Freeview Box question

The Dee Man · 01-08-2011, 21:09

Does anyone know of a current Freeview Box with a programmable remote?

The remote of a Sony VTX-D800U could be programmed to to provide basic functions on most popular TV makes. I'm really only looking for volume & on / off as the channel change will be via the Freeview Box

gomezz · 01-08-2011, 21:14

Most do that in my experience.

The Dee Man · 01-08-2011, 21:25

Hi gomezz,

Thanks for the quick reply. Wasn't aware that nearly all boxes did it - I'll have to do a bit more research.

bobcar · 01-08-2011, 21:34

Simple universal remotes are very cheap and may be more easily (cheaply) replaceable so would be another option - that means you could concentrate on getting the right box.

John Currie · 01-08-2011, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dee Man

Wasn't aware that nearly all boxes did it

They don't.

gomezz · 02-08-2011, 07:46

All the Humax models I have experience of do.
My Pioneer HDD/DVDR and Bluray players do.
My JVC and Panasonics VCRs do.
My Denon AV amp does.

In fact, I cannot recall any AV equipment I have owned which did not have a remote with the ability to have basic control of the TV.

However I do use mulit-device universal remotes. The One for All 2 in 1 model which I use in the bedroom is inexpensive and may suit the OP

John Currie · 02-08-2011, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

All the Humax models I have experience of do.
My Pioneer HDD/DVDR and Bluray players do.
My JVC and Panasonics VCRs do.
My Denon AV amp does.

In fact, I cannot recall any AV equipment I have owned which did not have a remote with the ability to have basic control of the TV

All very well but the OP is asking about a standard Freeview box.
The upmarket boxes like Humax do but your standard off-the-shelf supermarket boxes don't.

gomezz · 02-08-2011, 11:23

As they are coming from a Sony then they are not so likely to be in the market for a cheapo supermarket special. And note I did say "in my experience".

Nigel Goodwin · 02-08-2011, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

As they are coming from a Sony then they are not so likely to be in the market for a cheapo supermarket special. And note I did say "in my experience".

Except there are hardly any 'decent make' Freeview boxes available - Sony only ever made that one, and as people weren't prepared to pay for quality they stopped making them.

gomezz · 02-08-2011, 11:31

I thing the established brand names like Sony dropped the ball when it came to the Freeview box market. Now they are for the most part frozen out by the new kids on the block. For example Sony may have had better succes with its STB it it had not crippled the functionality.

Nigel Goodwin · 02-08-2011, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

I thing the established brand names like Sony dropped the ball when it came to the Freeview box market. Now they are for the most part frozen out by the new kids on the block. For example Sony may have had better succes with its STB it it had not crippled the functionality.

In what way? - the old Sony box is widely regarded as one of the best boxes to have, even now.

Unfortunately, it wasn't so regarded until after it had been discontinued.

captainkremmen · 02-08-2011, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

I thing the established brand names like Sony dropped the ball when it came to the Freeview box market. Now they are for the most part frozen out by the new kids on the block. For example Sony may have had better succes with its STB it it had not crippled the functionality.

My VTX is still doing sterling service in the bedroom, what functionality was crippled?. I've owned a number of boxes over the years and, even today, the Sony still beats many of them.

It automatically adds new channels, fully supports MHEG5, automatic software downloads always worked fine when they were doing them, optical output, channel re-ordering, favourites that all work, clear well though out EPG, EPG doesn't change channel you are viewing when scrolling through as many did, and some still do (annoying), RGB output on scart 1, supports smartlink on scart2, reminders, you can even set a record reminder, that will wake the box up and send a trigger signal via smartlink on scart2 to a compatible VCR/DVD recorder for timer recordings, remote that could operate major TV brands. The only thing that let it down was no deletion of channels and the remote wasn't the greatest and had to be replaced after a couple of years,

gomezz · 02-08-2011, 18:33

The Sony was crippled by not allowing timers to control the TV SCART output which is the one that supports RGB. Which means timer recordings to an external recorder are of a poorer quality - Composite or S-Video.

