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Rob, Warrington on May 26th, 2008
Bought from Asda Dec 2005. Great until 2 weeks ago when all lights went out for no apparent reason and unit ceased to function (though had been fussy about reminders for some time). Asda helpline totally unhelpful, said go back to store where purchased (didn't seem to realise Asda no longer offer 3 year guarantee, only 12 months). Store customer service didn't want to know. Had heard that a particular circuit board and 2 linked capacitors are prone to burn out on this model though. When alive, it was quite good. Not sure what to do now. Anyone got any ideas?
Stuart, Gateshead on April 11th, 2008
Good box. only one scart and remote control is irresponsive unless you are right in front of it. it has a good reception and most of the glitches were sorted with software 6.2. The interface looked very familiar when it replaced my bush box.
Paul, Leics on March 14th, 2008
Had this for a couple of years attached to the bedroom tv so mostly on standby. Found it would lock on standby at least once a month but as we didn't use it daily, it could've been more often - switching off at mains and turning back on sorted it. One thing that concerned me and may be the cause of the problem is it seemed to run quite hot. Used with a loft aerial and whilst it indicated that reception on some channels was as low as 25% (most were 90-100%), it held on to the signal reasonably well. It did suffer from interference when central heating pump kicked in or using an electric shaver. Never liked the remote layout and unfortunately my remote was faulty and drained the batteries after two days. Never got it sorted as switched the functions to a universal remote. Never loved the box but never loathed it. Can't really knock it for the price (twin scarts as well). Unfortunately it died when one of the capacitors melted and took out the adjacent IC. Have replaced with a Wharfedale which funnily enough uses the same software as the Durabrand but gives better reception (100% on all channels).
Steve, Newark, Notts on September 14th, 2007
Bought one 2 years ago, £30 from Asda. It's firmware is a bit clunky, and locks up sometimes, but it's otherwise functional for the low price. Sadly it expired at 05:30 this morning while I was asleep - waking me up with a bright flash, a loud bang, and the smell of burning electronics. I'm rather put off getting another one of this make because of that.
Kaz, Reading on July 1st, 2007
Just been given one of these but without connection instructions. First freeview receiver I've had. Can anyone help with how to connect?
Troy, Bournemouth on May 30th, 2007
I bought a Duraband Freeview box from and the remote doesn't work when i want it to. It's frustrating and i wish I never got it and won't recommend it to anyone!
Andy, Manchester on March 6th, 2007
As time went on, this box went downhill, the signal went from great to awful, the software crashes were more frequent and now I don't have a menu- owned the box 16 months and all it is fit for is the bin!
Jack, Newport, South Wales on January 30th, 2007
I seem to be experiencing synchronisation problems with my Durabrand STB. The sound seems to be a few microseconds ahead of the video for some reason on all the BBC channels (but, for some reason not on Sky News). Is this a problem noticed by anyone else? otherwise the box performs very well apart from its quirky switching on routine.
Matty, Bolton on January 10th, 2007
Bought a Pacific PSTB-1 for £32 from ASDA in August 2005. Worked brilliantly for 15 months, until the mains adaptor melted, while plugged in. The first signs of a problem were interference caused by the adaptor wire, affecting anything linked to the freeview box (DVD Player, PS2, Video, TV). Then one day the box didn't work. Unplugged the adaptor to find a yellow liquid seeping out of the adaptor seals, with a strong smell of melting plastic. No problems with the box in all that time. Just the adaptor. The box was sat on top of my TV, next to a desk lamp and regularly got covered in dust, but it never gave me any trouble. I bet it would still be fine if I could get a new adaptor. Got myself a DAEWOO DS700D from MAKRO for £25. Bad quality, constant ghosting and stopped working exactly 21 days after I got it. Got a full refund without any trouble, and MAKRO appear not to sell them anymore. I'm going to see if I can get another PSTB1. I'm going cold turkey at the moment. I need SKY Sports News.
Bill, Motherwell on January 5th, 2007
I have also lost the manual. Does anyone have the Lock Key. Thanks
Mike Brailsford, Blackpool on January 1st, 2007
Where can you get a replacement power source ? I have 2 STB1 boxes and they work fine with the power source that still works, so I know it isn't the box itself.
