Alba: STB8

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Karl, Norwich, on April 1st, 2008
Bought one evening as it was cheap in Sainsburys @ £17.99. My analogue signal is a bit scetchy, channel 5 is irritiating. My line coax is a split from the main ariel, which is over 10 years old, and isn't great on the main house TV. Plugged in all cables (no SCART included), switched on and 5 mins later the box was set up, and working fine. Signal strength indicated approx 65%, or above, on all channels. I have not used other digital units before, so my comment is based in comparison to analogue. Picture quality is good. Sound is clear, essentially no different to before, just a little quieter (-2 or 3 marks). The box is responsive, and changes channel promptly. The EPG is 7days (on its own page) or 2days (with small channel preview). The EPG features a reminder system which keeps in memory any TV listing that you want to be reminded to watch when it starts, this retains memory even when switched off at the wall. A "wide" button controlls the aspect ratio (full screen, centre cutout, letterbox). Digital "text" is offered, "Subtitles", "Vol +/-" which retains the last volume when the unit it was switched off. A "recall" function allows for switching back to the last viewed channel. Power consumption is 7watts MAX. The possibly bad points are: The green power light (red on standby) can be distracting at night (although isn't particuarily bright). The temperature reaching around 30 deg at the centre front of the box, and remaining at that for the duration of a day (constantly on). No brightness/scene mode control, so both the TV and STB8 remotes are needed. A great, cheap box. No freeze-ups, easy to use, fairly low power consumption. Im impressed!

Andy, Edinburgh, on January 30th, 2008
A cheap plastic box. only good is easy set up. other time just keep freezing . if not freezing just no colour but is best picture. I only use 2 day. I will take the refund. good luck!!

Lee, Hartlepool, on November 24th, 2007
picked up a good signal with an internal ariel.love the reset button ,good box so far..

Steve (Voyage35) - Chelmsford, on November 13th, 2007
Not the best of boxes I have to say. I have had problems with the box freezing and having to be reset. So good and Bad points as follows: Good Points • Quick easy set up • Good picture quality • Easy to use remote • 14 day EPG using Extra Text (but see alos bad points) • Handy reset button (only a good feature as it keeps freezing) • (for me) Free as offered in exchange for data monitoring. Bad points • Only one Scart socket – has tendency to take over the TV and you may have to switch box off to play a video. • Reminder setting only – box needs to stay ON all the time for reminders to work as will not bring the box out of Standby Mode. • No timer function (see above). Reminders only work with the EPG. If programme is running late and you are recording you will miss the end (I have). • Box freezes after downloading the latest 14 day EPG (in 10 days I have had to reset 6 times). If then you have a reminder set you will get a recording of the stuck EPG. (but see good points re reset button) • Can’t set reminders during download period (3AM) It may be that some of the above are bugs in the new software for the Extra Text (see the Freeview forums) but it is annoying nonetheless. If all you want is a box to convert a TV to digital viewing then this may be a choice but for the price there are better boxes on the market (according to the forums). I can’t in all honesty give this more than 2 stars with the current problems I have.

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