Freeview boxes for under £30-35 - Is it possible?

[bradavon78]

I can't find any ex-On Digital boxes or Freeview boxes for under £33 but most are around the £39.99 mark.

I'd like to buy my brother one as he's off to Uni soon (and will be cancelling his Sky subscription) but really don't want to spend more then £25, maybe £30.

I've been checking out eBay and the prices are virtually the same as in the shops. Does anyone know where the cheapest they can be bought? I don't mind if it's second hand (it must have the power cable and remote though).

[Nick_UK]

Why not buy a new one from Argos ? Catalogue number 532/0390 - £29.99!

[bradavon78]

Why not indeed, thanks.

Good price.

[bradavon78]

Are there any others? What's the cheapest with a 7 Day EPG?

Cheers

[Chris Muriel]

I've seen them in the £20-30 range at local Cash Generator stores and similar.

Chris Muriel, Manchester

[father alice]

Woolies did an echostar with 7 day epg for £30 a while back.
Richer Sounds sometimes have them cheap.

Loads about for £30 - try the supermarkets too.

[father alice]

Amazon have one at £28 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...054901-7316763

[bradavon78]

Cheers

What about with RF Modulator?

I forgot to mention it's going to be plugged into a 14/15" Matsui which has no Scart socket. It's for my brother as I said who needs it for the summer while down from Uni. He'll probably take it back with him and his Uni TV has Scart but until then it's RF only.

[Tony Hoyle]

The cheaper boxes generally don't have modulators.

Can't you just connect it into the back of a VCR and use the modulator from that?

[LV426]

Originally Posted by bradavon78

What about with RF Modulator?....I forgot to mention it's going to be plugged into a 14/15" Matsui which has no Scart socket. ....

Has the said TV got no AV input at all - e.g. a front "camcorder" input (often a pair of RCA phono sockets coloured yellow & white) ? If it has these, then any STB will do, along with a suitable cable and/or adaptor.

[bradavon78]

Thanks guys

Nope, literally RF only. It's one of those really crappy Matsui TVs. I'd never have bought it but now he has it it will do for now.

I've seen a few with modulators and there is always Ex-ITV Digital boxes all of which have modulators. You can find these on eBay.

Originally Posted by Tony Hoyle

Can't you just connect it into the back of a VCR and use the modulator from that?

Yep but he wouldn't like that. I can see his point.

[father alice]

You can buy an external rf modulator for about £10 - much smaller than using a vcr if he is fussy. that said - buy a freeview box with one built in if it is important.

[bradavon78]

Originally Posted by father alice

You can buy an external rf modulator for about £10 - much smaller than using a vcr if he is fussy

That is indeed cheaper than I was expecting cheers.

It's not so much being fussy it's the fact to watch Freeview via a VCR would mean having to ALWAYS watch Freeview on the video channel and then the Video's AV channel + not being able to record of analogue and watch Freeview at the same time.

buy a freeview box with one built in if it is important.

As I can't see the TV changing any time soon it is.

Cheers.

If all else fails and I can't find a Freeview box with RF (as most don't have them) I'll just make sure he gets an Ex-ITV Digital box. The Philips ones are a bit dodgy (very slow changing channels) but the Pioneers ones are well made, decent and easy to find on eBay.

[father alice]

try here for example http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSea...=AV10363&N=411

or try ebay.

Still suggest getting one built in - try sagem itd64 eg http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...code=SAG-ITD64 or Richer sounds, and get them to price match, plus knock £5 off for the price beat - print off all the internet pages and take them in store with you. http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...1a973a920d9d00