Is the Metronic 441805 the best looking
Setanta/Freeview Box?

In 2007 Setanta sports broke the Sky sports stonghold on the English premiership by being the first alternative premium sports channel to offer a "package" of games.  With 46 premiership games added to their already exsisitng SPL exclusive, Setanta became a serious contender.

For 2008/2009 it seems Setanta have gone one step further and are about to announce a very exciting line up of football.  Not only do they keep the exsisting SPL and Enlgish premier league packages but they are also adding.  All England away matches of the 2010 world cup qualifiers plus the  other home nations away matches (Scotland, Wales, NI). A series of pre season friendly marches involving English and Scottish premiership clubs, 24 of the 40 FA cup games including sharing the final with ITV, a package of England friendly matches and to top that off an exclusive on the community shield.

Now thar's a whole lot of football and rumour has it they have also put in strong bids for a slice of the UEFA Cup action.

It really does seem at last, there is a real alternative to Sky sports and remember on freeview Setanta are the only premium sports channel.

With the sales of freeview related products hitting an all time high, competition in the market has become even more aggresive.  Manufacturers, distributors and retailers are all fighting for a slice of the cheap freeview market.

So where are the best deals to be had ?

It seems these days everybody wants to stock freeview products.  Whether it be a straight forward set top box, a DTR or a DVD recorder with built in freeview all and sundry are looking for a slice of the action.  Many supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda now stock a bog standard freeview box at around the £20 mark.  Argos still have good stocks of the excellent DV940B which is avaiable at under £17 and even some of the big independant Cash and Carry outlets are stocking various brands and models at a sub £15 price tag.

Online there are great deals to be had but obviously there is always the question of delivery.  A Freeview box at £14.95 may seem cheap until you add a £6.50 carriage charge to it, so definitely shop around.  For peace of mind also check out the warranty situation on all products offered.  It's a false economy to buy cheap from ebay, save £5 and then have your set top box die on you.

If you are not clued up on currently who makes what, then look out for the manufacturers listed below.  All of these manufacturers make a straight forward freeview box of reliable quality and are worth sniffing around for

Digihome, Wharfedale, Philips, Sagem, Metronic, Bush and Alba

Remember to always compare like for like.  A great feature on one box may well be worth the small price difference.  For example having 2 scart sockets rather than one may benefit many consumers

Outside of the usual Eastenders V Corrie Battle for ratings, ITV 1's Saturday night prime time show Britains got talent is currently flying high in the ratings. Pulling in just short of 10 million viewers, which equates to around 46% of the total audience for that period, the reality TV talent show seems as popular as ever.

However, what is even more staggering is that it's sister show over on ITV2 on Sunday "Britains got more talent" pulled in an amazing 1.2 million viewers, which for a follow on show is a very high number indeed.  In fact, looking at recent figures it appears that the ITV network are having a good amount of success across all channels. 

With a mixture of European Football, Fly on the wall programmes such as Peter and Katy, Classic films and ever popular dramas like Wexford and Poirot it still seems as if the Terrestrial Big boys (BBC / ITV)are dominating the digital world accross the board as their sister channels still seem to poll the highest ratings.  BBC 3 has seen even more success with hit series Gavin and Stacy.

You can watch ITV2,3 and 4 on freeview, cable and satellite

GoGoDigital are proud to offer the cheapest Setanta Astratec TOPD3SG in the market! If you can find it cheaper - we vow to price match our competitor!

Freeview provides free-to-view TV - Extra channels from your standard TV aerial, without a subscription. You can get around 40 TV channels and 24 channels of radio with Freeview, provided you're within a coverage area (check coverage). Channels include BBC 3, BBC 4, ITV2, ITV 3, ITV 4, E4, More 4, BBC News 24, Film 4, Dave, Virgin 1, Sky Three, Cbeebies and UK History.

You can get Freeview via a set-top box plugged into your existing TV set, or if you're buying a new TV, look for one with a built-in Freeview receiver. These can be ordered via our website.

UK regulator Ofcom has published plans for HD services on Freeview, while it's good news that Freeview will go HD the plans do mean that existing Set Top Boxes and TV cards will need updating as the HD channels will be encoded with MPEG-4, I am not sure Media Center would need any changes as long as the TV cards support BDA (the driver standard for Media Center)

I will be happy to see HD content via Freeview as the current SD format is not brilliant on a large screen TV

More on DigitalSpy

Viewers will need new receiver equipment to pick up the services on multiplex B. Existing DTT set top boxes will continue to pick up existing Freeview services, but consumers will have to upgrade their equipment to watch the MPEG-4 encoded high definition services.

Anybody who has been keeping an eye on the freeview related market over the years will know the brand name Astratec.  Formerly produced by Access Devices and now by Step One, the Astratec brand has always had a good name for reliablitiy and their boxes have previously been rebranded for the DSG Matsui and Ferguson brands.