But now we have affordable Freeview HD PVRs that is an old story and is no longer of any consequence but it was a big deal back in the day.

captainkremmen · 03-08-2011, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

The Sony was crippled by not allowing timers to control the TV SCART output which is the one that supports RGB. Which means timer recordings to an external recorder are of a poorer quality - Composite or S-Video.

But now we have affordable Freeview HD PVRs that is an old story and is no longer of any consequence but it was a big deal back in the day.

Fair point, but the Sony was the ONLY quality Freeview box I could find at the time that even had timers for recordings at all. The only other one I found was a Philips, that was awful (I bought the Philips first because it was cheaper, but returned it after less than a week and bought the Sony instead). The Sony was far superior in every way.

Nigel Goodwin · 03-08-2011, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

The Sony was crippled by not allowing timers to control the TV SCART output which is the one that supports RGB. Which means timer recordings to an external recorder are of a poorer quality - Composite or S-Video.

But now we have affordable Freeview HD PVRs that is an old story and is no longer of any consequence but it was a big deal back in the day.

It was hardly a 'big deal' back then either

It was correctly designed, the only 'crippling' is in your mind, the last thing you want is the TV SCART socket switching during timed recordings - that's the HUGE design flaw on Humax boxes (who don't seem to have any understanding of how SCART should work).

gomezz · 03-08-2011, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

the last thing you want is the TV SCART socket switching during timed recordings

It is and never was the last thing I want. In fact I did want it to do that as I wanted it to feed an RGB-capable HDD/DVDR (as I recall, that was something else Sony crippled on their HDD/DVDR range of the time). They could easily have made it a set up option anyway if that was their main concern (which I do not believe it was).

I agree Humax have not got it right either but at least there are solutions / workarounds to the way they do it.

01-08-2011, 21:09	#1
The Dee Man Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 72	Freeview Box question Does anyone know of a current Freeview Box with a programmable remote? The remote of a Sony VTX-D800U could be programmed to to provide basic functions on most popular TV makes. I'm really only looking for volume & on / off as the channel change will be via the Freeview Box

01-08-2011, 21:14	#2
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Most do that in my experience.

01-08-2011, 21:25	#3
The Dee Man Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 72	Hi gomezz, Thanks for the quick reply. Wasn't aware that nearly all boxes did it - I'll have to do a bit more research.

01-08-2011, 21:34	#4
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Simple universal remotes are very cheap and may be more easily (cheaply) replaceable so would be another option - that means you could concentrate on getting the right box.

01-08-2011, 23:58	#5
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Quote: Originally Posted by The Dee Man Wasn't aware that nearly all boxes did it They don't.

02-08-2011, 07:46	#6
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	All the Humax models I have experience of do. My Pioneer HDD/DVDR and Bluray players do. My JVC and Panasonics VCRs do. My Denon AV amp does. In fact, I cannot recall any AV equipment I have owned which did not have a remote with the ability to have basic control of the TV. However I do use mulit-device universal remotes. The One for All 2 in 1 model which I use in the bedroom is inexpensive and may suit the OP

02-08-2011, 08:51	#7
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz All the Humax models I have experience of do. My Pioneer HDD/DVDR and Bluray players do. My JVC and Panasonics VCRs do. My Denon AV amp does. In fact, I cannot recall any AV equipment I have owned which did not have a remote with the ability to have basic control of the TV All very well but the OP is asking about a standard Freeview box. The upmarket boxes like Humax do but your standard off-the-shelf supermarket boxes don't.

02-08-2011, 11:23	#8
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	As they are coming from a Sony then they are not so likely to be in the market for a cheapo supermarket special. And note I did say "in my experience".

