Goodmans: GDB3

Your Views

Comments (52)

Christopher Kyle, Ossett, West Yorkshire on July 15th, 2005
Small, Simple and easy to use. If you want Freeview, this is the box that you should buy.

Congo Billy, Rwanda on July 16th, 2005
Version 3.12 of the firmware seems to be the most stable: subsequent versions are subject to sporadic sound loss. In summary a cheap and cheerful introduction to Freeview.

Shaun Edwards on July 18th, 2005
Excellent Box - Very Reliable and fast

Chris, Ulster TV region on July 28th, 2005
On first usage I thought that this box was superb. Setup was very easy, as for sound and vision, they were excellent and the box looks very good too. Then I had a problem. The unit has stuck itself on standby mode. I know that it is not the remote that is broke because the same one also operates my Bush DFTAI. Any ideas on how to "unblock" this machine? Reset, unplugging, you name it, doesn't seem to work. Help!!!!!!

FJB, Surrey on August 1st, 2005
I found the GDB3 OK until version 4.2 was downloaded, then the box suffered sound breaks set off by other switch things in the house such as the fridge switch on and off. I returned my two GDB3's back to Argos

Liam, Malta on August 2nd, 2005
By far the best box, simply and standard layout, great reception

Christopher Kyle, Ossett, West Yorkshire on August 3rd, 2005
I have had no problems with the box, I think that v4.2 is the best one yet!

Ben, Bristol on August 17th, 2005
Very good value box. The 7 day EPG is useful but not very well thought out. Only problem I have experienced is an occational drop in sound.

Kevin, Radstock, Somerset on September 2nd, 2005
Simple, intuitive, easy to set up and use; initially 'very' pleased. After 3 months, it got stuck in standy mode. Batteries in remote control ok. Argos, to their credit, replaced it with a new one without quibble. After 2 months, new box intermittently lost channel setup and its demand to be re-set up (a simple process) became more frequent. Very irritating when you program it to record on VHS and return to find a tape full of white noise. Now, at 5 months old, this one too is stuck in standby mode. Don't want another one of these!!

Mark Ingle, Leicester on September 7th, 2005
Very reliable box. As it is controlled by my TiVo it stays on constantly and I've not had any problems with it.

Steve, Forest of Dean on September 16th, 2005
Stable, fast and easy to use and setup. Bought from Argos for £40 and very happy with my purchase. Nothing else really to say, it works well, no problems! Oh and I disabled auto update of software in menu/configuration just in case.

Clive, Thames Valley on October 12th, 2005
Mine has started sticking on standby too. Very annoying. If you power it down briefly and repower it, it will work until you turn it back to standby again. So, I leave it on now. I have e-mailed the help desk but not yet got an answer. Since it only just started doing this I assume it's a software glitch. Sound drop outs and poor Channel 5 reception are other irritations. I am supposed to use a wideband aerial, so I fitted one and found my ordinary analogue TV now has interference patterns and I get no more channels than I used to get on the digibox with my narrow band aerial! Grrrrr

Christopher Kyle, Ossett, West Yorkshire on October 18th, 2005
This box works well with the new EPG, no problems, unlike a lot of other models. 10/10!!!!!

Philip Wood, Tyne & Wear on October 26th, 2005
My epg does not work after day 4 so for this i think the box is acctually quite rubbish!!! I think im gonna save my money to get a decent box rather than keep getting little rubbish ones like this! - A WASTE OF MONEY!!!

Lucyann Cavanagh, Dundee on October 30th, 2005
GBD3, only works if you have a great reception area, anyone who lives in a reception area aerial blackspot, unless you're willing to put up with regular crashes and degration of picture(and despite paying a fortune for upgraded aerial system, boosters etc..), otherwise it's really a good introduction to Freeview services, and I agree with most people one of the better DTT boxes on the market. If you have an old style modem cable (RS232 - DB9 serial port on the back of your PC) you can upgrade to v 5.0 which sorts out the problems according to Goodmans tech support, I haven't tried yet as my tv in the bedroom gives out better reception and tried the rf and it doesn't work! (neither does the TV it's a non scart, duffed up aerial socket and on it's last legs.) At least it's better than ITV/on Digital Pace DDT boxes.

