Freeview set-top box or TV with freeview receiver?

[votewout]

Hi,

I am purchasing a whole new system. We won't be getting cable or
satellite and plan of getting freeview. I have been trying to figure
out what the advantages of getting a set-top box are over buying a TV
with freeview built in.

The main consideration is that I might want a hard-drive recorder
soon. If so, does it make more sense to get a freeview/HD-recorder
and TV over TV/freeview and HD-Recorder?

Also, I've been reading about the very poor EPG on freeview boxes.
This is probably a stupid question: but I am assuming this doesn't
prevent you from setting it to record programs that aren't in the
EPG...it just means that you have to tell it the date and time
manually, right?

thanks,
j

[Dave Brown]

On 15 May 2004 04:43:47 -0700, j.ka...@mac.com (votewout) wrote:

>I am purchasing a whole new system. We won't be getting cable or
>satellite and plan of getting freeview. I have been trying to figure
>out what the advantages of getting a set-top box are over buying a TV
>with freeview built in.
>
>The main consideration is that I might want a hard-drive recorder
>soon. If so, does it make more sense to get a freeview/HD-recorder
>and TV over TV/freeview and HD-Recorder?

I would have thought so. The former would let you record a digital
programme while watching an analogue one, the latter might not. And
you don't need to have the telly on standby to make recordings.

>Also, I've been reading about the very poor EPG on freeview boxes.
>This is probably a stupid question: but I am assuming this doesn't
>prevent you from setting it to record programs that aren't in the
>EPG...it just means that you have to tell it the date and time
>manually, right?

That's right.

--
Dave
Sheffield, England, UK
da...@gnudawn.co.uk
http://www.gnudawn.co.uk/

[Jonathan Swift]

"votewout" <j.ka...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:f8f22931.04051...@posting.google.com...
<snip>

> The main consideration is that I might want a hard-drive recorder
> soon. If so, does it make more sense to get a freeview/HD-recorder
> and TV over TV/freeview and HD-Recorder?
>
> Also, I've been reading about the very poor EPG on freeview boxes.

Have a look at the Thomson DHD4000.
http://opennet.co.uk/thomson.htm

[Ian.2]

"votewout" <j.ka...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:f8f22931.04051...@posting.google.com...

> Hi,
>
> I am purchasing a whole new system. We won't be getting cable or
> satellite and plan of getting freeview. I have been trying to figure
> out what the advantages of getting a set-top box are over buying a TV
> with freeview built in.
>

I think the chief reason for getting an all-in-one Digital TV is that it's
neater; you've fewer boxes under the TV and less wires. Fewer remotes, too.
And there's the potential for better picture quality, what with not sending
the signal along straggling scart cables with oxidised connectors.

But I feel the downside is that the DTT technology seems to be gradually
improving, the boxes are getting faster, more features are being added. I'd
guess that if you had an IDTV, the DTT part will go out of date long before
the TV itself dies. So buying a seperate DTT Freview box gives you more
opportunity to replace it in the future at less cost than buying a whole new
TV, and you've got more flexibility when it comes to wiring the thing up to
the VCR/HD recorder, DVD recorder or whatever new thing comes along next
week.

I'd go for the seperate TV and Freeview receiver option. Though I'm sure
the IDTV supporters will have a different opinion. This opinion is mine ;)

Ian

[votewout]

Thanks for all your help guys (dave, john, ian). I ended up taking
your advice and buying a tv without a digital tuner and a thomson
freeview/dvr box.

except for an annoying issue with my learning remote not handling the
thomson box, the setup works wonderfully.

cheers,
j