02-08-2011, 11:27	#9
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz As they are coming from a Sony then they are not so likely to be in the market for a cheapo supermarket special. And note I did say "in my experience". Except there are hardly any 'decent make' Freeview boxes available - Sony only ever made that one, and as people weren't prepared to pay for quality they stopped making them.

02-08-2011, 11:31	#10
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	I thing the established brand names like Sony dropped the ball when it came to the Freeview box market. Now they are for the most part frozen out by the new kids on the block. For example Sony may have had better succes with its STB it it had not crippled the functionality.

02-08-2011, 12:34	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz I thing the established brand names like Sony dropped the ball when it came to the Freeview box market. Now they are for the most part frozen out by the new kids on the block. For example Sony may have had better succes with its STB it it had not crippled the functionality. In what way? - the old Sony box is widely regarded as one of the best boxes to have, even now. Unfortunately, it wasn't so regarded until after it had been discontinued.

02-08-2011, 12:43	#12
captainkremmen Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DAVEVILLE, Daveshire DA1 1VE Posts: 33,621	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz I thing the established brand names like Sony dropped the ball when it came to the Freeview box market. Now they are for the most part frozen out by the new kids on the block. For example Sony may have had better succes with its STB it it had not crippled the functionality. My VTX is still doing sterling service in the bedroom, what functionality was crippled?. I've owned a number of boxes over the years and, even today, the Sony still beats many of them. It automatically adds new channels, fully supports MHEG5, automatic software downloads always worked fine when they were doing them, optical output, channel re-ordering, favourites that all work, clear well though out EPG, EPG doesn't change channel you are viewing when scrolling through as many did, and some still do (annoying), RGB output on scart 1, supports smartlink on scart2, reminders, you can even set a record reminder, that will wake the box up and send a trigger signal via smartlink on scart2 to a compatible VCR/DVD recorder for timer recordings, remote that could operate major TV brands. The only thing that let it down was no deletion of channels and the remote wasn't the greatest and had to be replaced after a couple of years,

02-08-2011, 18:33	#13
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	The Sony was crippled by not allowing timers to control the TV SCART output which is the one that supports RGB. Which means timer recordings to an external recorder are of a poorer quality - Composite or S-Video. But now we have affordable Freeview HD PVRs that is an old story and is no longer of any consequence but it was a big deal back in the day.

03-08-2011, 10:53	#14
captainkremmen Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DAVEVILLE, Daveshire DA1 1VE Posts: 33,621	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz The Sony was crippled by not allowing timers to control the TV SCART output which is the one that supports RGB. Which means timer recordings to an external recorder are of a poorer quality - Composite or S-Video. But now we have affordable Freeview HD PVRs that is an old story and is no longer of any consequence but it was a big deal back in the day. Fair point, but the Sony was the ONLY quality Freeview box I could find at the time that even had timers for recordings at all. The only other one I found was a Philips, that was awful (I bought the Philips first because it was cheaper, but returned it after less than a week and bought the Sony instead). The Sony was far superior in every way.

03-08-2011, 11:01	#15
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz The Sony was crippled by not allowing timers to control the TV SCART output which is the one that supports RGB. Which means timer recordings to an external recorder are of a poorer quality - Composite or S-Video. But now we have affordable Freeview HD PVRs that is an old story and is no longer of any consequence but it was a big deal back in the day. It was hardly a 'big deal' back then either It was correctly designed, the only 'crippling' is in your mind, the last thing you want is the TV SCART socket switching during timed recordings - that's the HUGE design flaw on Humax boxes (who don't seem to have any understanding of how SCART should work).

03-08-2011, 11:23	#16
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin the last thing you want is the TV SCART socket switching during timed recordings It is and never was the last thing I want. In fact I did want it to do that as I wanted it to feed an RGB-capable HDD/DVDR (as I recall, that was something else Sony crippled on their HDD/DVDR range of the time). They could easily have made it a set up option anyway if that was their main concern (which I do not believe it was). I agree Humax have not got it right either but at least there are solutions / workarounds to the way they do it.

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