Keith, Northants on December 31st, 2006
have bought this set top box, over all it's a good bit of kit, the only fault i have found is that i have to keep power resetting it as it seems to lock up and i'm not able to switch it on. doenside to this is that u ave to do a programme search every time. if any one has a solution can they post it
Max Devon on December 16th, 2006
I think my Pacific PSTB 1 has been damaged by a power spike, it doesn't work at all, is there any way this can be fixed?
Richard, Belfast on December 5th, 2006
I've had this box for nearly a year. As stated above it does like a strong signal and wind, rain, electrical noise and passing cars etc. can affect it. Its has a few quirky feature, if you switch off on a channel that goes offline e.g. BBC4/CBBC and turn it on again it gets confused, however pressing 1 to go to BBC1 brings works for me. I didn't like that going into the channel guide meant you didn't see a picture, however just found out tonight an alternative - press i and
margaretanderson on November 24th, 2006
my set top box had no instructions and the lock has gone on and i cant remove it.
jim pontefract on November 23rd, 2006
rubbish evey time it rains the picture breaks up
Ivor, Northumberland on November 11th, 2006
This was a good unit when we first bought it, but a year on it is going downhill fast. Initially we wanted a cheap Freeview set-top box to see whether we could be bothered with it and it served that purpose well... it came from Asda for around £20. The picture quality was good - much better than analogue. It has always clipped the sound when other electronic equipment in the house fired up, despite me upgrading the aerial and co-ax. We live in a poor reception area. Recently the remote has started carrying out the wrong function, it sticks on Stand-by and you have to switch on and off at the mains to get it to restart. It also changes channels when our DVD recorder starts up - which is annoying to say the least. I am now looking for a better model with digital outputs.
Wombat, Paisley, Scotland on October 28th, 2006
Great box but having problems with Film 4 access even after manual search - anyone else?
MSB, Wembley on October 28th, 2006
Bought it yesterday from ASDA, great price £24. Plugged it in, scanned for channels- came up perfect. Even works with indoor aerial (although I would still recommend an aerial upgrade for solid reception). Full text, interactive and 7-day EPG available (read the manual carefully as EPG feature isn't as obvious at first-glance!) Only thing that disappoints is there's only 1 SCART socket at back, can't connect it to my VCR. All around, superb price, great little box and its coolest feature is that the box stands upright on a detachable stand!!
al scotland on October 26th, 2006
good
Eddie, Lincolnshire on September 24th, 2006
Do not buy this box...as previously stated you MUST have a strong signal or the box will display 1 in 10 frames, the remote will have to pulling your hair out when it does what ever it wants.. ..and now my box won't even come out of standbye it just sits there with the red lights on...and where can you get customer support...?? you find some let me know coz nowhere cares about DuraBrand problems.. It's worth paying the extra for a company that actually exists as themselves....with customer support and a descent design... What was wrong with analogue at least a bad signal gave a picture
Darren, Leamington Spa on September 1st, 2006
Replaced an ALBA that kep freezing 8 month ago with one of these - has frozen once in that time after a powercut. Just make sure it has the latest software.
Andrew Barr, Falkirk on August 17th, 2006
I've had the duaraband for about a year now and although using main ariel I still have problems with the mux d signal, I usually find using an indoor ariel much better for all recieved channels inc. tutv. Just wish to now when we might recieve software update? Overall a good little machine!!
John, Birmingham on August 12th, 2006
The remote control on the Durabrand is AWFUL! It has a complete mind of its own. Press the volume up button, the channel changes. Press the channel up button, the program guide pops up! Durabrand, please please address this problem, it is incredibly frustrating!!!
Richard, Belfast on August 10th, 2006
This box is excellent value, however to get the best performance in a low signal area a signal booster is essential
Smon Gwent on August 10th, 2006
bought it for my 85 year old nan, worked fine for a few days then kept freezing, now 9 months on the remote just stopped working.
Jones, Cheshire on August 9th, 2006
I am experiencing real problems with this top box, certain stations are perfect, but finding that others are garbled, which is quite annoying
Josh, Gorleston on August 1st, 2006
I've only had it for 3 months now and I have had so many problems with it. Firstly the remote always sends the wrong signal to the box, the box resets itself almost every day, it doesn't pick up as many channels as the one I had before it, when it does pick up channels it seems to pick up french channels and now my box just kept on asking for my key code and know has just totally frozen and will not accept any signal from the remote or from the buttons on the box itself. In all I'd say that this is definetly one to avoid.
