Astratec: TOPD2B

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Comments (22)

What are your views on this product? Tell other Digital Spy users what the strengths and weaknesses are, and don't forget to include your rating out of five!

Lucan on July 21st, 2008
distorted picture,wont respond to handset,only remote led lit.

Ron, London on April 2nd, 2007
The Astratec TOPD2B has been very good & so far (4 months switched on) reliable box, much better than more expensive Phillips If this model had RF out as well as SCART so could be used with more than one TV or recorder at the same time without switching box, would be perfect for every day home use. Only one problem, child lock on remote switched itself on could not find out what was wrong without looking at manual! (Press on/off and 0 at same time to reset, for all the kids reading this!)

Gordon Wyatt. Bolton on February 18th, 2007
Having purchased TopUp box was disappointed to learn that some programmes were only available on a part time basis. Some difficulty with tuning, and picture quality. The unit has now developed a terminal fault after only some 9 months intermittent use. I previously had a Ferguson branded unit (Non-TopUp)For 2 years, which performed faultlessly. This has now been brought back into service.

BROWN coulsdon on February 8th, 2007
The box is good. However I can't record one programme and view another.

RFBrown on January 4th, 2007
Bought this box on spec, as I needed one for a second set. It worked first time, we are in the far fringe of Mendip, our local digital ,I O W , is unobtainable due to location, but reception is 100% at this distance ( Poole Dorset) At the price ( £ 19:99) the lack of internal modulator can be excused. Good value for the price

Susie, London on December 26th, 2006
Easy to install and set up - very faint picture though. The helpdesk number is no longer correct and no website for assistance which makes the whole thing totally useless.

Peter Davenport - Newport on November 22nd, 2006
This box worked for one month and then became completely dead - I have tried to call the astratec helpline but....... in mid-november....... the recorded message is telling me the line is closed for the 'holiday period'. What a complete joke this product and the company are - RUBBISH!!

Rob from Southport on October 23rd, 2006
Fantastic box for 29.95 from Currys or Comet can't remember which. I was looking for the Sony but everyone out of stock so I bought this and no regrets. Had for 1 month and hasn't lost the sound once always quick to start great picture quality, the only thing I can fault is the program listing can be a little slow to load up but this is being picky HIGHLY RECOMENDED

Paul, Widnes on October 20th, 2006
Very good box. Purchased recently from Comet for £29.99. Connecting it up was easy and setting up the channels was easy. Picture quality is good, it has a widescreen setting and the EPG is very good indeed. Only minor niggle is that when changing channels it sometimes takes a second or two for the sound to catch up. Looked around for ages weighing up all the options, bought this because the Wharfdale at Argos was out of stock and I'm glad it was, this one was cheaper and probably better anyway !!!

John Hickey, London, UK on October 14th, 2006
Bought a new TOPD2D, but it keeps turning off. Ventilation is good, all cables secure - would this be a power problem. Had a previous new TPOD2D but this stopped functioning. Worked perfectly for 4 days then both the green and red lights came on (when the unit was switched back from standby) and no picture was displayed.

Dave, Dorset on August 17th, 2006
This is my 3rd box, previous 2 were a Sagem ITD64 and a Philips DTR 200/05 both rubbish and returned to Comet. This Astratec has been working for 24hrs and so far not a problem the EPG is far better than the other boxes and am really happy (so far) with this box.

Daz on August 10th, 2006
Fantastic. keeping software version 1.3 as it has manual scan. Runs so well. Very sensitive to weak signals. EGP works well, no major lock ups at all. Fast and reliable Highly recommended

John, Runcorn on April 9th, 2006
This is a very good box indeed, I got mine from Comet, after taking back two other makes(Humax & Philips), which were nothing but trouble. I would recommend the Astratec to anyone who wants to buy a trouble free box.

David, London on April 5th, 2006
Nice box small compact and fast, but how come there is no volume control and no 5.1 surround sound connection points. My original Pace had both of these,my Sagems have volume controls, so why not this box.

Howard, London on March 30th, 2006
Can anybody tell me where I can obtain a replacement remote for an Astratec DVR80GT? Or does anybody know a phone number for Astratec?

David on March 11th, 2006
This is a cool box and it works fine with my oneforall. Does any one have the oneforall codes for the box mute and volume? I can only get volume up with the code I'm using and its set to max already by default. I know I can use the TV volume but I just like cracking these problems. The only thing I dont like is the channel numbering. You can rearange/rename channels in any order but I cant seem to change the numbering so you end up with say ITV3 numbered as 10 even if its no. 6 in the favourite list. This is a bit anoying. (You can change the text displayed but not the actual number)

John, Horsham on March 10th, 2006
Just installed one of these for a chum. Fairly immpressed, BUT connecting his Bush DVD recorder to the box's VCR/DVD SCART socket killed the box's TV SCART output stone nead. Disconnecing the DVD recorder is a temporary fix, but he obviously can't record from the box to DVD. Anyone had a similar problem?

Ash, UK on March 7th, 2006
Its made by Humax and rebadged.

Simon Blackham, New Forest on March 3rd, 2006
Mine acquired through the TopUpTV offer even after it closed - same offer except £10 installation. Same at the Matsui TUTV1 - but 1 back in software - it still has the Manual Tune (which is very useful as it has quality and signal level) and the later software swaps the 'thumbnail' in the EPG etc. to the top left - this older software is to the top right. I will not update the software if is possible to avoid. Excellent replacement for the Nokia ONdigital - about the same sensitivity - but picture on Astratec (and Matsui) not quite as good. Third party remotes (eg One4all) will operate the volume control (appears to the right of the mute flag)and prog +/- will scroll a page at a time through the EPG (both slightly faulty on the older software).

John, Liverpool on March 2nd, 2006
Got this box yesterday for £129 at Comet. What a great box, simple to use, plenty of features and superfast text. Great buy.

John, Edinburgh on February 23rd, 2006
Got this as part of TopUp TV's 29.99 deal if you stay for 6 months. My expectations were not very high but wanted TopUp in 2 rooms. However, this is actually a nice little box. Works well. The EPG is displayed with the current channel shown picture-in-picture. The EPG is in bar form similar to sky boxes though much more simplistic. Unlike Andrew, I am pleased there are no volume controls on the remote - just mute. This way you can't record TV accidentally with low volume.

Andrew, Newcastle on February 17th, 2006
Fantastic box! Works like a dream, couldn be happier. EPG Good, shows a little t.v in corner. Has the ablity To rename channels, Fast Ineractive services and teletext. Would reccomend. Greay Value Aswell. Rareing: 9/10 Likes: Fast, reliable, interactivity, rename channels, Top up tv compatible and more. Dislike: No Buttons on box and no volume control on remote, though has a mute function.