Help choosing a combo receiver

gooner99

Hi. My brother is looking for a combo receiver to replace his sky. I install my own tv/sat systems so he asked me to get it for him. Money is tight so we're looking at the low cost options. I know they are not as good as better known brands and more expensive models, but really they are only after a reliable box that will give them saorview and freesat in one listing via their existing sky dish. I have linked a couple below. Which of these would you go for and if neither, would you have any other recommendations in and around the same price. Scart connection is a must as they have an old widescreen with no hdmi, so that may limit their options.

http://www.tvtrade.ie/combo-box.html TV Star™ TS4000 Combo Box

http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Revez-UK-and-irish-Tv-combo-box-HDST800-REVEZHDST800.html

ranger4

Have Installed a few of the TV star combos which seem good value for money.

winston_1

ranger4 wrote: »

Have Installed a few of the TV star combos which seem good value for money.

It doesn't have a Scart output which was one of the OPs requirements. A scart adaptor won't give RGB.

gooner99

Thanks for the replies. I linked the TV Star one as even though it has no scart output, the description implies that you could use the rca to scart?

winston_1

gooner99 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I linked the TV Star one as even though it has no scart output, the description implies that you could use the rca to scart?

Indeed but that won't give a RGB feed.

gooner99

winston_1 wrote: »

Indeed but that won't give a RGB feed.

so no good for a tv with scart input only?

winston_1

gooner99 wrote: »

so no good for a tv with scart input only?

It will work with the adapter but you won't get the best quality, composite only.

gooner99

Ah ok.So I'm best to go for one with a proper scart output?

gooner99

Any idea what these are like?

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Synaps-TSHD-2875-Combo-Receiver-UK-Freeview-Irish-Saorview-Channels-FullHD-/161351862236?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Satellite_TV_Receivers&hash=item25915207dc

gooner99

gooner99 wrote: »

Ah ok.So I'm best to go for one with a proper scart output?

I need to be ordering this soon to have a chance of getting it this side of Christmas.Anyone an opinion on whether I'm better to go for the one with scart to scart or RCA to scart?

Thurston?

Switch a source connected to the TV in question between RGB & composite (CVBS) & see what you think. Of course the output device & the TV input must be RGB capable.

swoofer

get this one but ask if in stock first, with p&p about 85 euros

http://satsklep.pl/pl/p/Tuner-Ferguson-Ariva-153-Combo-/11566

gooner99

swoofer wrote: »

get this one but ask if in stock first, with p&p about 85 euros

http://satsklep.pl/pl/p/Tuner-Ferguson-Ariva-153-Combo-/11566

Cheers, but would prefer to get something cheaper.

gooner99

Thanks for the replies all. I am skeptical myself on the cheaper boxes. So had a chat with my brother and we went for a Ferguson Ariva 150 @ €80 instead. We have one in the family and it seems pretty good.Should be a better buy than the ones I had been looking at.