Bush: DFTA1000

Your Views

Comments (34)

Jim, Epsom on November 19th, 2005
I have just purchased one of these little adaptors. The video quality is stunning. It is sharp and colorful, and the audio is excellent. The scart like adaptor just plugs into the scart socket at the back of a television, and hey presto your tv is transformed into a Freeview tv. This brilliant device eliminates the need of having an unsightly box on top of the tv. The remote control is quite small, more the size of a pocket caculator. The device has a full 7 day EPG,the ability to show subtitles, and RGB output. Altogether, a small neat device that delivers excellent results.

Nick, Southampton on November 22nd, 2005
Very good box. Simple menus, simple unit, but does a very good job. Is a bit "buggy", sometimes upon turning on the unit then takes ages to respond to subsequent remote commands. A quick power cycle cures it. Hopefully new software will become available to cure this. Otherwise excellent, simple, neat, great performance and cheap.

Jay, Birmingham on December 8th, 2005
Fantastic little box. Ideal for my bedroom requirements as it means I can hide the little box behind my LCD TV (which hangs on the wall). Agree with Nick from Southampton though - it is buggy and will freeze. Hopefully they will release new s/w soon.

Andy, Bristol on December 11th, 2005
Yep it looks great, just the IR extender to locate, which is easy as it came with a sticky pad, again nice menus and changes channels fast. Mine appears to not want to view ITC/C4 channel after about an hour, I have to re-tune and it's fine. It's on version 4.14. But I'll give it benefit of doubt for now and get a replacement.

Steve, East Yorkshire on December 15th, 2005
I bought mine as a digital tuner for my DVD recorder and the picture quality is very good - even the composite signal. Not as good as my Sony box, but for under £50 no complaints. It does'nt like being turned off from the mains though - it will lose some of the channels, especially MUX 1 - Ch30 in my area.

Mark, Northumberland on December 31st, 2005
Great little box, but badly let down by the bugs in the software. I have to unplug it every few days as it locks up after you turn it on and change channels a couple of times. If Bush don't sort this out very soon, it's going to have to go back as unfit for purpose. Assuming they sort that, great idea, although it's a real pain that it doesn't have a UHF pass-through, so you'll loose analogue reception (or in my case Sky via RF) unless you add a splitter.

Jeremy, London on January 9th, 2006
I have two of these and though the picture is good, both show symptoms of the buggy software as mentioned previously. It is disapointing that products are brought to market before they are tested properly! Both of mine regularly have slow reponse to remote commands (at least 10secs to carry out the command) and occasionaly the entire screen goes blank (for >20 seconds) as the box is for some reason thinking about something. The only temporary fix is a power cycle. As others have mentioned, hopefully this will be resolved with a future software release, but having received no reponse from customer services, I am not too confident. It is a great package, but I would suggest that anyone thinking of buying this hold off until the bugs are fixed.

Neil, Fareham on January 12th, 2006
I bought one for the bedroom TV and I've no complaints at all about picture quality, usability (except for navigating the 7 day epg being a bit of a pain). Mine too has started locking up and its happening at least twice a day with only a power-cycle fixing it and the wife getting very upset missing the middle of Hollyoaks. Looks like a trip back to Makro this weekend to get the money back.

Peter, Uffington on January 16th, 2006
I bought my first one of these from Argos. I used it for the bedroom TV & was really pleased until after about a week of use it started to freeze up & stopped responding to the remote. Unplugging from the power supply & plugging in again fixed it, but eventually it froze every time it was turned on. Back to Argos for a replacement, again this worked for about a week until it started to slow up & stick on channels & unplugging etc was the only way to fix it. Back to Argos again for another replacement, guess what after a week it started to lose the picture & unplugging & plugging in etc. This time I got my money back. I think the concept is brilliant, but the performance of this unit is really poor. I only persevered with it because I just thought I was unlucky in getting faulty ones. I did ring Bush service once, but was told my experience was really unusual & I don't have another hour to spend ringing them again. I do not think this adapter is of "merchantable quality"

Pete, Oxford on January 23rd, 2006
Bought one for Christmas - took it back today for a refund. Same problem as everybody else - slow reponse after a period of time, only cured by recycling the power. Nice idea but woefully inadequately software.

