Set-Top Boxes
- — 20 November, 2007 18:30
- What is Digital TV and what will it do for you?
- HDTV and SDTV
- Resolutions
- Multichannelling
- Future services
- What is a Set-Top Box (STB)?
- Inside the box
- Why does my STB put black bars on my TV?
- What about Electronic Program Guides (EPGs)?
- Personal Video Recorders (PVRs)
- Timeshifting
- Foxtel STB goes PVR
- Using your other existing equipment
What about Electronic Program Guides (EPGs)?
For those of us who find it difficult to program our video recorder (which is most of us) the advent of the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is a blessing. An EPG is basically the onscreen equivalent of your printed TV guide, with the advantage that it is always up-to-date and accessible at the push of a button on the remote control. This really becomes useful when it can be used to schedule programs for automated recording on to the hard-disk drive of a Personal Video Recorder (PVR). At last, choosing programs to record becomes a simple point-and-click process.
Alas, while the EPG is good in theory, in practice it has not been possible until very recently, and even now EPGs are in their infancy. So far, the only EPGs available are the one included with Foxtel Digital (the Foxtel Digital Electronic Program Guide that comes with the extra-cost optional Foxtel iQ Personal Digital Recorder) and the recently introduced "Iceguide" -- a subscription-based free-to-air digital television guide put together by Australian-owned IceTV (www.icetv.com.au). For a weekly fee, Iceguide provides an onscreen, week-in-advance guide of free-to-air television channels.
The drawback is that the Iceguide runs on a PC with an Internet connection and therefore requires the STB to be able to connect to a PC (either through Ethernet or USB) to function.
Personal Video Recorders (PVRs)
PVRs are the next generation of television recording devices replacing the VCR. Unlike the VCR they use an internal hard disk for storing many hours of recorded programs -- typically over 40 hours.
PVRs come in many brands and configurations and include some combination of STB (HD or SD), an internal hard drive and DVD burner.
A top-line PVR may have all three devices built-in -- STB, hard drive and DVD burner. Or it may just have the STB and hard drive, or the STB and DVD burner. Depending on configuration, they range in price from around $500 to three or four times that much.
Comments
taolinr
1
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?
Skye
2
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
HOTHIL
3
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.
alaz
4
manual for STB
I have been looking for a manual can you email it to me please??? DT 1500 AU
alaz@hotmail.com
Stewart
5
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.
ondo29
6
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.
ondo29
7
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
Anonymous
8
settop box intallation
how to install settop box.
do we need dish for that
Vernon Nolan
9
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
Karen
10
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"?
Shirley
11
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
Anonymous
12
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 ?
Ian bowles
13
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
Peter
14
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?
Sagem set top box
15
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
Tone
16
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.
Anonymous
17
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
Anonymous
18
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.
AVICKInonymous
19
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!!!!!!!
Jeannie
20
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
Kellyann
21
Hi. Can I reprogram a Strong brand remote to work on another set top box?
MICHELLE
22
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?
Sanyuan Tang
23
Hello, we are the Chinese manufacturer of TV set top box, We including HD DVB-T, SD DVB-T, HD ISDB-T ect.
Games86
24
Can I get a manual sent for the DT1500AU too pls?
games86@live.com.au
lina
25
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.
greg
26
Hi hothil
I would apreciate a copy of the Thomson STB dt1500 manual if you could supply
Greg
kevin
27
hi there i have a thomson dti 1500 could anyone email me a user and instruction manual for this please
thanks kev
Harinder
28
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?
Bruce
29
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?
Ara Markarian
30
I need a manual for thomson dti1500 HD
HOTHIL
31
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.
Martin
32
Im after info on installing my high def box to my DVD recorder .
Will this work the DVD recorder is not high def.Thanks
james
33
BOX*
james
34
i have a set top bex and all it says is no signal so we dont get tv now how do i fix it