Daewoo: DS608P

GH, Devon, on November 28th, 2008
Add me to the list of people caught out by this - I have two of these boxes which I hoped would last me for years, one I've just lost by rescanning and the other is still fine (so I'll leave it alone). Won't buy another Daewoo as they must have known all about this. Believe it or not someone is still selling these boxes on ebay for £119! - I've sent him this link and will be interested to see if he removes them from his site.

AP, Lancs, on November 3rd, 2008
I have one of the Daewoo boxes and the penny has just dropped after me having no freeview for over a month and I was wondering whether to call someone in to fix the ariel! There was a report on BBC1's 'Watchdog' about it this evening, this is repeated on their website and it looks like Daewoo are avoiding responsibility whereas philex on the other hand... Not great publicity for Daewoo!

HFL, on October 19th, 2008
I've had exactly the same problem as everyone else and have concluded that because it doesn't have the "digital tick" it has stopped working. It's such a pain that the change-over people haven't considered the people who had freeview before it was necessary!

Jim Fitzgerald Kingston, Surrey, on October 16th, 2008
This item is obsolete and does not work in any/many areas. Please see http://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview/Resolutions/Transmission-changes-affecting-some-Freeview-digital-boxes

Dave G, Paignton, on October 5th, 2008
My Daewoo DS608P has now given up, notlocating any channels, after i said 'yes' to rescan for new channels. Is this the end of this machine?? If yor machine IS working, don't rescan!!!!

Anthony, Bury St Edmunds, on October 4th, 2008
Like other posters here, my DS608P now advises "no signal" and my aerial installer tells me the software is now obsolete. Shame, but I've just bought a Bush set top box on e bay for £15.98 delivered and installed it this am. Works fine. Gone are the days when you had to spend around £100 for a new box. Does anyone know if there is anywhere in the UK where the DS608P can work OK?

Nigel, Gloucester, on August 24th, 2008
Brought my box April 2004 and was fine until last night. Like others I have lost all channels and will no longer rescan correctly. Checked on the web and a number of sites report that is now obsolete. Shame as it did what I wanted how I wanted with little problem or fuss. Looks like I'll have to but a new 'digital tick' box despite the fact that the box still work. Who ever changed the transmitters should have thought about those of us who went digital before the 'great switch over' or don't they care. You decide!

Roger, Bournemouth, on August 17th, 2008
My Daewoo DS608P same problem in this area, all channels lost after a rescan for channels. Re the fuse problem: if you open the box it is possible to change faulty item, however, the fuse looks very similar to a capacitor (a black cylinder item). I use an external fuse holder on the one I replaced. Operation fine until this scan problem.

Andy North, Milton Keynes, on August 15th, 2008
Having read other areas of Digital Spy, it seems that this box has now become defunct. Sad for me for the reasons I gave in my Sep 2006 coment. The power supply is crap though - I managed to keep the box alive by strapping a hard disk fan under it with electrical ties. Have a look inside (with power unplugged!), left side, 8-pin chip, burnt circuit board. What I've read said that this box never had the Digital Tick so it was not built to be future-proof. As soon as you re-scan to pick up 4Music, the box will die. Anyone know of another box that displays signal levels like this one did?

Elaine, Fife, on August 9th, 2008
Like Jeremy and Lindsay I have also lost all channels I have my parents Grundig which is still working but the Daewoo! It was a really great box while it worked and gave a great picture great loss Looks like I also will have to invest in another

Ray, Tyne & Wear, on July 24th, 2008
After 6+ years of trouble free use I have had the exact same problem as Jeremy. After responding to the prompt to rescan I have lost all channels. I have tried unplugging the aerial and power etc advice as per the freeview web site but still no channels are found. A friend of mine has two units and both have failed within days of mine (is there a coded time out built into this box and is there a button combination to clear it) ? I have been looking arronund to try and find a set top box that will give a Digital decoded signal out of the "Ariel Out" socket as well as the "Scart" socket, (my friend has a portable TV without a Scart socket) can anyone help ?

