Set-Top Boxes

What is Digital TV and why is everyone making such a fuss about it? What is high-definition (HD) TV and how is it different? Do you have to get rid of your old TV and buy a new one? For that matter, what about your existing VCR, DVD and sound system? Should you act now or wait a while? Do you need a set-top box (STB) and what sort should you get -- a high-definition STB or a standard-definition STB? And why is it called a set-top box when it usually sits under it?

The move to Digital TV is a minefield of questions like these. The short answer is yes, you DO need a digital TV receiver, called a set-top box (STB). And despite the name, you can choose to put it on top of, underneath or beside your existing analogue TV. But to understand the what, how, why and when of getting the right STB to suit your needs, you need to know a little bit about Digital TV.

What is Digital TV and what will it do for you?

Firstly, why the switch to Digital TV? Quite simply, to overcome the problems you get with traditional analogue TV. Digital TV offers widescreen viewing, DVD quality, surround sound, extra stations and a crisp, clear picture free from ghosting (double images), fuzziness and "snow".

Sounds good, but what if you're quite happy with the TV and reception you get now? Well, regardless of what you think of your existing TV, you will experience the benefits of Digital TV sooner or later, because the analogue network is due to be "switched off" sometime between 2010 and 2012. When that happens, your old analogue TV simply won't work without an STB plugged into it

Zen Set Top Box So, don't panic. You don't have to get rid of your current TV or other equipment. What you will need to do though, at a minimum, is add a digital TV receiver (or STB) and you can do that now at a minimum cost of only about $100. Or, if you want to go all-out, you can take your investment to 10 times that amount just for the STB -- thousands more if you add a high-definition screen, surround sound and other extras.

There, that's the hard part over.

Now, let's look at the fun part and see all the extra benefits you can get by moving to Digital TV (via an STB) sooner rather than later.

Page:

GoodGearGuide Staff

Good Gear Guide

Comments

1

taolinr
Thu 27/08/2009 - 18:33

The future of STB

It is really confused me because as we know, the STB is really needed for every families. However, the STB companies are still hard in this era for them. WHY?

2

Skye
Fri 28/08/2009 - 15:57

set top box

hello, my brother in law gave us his set top box as we brought his hd plasma tv. We live out in the bush (300kms east of perth,wa) so can we recieve the channels now and also, do you have instructions on how to set it up....brother in law lost the instructions...please help!!
thank you x

3

HOTHIL
Mon 07/09/2009 - 00:30

SET TOP BOX

What brand is the set top box and model number? I've got a User Manual for Thomson DT1500AU set top box if thats any help. Let me know and i'll email you an electronic copy of the book.

4

alaz
Sun 11/10/2009 - 15:00

manual for STB

I have been looking for a manual can you email it to me please??? DT 1500 AU
alaz@hotmail.com

5

Stewart
Mon 02/11/2009 - 08:31

Thomson DT1500AU Set Top Box

Hi, Iam looking for a manual to. Can you please tell me if you had any luck and if so can you pass on any information. Thanks for any help, Stewart. PS Do you know what your 12v adapter has as mA and amps. Mine is 100mA 1A.

6

ondo29
Wed 04/11/2009 - 11:34

Thomson DT1500AU Set Top Box

Hi, I have Thompson DT1500AU but no manual. If you could email me an electronic copy I would be very grateful. Thanks for any help. Regards, Stewart.

7

ondo29
Thu 05/11/2009 - 10:25

Thomson DT1500AU Set Top Box

I have been looking for a manual can you email it to me please??? DT 1500 AU. Thanks, Stewart. ondo@live.com.au

8

Anonymous
Wed 25/11/2009 - 19:13

settop box intallation

how to install settop box.
do we need dish for that

9

Vernon Nolan
Fri 11/12/2009 - 13:48

set top box

I am trying to connect a Centrex CTDTV100 STB to a TCL LCDTV15E75S but the instructions do not seem very clear. The best I can get is a B&W picture and no sound.

If you can give me clear directions, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Vernon

10

Karen
Sat 12/12/2009 - 12:18

analogue tvs

Can you turn any analogue tv into digital with a set top box? Does it need to be a "digital SD or HD"?

11

Shirley
Wed 23/12/2009 - 11:45

no reception

I have a set top box connected. I live in a wheatbelt town in Western Australia I can receive 4 ABC and SBS channels but not GWN or WIN. Could you tell me why?
Ta

12

Anonymous
Tue 29/12/2009 - 09:52

set top box installation

I have installed a Platinum Twin Tuner SD Set Top Box but I am unable to receive digital TV. What should I do ?