The TopD3 box is effectively the TopD2 box from a couple of years ago but with a few internal modifications and some up to date software.  Like the TopD2 it is extremely reliable, built to a high standard and does exactly what it says on the tin.

It doesn't have any whistles and bells, it perhaps lacks they style of the Metronic 441805 but in all honestly, like a very good family car, it's priced well and it's efficient.  It's also currently being marketed by many high street retailers, supermarkets and catalogues with a one month subscription to Setanta sports plus connection included in the price.

Good product - Good value

KEY FEATURES:

• 7 Day EPG (Electronic programme guide)
• Comes with Setanta Sports option
• Easy to use, no complicated menu systems
• keenly priced

As the freeview market gets more competitive and prices across the range seem to be getting lower and lower it seems that some consumers are turning their attention towards style and design and not just function.

There currently seem to be 3 main Setanta Sports / Freeview boxes on the market.  The Astratec TopD3, The Sagem ITD68 and the Metronic 441805 and whilst the former two products have a good heritage in this market and are known for reliability, they do perhaps lack that 2008 look.  In fact their designs seem to have changed very little from products launched back in 2005.

The Metronic 441805 on the other hand is very different.  Styled in glossy black finish, slim and compact and with the card slot neatly tucked away behind a flap, this box would definitely sit well alongside even the most plush of LCD TV.  With nearly all TV / DVD product now being manufactured in black, it looks like a smart move from the  French manufacturer and I definitely think this product is worth the £10-£15 extra price it commands in the market place.

Dixons, John Lewis and other major high street stores are stocking this box which is currently being sold including a free months viewing of Setanta sports.  Pricing is circa £49.99 - £69.00

KEY FEATURES:

• Receives all freeview channels as well as Setanta Sports
• Slim, sleek design and good operation
• Comes with 1 months Setanta Sports plus connection included in the price
• Twin Scart

Humax have always had a well respected name in the digital set top box and PVR market but perhaps have lacked a little in the aesthetic department.  Their 160GB PVR9200T has been very much a front runner in the over all PVR market but up until recently was only available in silver.

With more than a quick lick of paint, the glossy black version of the PVR9200T actually does justice to the product, giving a quality look to an already highly acclaimed product.  Retailing at circa £179.99 it certainly won't be the cheapest 160GB PVR on the market but when you take a look at it, there may just be enough beauty to justify the price

KEY FEATURES:

• 160GB Hard Drive
• 7 Day Electronic programme guide (EPG)
• Pause Live TV
• Twin Tuner
• Luxurious black finish 

If you are looking for a freeview option with recording capabilities but prefer to use DVD media rather than a built in hard drive, then the Wharfedale DVDR24F may well be worth a look.  With an RRP of £99.00 - it has a built in digital tuner, 7 day electronic programme guide (EPG), Nicam sound and two scart sockets.

Best of all, it doesn't look too bad either and with current trends in LCD TV's being mostly black in colour, this piece of hardware would sit nicely alongside or below any decent brand of TV.

KEY FEATURES:

• Built in digital tuner for freeview channels
• 7 day EPG
• 2 Scart sockets
• 2 Channel Stereo output

OK, so you know there is something called the Digital Switchover happening over the next couple of years and your friends are all watching E4, ITV3 and some channel called Dave or is it Bob or Pete ?

Now of course the sensible solution is to throw caution to the wind and get involved but do you really know what products do what ? Have you any idea what a PVR or iDTV really is ?........... No?

Well panic not as you are not alone.   In fact it appears that some 40% of the nation really are not too sure about what is and what isn't actually available on the Digital market and how it will integrate with current viewing products they have. So read on as we have prepared a very basic guide for you below.

First and for most if you are looking for a huge number of channels plus the ability to pay monthly fees up to £49 for additional films and sport then SKY and Cable are still the main options available.  They can offer you different packages at different prices as well as internet and telephone packages.  For more information on subscription TV, log onto the Sky and Virgin websites, they will have everything you need.

OK, now lets look at the Freeview platform.  This is a non subscription platform giving you over 40 free TV channels as well as 20+ radio stations.  Channels include ITV3 and 4, Film 4, TMF, CBBC as well as many others and there are effectively 3 or 4 different ways in which you can get freeview into your home through a TV set.

STB (Set Top box)

The easiest and cheapest way to get freeview into the home is to purchase a digital set top box.  Ranging from around £15 to £80 there are many different models on the market in all shapes and sizes but effectively doing the same thing. The box plugs into your aerial socket through a normal RF Cable and to your TV through the SCART lead and after a few moments of tuning, you will have all freeview channels at your disposal.

Now, of course temptation is often to just go for the cheapest model, after all surely they all do the same thing... or do they ?

