On-screen TV guide. A listing of channels and programme times.

Favourite channel groups. Shortlist the channels you watch regularly. With some boxes, different members of the household can set up their own favourites. Also useful if favourites work from both the TV guide and the basic channel listing.

Now and Next. See the title of the current programme and what programme is coming up next. With most boxes you can also scroll through these N&N titles for all channels – all while keeping up with the programme on the screen.

Programme information. Most digital remotes have an ‘i button’. Press this for a brief synopsis of each programme. With most boxes this can be done for the current programme, for the N&N screens or, if you are really planning ahead, for the TV guide.

Connections
SCART socket. Best way to connect devices together and gives stereo sound, the best picture quality and automatic switching functions. Two SCART sockets are good for recording. See connecting up to record.

Modulator. This is necessary for connecting the box to a TV that does not have a SCART socket. See connecting up to record. It sends the TV signal to the TV through its aerial socket.

Slot for pay TV. Not many boxes have this nor space for fitting one.

Digital TV recorder features
Tuner above is also important.

Disc size. The capacity of the computer-style hard disc that stores your recordings. As a rule of thumb 160GB (Giga-Bytes) stores about 80 hours of recording, 80GB about 40 hours.

Freeview Playback
This is a Freeview standard for digital TV recorders with extra recording features - see Freeview Playback for moe information.

Recording. The various recording and viewing options available for making TV and radio recordings. This shows that twin tuners are more versatile than single tuners and Freeview Playback recorders have even more features.

Pause live TV. Watching TV when the phone rings? Press a button on the remote and the digital TV recorder starts storing the programme on to its hard disc. When you get back, press ‘play’ and carry on watching from where you were interrupted. You can also fast forward through the programme to catch up if you want to. Some people use this system to skip the ads.

Technical
Performance. The result of basic technical tests covering picture quality and how well the terrestrial boxes performed in weaker signal conditions.

Viewing and listening. Sessions to make sure there were no problems with picture and sound quality and synchronisation.

Power consumption. The lower the better – for the environment and your pocket. Disappointingly none of the boxes managed the EU 1 watt recommendation for standby mode.

Ease of use
The star ratings are scores out of 5, where 5 is easy and 1 is awkward to use. The ratings measure: initial installation; everyday use of the remote control; using the on-screen TV guide; setting up favourites and recording; and using the controls on the box itself if you have lost the remote. These and the overall ease of use rating were assessed by our experts – see test methods.

Overall convenience features. This score was calculated by adding up all those features that made the product versatile and convenient. They include things like a remote control that also operates your TV, direct access buttons for important features and favourite channels. A total of over 50 items were included, with some given higher importance than others.

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