Steve, Midlands on November 16th, 2005
a really good little box, it changed my opinion of goodmans

Mark L on November 29th, 2005
Works FINE for me. Hasn't played up. Much. But even when it does it irons out. Reception is a bit dodgy but I expect that is just where I live. Good price and good value as far as I'm concerned!

Daniel, Barnstaple on December 14th, 2005
small box with excellent features on. easy to use the epg 7 day guide works really good. from unpacking it takes just 5-7 minutes to set up 10 out of 10 and it is great for the new version 4.2 its fast and reliable. buy this its great for free channels and interactive

Al, Staffs on January 10th, 2006
I've had two GD3's. Poorly electrical screened box makes them suffer from occasional Sound Loss. Drove me Mad so they had to go.!!

Paul Cooksley, West Sussex on January 17th, 2006
ABSOLUTE WASTE OF MONEY. Sound drops out everytime BBC idents are playing (it's due to the poor EPG updating) - also very, very frequent sound drops for 1-2 seconds during every BBC programme (this is not interference - it is a problem with the new software that was released and is now shipped with each new box) Most people I know with one have suffered this also as well as others complaining that the box changes channels randomly and switches itself on and off (happened to me on my first Goodmans GBD3) Argos say they have a *VERY* high return rate on this product due the comments I have mentioned. Please dont waste your money on this pile of junk. Do what I did if you can afford it - buy the Sony Freeview Box - generally around £80-£100, so alot dearer - but well worth it.

Dave M, Manchester on January 18th, 2006
It's a decent enough box for the money. Does what it says on the box. Intermittent problems though like lack of EPG data, locking itself onto Ideal World when flicking through the channels after being on TMF. Could do with some sort of EM shielding so that every time the heating clicks on or the washing machine is doing its thing or a car goes past it doesn't drop sound for a couple of seconds. For £40 can't really gripe though. A better thought out 7 day EPG for this (and all these Vestel clone boxes) is a definite must though if they every get round to making one.

Hugh Baker, Fetcham, Surrey on February 6th, 2006
On first use, picture green and lack of contrast. Go to Configuration and change TV OUT to CVBS. Problem solved - proper colour and contrast. BUT, next time switch on, same problem with colour. Go to Config - TV OUT still set at CVBS. Switch to RGB and back to CVBS - picture OK again. Also random drop out of colour for a sec or two. According to sig strength meters, full strength signal

Johno, Sidcup, Kent on February 22nd, 2006
When I first temporarily set up the GD3 it worked fine. It was only when I repositioned the unit I was disappointed to experience bad reception (Particularly ITV and CH4). I had only moved the unit from one side of the TV to the other! Moving the unit back to its first location and things improved but still not as stable as when first setup. I have no idea why this should be the case? If I had set the unit up on the right of the TV initially I would have immediately thought the aerial being at fault and not even considered repositioning the unit. My software version reports 1.8 which seems to differ with earlier posts. Ditto Hugh Bakers comments regarding CVBS having to be set each time to get the best/most colourful picture. My only query at the moment is how do you record to from the unit to a VCR?

AJB, Northants on February 22nd, 2006
Reading present comments it would appear that buying a GDB3 is a case of lucky dip. Several comments are complimentary but like many others I think it is rubbish. My box changes channels continuously as well as freezing the picture although the sound is still running, the standby switches on/off as it pleases and despite the green light showing the reset has to be pressed to regain the picture. Altogether it greatest asset is send for recycling.

Mark, Bournemouth on March 12th, 2006
The box recently automatically updated its software; now it regularly turns itself on and off, and unfortunately not when I press the Power button on the control. From an originally useful product, successive updates have now rendered it totally useless. Pathetic software testing, pathetic support. Don't buy this.

robert damiemn on March 19th, 2006
Quick and easy to use. Quickly set up first time. Remote easy to use. Quick to change channels. Picture quality is on the dark side. Occasional sound dropout. Picture in picture preview guide is an very good aide. Works with a standard arial. No problems encountered yet.