Lindsay, Edinburgh, on July 9th, 2008
After 4 years of trouble free use I have had the exact same problem as Jeremy. After responding to the prompt to rescan I have lost all channels. I have tried unplugging the aerial and power etc advice as per the freeview web site but still no channels are found. From what I can see on the Web it may be unable to cope with the amount of new channels now, so looks like I'll have to buy another one.

Jeremy Morfey, Worcester, on July 7th, 2008
Christian asked whether there is someone under Sutton Coldfield with a still functioning Daewoo DS608P set top box. I have two boxes - one was still working fine on 7th July 08, but the other went down when I responded to the prompt to scan for new and changed channels, with 0 channels and no signals recognised. I am not going to allow any more channel scans on my working unit!

Christian, East Mids, on February 15th, 2008
Daewoo SETPAL DS608P cost £80 about 4 years ago but only used it in anger for almost 2 years (due to transmission issues). Good box but software upgrades ceased a few years back and my current level of software is build 149 (which is couple out of date). It looks like further software upgrades will not be made as the software company (SETPAL) has gone bust. Daewoo seem to be shirking their responsibility by not taking over this operation! Even more worrying is that these boxes may stop working all together as the switchover upgrades start being rolled out (making a poor return on my original £80). I’ve read that some owners of this box bought the 7 day EPG (c.£5) from 4TV! Only issues lately is the channel information is not being interpreted for some channels (ITV1 C4 etc - I think they are the ones listed as MPX2 – what-ever that is). So a good box in my view, good normal plug power supply, but lacks further support. Unfortunately it’s due to be made redundant unless OFCOM/Trading standards get involved. If anyone is using one of these boxes in the Sutton Coldfield area from 3 March onwards, let me know if they still work.

David, Warwickshire, on February 8th, 2008
A really really fine box - simple to use, friendly menus, can switch off MHEG text, etc. But ... accordingly to Freeview's website, as of March 3rd 2008, will no longer work in the midlands as the Sutton Coldfield transmitter is being upgraded. Seems like this will be a common problem in the coming months/years around the country as other transmitters are upgraded. Apparently the software doesn't fully match freeview specs ... So be warned. But it was a truly wonderful box while it lasted!

pjpj Yorkshire, on November 10th, 2007
The only problem I get with these boxes after over 7 years, I think, is freezing. This problem is largley cured by switching off the 'Digital MHEG Text' in the menu. If these boxes ever freeze or lock up, they have always reset themselves automatically after a couple of minutes, then just bring it out of standby with the remote. Good picture. Good audio. Can make up a favourites list. Always picks up new channels. Very user friendly.

Neil, Aberystwyth, Wales, on July 19th, 2007
My second unit has failed today. Same fault as first one: Total power failure. Looked inside, burn marks on power circuit board in exactly the same place as first one (I kept the first one for some reason). Had first unit for 2 years before failure and have had second unit for about 3 years. Doubt if I will buy another one. I will probably put the remotes on e-bay. Seems like people looking for them.

Andy North, Milton Keynes, on September 2nd, 2006
This is a very nice (but now discontinued at Tesco - 1/2 price) box. The best thing about the box for me is that it displays, in the status menu, the name of the transmitter(s) that it is recieving from, which channels and at what strength, all one one screen. No other box does this, even other Daewoo models. This is wonderful for getting the aerial pointing in exactly the right direction - better than a Field Strength meter - go for the position with the most greens and the least yellows. I borrow this box from my Mum whenever I need to set up someone's aeriel! Can't pick up certain ITV channels? Your aeriel ain't pointing quite right.

Simon, Norfolk, on July 25th, 2006
Great box, so good I got a second one for my spare bedroom. New remote controls avalible from ebay for £14. My second one had lost is remote.