OK, so effectively, the basic minimum is to simply be able to watch all channels, through a box on your TV but what about if you have surround sound which runs from a DVD recorder? - with a single SCART on your freeview box will it still work, will you need 2 SCARTs? Also it is a piece of furniture after all, so does it look nice? It's on display in your home every day, for £5-£10 more, could you get something which fits in better with your TV?

The simple rule of thumb here is to read the description, ask advice and only choose an item which you would be happy to be stuck with for a couple of years.  Saving £10 today may well cost you in the long run.

Also one very important point to look for.  Currently there is only one premium channel available on the Freeview platform which is Setanta Sports.  However, with the analogue switch off there may become more at a later date.  To get Setanta Sports you need to make sure you buy a set top box with a card slot built in.  Unless it has the capability to take the Setanta card, you will not be able to get Setanta Sports.

PVR (Freeview Playback/Recorder)

The PVR is quite simple a freeview box with a built in hard drive for you to record programmes on.  Hard drive sizes vary from 80GB to 250GB typically, each size giving you more recording space.  The most important thing to look for on a PVR if cost permits is whether or not it is a twin tuner model.  If it is, you will be able to watch one channel and record another which is highly preferable to only being able to record and watch the same channel.

There are many different brands and models of PVR on the market and again, like anything, budget will often dictate.  There are also PVR / DVD recorders which allow you to choose between hard drive and DVD recording and also will allow you to back up hard drive recordings onto DVD.

iDTV (TV with built in Freeview/Playback)

Many TV's now being sold on the market are freeview ready, in other words they have a built in digital tuner which does the same job as a set top box.  Of course this is fine if you are in the market for a new 32" LCD but at £400 or so, it's a very expensive way to upgrade to digital.  The other thing to look out for is whether it has Freeview playback.  If not it purely means it is a viewer only and has no recording capability... now that would be an expensive mistake to make were you to buy a new TV and want recording capabilities.

According to a press release from Freeview, sales of Digital TV's (iDTV) and digital set top boxes (STB) have reached an all time high.  According to their sources 2.1 million iDTV's were sold in quarter 4 showing a 133% increase on the previous year and the sale of set top boxes is still growing by 27% each year.

With many manufacturers producing LCD Televisions with built in freeview in all sizes it looks as if the iDTV market will continue to grow at a rapid pace.  Plus with an estimated 19 million (second set) televisions still yet to be converted, the market for set top boxes and related products also looks strong.

At the time of writing it is now reported that more than half the homes in the UK have freeview . With the digital switch over gaining momentum in 2009 there are rumours that the demand for STB product may out strip supply.  The only thing customers need to be aware of is to make sure they buy items which will handle all of their wants.  Hard drive recorders with built in Freeview (PVR) give you the ability to watch and record on the one device, definitely a product which will grow in popularity over the coming months.

Setanta Sports, the only premium sports channel currently available to freeview users have managed to bag exclusive veiwing rights to the forthcoming IPL 2020 Tournament.  Starting on April 18th, this event promises to bring together some of the biggest names in world cricket and Setanta have snatched a complete 59 game exclusive.

Warne, Ponting, Dravid, Ganguly, Gilchrist and Dhoni are just a few of the key names that will be taking part in this limited over, 8 team event which promises to be one of the most exciting cricket events ever staged.  It lasts until the final on 1st June and more information can be found at www.setanta.com

To watch this event you will need to have a digital set top product (set top box, pvr etc) with a card slot.  You will also need to sign up to the Setanta sports channel which is currently priced at £9.99 a month although there are currently deals available in stores and on the net which include a months free viewing.

With it's sleek and sexy design, huge 500GB hard disk drive and twin tuners, the Topfield TF5810PVRt is without doubt one of the leading PVR products on the market.  As expected from this manufacturer, the quality of the hardware matches the software and on balance gives users everything they would expect from a high end hard disk drive recorder. 

The huge 500GB (160 is current standard) will give customers up to 250 hours of quality recording and with USB 2.0 support, media files can be transfered from your MP3 player, Digital camera etc. to the hard drive of the PVR.  All in all an excellent product but it does have one minor drawback.  Those wishing to subscribe to Setanta Sports on Freeview won't be able to as this product, like many others on the market, does not feature a card slot for the Setanta card

KEY FEATURES:

• 500GB hard drive for 250 hours of recording
• HDMI output with upscaling capability
• Dual Recording and playback simultaneously
• HDMI Output (720p/1080i)
• USB 2.0 Supported
• MP3 decoding
• 2 tuners

• Receives all free to air digital channels
• Watch and record 2 different shows at the same time
• Seven Day EPG
• Antenna Alignment tool (ensures best possible signal)
• Parental Lock
• DVB Subtitles

Television in the UK is going digital, bringing us all more choice and new services. Starting in 2008, the UK will switch to digital TV, transmitter by transmitter. The exception is Whitehaven, Cumbria, which became the first place to switch in October 2007.