Andy, Cardiff on January 26th, 2006
Bought one of these adaptors to replace a Setpal that had given up on me. I was after something new, small and discrete as it was only going to be used occasionally with a bedroom TV. The Bush seemed to fit the bill. I was initially pleasantly surprised by the overall size of the box which was tiny and it was pleasing to be able to hide it away behind the TV. It’s a simple, no fuss design both in terms of the box itself and its software. The handset and menu systems were easy to use and the box was easy to set up, with channel changes and teletext navigation available at a very good speed as compared to older boxes. There I’m afraid the praise ends. Now for the bad stuff… The idaptor’s picture quality was questionable. Ok, it was nice and sharp but unfortunately you see more of the digital artefacts that betray the picture’s origins and bit rate, something that is not as obvious on other boxes. You can live with this but while watching a football match one day, the effect became too apparent and my eyes couldn’t cope. On this occasion I had to turn back to analogue for a better, more pleasing picture, something that I never had to do with the Setpal. Furthermore, there was an obvious vertical band effect in the background, very faint grey lines from top to bottom which was evident on all channels. The final nail in the coffin was the buggy software as described previously. The box was fine for a few days but then it began to crash regularly with channel changes, the screen would go blank and the box would have a hissy fit and refuse to do anything. A quick power cycle solved the problem, but as time went on the frequency of the crashes increased. Thinking I had a dud box, I took it back and exchanged it for another. Again, exactly the same problems occurred. I’ve now had my money back from Tesco but consequently I’m without a box. It seems from reading these reviews that if you want a good, solid, reliable box with a great picture, you need to buy the Sony. But at £99 I don’t think I could justify the cost for use with an occasional telly. I guess I’ll have to wait until a good quality sub-£50 unit arrives on the market. Verdict – good: concept, size and ease of use; bad: picture quality, no RF loop through and very buggy software.

Jane, London on January 31st, 2006
Bought December 2005, this little gizmo was trouble from day one, after several attempts at installing it worked intermittently. Now it has stopped altogether, stopping and starting power no longer works and on reinstalling, it can't find any channels check my aerial connection. I guess it's back to the tv top box. Pity, it is invisible, perfect for a small flat and when it worked it was great.

John, Ashford on February 1st, 2006
Purchased one from Argos in December last year. First surprise was no RF loopthrough but decided if I use this as end of line device could live without loopthrough as no real need for aerial input to TV as box would provide all channels normally obtained off air. Set up was easy and picture quality good. However soon found that box locked up, also had tendency to lose picture and sound for short periods, even though another set top box in same aerial feed was fine. Mains recycle would cure lockup. Decided to return and get another from argos in January but this one much worse. Loses sound and vision like first box but when it comes back channel has changed. Unit does not retain channel it was last on when mains is cycled. Also always comes on in an unused channel. Just about to ring argos customer services to see if they plan to withdraw these units or perhaps know of manufacturers plans to produce a fix.

Paul Moyes, East Yorks on February 2nd, 2006
Mine is the same as all of these. I am on my third one now

Alan, Southampton on March 28th, 2006
Had one for a week and while working it was good but, channel changing gets slower and slower the longer it is left on. After a week, it was taking up to 2 mins to change channel and would often not change channel at all, or would jump several channels. Also, there is no RF loopthrough (or modulator). There are no controls on the unit, it really is designed to hide behind the TV, and so everything has to be done via the remote. Don't lose it!! Power is via an external power adaptor (not via the scart as some websites claim). A nice idea but software a bit too buggy for serious use.

Marc, Aberdeen on April 5th, 2006
Have to balance some of these negative comments. I bought one of these 4 weeks ago, with great trepidation after reading all the problems. However, I have had very few problems at all with it. The DFTA1000 was ideal as I wanted something I could use with my TV in the kitchen which is raised in the air on a TV support. So the fact everything would be hidden behind the telly was the major benefit for me (and no little boxes my inquisitive 2 year old could knock off). Installation went perfectly - picked up all the channels I was expecting. Picture and sound quality is very good - no problems receiving any channels at all (although I do have a good aeriel complete with booster in my loft). The text seems to be a bit buggy - but I have found that on my father-in-laws more expensive Freeview box too, so not sure it may be entirely down to the Idaptor. The text hangs occasionally, but simply switching off and on cures the problem. Also had the box hang when accessing the options menu once, but a reset cured that too. Moving between channels doesn't seem to be a problem to me - 2 minutes to change a channel? Haven't had more than a few seconds for me. The thoughts about leaving the unit switched on may be correct though - we have always switched off our TV's at the power socket every night, and do the same with the Idaptor. Perhaps the unit is prone to overheating if left switched on constantly? Who knows, but I can only state I haven't had the same sort of problems. Would have been useful to have a quick way to scroll through the 7 day EPG (as I have seen on some boxes), but I am very happy so far. My recommendation would be try it and see - it may be just what you are looking for. My only gripe is now that little Alasdair has discovered the delights of CBeebies, we are now subjected to a constant 12 hours a day of infuriating children's programmes! (Thankfully he also likes the cars on Men and Motors!).