Dave, London on July 17th, 2006
For a durabrand surprisingly good! Expecting it to go wrong soon but who knows the tv and dvd combi is still working as is the cheap micro system so I may be lucky! I only buy these units for the bedroom and the utility rooms I would never buy them for the main rooms but hey you get what you pay for and if they last the guarantee who cares and if not asda will refund the price. happy shopping!
Dundee on July 10th, 2006
Had one now setup in the bedroom for 3 months. Superb value for money. Paid only £27 from Asda.
Jeff, Coventry on July 2nd, 2006
First unit a had had problems with gosting and picture freeze. Asda changed sraight away second seems better will know more in few moths. At the moment seems fair value for money.
Andy, St. Andrews on July 2nd, 2006
bloody remote! if you change the volume then press another button it continues to change volume. if you change page up then try to page down it keeps going up. it is cheap, because it IS cheap! A waste of money! stay clear.
Cazzy, Derby on June 6th, 2006
We have 2 of these boxes. One is in my daughters room - a teenager by the way - and is never dusted, at a funny angle and gets battered regularly when fiddling with the ps2 leads etc - and its fantastic - never lags or turns itself off - does exactly what it should. SO why does the one for me and my husband not work? Its in a great position, doesn't get knocked about and is cleaned regularly! The first one went back 2 months ago after just 2 weeks because it froze on BBC3 - that was the only channel it would pick up and you couldn't change it - you could get the menu but couldn't access another channel at all - fed up I took it back and got a replacement which was fine til the middle of last week when it suddenly decided to turn off and couldn't be woken up - then you would enter the room and it would be lit up and on - WEIRD - and yesterday it finally decided I could listen to any channel I like but I can't have a picture! What on earth is going on - is it the boxes or the signal arrggghh I had just settled down to watch Carrie on E4 but it was a no show. Turned if off for a while and woke it up again but still no picture SO its going back today and I am desperately searching for a box that someone says works at least 99% of the time & my daughters is still going strong !!
Kevin, Swansea on May 16th, 2006
Worked fine for a year - except sometimes difficult to turn standby button on and off Now it is completely frozen in standby mode no idea what to do now!!!
Paul, Aberdeen on May 6th, 2006
Although yes this box is under £30 it does have flaws, It seems unless you have an excellent signal then it just block/freezes and basically annoys you until you turn it off. (Just to mention the remote sucks, you press one button it does something completly different, what the hells going on!!!) I'm using an Philips Amplified indoor tv antenna (SDV4240/05) which give you an amazing signal but the durabrand just can't seem to find a stable reception. I'm taking my box back to asda as i'm going to get a slightly better box with the top up services. If your going to buy this box make sure you have a strong tv signal and that you have an outside antenna.
Neil, Norfolk on May 1st, 2006
Well, I have brought one of these boxes as a replacement for my Bush DFTA1 which went down the pan a couple of weeks ago. So far, so good with this box - spec is as good as previous boxes I've had, and even better in some cases! Picture quality is good, Text is fast! Well worth the 30 quid!
Alex, North Yorkshire on April 22nd, 2006
I've had one of these boxes for about six weeks, and so far it's proved to be reliable with great picture quality and a good range of functions. The navigation of the menus however is often a little illogical, with some buttons doing things you didn't expect, and others not doing what you do expect. Having said that, for the price (about £27) I really can't knock it. Plus, as Asda are good about returns, you really can't go wrong - even if you decide it's not for you.
John, Runcorn on April 18th, 2006
I bought one of these boxes from Asda, for use in a bedroom. All worked well for about 3 months, then it just began to cut out and drop the picture, and would only work after switching on and of at the mains. Asda have replaced it for me, and the new one is alright at the moment. Apart from the remote control,these boxes are very good value for money,with good picture quality, and many features only found in much dearer boxes.
Spence on April 14th, 2006
Great if you just want a cheap and cheerful box. No frills but does the job perfectly.
Colleen, Uxbridge on April 9th, 2006
I rate the Durabrand: PSTB1 FREEVIEW top box good. However, I am unable to RECORD to my video recorder, has anyone else experieced this? Please HELP.
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