silvercrest box at Lidl next week

Trevord

The silverscrest box (not the whole system) is available next week in Lidl

This one has a HDMI output.

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20090615.p.SilvercrestHDMIDigitalSatelliteReceiver

So is this an SD box that can be connected with a HDMI cable ? What's the point of that ?

byte

It just upscales SD content, it's not a HD box.

Dunno the point in having HDMI port, but as new TV's are adding lots of HDMI ports (Samsung B4 series for example only have 1 Scart, but 3 or more HDMI ports).

steveon

Yup an Sd box with a HDMI output complete waste of time but there a ball of junk in the first place so any1 thinking of buying one should stay clear...

byte

steveon wrote: »

Yup an Sd box with a HDMI output complete waste of time but there a ball of junk in the first place so any1 thinking of buying one should stay clear...

While I'm not the biggest fan of these boxes (best basic FTA box would be a Technomate 5200 IMO), they're surely not junk. While they don't have a great UI, they do work, and generally reliable from what I've seen.

PauloMN

steveon wrote: »

Yup an Sd box with a HDMI output complete waste of time but there a ball of junk in the first place so any1 thinking of buying one should stay clear...

...and buy something from you instead right?

They're a ball of junk of course if you're a satellite services provider.

I've two of them - both the narrow one and the wide one - and they work perfectly. I fail to see how they can be classified as a ball of junk.

muincav

PauloMN wrote: »

...and buy something from you instead right?

They're a ball of junk of course if you're a satellite services provider.

I've two of them - both the narrow one and the wide one - and they work perfectly. I fail to see how they can be classified as a ball of junk.

I must agree strongly. I dont see how anyone can call it "junk". I have 2 for quite a few years without any problems and for very little money once you install it yourself. For a first FTA box you wont be dissappointed!

Dony

I was of the opinion that the reason these boxes had a hdmi output was that they could handle the HD (high-definition) channels like bbc HD and itv HD. Am I wrong?
Also a question for anyone who knows the answer! Are these lidl boxes capable of using the red button facility for stuff like interactive sports etc on the bbc?

PauloMN

Dony wrote: »

I was of the opinion that the reason these boxes had a hdmi output was that they could handle the HD (high-definition) channels like bbc HD and itv HD. Am I wrong?
Also a question for anyone who knows the answer! Are these lidl boxes capable of using the red button facility for stuff like interactive sports etc on the bbc?

No the red button function isn't available, however the separate streams are available as separate channels. So for example I was able to watch the full snooker coverage on the box just by going to a separate channel (which I just added to my favourites).

Dony

Cheers paulo, yeah its dead handy for the snooker. Its great too (if yr a fan of tennis) for movig around the different courts when wimbledon is on. I presume Lidl/ aldi will be bringing out a freesat box with full hd soon? Hope one with a hard drive comes out soon.

celticfc

steveon wrote: »

Yup an Sd box with a HDMI output complete waste of time but there a ball of junk in the first place so any1 thinking of buying one should stay clear...

I too strongly disagree. The Lidl box may hot have a fancy Freesat EPG etc., but it's easy to set up, easy to use, reliable, inexpensive and a perfect starter into satellite TV.

As for the Lidl satellite kits, the dish brackets are known as a bit flimsy, however there's not a lot you can criticise about the STB. They are by no means junk.

Dony wrote: »

I was of the opinion that the reason these boxes had a hdmi output was that they could handle the HD (high-definition) channels like bbc HD and itv HD. Am I wrong?

Nope, it doesn't support HD television at all. A HDMI connection is kind of pointless on this STB tbh (unless you are out of scart sockets on your TV).

Dony wrote: »

I presume Lidl/ aldi will be bringing out a freesat box with full hd soon? Hope one with a hard drive comes out soon.

They had a HDD recorder version of the Silvercrest SL65 a few months back, but seeing as they only have now & next instead of a 7-day EPG it makes scheduling awkward. They have yet to have a HD STB or a Freesat branded STB as yet.

watty

muincav wrote: »

I must agree strongly. I dont see how anyone can call it "junk". I have 2 for quite a few years without any problems and for very little money once you install it yourself. For a first FTA box you wont be dissappointed!

They are not junk, but IMO poor value today compared with a year or two ago.

steveon

PauloMN wrote: »

...and buy something from you instead right?

They're a ball of junk of course if you're a satellite services provider.

I've two of them - both the narrow one and the wide one - and they work perfectly. I fail to see how they can be classified as a ball of junk.

I call them a ball of junk as they are poorly maid with powersupplys that are always failing, i have about 20 of them in my shed....I agree with Byte that the Technomate are by far a better product. My particular fav is the 5200 Super ..as it has an extremly reliable tuner and is easily upgraded and heavily supported with regular software updates....

I also just install and MVISION 200 Combo with RTE and fta dish equipped to it...would highly recommend to any1 ...a seriously lovely piece of kit..

watty

Play nice folks

These arn't good value anymore for most people now that you can get Freesat receivers and loads of people sell cheap FTA non-Freesat boxes.

Also for the non-technical the HDMI is absolutely misleading as people think this means HD.

There is nothing in this thread that hasn't been said before in the paired down Aldi/Lidl thread.