Graham. Bedfordshire on March 24th, 2006
Worked well for 2 days, then started switching itself off every few minutes. It seems from this forum that this is a common problem with this model. Changed it for a Bush box which works fine.

Curious, Any on March 25th, 2006
I would be interested to know from someone who has just bought this box, what the software version is on the first day you configure the unit? This would be before any automatic overnight upgrade. My unit was fine on the first day and I am sure the software version was lower than the 1.8 it is currently. I am curious if in getting an upgrade to 1.8 the box has become less stable. If yours turns out to be less that 1.8 on the first day I would recommend turning off the auto software update.

Christopher Kyle, Ossett, West Yorkshire on March 26th, 2006
Had it for a year now, and dispite what some of the people above say, I have had no problems. Great Box.

Kylie ......Gainsborough..lincolnshire on March 29th, 2006
On first usage I thought that this box was superb. Setup was very easy Even got family & freinds buying it....4 MONTHS LATER It got stuck in standy mode...Then switches of all the time turning back on to a difrent channel...All my family & freinds ones are doing the same thing.... ITS GOT A MIND OF ITS OWN DO NOT BUY

B Jones, Preston on March 30th, 2006
I have owned the GDB3 for nearly 3 years. It has always been poor on the electrical shielding front,but at the beginning it seemed a very good box. But of late,probably since some software updates it's become a bit of a dog! All of the problems that are mentioned above a everyday occurences. 1. Box freezes up frequently requiring unplugging from Mains 2. Gets stuck on shopping channels requires unplugging from mains 3. Channel 5 and all sky channels unwatchable one hour, perfectly OK next. 4. Keep wanting to do a first time installation every so often. 5. Freezes when it's doing the first time instalation. 6. Remote control does want it wants, not what you want. 7. If someone unplugs a kettle in delhi the sound drops out. As I said, for the first year it was a great little box, now it just drives me mad. I'm going to get the Sony, would recommend that new buyer's save up and buy it too. I'm watching the analogue channels at the moment for my own sanity!

Eric, West Kent on April 5th, 2006
we had this gdb3 since Oct 2004. It needed to be sent back for a software update that Goodmans did [cant see Philips doing this for their usless 1500 set top machine]. Its functional and works fine - *providing* you have the latest software update. If you dont it will crash and act strangely. I would buy another one if I needed another STB.

Rory, Edinburgh on April 12th, 2006
Great box.....for a while, just not reliable. Don't buy it. For anyone who's GDB3 is stuck on standby. I had the same problem after leaving it unplugged for a few days. It would work for between 15s and a couple of mins and then stick on standby. I tried holding the reset button as I plugged it back in, which helped a little. But leaving it on overnight and then unplugging it and plugging it back in with the reset button held for about 30s, did the trick. Hope that helps

David Clews, Newcastle on April 18th, 2006
The unit freezes up every 5min. It is "B" awfull. Would not reccommend to anyone.

Pedro, High Wycombe on April 29th, 2006
Thanks Rory, your tip worked for me. My box had shut down last weekend. I'd been pretty satisfied with it as a first digital TV box, but if this is going to become a constant, I'll seriously think of changing it. Anybody with any recomendations?

Bill Trigg on May 7th, 2006
Absolute Rubbish, switches itself on and off freezes, makes a good door stop!!

Colin Webb, Oxfordshire on May 31st, 2006
Purchased the GDB3 before the last rugby world cup, had a good year before any problems, then got the repetative switch-off, which was fixed by manually loading new software (3.12 I think). Had another decent year of service but now it's on permananet terminal standby - no amount of unplugging and re-setting seems to make any dfference so it cannot even communicate with hyperterminal (I want to try and load the latest software in a pathetic attempt to breathe more life into the piece of junk). Also have a cheapo Bush which works fine so far.

Steve, Midlands on June 22nd, 2006
mines still going storng, never had any problems and its nearly always on, much better then the way more expensive panasonic.

