Where to by a digital set top box?

supersunbird

supersunbird

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Where to buy a digital set top box?

Where can I buy a digital tuner set top box?

Need to display SABC and ETV on a CRT TV and the location is satellite dish prohibitive and the analogue TV signal is horrendous. Digital tuner in a Samsung LED works a charm though from the same aerial, so need a digital tuner set top box if possible.
 
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What, no one even can give me a hint on where to look for a DVB tuner set top box locally? Can I look at china malls? Any better known retailers?
 
I imagine people were sleeping on a Sunday night instead of looking on the forum.
 
supersunbird said:
What, no one even can give me a hint on where to look for a DVB tuner set top box locally? Can I look at china malls? Any better known retailers?
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You would have to import because they have not released the STB yet.

The problem with importing is that they have not decided on encryption yet, so you may get something... then it wont work tomorrow.

If you come right with China town then i'll be interested to hear though.
 
Nerfherder said:
You would have to import because they have not released the STB yet.

The problem with importing is that they have not decided on encryption yet, so you may get something... then it wont work tomorrow.

If you come right with China town then i'll be interested to hear though.
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Well all current digital tuners in new TVs also won't work, so be it. And its better than a satellite dish that stops working whenever it rains to heavily and the picture and sound quality is perfectly clear on digital.

Unlikely to import since it would take too much time, and if the costs too high then might as well buy a decoder and dish installation pack. But will update if I find a solution.
 
JustAsk said:
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/135426344/HD_DVB_T2_TV_RECEIVER_WATCH_15_HD_TV_CHANNELS_FOR_FREE.html
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Thanks :)

But apprehensive that I cant pay for it by CC.

I see it comes with a little aerial, will try that and if it doesn't work go rooftop areal route.

McGuywer said:
Mnet as well? All in HD?
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I doubt it, the Mnet thing is probably wrong and they don't show SABC HD 1 on the list but I will surely detects it, which is not really used and is the only HD dectected by the smart TVs tuner. Picture quality is still very good though.
 
supersunbird said:
Thanks :)

But apprehensive that I cant pay for it by CC.

I see it comes with a little aerial, will try that and if it doesn't work go rooftop areal route.



I doubt it, the Mnet thing is probably wrong and they don't show SABC HD 1 on the list but I will surely detects it, which is not really used and is the only HD dectected by the smart TVs tuner. Picture quality is still very good though.
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Its not wrong (its part of the DTT trial)...
 
It's correct,but the dstv channels are currently encrypted afaik.Haven't check it a while.

Don't read too much in the channel list on bob.It's a trial phase,channels come and go.Last time i checked all 3 sabc channels was also in hd,not only one.
 
So you spend R599 on a DTT decoder and then when it finally launches they'll go with conditional access, meaning that you'll be left with the crappiest of the crap channels...and I can only imagine that Multichoice won't have their channels in the clear (this is only a trial afterall). Also seeing that its Ultronic (cheap Chinese brand) shouldn't one be able to pick it up from some of there. Will be trawling Sable Square to see if I can pick it up from there.
 
brixton tower said:
So you spend R599 on a DTT decoder and then when it finally launches they'll go with conditional access, meaning that you'll be left with the crappiest of the crap channels...and I can only imagine that Multichoice won't have their channels in the clear (this is only a trial afterall). Also seeing that its Ultronic (cheap Chinese brand) shouldn't one be able to pick it up from some of there. Will be trawling Sable Square to see if I can pick it up from there.
Click to expand...

It might only be needed for two months, but its urgent.
 
brixton tower said:
So you spend R599 on a DTT decoder and then when it finally launches they'll go with conditional access, meaning that you'll be left with the crappiest of the crap channels...and I can only imagine that Multichoice won't have their channels in the clear (this is only a trial afterall). Also seeing that its Ultronic (cheap Chinese brand) shouldn't one be able to pick it up from some of there. Will be trawling Sable Square to see if I can pick it up from there.
Click to expand...

No man...there will be no encryption on the dtt channels.The decision was already made.The subsidized box will come ca ready but the broadcast will be in the clear.Dstv will launch with their Gotv platform...i don't think any sane person expects to have the mnet channels unencrypted.

Personally i would not buy ANY dtt box,now or later.
 
the set top box process has been ongoing for well over a year, but as with everything else these wheels have been turning slowly. The dotted line has not been signed yet.

Could be closer to two years, now that I think about it.


/stops
 
So this afternoon I went off to Sable Square in search of this Chinese DTT decoder.

Sable Square over the last few years Sable Square, which used to host a whole lot of "value stores" has been transformed into a "China Town"- basically Chinese shopowners selling all their crap wares under the sun. I wouldn't normally go there but this Ultronic DTT-T2 decoder had me sniffing around some of the electronic shops which had some of the crappiest of the crap electronics.

After about 8 minutes of sniffing around, I found the decoder in a non-descript shop and it the display ad/poster was similiar to the one I had spotted on Bid or Buy...even the price was the same- R599.

I bought it and 30 minutes later connected it to my tv. Came with a little antenna. It worked out of the box, and everything seems to have been set-up beforehand.

First impressions: Despite boasting of 15 channels, there's not much to choose from.
SABC 1, 2, 3, SABC HD 1 (continuous loop) and eTV (very poor quality video compared to SABC channels)....along with Tshwane TV, TBN (test pattern), Mindset Learn, Mindset Health (test, shows looping graphic), Bakgatla TV (North West community tv station), Game TV (blank) and an Interactive channel (also blank), and finally a Sentech test channel (also displaying a test card).

Should you get it? For R600 it is a bit steep and I bet that in a few months there'll be cheaper Chinese "pirate" decoders available. Not knowing how DTT will eventually pan out, I'd say hold onto your wallet. Also this decoder does not come with a Conditional Access module, and like I said in another post, earlier adopters could be left with a very expensive doorstop when DTT (eventually launches).

What I'd like to see: Sabido's (eTV's channels) on the DTT network, all the channels in proper widescreen.

Other bits: Remote control is a bit slow to respond.
 
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