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Budget Freeview boxes
Cheap Freeview Set Top Box Reviews
If you're looking to buy a cheap Freeview box for terrestrial digital TV there are many budget set top boxes to choose from under £50, with the cheapest Freeview receivers available to buy online under £30.
This review takes a typical cheap Freeview set top box through its paces to test its performance - assessing picture quality, ease of use and receiver functionality in an attempt to assess whether budget Freeview boxes really are 'value for money' or whether it's worth paying £20 extra for a Humax set top box.
Matsui DTR 1 Budget Freeview Box
We review how well a budget Freeview digital box - the Matsui DTR1 worked in poor reception areas and list the relative pros and cons of buying a cheap receiver below.
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Matsui DTR1 Freeview Receiver Review
For a cheap Freeview box, the Matsui DTR1 proved very easy to install and use and it offered a respectable number of features. It found all available Freeview TV channels and completed installation in less than one minute. Adding new channels and updating Freeview channel numbers was easy too, with a fast search option which quickly added the new "More4 and ITV4" digital TV channels to the EPG.
Picture Quality
Freeview digital TV picture quality was good with the Matsui DTR1. However, as a cheap set top box it lacked the definition and clarity of the Humax PVR and other more expensive digital TV receivers. RGB pictures were rather dark compared to CVBS,implying that the RGB Scart video output level was rather low. The box performed well in poor Freeview signal areas, although the receiver sensitivity was not up to the standards of the Humax PVR 800T, although it did pass our weak Freeview signal test.
Digital TV Interactive Services
Accessing BBCi, Digital Teletext and Interactive TV services through the "red button" was reassuringly fast. The processor speed of the Matsui Freeview set top box was good, giving fast load times of all interactive digital TV services.
Cheap Freeview Box Limitations
In common with other cheap Freeview receivers, the Matsui DTR-1 front panel pushbuttons proved rather awkward to use, often needing a firm push to make them work. However, the well laid out handset made up for this with a good range of functions. However, it wasn't a "learning remote" so wouldn't control a TV.
When you buy a cheap Freeview box, check whether it has a built in UHF modulator as you'll need this feature if you want to distribute Freeview TV around your home, or if you have an old TV without a scart socket.
If you've already purchased a cheap Freeview receiver without a modulator, the solution to this problem is to buy an inexpensive universal UHF Modulator. This will then allow you
to distribute Freeview digital TV channels to other TV's in your home, using a separate
Freeview distribution amplifier.
It is possible to buy a Universal Modulator for around £30 and Freeview compatible distribution amplifiers
between £30 and £40 on eBay.co.uk. The external modulator connects via a Scart cable to your Freeview set top box, providing a modulated UHF signal on a preset (adjustable) channel between UHF 21 and 68.
The budget price Matsui DTR1 Freeview set top box lacks a UHF modulator. If you want to connect it to an old TV that doesn't have a rear panel Scart socket then you'd either have to connect it via an unused Scart socket on your video recorder (if you have one) to watch it through your VCR, or buy the external UHF modulator described above. The external modulator generates a modulated UHF signal to add Freeview TV channels to your television (via the aerial socket).
Matsui DTR1 Software Bugs
One common problem with the Matsui DTR1 is loss of channels, needing total re-installation. Since over the air software upgrades are not available, the unit should be returned to Dixons for repair.
Review Conclusions
In summary, aside from the software bug, the Matsui DTR1 is a budget Freeview receiver with good performance for a cheap price. The picture quality of the DTR1 was good for the price, and only on high resolution widescreen televisions were its limitations seen.
Summary
As a budget Freeview set top box, the Matsui DTR1 performs very well indeed with some second hand boxes now available to purchase on Ebay for very cheap prices.
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DVB-T Compatible PC TV Cards
Read our Hauppauge WinTV PVR review for details about how to record your favourite TV programmes onto high quality DVD's from the MPEG2 files created by a WinTV PC card (subject to copyright).
Disclaimer
The information contained on this Freeview receiver review page is provided in good faith and is accurate to the best of our ability. We offer no guarantee regarding accuracy of information featured on this site.
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