SD Freesat boxes

Trevord

Finding it hard to get any real info about the Freesat SD boxes. There seem to be more HD box reviews and relatively few SD box reviews on the web.

Was thinking of getting the real Grundig SD Freesat box (not the powercity version). One review indicates that sat scanning is slow, menus are not very intuitive, and capacity to edit menus is very limited. I realise that if you look hard enough you can find a negative review of anything on the web, but I still thought that these were fairly serious criticisms.

Wondering if this refers to earlier versions and if software upgrades have addressed some of these issues.

Should I be considering other SD boxes (Bush, Goodmans) or are they all just rebadges of the same technology ?

Any insights anyone has (or links to reviews) would be appreciated.

redout

I think Alba own all 3 providers (Bush, Grundig and Goodmans) so they are all pretty similar. There was issues at the start but most are suppose to have been addressed by software updates.

givecredit

I own a Humax Foxsat hd box and A grundig SD freesat box. Personally i prefer the epg system in the grundig. Easier to use. More like skys epg in operation. I find the navagation in Humax confusing and hard to get used to.

On a 32 inch tv the grundig gives a great picture. The add channels feature is easier to use on the grundig. When channels is added there is no switching between freesat mode and non freesat mode, like with the humax. The added channels are at the bottom of the channels list, so the channel up/down button finds them.

For €76 you cant go wrong. Highly recommended!!!

byte

The scan on the Grundig Freesat box is quite slow. About 20mins or so. Though, after it's done once, I suppose it'll hardly be done again, as new channels get added automatically.

BCawley

Do you need to hook up freesat boxes to a roof aerial or satellite dish to receive channels? (Sorry for going OT )

Trevord

givecredit wrote: »

I own a Humax Foxsat hd box and A grundig SD freesat box. Personally i prefer the epg system in the grundig. Easier to use. More like skys epg in operation. I find the navagation in Humax confusing and hard to get used to.

On a 32 inch tv the grundig gives a great picture. The add channels feature is easier to use on the grundig. When channels is added there is no switching between freesat mode and non freesat mode, like with the humax. The added channels are at the bottom of the channels list, so the channel up/down button finds them.

For €76 you cant go wrong. Highly recommended!!!

Ordered 2 X Grundig SD boxes from satellite superstore. 120 sterling delivered

Thanks Givecredit.

redout

BCawley wrote: »

Do you need to hook up freesat boxes to a roof aerial or satellite dish to receive channels? (Sorry for going OT )

Hook it up to your Sky dish or any dish and point at 28 East.

watty

Freesat = Satellite, needs 60cm to 80cm dish in Ireland. 40 to 45cm dishes are for local services Germany or south of UK.

Freeview = Aerial, Digital service only from UK TV masts. Other countries DTT (digital Terrestrial) especially ours is NOT called Freeview and is not compatible. Only some people in Ireland can receive it as the signal is poorer than Analogue UK TV.

TheDriver

Bet your well sick of that line Watty!!!!!

corazon

I have a Grundig Freesat box and a 60cm dish but it is not working. It won't scan even do I tested the line with a satellite finder and am getting a very strong signal. It just sits at 0% on the scan and never moves. Any ideas?

redout

Try unplug from mains and leave it a couple of minutes then try again.

byte

The first Grundig Freesat box I tested at work had the same problem. Just a faulty box, it seemed. May not necessarily be your problem, though.

Are you sure your dish is pointed at Astra 2 28.2E?

rd100

The only problem with the SD boxes is the colour alinement if you look at the itv 2 & 3 onscreen logos the colour is out of alinement with the monocrome

corazon

I took my Grundig box to my neighbours and it works fine there. His Sky box won't work with my dish. I have checked all the wiring and it seems ok. Could I have a bad dish? It is a brand new Raven with Sharp LNB.

corazon

Got everything up and running. Dish alignment was the problem. Pretty happy with Freesat SD box. Good picture quality and not to expensive to set up. £49 for the box in Enniskillen and €54 for the dish locally.

byte

corazon wrote: »

Got everything up and running. Dish alignment was the problem. Pretty happy with Freesat SD box. Good picture quality and not to expensive to set up. £49 for the box in Enniskillen and €54 for the dish locally.

Good to see you got sorted out.