I am looking for a good quality digital set top box for my 11 year old son. I'd like a lower price box, what do you suggest?
There are a number of set-top boxes that are available on the market these days, and most set-top boxes will do exactly what you want. However you should also bear in mind that it is likely that you set-top box could be used for a large amount of time during the day, in fact after switchover, it is likely that your set-top box will be switched on and left on every single time that you watch television, so as such you should try and look for good quality equipment to purchase which is likely to give you months and years of viewing.
Here are the types of things that you should look out for and consider when you purchase a set-top box:
- Number of connections – most set top boxes have at least one SCART connection. However if you want to connect more than one device using SCART cables, then you will need to find a set-top box with two sockets, or purchase a separate SCART switch box
- Card Slots – A number of suppliers have now started to offer subscription services that can be offered using a viewing card, these services include Setanta Sports which allows you to view live Premiership Football. Over time we would expect a whole host of other providers to offer content that would be available with a viewing card that you can insert into your set-top box
- Recording functionality – Some set top boxes have hard disks built into them which allow you to use your set-top box to record, rewind, and pause live television, this is ideal if you are also thinking of replacing your VCR.
- Other services – You can also purchase set top boxes, which offer Electronic Program Guides (EPG's) that will help you schedule your viewing, and services that broadcast text when you are listening to Digital radio through your set-top box.
- Warranties – The majority of set-top boxes offer at least a 12 month warranty, but it may also be worth looking at products that offer a longer warranty so that if anything does go wrong, the manufacturer can help to fix it
At Simplifydigital we currently sell two Freeview set top boxes, the Daewoo DSD800M which is £44.99, and the Daewoo DSD9502T which allows you to rewind, pause and record live television for £129. Both have had good reviews and are simple to use. Why not give us a call today for your free consultation. We are confident that we will be able to find the right services and products for your needs.
If I do not wish to tie myself down to a fixed telephone line, what options are available using a mobile telephone modem
There are a number of options for customers who do not wish to use a fixed line for the purposes of broadband, you can connect some mobile phones to your PC and use them as a modem, but this can be quite expensive. The best option to perhaps consider is to sign up to a broadband service from one of the mobile telephony suppliers. With these types of services you obtain a special type of modem that plugs into your laptop usually via your USB port, and utilizes the mobile telephony network to enable you to surf the web. Some example prices of these types of service include T-Mobile's Web ‘n' Walk packages which start from around £20 per month, or 3's mobile broadband services which start at around £10 per month. You should also be aware that these services would tie your into a contract and the normal usage restrictions would apply depending on which package you sign up to.
I live in a conservation area, so I don't think I can have a satellite dish but I really want Sky One...
If you live in a conservation area/National park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it may be possible to install a satellite dish. However you will need to get planning permission to install a dish if any of the following conditions apply:
- The dish exceeds 90cm in any dimension
- Part of the proposed dish will project higher than the highest part of the roof
- The dish is installed on a chimney
- The dish is installed on a building exceeding 15m in height
- It is on a wall of roof-slope fronting a highway (including a footway)
- It is not located so that its visual impact is minimised
- It is not removed as soon as it is no longer required
- There is already a dish on the building
If you do live in a conservation area, we would advise that you check with your local authority in any case before installing a Satellite dish, as you may be liable to pay any costs of relocating your Satellite dish if it contravenes any rules set by your local authority. Another option that you may wish to consider is to obtain Digital TV by another means including Cable, or via your Phone Line, however it may not be possible to obtain Sky One using these other services.
Will my VCR still work after the digital switchover?
You will be able to record and playback videos using your VCR after the switchover, however you will only be able to record the same channel that you are watching. So for example if you are watching BBC One on your TV, you will only be able to use your VCR to record BBC One.
However after the switchover if you would like to have the flexibility of watching a program while recording another one on a different channel simultaneously, you can purchase a Personal Video Recorder or PVR, a PVR usually has a hard drive and will allow you to record the programs that you want and play them back whenever you want. Some examples of PVR devices include Top Up TV's set top box, Virgin Media's V+ service, and Sky's Sky+ service.
I have recently moved into a new house, I have tried to sign up to a new broadband service, but the provider has said that there is an incompatible service on the line, what can I do?
If you are moving into a new property, and apply for broadband, it is possible that an incompatible service may be left on the line from the previous occupants internet service provider, this is usually known as a ‘tag' or a marker. If when the previous owner moves house and the ‘tag' or marker is not removed then the new service provider who you would like to provision your broadband service will stopped from completing the broadband order.
If this is the case it is possible for you to contact BT Wholesale who have devised a process with the help of Ofcom to remove tags and markers from the phone line. You should speak to BT Wholesale's dedicated ‘tags' department on 0800 169 0934 who will be able to arrange for the tag to be removed. Please be aware however that BT Wholesale is not a consumer facing department of BT and you may experience some waiting time in getting through to them, it may also be helpful and quicker, for you to contact your ISP and see if they can contact BT Wholesale on your behalf to remove the tag on your line.