Set Top Boxes


DVB-S receivers are required to receive digital satellite television, which offers the largest selection of programs. The digital TV broadcasting antenna on the other hand requires a DVB-T receiver and cable television requires a DVB-C receiver. Cable connections have a monthly fixed cost. Also analogue satellite television requires its own receiver. All receivers are available as TV tuner cards for computers.

  • Set Top Boxes (121)
  • Reviews (208)
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1
BSkyB Sky+HD 500GB box
Listed since 06/2010
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); Hard Drive, Dolby Digital
"Sky doesn't have the luxury of a high-speed network connection so that it can offer video-on-demand  …
1 Review
 
 
2
DTR94250S HD
Listed since 01/2010
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); Ethernet, USB, Hard Drive, HDTV
"Pros: Solid spec in most areas, plus considerable value. Good image quality. Cons: Some remote buttons  …
2 Reviews
 
 
3
Humax Foxsat-HDR
Listed since 03/2010
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); Hard Drive, HDTV
"... Standard definition is equally eye-popping thanks to the Humax Foxsat-HDR's highly capable upscaling  …
1 Review, 10 Opinions
 
 
4
Technomate TM-7100 HD Triple Tuner
Listed since 05/2010
Freeview (DVB-T); USB, Dolby Digital, HDTV, PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback), Card Reader, Ethernet
"For: Good value for money; Strong AV performance; Will appeal to enthusiasts. Against: Remote could be improved  …
1 Review
 
 
5
Topfield SRP-2100 (TMS)
Listed since 03/2009
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); HDTV
"For: Decent AV performance, Multimedia playback, Flexible PVR functionality. Against: No blind search,  …
1 Review
 
 
6
Terabyte Sky+HD box
Listed since 03/2010
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback), USB, Hard Drive
"For: Huge recording capacity; Fast, responsive EPG; Design; HD video performance. Against: No Dolby Digital 5.1 over HDMI  …
2 Reviews
 
 
7
i-Can Easy HD 2851T
Listed since 06/2010
Freeview (DVB-T); USB, Dolby Digital, Ethernet
"... using the iCan box was simpler and quicker than starting a laptop and plugging it into the TV. Quality  …
4 Reviews
 
 
8
DMR-XS350EGK
Listed since 04/2010
Panasonic DMR-XS350 (250 GB)
HD DVD Recorder
4 Reviews, 6 Opinions
 
 
9
Trekstor SatCorder neptune Full-HD 1080i
Listed since 08/2008
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); USB, Dolby Digital, HDTV
“Advantages: clear and concise EPG; advanced timer programming; DivX playback. Disadvantages: no satellite sorting  …
2 Reviews
 
 
10
Vu+ Duo
Listed since 02/2010
PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback), Card Reader, Ethernet, USB, HDTV
"For: Plenty of third-party support, thanks to open-source nature; Strong AV performance; Networkability.  …
1 Review
 
 
 
 
11
Listed since 05/2010
Hybrid (HDD + DVD)
"Plus points: It's got it all - Freeview HD recording, Blu-ray playback and recording, surround sound,  …
3 Reviews
 
 
12
Listed since 05/2010
Freeview (DVB-T); PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback), Card Reader, Ethernet, USB, Hard Drive, HDTV
"... the DMR-BW880 is speedy, offering no lag when navigating menus, as well as reasonable load times. We also love its picture quality. It'  …
2 Reviews
 
 
13
Technika Smartbox 8320HD
Listed since 07/2010
Freeview (DVB-T); PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback), Ethernet, USB, Hard Drive, Dolby Digital
"Plus points: An affordable FreeviewHD recorder with both iPlayer and optional Sky Player. Minus points:  …
1 Review
 
 
14
Goodmans GFSDTR500HD
Listed since 03/2010
Freeview (DVB-T); Hard Drive, HDTV
"For: Good HDMI pictures; Upscaling; Easy setup. Against: Not great for non-Freesat channels; A little expensive."
1 Review
 
 
15
Manhattan Plaza UPM
Listed since 04/2010
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback), Card Reader, USB
"... Attach a flash stick or hard drive to the USB port under a flap on the front and you can record one channel  …
1 Review
 
 
16
S4000HDPVR
Listed since 02/2010
Card Reader, Ethernet, USB, Hard Drive, HDTV
"... Changing to a SD channel yields the expected drop in quality, but the S4000 puts up a good fight. Upscaling  …
1 Review
 
 
17
Listed since 02/2010
Freeview (DVB-T); PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback)
"... The remote's curved edges fit snugly in the hand but, while reasonably well-positioned, its buttons  …
1 Review
 
 
18
Golden Interstar GI-S980 CRCI HD
Listed since 04/2010
Ethernet, USB
"For: Some interesting features; PVR-upgradeable via USB; Fast searching and channel access. Against: HDMI not working (on test model)  …
1 Review
 
 
19
Métronic Freesat HD Kit
Listed since 05/2010
Satellite (Freesat & Sky); Ethernet
"... A full scan of Freesat channels is quick ... Channel selection and menu access are similarly responsive. We'  …
1 Review
 
 
20
Sharp TUTV322H
Listed since 10/2009
Freeview (DVB-T); PVR (Sky+ / Freeview Playback), Ethernet, Hard Drive
"For: Affordable. 320GB hard disk. Clear menus and remote. Against: Unused USB port. No HDMI. No editing. Power-hungry in standby."
1 Review, 1 Opinion
 
 
 
 
"Virgin Media V HD review"
1 Set Top Box
CNET.co.uk
Published on 7/2010
On test: Virgin Media V HD Box
"If you wanted a high-definition Virgin box in the past, you'd have to take the company's PVR, which attracts an additional fee on some packages. Now though, there's another option, in the form of the V HD box. For a one-off cost of £49 for the box, an installation fee of £35 and a monthly subscription, you can access all of the HD content on Virgin's broadcast and on-demand channels with a new, compact receiver." Review details: Single test.    Test results
"iCan EasyHD 2851T"
1 Set Top Box
Computer act!ve
Published on 7/2010
On test: ADB - Advanced Digital Broadcast i-Can 2851T
"Watch Freeview HD and BBC iPlayer from one box." Review details: Single test.    Test results
"Group test: Freeview HD recorders"
2 Set Top Boxes, and 1 DVD Recorder (approx. £230)
AVReview
Published on 7/2010
On test: Technika Smartbox 8320HD, Panasonic DMR-BW780, Sagemcom RTI90-320
"We'll make no bones about this - we're well into the summer sports season yet we've been extremely disappointed at the lack of decent Freeview HD recorders available at the moment. Despite making announcements months ago, big names such as Sharp, Pace and Humax have all failed to deliver the goods, only citing vague 'production difficulties' in response to our enquiries." Review details: Three Freeview HD recorders were reviewed and rated.    Test results
"EyeTV Netstream DTT review"
1 Set Top Box (approx. £190)
MacWorld
Published on 7/2010
On test: Elgato EyeTV Netstream DTT
"A stress-free way to stream digital TV to computers on your home network." Review details: Single Test.    Test results
"Freeview HD recorder hits the spot"
1 Set Top Box
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision
Issue 8/2010
On test: Digital Stream DHR8202U
"ALTHOUGH IT'S GREAT to see so many Freeview HD set-top-boxes hit the market, some consumers are understandably holding out for PVR versions. They want to record as well as watch free-to-air high-definition content. ..." Review details: Single test.    Test results

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