Enrico, Renfrewshire on April 19th, 2006
I have the Technosonic SA201 branded version of this unit. As far as I can tell it is identical to the BUSH, except that this newest version I have is contained in a slimmer 'curvier' case and now sports an antenna pass-through connection. The OSD, specs and facilities are identical, as are the remote control and IR eye. First impressions are pretty much the same as everyone else - this is an item you buy specifically for its convenient size - it hides perfectly behind the 26" LCD I bought it for. The 'glitches' are identical too ie. slowing down over time. I suspect, however, that this is related to the unit's 'auto updating' function whereby daily it attempts to search for OTA firmware upgrades. While watching late at night I got an on-screen message informing me that it was time for the box to do its daily update search, after which the channel change time instantly slowed right down. It seems that a process kicks in which, if no software is found, never times out. This would explain the box response time getting slower day by day that some others have reported, as multiple 'update' processes kick in and never terminate. Power down/up cures the problem, so a nightly shut down seems to be the obvious workaround until this software glitch is ironed out.

Edward, Ayrshire on April 21st, 2006
We bought an Idaptor as soon as they became available and it has worked since day one. We have suffered some of the problems with text and freezing up now and then, but overall the Idaptor has functioned well. This was not our first Freeview box. Both Goodmans and Sagem gave up the ghost after about a week or two, both freezing and losing all signals etc even after a £100 aerial upgrade. This little box of tricks has kept on giving us a perfect picture even during football matches and shows no sign as yet of dying. It may not be ideal for those who live in perfect reception areas but I think it is a great piece of kit for not a lot of money. If I can access 30 plus channels by switching the thing off two or three times a week I can live with that. My only other alternative is sticking a bloody great sky dish onto the side of my house. I think turning off a socket is a much better idea.

Christopher, Newbury on May 10th, 2006
Great for a week or two, but afterwards it could not recive any good signal, until eventually it stopped responding and applied a lock that I cannot get into, therefore I cannot view any of the channles.

Mark, Sheffield on May 15th, 2006
Thanks for all your comments about the BUSH DFTA1000, think I'll get another Ferguson FD1 PRISM for my mums birthday. Very reliable, small an novel shape.

Royce, Buckinghamshire on June 3rd, 2006
Same bugs as everyone else. Using a cheap socket timer, so it switches off for 15 minutes at 4am every morning. Now works fine.

Paul, nr Bath on September 24th, 2006
Great idea, very compact and therefore easily hidden away; used in the kitchen for 6 months before it died. Picture fine on a small screen but very sluggish, needed frequent power reset to get it to co-operate and unlimately disappointing. Took it back when it started squealing and now searching for a compact and reliable replacement.

jo on November 19th, 2006
This is awful my sound does not work why please help me or i will need to buy another one

Ian, Stockport on December 26th, 2006
The comments here seem to be mixed. I wonder if anyone has got the Bush DFTA1001 that is now available? Does it fix any of the problems mentioned in this review? Currys and Dixons are doing them for around 50 quid.

arthur , luton on January 1st, 2007
looking to connect a Bush DFTA1000 unit to my tv, But have no remote or manual. is it possible to work it off my original dvd player remote? & do I need a code etc. Any help appreciated thanks

Hector, Glasgow on January 5th, 2007
I got a DFTA1000 in March 2006 and use it in bedroom. Is usually switched off when not in use and has been great, though I find the navigation of the EPG very awkward and the remote too small and fiddly. A little later I got a second one, to use with my S-VHS video as it has S-Video output option, but the second one was very poor with a weak tuner and prone to freezing up - returned to Makro. Like all mass-produced electronics you can be lucky or unlucky with your individual specimen. Ian of Stockport asks re DFTA 1001: I got one from Makro 4 weeks ago. Works fine, but tuner a little weaker than my DFTA 1000. Does NOT output S-Video. NOTE THAT NONE OF THE BITS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE WITH THE DFTA 1000. Mains adapter socket, IR receiver socket and remote are all different. Neither remote will control any functions of the other - an advantage, I suppose, if you have 2 in same room. Remote layout a bit improved though navigation still awkward to my mind. Box has black underside and black centre strip on top, which together with possibly better ventillation grills may help keep it cooler than the DFTA 1000 but seems to still get quite hot. No bugs so far, but it is switched off when not in use. I'd rate them both as good, provided that you get a 'good' one.