13

Ian bowles
Wed 06/01/2010 - 20:19

picture breaking up after one year of use

I have had a set top box connected to my TV for about 1 1/2 years. For the last tree days the picture has been breaking up like you get with a lighting storm or you are playing a bad DVD. I live in Newcastle can you help.
Thanks Ian

14

Peter
Sun 31/01/2010 - 12:23

digital tv reception problems

Have just installed a digital set top box.

Occasionally picture breaks up, but no more often than we experienced with trhe analogue signal.

However picture and sound frequently stall, stutter and skip - as in a faulty DVD.

Signal level is reported as 60% on average, quality 90% and greater.

Where do we start looking for a solution?

15

Sagem set top box
Fri 12/02/2010 - 18:48

Set top box

I just bought a sagem digital set top box and I'm really pleased. Highly recommended

www.sagemdigital.co.uk

Looked at a humax too but decided against

16

Tone
Sun 14/02/2010 - 14:37

STB

We have a motel in Bundaberg Qld with 11 rooms and 13 TV's off one airiel. No cable, no dish. At present we are only running on analogue but we are going on for 20 minutes off for 20minutes whats happening? We have been told switch off is in 12 months time. Do I need 1 STB for the main ariel or do I need one for each TV.

17

Anonymous
Mon 15/02/2010 - 23:15

restore channels

HI
i wrongly press factory reset button on my TEAC HDB820 now i don't know how to restore all channels back please help THANKS

18

Anonymous
Mon 22/02/2010 - 20:47

The same thing happened to me after a similar timeframe. As Dick Smith sells Std definition set top boxes (currently for $37) although I bought 3 @ $27 each. I'd just replace your set top box.

19

AVICKInonymous
Wed 24/02/2010 - 12:12

set top box SD or HD?

HOW DO I FIND OUT IF I NEED A SD OR A HD SET TOP BOX. I DON'T KNOW IF THE TV IS DIGITAL OR ANALOGUE!!!!!!!

20

Jeannie
Sat 27/02/2010 - 23:24

my Tivo set top box was working fine with my TV but since last night it's been 'stuck ' on Channel 7 (I live in Adelaide). I can get only 7, 71, 7HD, 72 and 73. My remote signals all channels, which initially show up on the TV monitor, but they default to 7 on the set top box display. Can anyone figure out what's happening and how I might fix this problem?
Thanks

21

Kellyann
Wed 10/03/2010 - 16:37

Hi. Can I reprogram a Strong brand remote to work on another set top box?

22

MICHELLE
Mon 22/03/2010 - 23:59

I've got a set top box which used to work perfectly when i lived in london, now i live in Calton ng4 1gp and it keeps saying no signal. What do i do?

23

Sanyuan Tang
Mon 29/03/2010 - 13:49

Hello, we are the Chinese manufacturer of TV set top box, We including HD DVB-T, SD DVB-T, HD ISDB-T ect.

24

Games86
Sat 05/06/2010 - 13:20

Can I get a manual sent for the DT1500AU too pls?
games86@live.com.au

25

lina
Wed 07/07/2010 - 12:29

We, Shenzhen Colorbal Technology Co.Ltd, are professional in manufacturing,developing and marketing digital satellite products for nearly 6 years,with covering SD/HD DVB-S FTA/CI, SD/HD DVB-C with Conax CA , SD/HD DVB-T FTA/CI and ect. Hope to establish business relationship with you.

26

greg
Sat 07/08/2010 - 17:31

Hi hothil

I would apreciate a copy of the Thomson STB dt1500 manual if you could supply

Greg

27

kevin
Sun 15/08/2010 - 09:42

hi there i have a thomson dti 1500 could anyone email me a user and instruction manual for this please

thanks kev

28

Harinder
Sat 23/10/2010 - 12:06

Hi, I am new to the country and do not know if a set top box is required for free channels... can anyone advise please?

29

Bruce
Tue 26/10/2010 - 12:43

Can I connect a set top box to a HD digital TV, that does not have an audio out of any kind, by using the aerial in and out of the set top box and then use the audio out of a set top box for head phones or speakers? Will this connection cause any disruption to the TV operation?

30

Ara Markarian
Tue 16/11/2010 - 11:00

I need a manual for thomson dti1500 HD

31

HOTHIL
Fri 24/12/2010 - 20:51

re THOMSON 1500 SET TOP BOX: To all of you who want an electronic copy of this manual, please email me on hilaryliz@gmail.com, and provide your email address so i can send one to you. If you dont provide your email address on here, i cannot send one to you. Or contact me via my own website: http://www.hothil.com.au. Merry Xmas & Happy New Year.

32

Martin
Thu 30/12/2010 - 12:05

Im after info on installing my high def box to my DVD recorder .
Will this work the DVD recorder is not high def.Thanks

33

james
Thu 13/01/2011 - 15:35

BOX*

34

james
Thu 13/01/2011 - 15:38

i have a set top bex and all it says is no signal so we dont get tv now how do i fix it

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