Robert Hines, northeast UK on July 10th, 2006
Very good box and cheap too.Shame they has not been any updates for ages as theres one or two probs at the moment.I give it 95% out of 100%

Stephen, Surrey on August 16th, 2006
Had the GDB3 for about 1 year and a half. Had a few problems. After a software upgrade about a year ago it worked better. It does sometimes freeze and you cant change the channel. Just means you have to turn it on and off again. The controller isnt the best. I found that you press a button and it does something else like bring up the EPG. For the money - its ok.

Peter, Sunderland on September 4th, 2006
Awful. 7-day EPG doeesnt work. Remote has a mind of its own. Slow to change channels. Freezes if I attempted to change the channel to quickly. Crashes after a random period. Total crap.

Bill, West Lothian on September 11th, 2006
Totally unreliable,picture freezes, box turns off and on at random. Would not recommend this box to anyone.

Chris, West Yorkshire on September 20th, 2006
This is the most appalling piece of junk I've ever come across. I bought this box in spite of reading the comments above, I considered that for the price one or even two minor problems were probably acceptable. I didn't expect to experience ALL of them: Poor contrast in RGB mode, probably due to low output levels. Picture drops to B?W in CVBS mode, probably due to output levels too low for conversion from RGB. Always in RGB mode when coming from standby, even if set to CVBS. Loss of sound caused by very minor electrical disturbances. Sometimes won't come out of standby without removing mains power (24hrs last time). Random drop to standby, or random power up when in standby. I could go on, there are plenty more faults. In my opinion, if Goodmans continue to market this unit they are committing fraud.

Phil, Wolverhampton on October 5th, 2006
Bought a Goodmans GDB3 from Argos today (4/10). Spent 4 hours trying to scan. Found no channels. Existing BT box works fine. Another trip to Argos tomorrow to give it back. Nice box though (the cardboard one).

Jen, Cheshire on October 6th, 2006
Worked for a few months, then started sticking on channels. Have to switch on and off to get it working. Completely useless.

Oneblast on November 29th, 2006
My GDB3 is unstable and continually turns itself off and on. It wiil not retain all the channels tuned, and loses some when turned off. The tuning process has then to be restarted.

Steve, Rugby on December 3rd, 2006
I've had this box for a couple of years now and it is okay, so long as you just want to watch the Freeview channels and are not recording them or recording off analogue. If you are watching Freeview and need to record analogue TV you can only record Freeview. I've swapped the SCART leads around and then get the opposite effect - I can't record Freeview. Strange. Picture quality is clearer than the analogue signal, but suffers co channel interference from the aerial input. Take it the RF is not the shielded type.

David, Surrey on December 20th, 2006
Purchased GDB3 from Argos on 15/12/2006, and returned 18/12/2006. Problems with picture freeze and no signal. Picture quality was poor. My old Grundig was a better product, with no problems, it packed up after 3 years. Very disappointed with Goodmans.

chris on January 5th, 2007
not bad

Roberthines, County Durham on March 5th, 2007
I’ve had the box for a number of years all seems fine. Had one or two problems which are probably due to a poor signal from the transmitter but it’s a great box for the price. The Goodmans GDB3 is also great with text service and BBCi.

Richard, London on March 23rd, 2007
Goodmans GDB5 - These boxes rubbish, I have 3 of them, they all make hissing noise, picture breaks up, and one of them just stop work, no not the power supply, it just won't pick up any TV channels, I think it must be a software upgrade, but you can't even see what version it has. Goodmans product are usually good but not these.

Greg, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire on July 5th, 2008
The first box I bought was OK for a while then began randomly changing channel and with increasing frequency. I bought a second box (I shall never buy another Goodmans again). This was OK for a while but now has several problems. Stuck on standby, can only get off stand by with difficulty, the update screen comes on when trying to use the device to watch a program, and remains on for some time , some times for a very long time ( the screen states to press menu to remove the update screen - this does not work!). Pressing the guide button ( for channel listings) often does not work. This machine is a waste of time and money.