Ruth, Coventry on January 25th, 2007
I thought I was going insane thinking I was the only one having problems! Currently we're on our 3rd one in our bedroom! First one purchased in August 06 (1000 version), was fab for 6months, froze but we put this down to the DC adaptor getting too hot, so as everyone else has commented we simply turned on/off again and it was fine. Then in January this year it wouldn't work at all! Tried everything but nada! Returned to Argos, got a replacement the weekend (version 1001) just gone, plugged in, set it up and the 'pod' wouldn't come off standby! Thinking it was the battery in the remote we brought a new one!....still nothing!! It was if the remote just wasn't connecting with the pod. So I exchanged last night, got yet another one and lo-and-behold! the same problem has occurred again! This time the set up screen has appeared but the remote still won't work so we can't start going thru the first time installation!. I could have thrown it out the window I was that frustrated. Not sure what to do now, emailed Customer Services but think we should give up and return it and maybe looked into a Sony one as everyone on here seems to believe is a better option???!?

Robert, Stonehaven on February 14th, 2007
The problem with my DFTA1000 is that I cannot record a Freeview channel while watching another channel. The instructions don't say if I should be able to do it. Does anybody know if it is possible?

Susan, London on April 23rd, 2007
I bought this as it seemed very compact. I find it does not work with an indoor ariel unless I stand on tip toes with it about a foot from the window, I have another old set top box at home and this works perfectly well with the indoor ariel. I will be taking this product back.

Chris, Scotland on April 25th, 2007
This device looks good and the menus etc.. looked quite well thought out. It appeared to work fine for the short time I had it but I had a compatibility issue between it and a Logik 19 widescreen LCD (Don't have the number to hand but it was from Dixons).When I used this bush freeview adapter which the logik TV, I got a flashing white band at the top and bottom of the screen. The TV worked fine with other freeview adapters and the bush adapter worked fine with other TVs but put the two together and they freaked out. I tested a number of different bush adapters and a number of logik TVs but they all had the same compatibility problem. Currys were really helpful sorting this out but there is definitely a compatibility issue between the two devices that needs to be addressed. It’s unfair to give this box a poor rating because I couldn't figure out which device has made a boo boo in its design.

John, Newcastle on May 10th, 2007
I also have just purchased a Bush DFTA 1001 also 1 week old. Whole thing has frozen, I have been onto bush technical services, and I am not racist but I could not understand a word the lady or the gentleman were saying. Eventually got instructions to reset remote by pushing up, down, left, and right, and no1 keys simultaneously for 10 seconds to no avail!!! all they would say was take it back to the shop that you purchased it from I AM NOT A HAPPY BUNNY after reading all these reports knowing now that the likely hood the unit itself been faulty ,but customer services where certain it was the remote. think I will just send whole thing back ps thank you for no help customer services I WILL NEVER BUY BUSH AGAIN

Terry, Manchester on July 31st, 2007
I've had many of the problems mentioned here in these reviews. But has anyone noticed how hot this adapter gets? Just wondered whether this could be the root problem here, overheating.

Karen, Bristol on January 26th, 2008
I bought this product on the 1st Oct 2007 from Argos, it was fine for the first couple of weeks and then the remote control started to freeze/not work so I returned to Argos and they replaced it with another. Again this was ok for a couple of weeks then the problems returned. My husband was at home for the day and popped upstairs briefly heard a loud buzzing, ran downstairs and the unit was onfire. Our TV and Wall has been damaged. I conacted Bush 2 Weeks ago and they assured me someone would get back to me in 48 hours i'm still waiting !!!! I will not buy Bush ever again !!!

Nigel, Ealing on May 6th, 2008
Have three of these around the house. Big mistake. Constant lock-ups and simply very poor software. Shame, as the picture quality, when they work, is absolutely fine.